Paul Levitz

• Born 1956-10-21

Paul Levitz is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC from 2002 to 2009, he worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles. In December 1972, editor Joe Orlando gave Levitz his first freelance work, initially writing text pages and letter pages, and later working as a per diem assistant editor before writing stories. After serving as Joe Orlando's assistant editor, in 1976 Levitz became the editor of [Adventure Comics](app://series/98). In 1978, he succeeded Julius Schwartz as the editor of the Batman line of comics. As a writer, Levitz is best known for his work on the Legion of Super-Heroes, which he wrote from 1977–1979 and 1981–1989, including the relaunch [Legion of Super-Heroes](app://series/2835). With artist [Steve Ditko](app://creator/19), Levitz co-created the characters Stalker and the Prince Gavyn version of Starman. He wrote the Justice Society series in [All-Star Comics](app://series/2321) during the late 1970s and co-created the Earth-2 [The Huntress](app://character/10118) with artist [Joe Staton](app://creator/6812). Levitz work on management level for DC Comic includes executive coordinator, from 1977 to 1979; business manager and manager of business affairs, from 1980 to 1982; vice president operations, from 1982 to 1984; executive vice president and publisher, from 1984 to 2002; and president and publisher, from 2002 to 2009. He focused on the management work from 1990 on. Along with publisher Jenette Kahn and managing editor Dick Giordano, Levitz was responsible for hiring such writers as Marv Wolfman and Alan Moore, artists such as George Pérez, Keith Giffen, and John Byrne, and editor Karen Berger, who contributed to the 1980s revitalization of the company's line of comic book heroes. In 2006, Levitz returned to writing the Justice Society with issue [JSA #82 (April 2006)](app://issue/275162), completing that volume before writer Geoff Johns' relaunch. In 2009 Levitz stepped down as president and publisher of DC. He worked on [75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking #[nn] (2010)](app://issue/1952544) and became the writer of both [Adventure Comics](app://series/32602) and [Legion of Super-Heroes](app://series/43909), followed by longer runs on [Worlds' Finest](app://series/63328) and [Doctor Fate](app://series/90250). He also wrote [Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel #[nn] (2015)](app://issue/2119174), an illustrated biography/art book on Eisner’s work. His only work for Marvel is [The Avengers: War Across Time](app://series/194942). Syndication work: World's Greatest Super-heroes daily and Sunday (Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate, 1978 series), writer, from 1979 to 1981.