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Mark Gruenwald

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Mark Gruenwald
Gruenwald at a comic convention in New York City in the early 1990s
BornMark Eugene Gruenwald
(1953-06-18)June 18, 1953[1]
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.[2]
DiedAugust 12, 1996(1996-08-12) (aged 43)
Pawling, New York, U.S.[2]
Area(s)Writer, Penciller, Editor
Notable works
Captain America
Squadron Supreme
Quasar
DP7
AwardsComics Buyer's Guide Fan Award, 1987, 1996
Spouse(s)
Belinda Glass
​
​
(m. 1981; div. 1988)​
Catherine Schuller
​
(m. 1992)​
Children1

Mark Eugene Gruenwald (/ˈɡruːnwɔːld/ GROON-wawld;[3] June 18, 1953 – August 12, 1996) was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler known for his long association with Marvel Comics.

Career

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Early career

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Gruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity. Before being hired by Marvel, he wrote text articles for DC Comics’ official fanzine, The Amazing World of DC Comics. Articles by Gruenwald include "The Martian Chronicles" (a history of the Martian Manhunter) in issue #13[4] and several articles on the history of the Justice League in issue #14.[5]

Entry to Marvel

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In 1978 he was hired by Marvel Comics, where he remained for the rest of his career. Hired initially as an assistant editor in January 1978, Gruenwald was promoted to full editorship by Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter in 1982, putting Gruenwald in charge of The Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Spider Woman, and What If.[6][7][8] During this period, he shared an office with writer/editor Denny O'Neil, whom Gruenwald considered a mentor.[9]

Penciler

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During the years 1982–1984, Gruenwald did fill-in pencil work for a handful of Marvel comics, most notably the 1983 Hawkeye limited series, but also issues of What If?, Marvel Team-Up Annual, The Incredible Hulk, and Questprobe.[10]

The cover of Comic Reader #180 (May–June 1980) featuring Hawkman and Adam Strange[11] and the entry for Merlyn the Archer in Who's Who: the Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #15 (May 1986)[12] were Gruenwald's only comics artwork outside of Marvel.

Writer

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In 1982, Gruenwald, Steven Grant, and Bill Mantlo co-wrote Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions,[13] the first limited series published by Marvel Comics. As a writer, Gruenwald is best known for creating the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe[14] and his ten-year stint as the writer of Captain America (from 1985 to 1995) – during which he contributed several notable characters such as Crossbones, Diamondback and U.S. Agent. He made a deliberate effort to create villains who would be specific to Captain America, as opposed to generic foes who could as easily have been introduced in another comic.[15] At one point Gruenwald owned a replica of Captain America's shield – the same shield now owned by Stephen Colbert.[16]

His 60-issue run on Quasar[17] (1989–1994) realized Gruenwald's ambition to write his own kind of superhero. However, he considered his magnum opus to be the mid-1980s 12-issue maxiseries Squadron Supreme, which told the story of an alternate universe where a group of well-intended superheroes decide that they would be best suited to run the planet. Gruenwald was highly loyal to each series he wrote. In addition to his lengthy stint on Captain America, he wrote the entire runs of both Quasar (save for one issue) and D.P.7,[18] and Jim Salicrup recalled that when Gruenwald was taken off of Spider-Woman after only 12 issues, he "was crushed."[19]

Executive editor

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Gruenwald at a comics convention panel in the early 1990s

On September 1, 1987, Gruenwald became Marvel's executive editor,[15] with a particular remit as the keeper of continuity. Gruenwald was famous for a perfect recollection of even the most trivial details.

In the pages of Fantastic Four, Walt Simonson paid homage to Gruenwald by having the Time Variance Authority (TVA)'s staff all be clones of Gruenwald; no one could keep track of everything but him.

Gruenwald was a recurring character with Tom DeFalco in the single-panel comic The Bull's Eye that ran in Marvel comics in the late 1980s–early 1990s, created by Rick Parker and Barry Dutter. These strips, which ran on the Bullpen Bulletins page during the majority of DeFalco's run as editor-in-chief, featured Gruenwald depicted as a caricature and foil for DeFalco's antics.

Personal life and death

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Gruenwald married singer Belinda Glass in May 1981.[20] They later divorced, and he married Catherine Schuller on October 12, 1992, in New York after a year's courtship; she was the executor of Gruenwald's famous will. Gruenwald had a daughter, Sara.[2]

In 1996, Gruenwald succumbed to a heart attack, the result of an unsuspected congenital heart defect. Gruenwald was a well-known practical joker and, due to his young age, many of his friends and co-workers initially believed the reports of his death to be just another joke. Just days prior, he had done one of his trademark cartwheels down the halls of the Bullpen. A longtime lover of comics, Gruenwald made it known among his friends and family that his one desire was to have his ashes used in part of a comic. In accordance with his request, he was cremated, and his ashes were mixed with the ink used to print the first printing of the trade paperback compilation of Squadron Supreme.[21]

Legacy

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The Amalgam Comics book The Exciting X-Patrol #1 (June 1997) and the Marvel Comics book Generation X #21 (November 1996) are dedicated to Gruenwald's memory as was Peter Parker: Spider-Man #75 which saw the return of Norman Osborn after his supposed death twenty years earlier.

In the DC Universe, a building in Gotham City was named the Von Gruenwald Tower,[22] and in the novel Captain America: Liberty's Torch written by Tony Isabella and Bob Ingersoll, the lawyer kidnapped to defend the similarly kidnapped Captain America in a mock trial before a militia is named Mark Gruenwald, and is described with the same general physical attributes and personality as the real Gruenwald. The lawyer acts heroically throughout the story.[23]

In Richard Starkings' Elephantmen, the executive director of the Information Agency where almost all of the main characters of the series work is called Gruenwald and bears a strong resemblance to Gruenwald. In an interview with Newsarama, Richard Starkings confirmed that the character was based on his friend.[24]

In volume four of Nova from Marvel Comics, the new director of Project Pegasus is named Dr. Gruenwald.[25]

In 2006, Gruenwald was officially named the "Patron Saint of Marveldom" in the new "Bullpen Bulletins" pages.[26]

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) show Loki, TVA analyst Mobius M. Mobius is portrayed by Owen Wilson, and is made to resemble Gruenwald's likeness.[27]

Jason Olsen's Mark Gruenwald and the Star Spangled Symbolism of Captain America, 1985-1995, a book about Gruenwald's run on Captain America, was published by McFarland & Company in 2021.[28]

Selected bibliography

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Regular writer

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  • Spider-Woman #9–20 (December 1978 – November 1979) – (#17–20 with outside plot assists)
  • Marvel Two-in-One #53–58, 60–72 (July 1979 – February 1981) – (co-writer #53-58, 60, 64–72)
  • Thor #299-302, 304–307 (September 1980 – May 1981) – (co-writer)
  • Thor #303 (January 1981) – (second story), 311–314 (September 1981 – December 1981) – (Tales of Asgard story; co-writer)
  • What If? #25–28 (February 1981 – August 1981) – (Eternals story)
  • Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1–3 (June 1982 – August 1982) – (limited series; co-writer)
  • Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1–15 (January 1983 – March 1984) – (limited series; co-writer #4–14)
  • Hawkeye #1–4 (September 1983 – December 1983) – (limited series)
  • Captain America #307–422, 424–443, Annual #8, 10-12 (July 1985 – September 1995)
  • Squadron Supreme #1–12 (September 1985 – August 1986) – (limited series)
  • The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol. 2) #1–20 (December 1985 – March 1987) – (limited series; co-writer)
  • D.P.7 #1–32, Annual #1 (November 1986 – June 1989)
  • The Pitt (March 1988) – (one-shot; co-writer)
  • The Draft (July 1988) – (one-shot; co-writer)
  • "The Saga of the High Evolutionary: Parts 1–11" (1988) – (back-up story in most 1988 Marvel Annuals)
  • Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe (1989) – (one-shot)
  • Quasar #1–58, 60 (October 1989 – July 1994)
  • The Avengers #319–324 (July 1990 – October 1990) – (Avengers Crew back-up stories)
  • U.S. Agent #1–4 (June 1993 – September 1993) – (limited series)
  • Avengers: The Terminatrix Objective #1–4 (September 1993 – December 1993) – (limited series)
  • Starblast #1–4 (January 1994 – April 1994) – (limited series)
  • Starmasters #1–3 (December 1995 – February 1996) – (limited series)
  • Combo Man #1 (January 1996) – (one-shot)
  • Captain America: The Legend #1 (September 1996) – (one-shot)
  • Thor: The Legend #1 (September 1996) – (one-shot)

Fill-in writer

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  • Thor #281–282 (March 1979 – April 1979), #318 (second story) – (April 1982) – (co-writer)
  • The Defenders #77 (November 1979) – (co-writer)
  • The Avengers #185–187 (July 1979 – September 1979) – (co-writer)
  • The Avengers #189 (November 1979) – (co-writer)
  • "The First Celestial Host!" What If? #23 (October 1980) – (Celestials story)
  • The Amazing Spider-Man #208 (September 1980) – (co-writer)
  • ROM #24 (November 1981) – (co-writer)
  • Marvel Team-Up #113 (January 1982)
  • "Gore Galore." Bizarre Adventures #31 (April 1982) – (Hangman story)
  • What If? #32 (April 1982) – (Avengers story)
  • The Defenders #108–109 (June 1982 – July 1982) – (co-writer)
  • "The Prophet." Bizarre Adventures #32 (August 1982) – (Aquarian story)
  • What If? #34 (August 1982) – (co-writer)
  • Marvel Team-Up Annual #5 (1982)
  • ROM Annual #1 (1982) – (co-writer)
  • Thor Annual #10 (1982) – (co-writer)
  • Bizarre Adventures #34 (February 1983)
  • "What if the Universe Ceased to Exist?" What If? #43 (February 1984)
  • Fantastic Four Annual #18 (November 1984) – (co-writer)
  • Daredevil #234 (September 1986)
  • Kickers, Inc. #5 (March 1987) – (co-writer)
  • New Mutants Annual #4 (1988)
  • Justice #15 (January 1988) – (co-writer)
  • The Avengers #290 (April 1988) – (co-writer)
  • West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #40 (January 1989)
  • "The Initiation of Quasar." The Avengers Annual #18 (1989) – (Quasar story)
  • "Inferno Aftermath." X-Factor Annual #4 (1989)
  • "Rate the Hunks." Avengers West Coast Annual #4 (1989)
  • "It Came From Within." Marvel Comics Presents #29 (October 1989) – (Quasar story)
  • "The Savior of Lost Artifacts." Fantastic Four Annual #22 (1989)
  • "Acts of Vengeance: Epilogue." Avengers Annual #19 (1990)
  • "Girls Don't Wanna Have Fun!" Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular #1 (August 1990) – (Quasar story; co-writer)
  • The Avengers #325 (October 1990)
  • "Brothers." Captain America Annual #10 (1991) – (Bushmaster story)
  • "Test Flight." Captain America Annual #11 (1992) – (Falcon story; co-writer)
  • Fantastic Four Annual #25 (1992) – (Citizen Kang, Part 3)
  • Avengers Annual #21 (1992) – (Citizen Kang, Part 4)
  • Fantastic Four Annual #27 (1994)
  • Over the Edge #2 (December 1995) – (Doctor Strange story)
  • Fantastic Four: The Legend #1 (October 1996) – (one-shot)
  • Sensational Spider-Man '96 #1 (November 1996) – (Spider-Woman story; one-shot)

Penciller

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Editor-in-Chief

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Executive Editor

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  • The War #1–4 (June 1989 – March 1990)

Editor

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Assistant Editor

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Colorist

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References

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  1. ^ "M E Gruenwald". United States Social Security Death Index. Retrieved March 12, 2013. The United States Social Security Death Index gives date of death as '15 August 1996.'
  2. ^ a b c "Mark Gruenwald Marvel Comics Editor, 43". The New York Times. August 18, 1996. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  3. ^ Mark Gruenwald Interviewed by Joe Field 1988. Event occurs at 00:18 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Amazing World of DC Comics #13 (Oct. 1976)". Metropolisplus.com. n.d. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016.
  5. ^ "Amazing World of DC Comics #14 (March–April 1977)". Metropolisplus.com. n.d. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016.
  6. ^ "Avengers Assemble! A Memo From... Mark!" Avengers No. 222 (Marvel Comics, August 1982).
  7. ^ Shooter, Jim. "Bullpen Bulletins," Marvel comics cover-dated November 1983.
  8. ^ Mark Gruenwald (editor) at the Grand Comics Database
  9. ^ Gruenwald, Mark (October 1987). "Mark's Remarks". Marvel Comics. Archived from the original on October 21, 2009.
  10. ^ Mark Gruenwald's credits as an artist at the Grand Comics Database
  11. ^ "Comic Reader #180". Grand Comics Database.
  12. ^ "Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #15". Grand Comics Database.
  13. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1980s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 208. ISBN 978-0756641238. Plotted by Mark Gruenwald, Steven Grant, and Bill Mantlo, and penciled by John Romita, Jr., Contest of Champions eventually saw print in June 1982. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 210: "As soon as he became an editor, he proposed Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Its first volume ran for fifteen issues and included a full image of each character, their vital statistics, their brief history, an explanation of their powers, and any unique weaponry they used."
  15. ^ a b Zimmerman, Dwight Jon (January 1988). "Mark Gruenwald". Comics Interview. No. 54. Fictioneer Books. pp. 5–23.
  16. ^ Jones, Seth (August 11, 2007). "WWC: Civil War & Remembrance Panel -Updated!". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
  17. ^ DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 242
  18. ^ DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 228: "Created by editor Mark Gruenwald and artist Paul Ryan, D.P. 7 was published under the New Universe imprint."
  19. ^ Hembeck, Fred (2006). "The Fred Hembeck Show: Episode 72 - The Mark Gruenwald Show". Asitecalledfred.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013.
  20. ^ Shooter, Jim. "Bullpen Bulletins," Marvel comics cover dated August 1982.
  21. ^ Cronin, Brian (June 3, 2005). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #1". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
  22. ^ Manning, Matthew K. (2011). The Batman Files. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-1449408220.
  23. ^ Isabella, Tony; Ingersoll, Bob (1998). Captain America: Liberty's Torch. Berkley Books. pp. 272. ISBN 978-0425166192.
  24. ^ Wigler, Josh (April 21, 2010). "Starkings' Elephantmen Turns 25". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. When I found myself looking for a character who knew more about the world of the Elephantmen than anyone else in that world, I thought of Mark, who in many ways knew more about the Marvel Universe than anyone else.
  25. ^ Abnett, Dan; Lanning, Andy (w), Alves, Wellinton; Burges, Geraldo (p), Hanna, Scott (i). "Brothers in Arms" Nova, vol. 4, no. 17 (November 2008).
  26. ^ DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 235: "He died unexpectedly on August 12, 1996 and was named the patron saint of Marvel in 2006."
  27. ^ Whitbrook, James (April 5, 2021). "Marvel Secrets in the New Loki Trailer: The Avengers, Time-Keepers, and More". io9. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  28. ^ Olsen, Jason (2021). Mark Gruenwald and the Star Spangled Symbolism of Captain America, 1985-1995. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company. ISBN 978-1-4766-8150-4.
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Preceded by Marvel Comics Group Editors-in-Chief:
Avengers titles
Bob Budiansky, Spider-Man titles
Bobbie Chase, Marvel Edge titles
Bob Harras, X-Men titles
Carl Potts, licensed-property titles
1994–1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Marvel Two-in-One writer
(with Ralph Macchio)
1978–1981 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Thor writer
(with Ralph Macchio)
1980–1981 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Captain America writer
1985–1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Avengers writer
1990
(back-up stories; main stories by Fabian Nicieza) 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_Gruenwald&oldid=1274999485"