Dan Jurgens

Dan Jurgens
Born	June 27, 1959 (1959-06-27) (age 52) Ortonville, Minnesota
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Penciller, Inker, Writer
Notable works	Booster Gold Superman Thor Tangent Comics

Dan Jurgens (born June 27, 1959 in Ortonville, Minnesota)^[1] is an American comic book writer and artist. He is best known for creating the superhero Booster Gold, and for his lengthy runs on the Superman titles Adventures of Superman and Superman (vol. 2), particularly during The Death of Superman storyline. Other series he has been associated with include The Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 1), Thor (vol. 2), Captain America (vol. 3), Justice League America, Metal Men, Teen Titans (vol. 2), Zero Hour, Tomb Raider: The Series, Aquaman (vol. 3), and the creator of DC Comics' imprint Tangent.

Career

Jurgens' first professional comic work was for DC Comics on Warlord #63. He was hired due to a recommendation of Warlord-series creator Mike Grell who was deeply impressed by Jurgens' work after being shown his private portfolio at a convention. In 1984, Jurgens was the artist for the Sun Devils limited series (July 1984 - June 1985), with writers Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas. Jurgens would make his debut as a comic book writer with Sun Devils. He began scripting from Conway's plots with #8 and fully took over the writing duties on the title with #10. In 1985, Jurgens created the character Booster Gold, who became a member of the Justice League. His first work on Superman was as penciller for Adventures of Superman Annual #1 (1987). In 1989, Jurgens began working full-time on the character when he took over the writing/pencilling of the monthly Adventures of Superman.

The cover to Superman vol. 2, #75 (January 1993). Art by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding

Dan Jurgens was the penciller of the 1990–1991 limited series Armageddon 2001 and co-created the hero Waverider with Archie Goodwin. In 1991 Jurgens assumed the writing/pencilling of the main Superman comic book, where he created a supporting hero named Agent Liberty. During his run on Superman, Dan created two major villains, Doomsday and the Cyborg. Doomsday was the main antagonist in the Death of Superman storyline. Jurgens wrote and drew Justice League America for about one year and in 1993 pencilled the Metal Men four-issue miniseries, which was a retcon of their origin story. Jurgens wrote and pencilled the 1994 comic book miniseries and crossover Zero Hour. He wrote and penciled layouts (with finished art by Brett Breeding) to the Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey miniseries, which was a follow-up to the successful Death of Superman storyline. In 1995 Jurgens and Italian artist Claudio Castellini worked on the highly publicized crossover Marvel vs DC. In the same year, he gave up the pencilling duties on Superman.

Superman vs. Aliens #1. Art by Dan Jurgens and Kevin Nowlan

Jurgens scripted and provided layout art for the Superman vs. Aliens miniseries. The story was about a battle between Superman and the aliens created by H. R. Giger (a.k.a. the Xenomorphs), from the Alien film series. It was co-published by Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics in 1995.

Cover to Teen Titans vol. 2, #5, featuring the 1996–98 team. Art by Dan Jurgens and George Pérez

In January 1996, Jurgens was writer and penciller of the new Spider-Man series, The Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 1), at Marvel Comics. The title was initially conceived to be the flagship showcase for the new Ben Reilly Spider-Man (it replaced the Web of Spider-Man series). The initial seven issues (#0–6, January–July 1996) were written and pencilled by Jurgens. Jurgens pushed strongly for the restoration of Peter Parker as the true Spider-Man and plans were made to enact this soon, but Bob Harras, the new Editor-in-chief, demanded the story be deferred until after the Onslaught crossover. Jurgens had by this stage become disillusioned with the immense amount of group planning and constant changes of ideas and directions and took this as the last straw, resigning from the title. In a past interview several years after his Spider-Man run, Jurgens stated that he would like to have another chance on the character, since his run was with the Ben Reilly character during the Spider-Man Clone Saga, and not Peter Parker. Jurgens had also written and pencilled Teen Titans (vol. 2) for its entire two year, 24 issue run. New Teen Titans co-creator George Pérez came on board on this incarnation of the Titans as inker for the series' first 15 issues. The series debuted in October 1996, and ended in September 1998. After 10 years working on the character, Jurgens ended his Superman run as the book's writer with Superman (vol. 2) #150 (November 1999). Also in 1999, Jurgens was writer and layout artist for the tabloid-sized graphic novel Superman/Fantastic Four, with finished art by his former Adventures of Superman inker Art Thibert. In 2000, he was the writer and provided layouts for the four issue prestige miniseries Titans/Legion of Super-Heroes: Universe Ablaze, with finishes provided by Phil Jimenez. Jurgens wrote Aquaman (Vol. 3) from issue #63 (January 2000) through to its cancellation with issue #75 (January 2001). Jurgens was also the debut writer of theTomb Raider: The Series comic book series licensed to Top Cow Productions and Image Comics, which started in 1999. The debut issue of Tomb Raider was the number one selling comic book of 1999. Jurgens remained as writer of the series up to issue #21. In November 2002, Jurgens wrote and pencilled the four-issue weekly miniseries Superman: Day of Doom (January 2003), which was a special 10 year anniversary look back to the Death of Superman event from 1992. Jurgens also worked with Marvel Comics as writer/artist on Captain America (vol. 3), writer on Thor (vol. 2) with pencilling from John Romita Jr. and in 1995 as writer/penciller on Solar #46 from Valiant Comics where he was inked by the legendary Dick Giordano, and with penciller Tom Grindberg joining in with issues #51–54 after Jurgens relinquished penciller duties with issue #50. After a hiatus from comics, Jurgens returned to DC Comics, providing layouts for the lead story in the Infinite Crisis Secret Files 2006 special (April 2006) and provided art for the weekly series 52 and to the six issue limited series Crisis Aftermath: The Battle For Blüdhaven written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey, with Palmiotti as inker. He was the artist on the series Nightwing with returning writer/creator Marv Wolfman. He and Wolfman worked together on a four part story, from issues 125–128. On Metamorpho: Year One, Jurgens was writer and artist. He would only pencil issues 1 and 2, with Mike Norton providing the pencils for issues 3–6 and Jesse Delperdang was inker for the entire series. Jurgens also provided layouts for an issue of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man (#33, April 2007). Jurgens was writer and artist of the History of the Multiverse back-up stories in the weekly Countdown (which appeared in issues #49 through #38). At the Los Angeles Comic Con in March 2007, DC announced a new, ongoing Booster Gold series written by Geoff Johns and pencilled by Jurgens, to begin shortly after the end of 52. Norm Rapmund will ink Jurgens' pencils. Jurgens subsequently spoke in depth with Sebastian Piccione of the comic book website Project Fanboy about his return to the Booster Gold series in a three part interview^[2] the site published. He is the writer of Tangent: Superman's Reign limited series in 2008, revisiting the Tangent Comics characters. He also wrote and illustrated an issue of The Brave and the Bold (Vol. 2) #23 (July 2009), which featured Booster Gold and Magog.

He will be amongst the new creative talent running DC Comics' new relaunch in fall 2011, becoming the writer of the new Justice League International series with artist Aaron Lopresti and the artist of the new Green Arrow series in fall 2011 with writer J.T. Krul and inker George Pérez. He became co-writer of Green Arrow with Keith Giffen as of issue #4, and will remain as the co-writing team until issue #6, after which Ann Nocenti will take over.^[3]

Additionally, it was announced in October 2011 that he will be returning to Superman, co-writing, as well as drawing, the self titled Superman book with Keith Giffen. Their first issue to be released in 2012 beginning with issue #7, as the team take over for the current writer/artist, George Perez. As such, he is expected to leave Green Arrow art duties with issue #6.^[4]

Bibliography

Comics work includes:

Dark Horse Comics

• Superman vs. Aliens (1995 limited series; story and layout art)

DC Comics

• 52
• Adventures of Superman (writer & penciller, 1989–1991); Annual #1 (pencils, 1987)
• Agent Liberty Special # 1 (1992) (writer & cover artist); with art by Dusty Abell (pencils); Jackson Guice, Steve Mitchell & Mike Machlan (inks)
• Aquaman (Vol. 3) #63-75 (writer, Jan. 2000-Jan 2001)
• Armageddon 2001
• Batman Annual # 9 (1985) (pencils)
• Brave and the Bold (vol. 2) #23 (writer/artist, 2009)
• Booster Gold #1-25 (artist, 1986–88)
• Booster Gold (vol. 2) #1-12, 15-19, 21-31, 44-47 (artist, 2007–2008; writer/artist, 2009–2010, 2011)
• Countdown (writer & artist of the "History of the Multiverse" back-up stories in issues #49 through #38)
• Crisis Aftermath: The Battle For Blüdhaven (2006 mini-series) (pencils)
• DC Universe: Legacies #7-8 (2011)
• Firestorm: The Nuclear Man (vol. 3) #33 (April 2007) (layouts only)
• Flash Gordon #1-9 (miniseries) (writer/artist, 1989)
• Green Arrow (artist #1-present; co-writer #4-present, 2011)
• Infinite Crisis Secret Files 2006 (April, 2006) (layouts for lead story)
• Justice League America
• Justice League International (writer, 2011)
• Metal Men (limited series, 1993) (layouts)
• Metamorpho: Year One (writer & pencils (issues 1 and 2 only); with Mike Norton (pencils issues 3-6) & Jesse Delperdang (inker)) (6 issue limited series, 2007)
• Nightwing
• Sun Devils (writer and artist, 1984)
• Superman (vol. 2) (writer/artist, 1991–1999; writer: 1991-1999; pencils: 1991-1995)
• Superman 80-Page Giant #1 (Feb. 1999) (cover artist pencils & writer for 10-page short story)
• Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey (1994 limited series; story & layouts)
• Superman: The Doomsday Wars
• Superman: Day of Doom
• Superman: Secret Files (Jan. 1998) (writer & layout art for lead story; plus pencil art for character profiles)
• Superman/Fantastic Four (1999) (writer & layout art, with finished art by Art Thibert)
• Tangent: Superman's Reign #1-12 (2008 limited series) (writer)
• Teen Titans (vol. 2)
• Time Masters: Vanishing Point #1-6 (2010 mini series) (writer/artist)
• Titans/Legion of Super-Heroes: Universe Ablaze (2000). 4-issue prestige miniseries. writer & layouts, with finishes by Phil Jimenez.
• Warlord #75- (artist)
• Zero Hour

Marvel Comics

• Daredevil #224 (penciller)
• Captain America (vol. 3) #25-50 (writer), #33-50 (penciller); Annual 2000; Annual 2001
• The Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #0-6 (January–July, 1996) (writer & penciller)
• Thor (vol. 2) #1-79 (writer); Annual 1999; Annual 2000; Annual 2001

Valiant Comics

• Solar # 46-54 (July 1995-Dec. 1995) Writer/Penciller on #46-50; writer only from #51-54

Awards

His work has earned him several awards over the years, including the 1994 National Cartoonists Society Award for Best Comic Book.

References

1. ^ "Dan Jurgens: On Warlord, Mike Grell, And Comics In General", by Mark Worden, pp 48-58; Amazing Heroes #35, November 15, 1983
2. ^ "The Gold Standard: Dan Jurgens Interview Part I". Project Fanboy. http://www.projectfanboy.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1379. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
3. ^ http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=34894
4. ^ http://comicbook.com/blog/2011/10/16/dan-of-steel-dan-jurgens-on-joining-team-superman/

External links

• Interview with b-independent.com (1998)
• Interview with Futureal Studio (2004)
• Interview with Comic Book Resources, April 30, 2006
• GCD cover gallery for Flash Gordon
• Comic Geek Speak Podcast interview (July, 2009)

Preceded by Marv Wolfman	Teen Titans writer 1996–1998	Succeeded by Devin Grayson
Preceded by Warren Ellis (Thor vol. 1)	Thor writer 1998–2004	Succeeded by Daniel Berman & Michael Avon Oeming
Preceded by Mark Waid	Captain America writer 2000–2002	Succeeded by Darko Macan (Captain America: Dead Man Running)
Preceded by Jerry Ordway 1989-1991	Superman (vol. 2) writer 1991–1999	Succeeded by Jeph Loeb

Persondata
Name	Jurgens, Dan
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Short description
Date of birth	June 27, 1959
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