William Messner-Loebs

Infobox Writer
name = William Messner-Loebs


imagesize = 161px
caption = William Messner-Loebs at the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expos in Columbus, Ohio in 2007. Photograph by Margaret Liss.
pseudonym =
birthdate = birth date and age|1949|2|19
birthplace =
occupation = Writer, Cartoonist
nationality = American
period =
genre = superhero, historical
notableworks = "", "Wonder Woman", "The Flash"
influences = Will Eisner
influenced =
website =
footnotes =

William Francis Messner-Loebs, Jr. (born February 19, 1949) is an American comic book writer and artist from Michigan, also known as Bill Loebs and Bill Messner-Loebs.

Since the 1980s he has written substantial runs of series published by DC, Image, Comico, and other smaller comics publishers, including both high-profile publisher-owned superheroes and original creator-owned works which he has also illustrated.

Biography

Loebs' right arm was amputated in infancy because of a cancerous tumor; he writes and draws with his left hand. His first comics work was for Power Comics and on Noble Comics' "Justice Machine" with Mike Gustovich. His first ongoing series was "", about 19th century Michigan frontier life, which he both wrote and illustrated. It was published from 1983 to 1986 by Aardvark-Vanaheim and Fantagraphics, followed by a limited series "Journey: Wardrums". He wrote the 31-issue "Jonny Quest" series published by Comico from 1986 to 1988.

In 1988, he took over writing the recently relaunched series "The Flash" with issue #15 and continued through #61 (penciled by Greg Larocque). Meanwhile he wrote "Dr. Fate" #25-41, and the "Jaguar" series for DC's Impact Comics imprint. He wrote "Epicurus the Sage" which was illustrated by Sam Kieth and scripted "The Maxx" (illustrated and co-written by Kieth).

In 1992 Loebs took over writing the "Wonder Woman" series begun several years earlier by George Pérez, with pencils by Mike Deodato. During his run from #63 to #100, he created the character Artemis of Bana-Mighdall, for whom he wrote the mini-series "Artemis: Requiem". Meanwhile he wrote "Hawkman" #9-27, penciled primarily by Steve Lieber. In 1996 he had a brief run writing Marvel Comics' "Thor". From 1997 to 1999 he wrote "Impulse" #29-49, penciled by Craig Rousseau. In 1999 he wrote a "V2K" mini-series "Brave Old World" for Vertigo, penciled by Guy Davis.

His financial situation, following years of limited freelance work and the loss of his and his wife's home in the early 2000s, was publicized in the local newspaper and comics news sites and message boards on the Internet. [ [http://www.comicscommunity.com/boards/ostrander/?noframes;read=3912 "Detroit News" (Jan. 20, 2005): "Artist in Howell faces adversity with a smile"] ] [ [http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26475 "Newsarama" board: "Bill Messner-Loebs: Down but Not Out"] ] [ [http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/masters/11092859141299.htm "SBC" (no date, c. 2005): "Past Masters: Uncomfortable Questions for Comfortable Fanboys", by Clifford Meth] ]

His financial situation has improved since then, and he has had a number of works published, including an issue of "Green Arrow" in 2006, and a piece in "The Three Tenors" (Aardwolf Publishing). A new "Journey" story was included in the one-shot "Many Happy Returns" (About Comics) in 2008, and IDW Publishing is reprinting the original material in paperback.

Upcoming work includes "Necronomicon" for Boom! Studios. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16646 William Messner-Loebs Opens the “Necronomicon”] , Comic Book Resources, June 2, 2008] [ [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080604-Loebs-waid-necronomicon.html Waid & Loebs Talk About The Necronomicon] , Newsarama, June 4, 2008]

He is in talks with publishers for additional, more substantial new works.

Bibliography

* "Necronomicon" (with art by Andrew Ritchie, 4-issue mini-series, Boom! Studios, 2008-ongoing)

Awards

He received an Inkpot Award in 1987.

Notes

References

*gcdb|type=credit|search=William+Messner-Loebs|title=William Messner-Loebs
*comicbookdb|type=creator|id=508|title=William Messner-Loebs
* [http://www.comics-db.com/comics/search.cgi?query=William%20Messner-Loebs&bool=and&substring=1 William Messner-Loebs] at the Big Comic Book DataBase
* [http://lambiek.net/artists/m/messner_loebs.htm William Messner-Loebs] at the Lambiek Comiclopedia

External links