Jeph Loeb

Infobox Comics creator


imagesize =
caption = Loeb at Comic Con San Diego 2007. Photograph by Empath Studios.
birthdate =
birthname = Joseph Loeb III
nationality = American
area = Writer, Executive Producer
alias =
notable works = , Superman/Batman
awards = Nominated Emmy Award, WGA Award HEROES Season 1,Eisner Awards (4 times), Wizard Awards (5 times), Jules Verne Award,Honorary Doctorate, St. Edwards University Austin Texas

Joseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an Emmy and WGA nominated American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb is a Co-Executive Producer on the NBC hit show "Heroes", and was formerly a producer/writer on the TV series "Smallville" and "Lost".

A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on "Heroes".

Biography

Jeph Loeb was born in Stamford, Connecticut. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517188/bio Loeb's biography page at the Internet Movie Database] ] He reportedly read his first comic book during the summer of 1970. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8722 "Reflections: Talking With Jeph Loeb"] , "Comic Book Resources", 2006-10-25. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.] By winter of the same year, Jeph was apparently fascinated enough to convince his father to purchase the comic book collection of one Tom Chicarella on his behalf. Tom was from Brooklyn, New York and the sold collection reportedly included every issue published by Marvel Comics between 1961 and late 1970.Fact|date=September 2007

His later stepfather was a vice-president at Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, where Jeph met one of his mentors and greatest influences in comic book writing, the writer Elliot Maggin. Jeph however attended Columbia University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's degree in Film. [ [http://scifipedia.scifi.com/index.php/Jeph_Loeb Biographical information on Loeb at SciFi.com's scifipedia] ] His instructors included Paul SchraderMark Salisbury. "Writers on Comics Scriptwriting"1999. Titan Books. Pages 152-165.] and Miloš Forman.Fact|date=September 2007

Film and TV career

His debut in filmmaking was his collaboration with Matthew Weisman in authoring the script of "Teen Wolf". The film was released on August 23, 1985 and was a notable starring role for Michael J. Fox. Loeb and Weisman then collaborated in writing the script of "Commando". The film was released on October 4, 1985 and starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

His next screen credit was the film "Burglar", released on March 20, 1987. The plot was based on the novels of Lawrence Block about fictional burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr. His collaborators were Weisman and Hugh Wilson. The film was atypical for the time, featuring a female comedic role for starring actress Whoopi Goldberg. His second film that year was "Teen Wolf Too", a sequel of "Teen Wolf", which was co-written by Weisman and Tim Kring. The film was released on November 20, 1987. The film featured teen idol Jason Bateman and veteran actor John Astin. Loeb would re-team with Kring almost two decades later for the TV series "Heroes".

Four years later, Loeb was working on a script for "The Flash" as a feature with Warner Bros. While the script deal fell through, Loeb met then publisher Jenette Kahn who asked Loeb to write a comic book for DC.

In 2002, Jeph Loeb wrote the script for the episode of "Smallville", entitled "Red", which introduced Red kryptonite into the series. He became a supervising producer, and has written many episodes since then. He signed a three-year contract, and although producers Miles Millar and Alfred Gough offered to keep him on for future seasons, Loeb left to care for his son, who had cancer ("See Comics Career below"). [ [http://www.kryptonsite.com/loeb0805.htm Interview with Loeb at Kryptonsite] ]

Loeb later became a writer/producer on the ABC TV series "Lost" during that show's second season. Leaving "Lost", Loeb went on to become Co-Executive Producer and writer on the NBC drama "Heroes", which his colleague Tim Kring had created. Loeb wrote the teleplay for the first-season episodes "One Giant Leap" and "Unexpected". [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517188/ Jeph Loeb's Filmography at the Internet Movie Database] ] The show prominently features the artwork of Tim Sale, Loeb's longtime artistic collaborator from his comics work. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1348219/ Tim Sale at the Internet Movie Database] ]

The series was nominated for the 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, and a Writers Guild of America award for Best New Series. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517188/awards Awards page for Jeph Loeb at the Internet Movie Database] ] It won The People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama, as well the Saturn Award for Best Network Television Series. It was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Dramatic Television Series. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0813715/awards Awards page for "Heroes" at the Internet Movie Database] ]

Loeb and Tim Kring were presented with the Jules Verne Award for Artistic Achievement at the Jules Verne Festival in Paris, France on April 22, 2007 for their work on "Heroes". [ [http://www.julesvernefestival.com/jva/spip.php?article472&lang=en Report and photos of the 2007 Jules Verne Festival at julesvernefestival.com] ] Loeb himself was also presented with a belated 2005 Jules Verne Award for Best Writing for his work on "Smallville", which he had not previously been given because his trip to the Festival that year had been cancelled due to his son's health. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--38uoHK6eE Video of Loeb being presented with the award at YouTube] ]

Comics career

Loeb is known for his extensive use of narration boxes as monologues to reveal the inner thoughts of characters, though the character interactions he writes are sparse in terms of dialogue.

Jeph Loeb's first comic work was "Challengers of the Unknown" vol. 2 #1 - #8 (March -October 1991). The mini-series also featured notable guest appearances by Doctor Fate (Eric and Linda Strauss), Batman, James Gordon, Guy Gardner and Lois Lane. Most notably, it was the first of many collaborations with Tim Sale. [ [http://www.comics.org/covers.lasso?SeriesID=4191 Cover gallery for "Challengers of the Unknown", vol. 2 #1-8 (Includes links to creative credits for each issue.)] ] Their later collaborations included the -centered ', ', and "Superman For All Seasons".

Loeb's other comic works include the ', "The Long Halloween", a 13-issue limited series and "Dark Victory", a 14-issue limited series set in the first years of the hero's career. "The Long Halloween" was one of three noted comics that influenced the 2005 feature film "Batman Begins", the others being ' and "". [This is mentioned inside the front cover of the "Batman Begins" mini digest comic book that reprints portions of these three stories that comes with the DVD.]

In 2003, Loeb teamed with artist Jim Lee to create the year-long story arc "", the highest selling DC comic in over ten years.Fact|date=February 2008 "Hush", which spawned three lines of toys, posters and calendars, sat at the #1 spot for eleven of the twelve months it was in publication.Fact|date=February 2008 The following year, Loeb launched "Superman/Batman", which toppled "Hush"'s success, featuring artists such as Ed McGuinness, Michael Turner, Pat Lee, Carlos Pacheco and Ian Churchill. In 2005, Loeb spun "Supergirl" out of "Superman/Batman" with artist Ian Churchill.

Loeb's son, Sam, died on June 17, 2005 at the age of 17, after a three-year battle with bone cancer. At the age of 15, Sam wrote a story in "Tales of the Vampires" #5 with Jeph's long-term collaborator Tim Sale. In 2006, Sam's final work appeared in "Superman/Batman" #26, which was nearly completed before his death. His father finished the work with the help of 25 other writers and artists, all of whom were friends of Sam, including Art Adams, Joe Casey, John Cassaday, Joyce Chin, Ian Churchill, Allan Heinberg, Geoff Johns, Joe Kelly, Mike Kunkel, Jim Lee, Pat Lee, Rob Liefeld, Paul Levitz, Joe Madureira, Jeff Matsuda, Ed McGuinness, Brad Meltzer, Carlos Pacheco, Duncan Rouleau, Tim Sale, Richard Starkings, Michael Turner, Brian K. Vaughan, Mark Verheiden, and Joss Whedon. The issue also featured a tale titled "Sam's Story," dedicated to Sam.

Also in 2006, it was Jeph who chose his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut to be subject to superhero destruction in the opening issue of Marvel's crossover event, "Civil War". [Lockhart, Brian, "An explosion of INK: Stamford comic shop destroyed in pages of 'The Amazing Spider-Man'," article in "The Advocate" of Stamford, June 3, 2006, pages 1, A4] [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12911 Tabu, Hannibal; "WWLA: Cup o' Jeph"; comicbookresources.com; March 14, 2008.] ]

In 2007, Jeph wrote the miniseries "", which used the five stages of grief as a motif to explore reactions of various characters of the Marvel Universe to the loss of the assassinated Captain America. The fifth and final chapter, dated July 4, 2007, was the "Funeral for Captain America", which was covered by the Associated Press and appeared in over 150 news outlets, including "The Washington Post" and ABC.

Since signing an exclusive contract with Marvel in September 2005, Loeb has launched both "The Ultimates 3" with artist Joe Madureira and "Hulk" with artist Ed McGuinness, the first issues of which ranked at #1 in sales for their respective months (December 2007 and January 2007).Fact|date=April 2008 He has begun work on "Ultimatum" with artist David Finch for the Fall of 2008. In March 2008, Loeb and Tim Sale were reunited at Marvel. Their first project is the long awaited "Captain America: White", the fourth in their "color" series for Marvel.

Loeb currently shares his writing studio, The Empath Magic Tree House, with Geoff Johns and Allan Heinberg. [ [http://www.brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/details.php?id=249 Hautain, Frederik; "Jeph Loeb: When at Marvel - Part II" brokenfrontier.com; October 12, 2005] ]

Comics Bibliography

*"9-11: September 11, 2001"
*"Action Comics Annual" #5
*"AskaniSon" #1-4
*"Avengers" (Vol. 2) #2-7
*"Awesome Holiday Special" #1
*"Batman" #608-619 ("")
*"Batman: Choices: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special"
*"Batman: Ghosts - Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special"
*"" #1-13
**"" #0-14
*"Batman: Madness - Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special
*"Batman/Spirit"
*"Battle Chasers" #1, 4 (Uncredited)Fact|date=January 2008
*"Cable" #15, 17-39
*"Cable/X-force Annual" 1995
*"Captain America" (Vol. 2) #1-6, 12
*"" #1-6
*"Challengers of the Unknown" (Vol. 2) #1-8
*"Coven" (Vol. 1) #1-5, (Vol. 2) #1-3
*"Coven: Black and White"
*"Coven: Dark Origins"
*"Coven/Fantom Special"
*"Coven/Kaboom Special"
*"Daredevil: Yellow" #1-6
*"The Darkness/Batman"
*"Fallen Son: Death of Captain America" #1-5
*"Fantastic Four" (Vol. 3) #38-50
*"Fantastic Four Annual" 2001
*"Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Comic Magazine" #4
*"Fighting American" #1-2
*"Fighting American: Rules of the Game" #1-3
*"Generation X" #8 (Uncredited)Fact|date=January 2008
*"Generation X Annual" 1995
*"Heroes Reborn" 1/2
*"Hip Flask" 1/2
*"Hulk: Gray" #1-6
*"Hulk" #1-
*"Iron Man" (Vol. 2) #7-12
*"JLA: Our World at War"
*"Justice League: Task Force" #9
*"Kaboom" (Vol. 1) #1-3, (Vol. 2) #1-3
*"Kaboom Prelude"
*"Lionheart" 1-
*"Loose Cannon" #1-4
*"Onslaught Reborn" #1-5"
*"Re:Gex" #0-1
*"Savage Dragon" #50
*"Savage Hulk" #1
*"Showcase '94" #5
*"Soulfire" #0-4
*"" #1-6
*"Stan Lee Meets Doctor Doom"
*"Superman For All Seasons" #1-4
*"Superman" #151-183
*"Superman: Emperor Joker" #1
*"Superman: Lex 2000" #1
*"Superman/Batman" #1-25
*"Supergirl" #0-5
*"Ultimate Power" #7-9
*"Ultimates 3" #1-5
*"Uncanny X-Men" #329-330
*"Uncanny X-Men Annual" #18
*"Vampirella" #18
*"Wildcats/X-Men: The Golden Age" (Uncredited)
*"The Witching Hour" #1-3
*"Wolverine/Gambit: Victims" #1-4
*"Wolverine Annual" 1996
*"Wolverine" #50-55: Evolution
*"World's Finest: Our World at War"
*"X-Force" #44-61
*"X-Man" #1-9
*"X-Men: Road to Onslaught"

Awards and nominations

Eisner Awards
*1998 Best Limited Series for "Batman: The Long Halloween"
*1999 Best Reprint Graphic Album for "Batman: The Long Halloween"
*2002 Best Reprint Graphic Album for "Batman: Dark Victory"
*2007 Best Single Issue or One-Shot for "Batman/The Spirit" #1 [ [http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_07win.shtml#winners List of 2007 Eisner Award winners at comic-con.org] ] [ [http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner.shtml Eisner Awards Almanac] ]

Wizard Fan Awards
*1997 Favorite One Shot or Mini-Series: "Batman The Long Halloween"
*1998 Favorite One Shot or Mini-Series: "Superman For All Seasons"
*2003 Favorite Ongoing Series: "Batman"
*2003 Comics' Greatest Moment of the Year - Clayface returns as Jason Todd ("Batman" #617)
*2003 Favorite Supporting Character 2003 - Catwoman (in "Batman") [ [http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/wizard.shtml Wizard Fan Awards Almanac] ]

Notable works

*"Challengers of the Unknown (Series 2)"
*"Smallville"
*"Superman For All Seasons"
*"Superman (vol. 2)
*"Superman/Batman"
*""
*": Halloween Specials
*""
*""
*""
*""
*"Daredevil: Yellow"
*""
*"Hulk: Gray"
*"Soulfire"
*"The Witching Hour"
*"X-Force"
*"Wolverine"
*""

References

External links

* [http://www.sequart.com/loeb-salechronology.htm Chronology of Loeb-Sale Collaborations]
* [http://heroeswiki.com/Jeph_Loeb Jeph Loeb on "HeroesWiki"]
*
* [http://www.mania.com/26229.html Interview with Jeph Loeb] succession box | title="Cable" (vol. 2) writer| before=Glenn Herdling
after=Todd DeZago| years=1994–1997succession box | title="X-Force" (vol. 1) writer| before=Fabian Nicieza
after=John Francis Moore| years=1995–1997succession box | title="X-Man" writer| before= [none]
after=John Ostrander| years=1995succession box | title="Superman" (vol. 2) writer| before=Dan Jurgens
after=Steven T. Seagle| years=1999–2002succession box | title="Batman" writer| before=Ed Brubaker
after=Brian Azzarello| years=2002–2003succession box | title="Superman/Batman" writer| before= [none]
after=Mark Verheiden| years=2003–2006succession box | title="Supergirl" writer| before=Peter David
after=Greg Rucka| years=2005–2006succession box | title="Wolverine" writer| before=Rob Williams
after=Jason Aaron| years=2007succession box | title="The Ultimates" writer| before=Mark Millar
after="TBA"| years="2007-present"succession box | title="Hulk" writer| before=Greg Pak ("Incredible Hulk")
after="TBA"| years=2008-presentsuccession box | title="Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight" writer| before=Joss Whedon
after=Jane Espenson, Doug Petrie, Drew Greenberg, Jim Krueger and Steven S. DeKnight| years="2008"