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Kurt Busiek
Born	September 16, 1960 (1960-09-16) (age 48) Boston, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer
Notable works	Marvels Astro City Avengers
Awards	numerous; see below

Kurt Busiek (born September 16, 1960 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on The Avengers.

Contents 1 Biography and early career 1.1 Prolific writer 1.2 Exclusive DC contract 1.3 Personal life 2 Awards 3 Bibliography 3.1 Dark Horse Comics 3.2 DC Comics 3.3 DC/Marvel 3.4 Image Comics 3.5 Marvel Comics 3.6 Wildstorm (Homage, Cliffhanger, Wildstorm Signature) 3.7 Other 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Biography and early career

Busiek grew up in various towns in the Boston area, including Lexington, where he befriended future comic book creator Scott McCloud.^[1] Busiek didn't read comics as a youngster, as his parents didn't approve of them.^[1] He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. The first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc, Busiek was hooked by all the history and cross-connections with other series. All through high school and college, he and McCloud practiced making comics.

During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns. Also during this period, Busiek originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey and therefore Grey had not died – a premise which eventually made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.^[2]

During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).^[1]

[edit] Prolific writer

Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.

In 1997, Busiek began a celebrated stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.

In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics but has since moved on.

[edit] Exclusive DC contract

In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman, and was replaced by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek is currently writing a new weekly series at DC called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. The weekly features a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.

[edit] Personal life

Busiek and his wife have two daughters. Work on some of Busiek's more challenging, less mainstream projects (most notably Astro City), has been repeatedly delayed by health problems brought about by mercury poisoning.^[3]

[edit] Awards

Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.

Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998, and as a member of the favorite creative team for 1996, 1999, and 2003. In the Squiddy Awards, he was also named the favorite poster (among professional comics creators) to the rec.arts.comics.* newsgroups five years in a row from 2000 through 2004.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Dark Horse Comics

• Army of Darkness #1-3 (Text Pieces)
• Conan:
  • Conan The Legend
  • Conan #1-28, 32, 39, 45-46
  • Conan: The Blood-Stained Crown And Other Stories TPB
  • Conan: The Book Of Thoth #1-4 (Also TPB Collection)
  • Conan: The Frost-Giant’s Daughter And Other Stories HC, TPB
  • Conan: The God In The Bowl And Other Stories HC, TPB
  • Conan: The Hall of the Dead And Other Stories HC, TPB
  • Conan: The Tower Of The Elephant And Other Stories HC, TPB
• The Dark Horse Book of Monsters (Short Comics Story)
• The Hire #4 (Also In The Hire TPB)
• Jonny Demon #1-3
• Shockrockets: We Have Ignition TPB (Collects Gorilla Series)
• Young Indiana Jones Chronicles #1-12 (Text Pieces)

[edit] DC Comics

• Action Comics #837-843, 850, 852-854
• Aquaman: Sword Of Atlantis #40-49
• Aquaman: Once & Future TPB
• DCU Secret Files & Origins (Short Text Piece)
• Green Lantern #162, 185 (Backup Stories)
• Justice League:
  • Justice League of America #224, 231, 232, 240
  • JLA #61 (Backup Story)
  • JLA #107-114
  • JLA Secret Files & Origins 2004
  • JLA: Syndicate Rules TPB
• Legend Of Wonder Woman #1-4
• Power Company:
  • Power Company #1-18
  • Power Company: Bork
  • Power Company: Josiah Power
  • Power Company: Manhunter
  • Power Company: Sapphire
  • Power Company: Skyrocket
  • Power Company: Striker Z
  • Power Company: Witchfire
• Red Tornado #1-4
• Sea Devils One-Shot (Tangent)
• September 11 Benefit Book (Short Astro City Story)
• Showcase '94 #7 (Short Comics Story)
• Silver Age: Green Lantern #1
• Superman:
  • Superman #650-675
  • Superman Annual #13
  • Superman: Man Of Steel Annual #5
  • Superman: Secret Identity #1-4
  • Superman: Secret Identity TPB
  • Superman: Up, Up And Away TPB
  • Superman: Back In Action TPB
  • Superman: Camelot Falls HC
• Tales of The Green Lantern Corps Annual #3 (Short Comics Story)
• Trinity
• Valor #20-23
• Wonder Woman #318
• World's Finest #308, 309

[edit] DC/Marvel

• JLA/Avengers #1-4
• Iron Lantern #1

[edit] Image Comics

• Cyberforce #?? (Backup Story)
• Kurt Busiek's Astro City #1-6
• Negative Burn Winter 2005 (Short Comics Story)
• New Shadowhawk #1-7
• Regulators #1-3
• Savage Dragon Team-Ups TPB
• Shadowhawk: Images Of Tomorrow #1
• Shadowhawks Of Legend #1 (Framing Sequence)
• Shattered Image #1-4
• Spartan: Warrior Spirit #1-4
• Velocity: Thrill Of The Chase #1-3
• Youngblood Strikefile #8 (Short Comics Story)

[edit] Marvel Comics

• Amazing Fantasy #16-18
• Avengers:
  • Avengers #0 (Wizard)
  • Avengers Vol. 3 #1-15, 19-56
  • Avengers Annual #19 (Backup Story)
  • Avengers/Squadron Supreme '98
  • Avengers 1999 (Story Concept)
  • Avengers 2000
  • Avengers 2001
  • Avengers: The Morgan Conquest TPB
  • Avengers: Supreme Justice TPB
  • Avengers: Clear And Present Dangers TPB
  • Avengers: Ultron Unlimited TPB
  • Avengers: Living Legends TPB
  • Avengers: Above & Beyond TPB
  • Avengers: The Kang Dynasty TPB
  • Avengers Assemble Vol. 1-5 HCs
  • Avengers Forever #1-12
  • Avengers Forever TPB
  • Avengers/Thunderbolts: The Nefaria Protocols TPB
  • Avengers/Thunderbolts Vol. 2: Best Intentions TPB
  • Avengers: The Ultron Imperative ("Jam" Project)
  • Avengers Vs. Thunderbolts #1-6 (Co-Writer)
• Captain America/Citizen V '98
• Darkman #1-6
• Defenders Vol. 2 #1-12
• Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Comic Magazine #5, 8 (Dialogue Scripts)
• Fantastic Four/Spider-Man Classic TPB
• Heroes (Page In Marvel Benefit Poster Book)
• Iron Man:
  • Iron Man Vol. 3 #1-25 (#14-25 Co-Plot)
  • Iron Man/Captain America '98 (Co-Plot)
  • Iron Man 1999 (Co-Plot)
  • Iron Man: The Iron Age #1-2
• Marvel Age Annual #1 (Pages In "Jam" Story)
• Marvel Holiday Special 1994 (Short Comics Story)
• Marvel Super Heroes #9, 12, 13 (Comics Stories In Anthology)
• Marvel Year-In-Review '92 (Short Humor Pieces)
• Marvels #1-4 (Collected In TPB & HC Form)
• Marvels: Eye Of The Camera #1-6 (Forthcoming)
• Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet
• Maximum Security #1-3
• New Thunderbolts #1-6 (Co-Plotter)
• New Thunderbolts: One Step Forward TPB
• Night Thrasher #15-18, 20, 21
• Open Space #1 (Short Comics Story)
• The Order: Defenders Against The Earth #1-6
• Power Man And Iron Fist #90, 92-100, 102, 105
• Spider-Man:
  • Spectacular Spider-Man #176-177
  • Spider-Man: Legacy Of Evil GN
  • Spider-Man Team-Up #7
  • Spider-Man Unlimited #2-5
  • Spider-Man Visionaries: Kurt Busiek Vol. 1 TPB
  • Spider-Man/X-Factor #1-3
• Squadron Supreme: Death Of A Universe TPB
• Strange Tales GN
• Tales Of The Marvel Universe #1
• Thor: Godstorm #1-3
• Thunderbolts:
  • Thunderbolts #0 (Wizard)
  • Thunderbolts #1-33
  • Thunderbolts: Distant Rumblings
  • Thunderbolts '97
  • Thunderbolts: Justice Like Lightning TPB
• Untold Tales of Spider-Man:
  • Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #1-25
  • Untold Tales Of Spider-Man '96, '97
  • Untold Tales Of Spider-Man TPB
  • Untold Tales Of Spider-Man: Strange Encounter
• Web of Spider-Man #81-83
• What If #13, 23, 26, 44, 46, 47, 60-62
• What The #3, 4, 8, 17 (All Short Comics Stories)
• Wonder Man Annual #1 (Backup Story)
• X-Men: Alterniverse Visions TPB

[edit] Wildstorm (Homage, Cliffhanger, Wildstorm Signature)

• Arrowsmith #1-6
• Arrowsmith: So Smart In Their Fine Uniforms TPB
• Astro City:
  • Astro City: A Visitor’s Guide
  • Astro City: Life In The Big City TPB, HC
  • Astro City: Confession TPB, HC
  • Astro City: Family Album TPB, HC
  • Astro City: The Tarnished Angel TPB, HC
  • Astro City: Local Heroes TPB, HC
  • Astro City: Local Heroes #1-5
  • Astro City: The Dark Age Book One #1-4
  • Astro City: The Dark Age Book Two #1-4
  • Astro City Special: Supersonic
  • Astro City Special: Samaritan
  • Astro City Special: Beautie
  • Astro City/Arrowsmith Flip Book
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City Volume 2 #1-22
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 2 #1 3-D Edition
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City #1/2 (Homage Edition)
• The Wizard's Tale (TPB & HC)

[edit] Other

• Darkman vs. Army of Darkness #1-4
• Mickey Mouse #16 (Lead Story)
• The Liberty Project TPB (Collects Eclipse Series)
• Ninjak Vol. 2 #1-7 (Co-Plots On #8-9, Consultation On #10-12)
• Elvira #2, 3, 5, 7 (2 Stories), 9, 10, 11, 25, 50, 100
• Elvira Mistress Of The Dark TPB Vols 1-2
• Phantom Of Fear City #4-11 (Backup Series: Tiberius Fox)
• Liberty Project #1-8
• Merchants Of Death #1-4 (Short Comics Stories)
• Miracleman: Apocrypha #2 (Short Comics Story)
• Total Eclipse Special: The Seraphim Objective #1
• Zot! #7 (Backup Story)
• Shockrockets #1-6
• Superstar: As Seen On TV
• Creepy #2 (Short Comics Story)
• Creepy Fear Book (Short Vampirella Story)
• Vampirella:
  • Vampirella/Cain Flip Book (Reprints Creepy Fear Book Story)
  • Vampirella: The Dracula War TPB (Reprints Material From "Monthly")
  • Vampirella: Morning In America #1-4
  • Vampirella's Summer Nights (3 Short Comics Stories)
  • Vampirella "Monthly" #1, 2
• Metal Hurlant #1 (Short Comics Story)
• Redhand Vols. 1-2 (Graphic Album Series)
• Superstar: As Seen On TV (Ashcan)
• Spirit: The New Adventures #4 (Short Comics Story)
• Ultraverse Premiere #4, 6, 7 (Short Comics Stories)
• Icon #11
• Static #12
• Newer York (Story In Prose SF Anthology Edited By Lawrence Watt-Evans)
• Hotter Blood (Short Story In Prose Horror Anthology Edited By Jeff Gelb)
• Spider-Man: Goblin Moon (Novel; W/Nathan Archer)
• Satan's Six #4 (Backup Story)
• Silver Star #1
• Teenagents #1-4
• Topps Comics Presents #0 (Two Short Stories)
• Victory #1
• Jell-O Man #1 (Short Comics Story)
• Real Ghostbusters Magazine Winter 1991 (Short Comics Story)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Magazine Winter 1992 (Prose Story)
• Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Magazine #1 (Short Comics Story
• Wizard Presents Astro City #1/2

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Astro City Homepage
• Mescallado, Ray. "Trimmings: Kurt Busiek [interview]", Comics Journal #216 (Oct. 1999).
• Doane, Alan David . "The Ministry Interviews: Kurt Busiek," Silver Bullet Comics/Comics Bulletin, (June 23, 2000)
• B., Sergio. Interview at Comic Book Gazette (Apr. 15).
• Sampling of Busiek's comic book fan letters, 1977–1981
• Press release announcing Busiek's exclusive contract with DC (Dec. 28, 2005).

Preceded by None	Thunderbolts writer 1997–2000	Succeeded by Fabian Nicieza
Preceded by Walt Simonson	Avengers writer 1998–2002	Succeeded by Geoff Johns
Preceded by Jim Lee & Jeph Loeb	Iron Man writer 1997–2000 (with Roger Stern in 1998–2000)	Succeeded by Joe Quesada
Preceded by Greg Rucka & Geoff Johns	Superman writer 2006-2008 (with Geoff Johns in 2006)	Succeeded by James Dale Robinson