Elliot S. Maggin, also spelled Elliot S! Maggin (born 1950),[3] is an American writer of comic books, film, television, and novels. He was a main writer for DC Comics during the Bronze and early Modern ages of comics in the 1970s and 1980s. He is particularly associated with the character of Superman.
Maggin started working as a professional writer in his teens, selling historical stories about the Boer War to a boys' magazine. He attended Brandeis University, where he wrote a term paper titled "What Can One Man Do?" for a class during his junior year.[4][5] When it received a grade of B+, Maggin disagreed with the assessment, remade it as a comic book script, and sent his script to DC Comics.[4] It was passed around the DC offices, and Neal Adams chose to draw the script.[4] The story was published in Green Lantern #87 (Dec. 1971-Jan. 1972).[6]Green Lantern editor Julius Schwartz commented that "I’ve been a comix editor for over 27 years and never... have I ever come across a ‘first-time’ script... that can come within a light-year of equaling ‘What Can One Man Do?’ in professional slickness and comix know-how. ... Indeed, to equalize this thrilling experience, I must go back three decades when, as a literary agent, I sold the very first story of a young Ray Bradbury!"[7] Though the initial grade was not amended, Maggin became a writer for DC.
During Maggin's time at Brandeis, he befriended the university's vice-president, meeting his family.[8] During one of the meetings, the vice-president's stepson (and future comic book writer) Jeph Loeb suggested a story that would eventually be called "Must There Be a Superman?".[4] Maggin used the idea, which became his initial foray into the Superman franchise,[8] and it was published in Superman #247 (Jan. 1972).[6] He wrote Green Arrow stories as well, where his sense of humor was allowed far more freedom in the loose dialogue of the main character.[9]
Maggin wrote Superman #400 (Oct. 1984) which featured work by several popular comics artists including the only major DC work by Jim Steranko as well as an introduction by noted science-fiction author Ray Bradbury.[13][14] Maggin's contributions to the DC Multiverse include Superboy-Prime and Lexcorp.[15][16][17] His last Superman story, "...And We Are the Dreamers of the Dreams!", appeared in Superman #420 (June 1986),[6] and he was one of the contributors to the DC Challenge limited series in that same year.[18]
Because comic book scripts tend to favor the exclamation mark as the punctuation of choice, Maggin routinely used it instead of a period. Out of habit, he once signed his own name "Elliot S! Maggin" and editor Julius Schwartz liked the distinctive rhythm of the name, insisting that Maggin's name henceforth be written that way.[5] Explaining in an interview:
I got into the habit of putting exclamation marks at the end of sentences instead of periods because reproduction on pulp paper was so lousy. So once, by accident, when I signed a script I put the exclamation point after my 'S' because I was just used to going to that end of the typewriter at the time. And Julie saw it, and before he told me, he goes into the production room and issues a general order that any mention of Elliot Maggin's name will be punctuated with an exclamation mark rather than a period from now on until eternity.[20]
Beyond comic books
In addition to the hundreds of stories Maggin wrote for the DC comics universe, he has written television scripts, stories for film, animation and journalistic pieces. Many of them have continued to show his allegiance to comic book characters. He wrote two Superman novels, Last Son of Krypton[21] and Miracle Monday.[22] He wrote the novelization of the graphic novel Kingdom Come based on the story by Mark Waid, and a novel featuring the Marvel mutant superhero team Generation X. He has occasionally sold scripts to non-print versions of superheroes, including Spider-Man (1994), X-Men (1992), and Batman: The Animated Series.
Besides his work in comics, he has received compensation for raising horses, skiing instruction, teaching at various high schools and colleges, writing stories for Atari video games, and working on websites. As of 2008, he had worked for several years as a developmental learning consultant for Kaiser Permanente.[1]
Maggin was the Democratic nominee for a seat in the New York State Assembly in 1990. He was defeated by the Republican incumbent.[25]
On May 21, 2007, Maggin announced[26] that he would be running for the 2008 Democratic party nomination for California's 24th congressional district seat. On February 1, 2008, Maggin posted on the main page of his website that he had decided not to run after all,[27] effectively ending his 2008 campaign. In an essay written the following day, he cited principally financial reasons for his withdrawal.[28] It appears that at no point during this campaign did he ever officially file with the Federal Election Commission.[29]
Maggin's campaign received the endorsement of fellow comics writer Tony Isabella.[30]
Electoral history
New Hampshire District 2 September 11, 1984 Democratic primary election result[23]
Several of his works of fiction are available exclusively online, including the short story Luthor's Gift and the novella Starwinds Howl, both of which take place in his Superman continuity. He has presented a novel-in-progress, Lancer, on his personal website.[31]
He also set up a podcast called "Elliot Makes Stuff Up", where he did audiobook readings of his Superman novels.[32]
Personal life
In 1983, Maggin married Pamela King. The two subsequently divorced in 1988, though they remarried three years later in 1991. They were divorced again in 2011.[2] The couple has two children together, Sarah and Jeremy.
^Wells, John (December 2010). "Green Lantern/Green Arrow: And Through Them Change an Industry". Back Issue! (45). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 39–54.
^Kingman, Jim (May 2013). "The Ballad of Ollie and Dinah". Back Issue! (64). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 13–14. Green Arrow was the character with whom I most identified.
^Stroud, Bryan D. (December 2013). "Superman #300". Back Issue! (69). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 31–33.
^McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1970s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 164. ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9. DC launched Batman Family with its memorable debut of the Batgirl-Robin team. Scribe Elliot S! Maggin and artist Mike Grell unleashed 'The Invader From Hell'.
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 171: "The first issue [was] written by Elliot S! Maggin with spot-on likenesses rendered by Jack Sparling."
^Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 209 "The Man of Steel celebrated his 400th issue in star-studded fashion with the help of some of the comic industry's best and brightest. Written by Elliot S! Maggin and featuring a cover by Howard Chaykin, the extra-long issue featured the art of Frank Miller, Brian Bolland, and Moebius, among others. The issue also featured a visionary tale written and drawn by Jim Steranko, and an introduction by famous science-fiction author Ray Bradbury."
^Addiego, Frankie (December 2013). "Superman #400". Back Issue! (69). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 68–70.
^Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 215: "Superboy made his innocent debut in the pages of [DC Comics Presents #87], written by Elliot S! Maggin and illustrated by Curt Swan."
^Greenberger, Robert (August 2017). "It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge!". Back Issue! (98). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 39.
^Bates, Cary; Maggin, Elliot S. (w), Dillin, Dick (p), McLaughlin, Frank (i). "Avenging Ghosts of the Justice Society!" Justice League of America, no. 124 (November 1975). DC Comics.
