Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox comics creator Jack Schiff (1909[1] – April 30, 1999)[2] was an American comic book writer and editor best known for his work editing various Batman comic book series for DC Comics from 1942 to 1964. He was the co-creator of Starman, Tommy Tomorrow, and the Wyoming Kid.
Biography
Jack Schiff entered the comics industry after attending Cornell University.[1] He got his start at Standard Magazines, editing various pulps.[3] At DC Comics, he co-created the original Starman with artist Jack Burnley and editors Whitney Ellsworth, Murray Boltinoff, Mort Weisinger, and Bernie Breslauer[4] in Adventure Comics #61 (April 1941). DC hired Schiff as an editor in 1942 and he oversaw the various Batman and Superman comic book titles[5] after Weisinger was drafted into military service during World War II.[6][7] He wrote the story "Case of the Costume-Clad Killers" in Detective Comics #60 (Feb. 1942) which introduced the Bat-Signal into the Batman mythos.[8] In addition, he edited and wrote the Batman comic strip for the McClure Newspaper Syndicate[1] and wrote The Vigilante (1947) and Batman and Robin (1949) serials for Columbia Pictures.[1] He developed a series of public service announcements which ran throughout DC's entire publishing line[9] from 1949 to the mid–1960s[10] and scripted the "Johnny Everyman" feature which had been created by Nobel Prize laureate Pearl S. Buck.[11] He launched comic book titles which were licensed from the popular radio programs A Date with Judy,[12] Gang Busters,[13] and Mr. District Attorney[14] and co-created new characters such as Tommy Tomorrow[15][16] and the Wyoming Kid.[17] His introduction of science fiction concepts into the Batman stories met with mixed results.[18][19] In 1958, he became involved in a legal dispute with artist Jack Kirby over the "Sky Masters" newspaper comic strip and Schiff won the resulting lawsuit.[20] The following year, he and Dick Dillin created Lady Blackhawk in Blackhawk #133 (Feb. 1959).[21] DC's upper management removed Schiff as editor of Batman and Detective Comics due to low sales and replaced him with Julius Schwartz in 1964.[22][23] Mystery in Space and Strange Adventures were given to Schiff as replacements to edit.[5][24] He retired from DC after 25 years with the company[1] and his final editing credit appeared in Strange Adventures #203 (Aug. 1967).[5]
Awards
Jack Schiff received citations and commendations from such organizations as the Anti-Defamation League (1948), the National Conference of Christians and Jews (1953), the United States Office of War Information (1945), and the United States Department of the Treasury (1945).[1]
Bibliography
As writer
DC Comics
- Batman #10, 13, 15, 21, 26 (1942–1944)
- Detective Comics #60 (1942)
- World's Finest Comics #8, 15–26, 28, 30, 37, 39 (1942–1949)
As editor
DC Comics
- Action Comics #56–118 (1943–1948)
- Adventure Comics #82–194 (1943–1953)
- The Adventures of Alan Ladd #1–9 (1949–1951)
- Aquaman #1–4 (1962)
- Batman #15–163 (1943–1964)
- Big Town #1–3 (1951)
- Blackhawk #108–195 (1957–1964)
- Boy Commandos #2–36 (1943–1949)
- The Brave and the Bold #31–33, 40–41 (1960–1962)
- Buzzy #1–27 (1944–1949)
- Congo Bill #1–7 (1954–1955)
- Challengers of the Unknown #1–27 (1958–1962)
- Dale Evans Comics #1–24 (1948–1952)
- A Date with Judy #1–12 (1947–1949)
- Detective Comics #71–326 (1943–1964)
- Feature Films #1–4 (1950)
- Frontier Fighters #1–8 (1955–1956)
- Gang Busters #1–67 (1947–1958)
- House of Mystery #1–125, 143–169 (1951–1962, 1964–1967)
- House of Secrets #1–56, 66–80 (1956–1962, 1964–1966)
- Leading Comics #6–14 (1943–1945)
- Legends of Daniel Boone #1–8 (1955–1956)
- More Fun Comics #87–107 (1943–1946)
- Mr. District Attorney #1–67 (1948–1959)
- My Greatest Adventure #1–70 (1955–1962)
- Mystery in Space #92–110 (1964–1966)
- Real Fact Comics #1–21 (1946–1949)
- Rip Hunter... Time Master #1–9 (1961–1962)
- Showcase #5–7, 11–12, 15–16, 20–21, 25–26, 30–33 (1956–1961)
- Star-Spangled Comics #16–130 (1943–1952)
- Strange Adventures #164–203 (1964–1967)
- Superboy #1–28 (1949–1953)
- Superman #20–51 (1943–1948)
- Tales of the Unexpected #1–72, 83–102 (1956–1962, 1964–1967)
- Tomahawk #1–81 (1950–1962)
- Western Comics #1–42 (1948–1953)
- World's Finest Comics #8–140 (1942–1964)
References
External links
- Template:Comicbookdb
- Jack Schiff at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
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- ↑ Daniels, p. 92: "Jack Schiff enjoyed more success, however, with an even more idealistic experiment. This was a series of single-page public service announcements that he created and wrote for publication in all DC titles."
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- ↑ Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 57: "Edited by Jack Schiff, the Gang Busters comic focused on FBI cases and standalone crime stories."
- ↑ Pasko, p. 88: "For extra insurance that it would be done in good taste, the book [Gang Busters] was assigned to public service page writer Jack Schiff. Other crime-related titles from radio quickly followed, including Mr. District Attorney."
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- ↑ Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 54: "Tomorrow's inaugural tale...was a fanciful dramatization of what writer Jack Schiff claimed to be a future vision of human space travel."
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- ↑ Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 92: "With Blackhawk #133, the Blackhawk Squadron finally welcomed a woman to their ranks – Zinda Blake – courtesy of editor Jack Schiff and artist Dick Dillin."
- ↑ McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 110: "The Dark Knight received a much-needed face lift from new Batman editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino. With sales at an all-time low and threatening the cancellation of one of DC's flagship titles, their overhaul was a lifesaving success for DC and its beloved Batman."
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