Legendary DC Comics writer and editor Dennis “Denny” O’Neil turns 77 years old today.
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O’Neil is chiefly associated with the Batman titles, which he wrote or edited for years, or for his groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed runs on The Question, The Shadow and Green Lantern/Green Arrow, which he made with artist Neal Adams, his partner on Batman.
O’Neil, Adams and editor Julius Schwartz are generally credited for revitalizing a flagging Batman franchise following the crash of the ’60s-era Batmania. Eschewing the light, bright and sometimes goofy comics of the ’60s and early ’70s, O’Neil and Adams built the template for the Dark Knight we know today, including a darkening of his color palette and the decision to make Batman seem almost obsessed. The pair also introduced a new feel for the title, including new villains like Ra’s al Ghul, currently appearing on Arrow.
O’Neil, along with current Marvel Comics executive Joe Quesada, created the character of Azrael, a version of whom is being used as the bad guy on Gotham this season.
He’s also the one responsible for bringing The Question to prominence as a Randian stoic, inspired in no small part by Watchmen‘s Rorschach.
O’Neil would later be one of the chief architects of the “Knightfall” storyline, which saw Batman break his back and be replaced by Azrael, a character O’Neil had co-created.
Over the years, he also worked at Marvel, working on titles like The Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man and Daredevil.
