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'{{BLP sources|d ate=November 2008|date=March 2012}} {{Infobox comics creator | image = Swamp Thing and Len Wein.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Len Wein (right), with fan dressed as [[Swamp Thing]], at [[CONvergence]] 2005 | birth_name = | birth_date =<!-- {{Birth date and age|1948|06|12}}--> June 12 | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | nationality = American | area = | write = y | edit = y | alias = | notable works = [[Swamp Thing]]<br>[[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]]<br>[[X-Men]]<br>[[Human Target|The Human Target]]<br>[[Justice League of America]] | awards = [[Shazam Award]], 1972, 1973<br />[[Inkpot Award]], 1979<br />''Comics Buyers Guide'' Award, 1982<br />[[List of Eisner Award winners#The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame|Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame]], 2008 | subcat = American }} '''Len Wein''' ({{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|w|iː|n}}; born June 12)<ref name="CBG">[[John Jackson Miller|Miller, John Jackson]]. [http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays "Comics Industry Birthdays"], ''[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]'', June 10, 2005. Accessed January 17, 2010. [http://www.webcitation.org/5trAbNQWw WebCitation archive].</ref> <!--1948, [[New York City]], [[New York]])-->is an American [[comic book]] [[writer]] and [[editing|editor]] best known for co-creating [[DC Comics]]' [[Swamp Thing]] and [[Marvel Comics]]' [[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]], and for helping revive the Marvel [[superhero]] team the [[X-Men]] (including the co-creation of [[Nightcrawler (comics)|Nightcrawler]], [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]], and [[Colossus (comics)|Colossus]]). Additionally, he was the editor for writer [[Alan Moore]] and illustrator [[Dave Gibbons]]' influential DC [[miniseries]] ''[[Watchmen]]''. Wein was inducted into the [[List of Eisner Award winners#The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame|Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame]] in 2008. ==Biography== ===Early career=== In a 2003 interview, Len Wein recalled that he "was a very sickly kid. While I was in the hospital at age seven, my dad brought me a stack of comic books to keep me occupied. And I was hooked. When my eighth grade art teacher, Mr. Smedley, told me he thought I had actual art talent, I decided to devote all my efforts in that direction in the hope that I might someday get into the comics biz."<ref name=wolfmaninterview1>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicsbulletin.com/wolfman/104904908691023.htm|title= Speaking With... Len Wein|last= Wolfman|first= Marv |authorlink= Marv Wolfman|date= March 30, 2003|work= "What Th--?" (column)|publisher= [[Comics Bulletin]]|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5v1pNP1CU|archivedate= December 16, 2010|deadurl= y |accessdate= |quote= }}</ref> Approximately once a month, as a teenager, Wein and his friend [[Marv Wolfman]] took [[DC Comics]]' weekly Thursday afternoon tour of the company's offices.<ref name=wolfmaninterview1 /> Wolfman was active in [[fanzine]] culture, and together he and Wein produced sample superhero stories to show to the DC editorial staff. At that point, Wein was more interested in becoming an artist than a writer.<ref name="SilverAgeSage" /> In a 2008 interview, Wein said his origins as an artist have helped him "describe art to an artist so that I can see it all in my own head", and claimed he "used to have artists, especially at DC, guys like [[Irv Novick]] and a few of the others, who would come into the office waiting for their next assignment and ask [editor] [[Julie Schwartz]], 'Do you have any Len Wein scripts lying around? He's always easy to draw.'"<ref name="SilverAgeSage" /> Eventually, DC editor [[Joe Orlando]] hired both Wolfman and Wein as freelance writers.<ref name="SilverAgeSage">Stroud, Bryan D. [http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/wein.shtml "Len Wein Interview"], The Silver Age Sage, 2008.<!--site not archivable through WebCitation.org--></ref> Wein's first professional comics story was "Eye of the Beholder" in DC's ''[[Teen Titans]]'' #18 (Dec. 1968), for which he co-created with Wolfman [[Red Star (comics)|Red Star]], the first official Russian superhero in the DC universe. [[Neal Adams]] was called upon to rewrite and redraw a ''Teen Titans'' story which had been written by Wein and Wolfman. The story, titled "Titans Fit the Battle of Jericho!", would have introduced DC's first [[African American]] superhero but was rejected by publisher [[Carmine Infantino]].<ref>{{cite book| last = Cronin| first = Brian| title = Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed | publisher = [[Plume (publisher)|Plume]]| year = 2009| pages = | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=SFgiXbVykSIC&pg=PT67&dq=Teen+Titans+Len+Wein+Marv+Wolfman+Joshua&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Dv4RT_a-Heb10gGU_8X7BQ&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Teen%20Titans%20Len%20Wein%20Marv%20Wolfman%20Joshua&f=false| isbn = 045229532}}</ref> The revised story appeared in ''Teen Titans'' #20 (March–April 1969). Later that year, Wein was writing [[anthology|anthological]] mystery stories for DC's ''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|The House of Secrets]]'' and Marvel's ''Tower of Shadows'' and ''Chamber of Darkness''. He additionally began writing for DC's [[Romance comics in the United States (1946–1975)|romance]] comic ''Secret Hearts'' and the company's [[toy|toy-line]] tie-in ''[[Hot Wheels]]''; [[Skywald Publications]]' [[horror fiction|horror]]-comics [[magazine]]s ''Nightmare'' and ''Psycho'' and its short-lived [[Western comics|Western]] comic books ''The Bravados'' and ''The Sundance Kid''; and [[Gold Key]]'s ''[[Mod Wheels]]'', ''[[Boris Karloff]] Tales of Mystery'', the toyline tie-in ''[[Microbots]]'', and the [[TV-series]] tie-ins ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' and ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]''. ===DC and Marvel Comics=== <!-- This use of this image has no rationale on the image's page. Please read [[Wikipedia:NFCC#10c]] [[Image:HouseOfSecrets92.jpg|thumb|left|''The House of Secrets'' #92 (July 1971), introducing [[Swamp Thing]]. Cover art by [[Bernie Wrightson]]]] --> Wein's first [[superhero]] work for Marvel was a one-off story in ''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics)|Daredevil]]'' #71 (Dec. 1970) co-written with staff writer/editor [[Roy Thomas]]. Wein later began scripting sporadic issues of such DC superhero titles as ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' (featuring [[Supergirl]] and [[Zatanna]]), ''[[Flash (comics)|The Flash]]'', and ''[[Superman]]'', while continuing to write anthological mysteries, along with well-received stories for the semi-anthological [[occult]] title ''[[Phantom Stranger|The Phantom Stranger]]'' #14–26 (Aug. 1971 – Sept. 1973). Wein and artist [[Bernie Wrightson]] created the [[horror fiction|horror]] character [[Swamp Thing]] in ''The House of Secrets'' #92 (July 1971).<ref>{{cite book|last=McAvennie|first= Michael|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah, ed.|chapter= 1970s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 146 |quote = 'Swamp Thing' was the name of Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson's turn-of-the-century tale, and its popularity with readers led a modernized version of the character into his own series a year later.}}</ref> Over the next several decades, Swamp Thing would star in DC series and miniseries — including an initial 1972–76 series begun by Wein and Wrightson,<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 153: "Following his debut in ''House of Secrets'' #92 in 1971, the Swamp Thing grew into his own series, albeit with a reimagining of his origins by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson."</ref> and the mid-1980s ''Saga of the Swamp Thing'', edited by Wein and featuring early work by writer [[Alan Moore]] — as well as two theatrical [[films]], and a [[Television syndication|syndicated]] [[television series]]. [[Abby Holland|Abigail Arcane]], a major supporting character in the character's mythos was introduced by Wein and Wrightson in ''Swamp Thing'' #3 (Feb.-March 1973).<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 154: "Scribe Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson left Swamp Thing some company...the woman who would become Swamp Thing's soul mate, Abigail Arcane."</ref> Wein wrote the second story featuring [[Man-Thing]] (written circa May 1971, published in June 1972), introducing [[Mockingbird (Marvel Comics)|Barbara Morse]] and the concept that "Whoever Knows Fear Burns at the Man-Thing's Touch", and later edited [[Steve Gerber]]'s run on that title. [[Image:Giantsize1.jpg|thumb|''Giant-Size X-Men'' #1 (May 1975). Cover art by [[Gil Kane]] & [[Dave Cockrum]].]] Wein wrote a well-regarded run of ''[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]'' (issues #100–114) wherein, together with artist [[Dick Dillin]], he re-introduced the [[Seven Soldiers of Victory]] in issues #100-102<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 152 "Through an impromptu team-up of the JLA and the Justice Society on Earth-2, writer Len Wein and artist Dick Dillin ushered in the return of DC's Seven Soldiers of Victory."</ref> and the [[Freedom Fighters (comics)|Freedom Fighters]] in issues #107-108.<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 156 "The annual Justice League-Justice Society get-together resulted in scribe Len Wein and artist Dick Dillin transporting both teams to the alternate reality of Earth-X. There, Nazi Germany ruled after winning a prolonged World War II and only a group of champions called the Freedom Fighters remained to oppose the regime."</ref> In the fall of 1972, Wein and writers [[Gerry Conway]] and [[Steve Englehart]] crafted a [[metafiction]]al unofficial [[Intercompany crossover|crossover]] spanning titles from both major comics companies. Each comic featured Englehart, Conway, and Wein, as well as Wein's first wife [[Glynis Wein|Glynis]], [[List of comics creators appearing in comics|interacting with]] Marvel or DC characters at the [[Rutland Halloween Parade]] in [[Rutland (city), Vermont|Rutland, Vermont]]. Beginning in ''[[Amazing Adventures]]'' #16 (by Englehart with art by [[Bob Brown (comics)|Bob Brown]] and [[Frank McLaughlin (comics)|Frank McLaughlin]]), the story continued in ''Justice League of America'' #103 (by Wein, Dillin and [[Dick Giordano]]), and concluded in ''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]'' #207 (by Conway and penciler [[John Buscema]]). As Englehart explained in 2010, "It certainly seemed like a radical concept and we knew that we had to be subtle (laughs) and each story had to stand on its own, but we really worked it out. It's really worthwhile to read those stories back to back to back — it didn't matter to us that one was at DC and two were at Marvel — I think it was us being creative, thinking what would be really cool to do."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/30/rutland-halloween-parade-marvel-dc-crossover/|title= The Rutland Halloween Parade: Where Marvel and DC First Collided|last= Larnick|first= Eric |date= October 30, 2010|publisher= [[ComicsAlliance|ComicsAlliance.com]]|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/63ia1MoQZ|archivedate= December 5, 2011|deadurl= |accessdate= December 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/10/01/comic-book-legends-revealed-280/|title= Comic Book Legends Revealed #280|last= Cronin|first= Brian|date= October 1, 2010|publisher= [[ComicBookResources.com]] |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/63iZZ9PQQ|archivedate= December 5, 2011|deadurl= |accessdate= December 5, 2011|quote= }}</ref><ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/25821/ ''Amazing Adventures'' #16 (Jan. 1973)], [http://www.comics.org/issue/25700/ ''Justice League of America'' #103 (Dec. 1972)], and [http://www.comics.org/issue/25851/ ''Thor'' #207 (Jan. 1973)] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref> [[Libra (DC Comics)|Libra]], a [[supervillain]] created by Wein and Dillin in ''Justice League of America'' #111 (May–June 1974),<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 160 "Through the words of scripter Len Wein and the art of Dick Dillin, the masked menace of Libra established himself as a grave threat to the World's Greatest Heroes."</ref> would play a leading role in [[Grant Morrison]]'s ''[[Final Crisis]]'' storyline in 2008. Wein co-created the [[Human Target]] with artist [[Carmine Infantino]]<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 153 "Starting as a back-up feature in the pages of ''Action Comics'', scribe Len Wein and artist Carmine Infantino introduced Christopher Chance, a master of disguise who would turn himself into a human target - provided you could meet his price."</ref> and wrote the character's appearances as a backup feature in ''[[Action Comics]]'', ''[[Detective Comics]]'', and ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]''. The character was adapted into a short-lived [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[Human Target (1992 TV series)|television series]] starring [[Rick Springfield]] which debuted in July 1992,<ref>[http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/human-target/202148 "Human Target on ABC"] TVGuide.com Retrieved January 31, 2011</ref> and was revived for a [[Human Target (2010 TV series)|new two-season series]] on FOX that starred [[Mark Valley]], [[Chi McBride]] and [[Jackie Earle Haley]]. In the early 1970s, Wein began writing regularly for [[Marvel Comics]]. He succeeded Roy Thomas as editor-in-chief of the color-comics line in 1974, staying a little over a year before handing the reins to Wolfman. Remaining at Marvel as a writer, Wein had lengthy runs on ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'', ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'', ''[[The Incredible Hulk]]'', ''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|The Mighty Thor]]'' and ''[[Fantastic Four]]'', as well as shorter runs on such titles as ''[[Defenders (comics)|The Defenders]]'' and ''[[Brother Voodoo]]''. In 1975, he and artist [[Dave Cockrum]] revived the [[Stan Lee]] / [[Jack Kirby]] [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]]-[[superhero]] team the [[X-Men]] after a half-decade's hiatus, reformatting the membership. Among the characters the duo created for the series were [[Nightcrawler (comics)|Nightcrawler]], [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]], [[Colossus (comics)|Colossus]], and [[Thunderbird (comics)|Thunderbird]]. Wein had previously created [[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]], with artists [[John Romita Sr.]] and [[Herb Trimpe]], for ''The Incredible Hulk''. Wein plotted the early "new X-Men" stories with artist Cockrum. These issues were then scripted as ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #94 & 95 by [[Chris Claremont]], who subsequently developed the title into one of Marvel's leading franchises. In 2009, Claremont said, "The history of modern comics would be incredibly different if you took [Wein's] contributions out of the mix. The fact he doesn't get credit for it half the time is disgraceful. We owe a lot of what we are – certainly on the X-Men – to Len and to Dave [Cockrum]".<ref>[http://www.mania.com/legends-chris-claremont_article_114549.html Krug, Kurt Anthony. "Legends: Chris Claremont"], Mania.com, April 22, 2009</ref> ===Return to DC=== At the end of the 1970s, following a dispute with Marvel management, Wein returned to DC as a writer and an editor. He scripted ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' and collaborated on ''[[Green Lantern]]'' with artists [[Dave Gibbons]] and [[Mark Farmer]]. On his first issue of ''[[Batman]]'', #307 (Jan. 1979), he created Wayne Foundation executive [[Lucius Fox]],<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 180 "''Batman'' #307 (Jan. 1979) Writer Len Wein and artist John Calnan introduced Bruce Wayne's new executive, Lucius Fox, in this issue of ''Batman''."</ref> later portrayed by [[Morgan Freeman]] in the movies ''[[Batman Begins]] ''and ''[[The Dark Knight (film)|The Dark Knight]]''. With artist [[Marshall Rogers]], Wein co-created the third version of the supervillain [[Clayface#Preston Payne|Clayface]] in ''Detective Comics'' #478 (July-Aug. 1978).<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 179: "Writer Len Wein and artist Marshall Rogers vividly depicted Batman's battle with a third Clayface."</ref> He wrote ''[[The Untold Legend of the Batman]]'', the first Batman [[miniseries]], in 1980<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 187 "Written by Len Wein, with art by John Byrne and Jim Aparo, ''The Untold Legend of the Batman''...delved into the origin of the fabled Dark Knight."</ref> and the following year wrote a [[Intercompany crossover|DC-Marvel crossover]] between Batman and the [[Hulk (comics)|Hulk]] in ''[[DC Special Series]]'' #27 (Fall 1981).<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 195 "Written by Len Wein and illustrated by José Luis García-López, the comic saw...Batman and the Hulk doing battle with both the Joker and Marvel's ultra-powerful Shaper of Worlds."</ref> ''[[Pandora Pann]]'' was a proposed series by Wein and artist [[Ross Andru]] which was to have been published in 1982 but other commitments prevented Wein from writing it and the [[List of comics that were never published|project was cancelled]].<ref>[[Andy Mangels|Mangels, Andy]] "Opening the Box: Pandora Pann's Lost Adventures" ''Back Issue'' #46 (February 2011) TwoMorrows Publishing p. 37</ref> As editor, he worked on the first twelve issue limited series ''[[Camelot 3000]]'', and such successful series as ''[[Teen Titans|The New Teen Titans]]'', ''[[All-Star Squadron]]'', ''[[Batman and the Outsiders]]'', ''[[Who's Who in the DC Universe]]'', and [[Alan Moore]] and [[Dave Gibbons]]'s acclaimed and highly influential ''[[Watchmen]]''.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/search/advanced/process/?target=issue&method=icontains&logic=True&order1=series&order2=date&order3=&start_date=&end_date=&title=&feature=&job_number=&pages=&script=&pencils=&inks=&colors=&letters=&story_editing=Len+Wein&genre=&characters=&synopsis=&reprint_notes=&notes=&pub_name=DC&country=us&pub_notes=&brand=&brand_notes=&indicia_publisher=&is_surrogate=None&ind_pub_notes=&series=&series_notes=&tracking_notes=&issue_count=&language=en&issues=&volume=&issue_title=&variant_name=&issue_date=&indicia_frequency=&price=&issue_pages=&format=&issue_editing=Len+Wein&isbn=&barcode=&issue_notes=&is_indexed=None Len Wein (editor, DC Comics)] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref> In 1986, he wrote a revival of the ''[[Blue Beetle]]''<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 219 "The Blue Beetle swung into his own DC series with the help of writer Len Wein and artist Paris Cullins."</ref> and dialogued the miniseries ''[[Legends (comics)|Legends]]'' over the plots of [[John Ostrander]].<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 221 "DC's next big crossover showcased John Byrne's pencils on all six of the miniseries' issues. Entitled ''Legends'', this new limited series was plotted by writer John Ostrander and scripted by Len Wein...By the series' end, the stage was set for several new ongoing titles, including...the ''Suicide Squad'', as well as the ''Justice League''."</ref> The following year, Wein scripted the rebooted ''[[Wonder Woman]]'' series over [[penciller]] [[George Pérez]]'s plots. With artist [[Steve Erwin]], Wein co-created the superhero ''[[Gunfire (comics)|Gunfire]]''. ===Later career=== [[Image:Ghostwhowalks2040.jpg|thumb|left|DVD cover, ''Phantom 2040: The Ghost Who Walks'']]Following his second stint at DC and a move to the West Coast, Wein served as editor-in-chief of ''[[Disney Comics]]'' for three years in the early 1990s. After leaving Disney, Wein began writing and story editing for such [[animated television series]] as ''X-Men'', ''Batman'', ''Spider-Man'', ''Street Fighter'', ''[[ExoSquad]]'', ''[[Phantom 2040]]'', ''[[Godzilla]]'', ''[[Pocket Dragon Adventures]]'', ''[[ReBoot|Reboot]]'' and ''[[Shadow Raiders|War Planets: Shadow Raiders]]''. In 2001, he and Wolfman wrote the screenplay ''Gene Pool'' for the production company Helkon, and later wrote a prequel to the screenplay for a one-shot comic book for [[IDW Publishing]]. Wein collaborated with writer [[Kurt Busiek]] and artist [[Kelley Jones]] on the four-issue [[miniseries]] ''[[Conan (Dark Horse Comics)|Conan: The Book of Thoth]]'' for [[Dark Horse Comics]]. He has scripted the comics series ''[[Victorian (comics)|The Victorian]]'' for [[Penny-Farthing Press]] and has written comic-book stories for [[Bongo Comics]]' TV-series tie-ins ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and ''[[Futurama]]''.<!--The following sentence can't be phrased that way, since it's a disallowed temporal ref; please say instead: "So-and-so announced on such-and-when that Wein would write...--> From 2005 to 2008, Wein appeared as a recurring panelist on the Los Angeles-based revival of the TV [[game show]] ''[[What's My Line?]]'' He has written episodes of the [[Cartoon Network]] animated series ''[[Ben 10: Alien Force]]'', ''[[Ben 10: Ultimate Alien]]'', ''[[Ben 10: Omniverse]]''<ref name="Rogers">Rogers, Vaneta [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/len-wein-DCU-legacies-100518.html "Len Wein Retells 75 Years of DCU History in ''Legacies''"] Newsarama May 18, 2010 Retrieved February 1, 2011</ref> and the ''[[The Super Hero Squad Show|Marvel Super Hero Squad]].''<ref name="Rogers" /> Wein has been interviewed for commentary tracks on comics-related DVDs, including the animated ''[[Justice League: The New Frontier]]'' film, the live-action ''[[Spider-Man in film|Spider-Man]], [[Fantastic Four (film series)|Fantastic Four]]'' and ''[[X-Men (film series)|X-Men]]'' films, the ''[[X-Men Origins: Wolverine]]'' film, the ''[[Watchmen (film)|Watchmen]]'' film, the ''[[Swamp Thing (TV series)|Swamp Thing]]'' TV-series sets, the ''Human Target'' first season TV series, and the July 2008 [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]] specials ''Batman Unmasked'' and ''Batman Tech''.<ref>[http://lenwein.blogspot.com/2008/07/tivo-alert.html "Tivo Alert!"] WeinWords July 15, 2008 Retrieved February 1, 2011</ref> He wrote the storyline for the ''Watchmen'' video game, ''[[Watchmen: The End Is Nigh|The End Is Nigh]]'', which serves as a backstory to both the comic and the film adaptation.<ref>{{cite news|author=Totilo, Stephen|title='Watchmen' Video Game Preview: Rorschach And Nite Owl Star In Subversive Prequel Set In 1970s|work=[[MTV]]|date=2008-07-23|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591385/20080723/id_0.jhtml|accessdate=2011-01-31}}</ref> Wein returned to comics writing for DC in the late 2000s,<ref>[http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/01/07/dan-didio-talks-legacies-whos-who/ "Dan Didio Talks Legacies"], DC Comics, Jan. 7, 2010</ref> where he has recently collaborated in the DC Comics nostalgic event ''[[DC Retroactive]]'' writing stories for the [[one-shot]] specials ''Batman - The '70s'' (September 2011) drawn by [[Tom Mandrake]]<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/862586/ ''DC Retroactive: Batman - The '70s'' at the Grand Comics Database]</ref> and ''Green Lantern - The '80s'' (October 2011) drawn by [[Joe Staton]]. The hardcover collection of his 10-issue ''[[DC Universe: Legacies]]'' was published in August 2011.<ref>{{cite book |title=DC Universe: Legacies |last=Wein |first=Len |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2011 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=1-4012-3133-0 |page= |pages= |url= |accessdate=}}</ref> As of 2012, Wein is working on the ''[[Before Watchmen]]'' project, writing the mini-series ''[[Before Watchmen: Ozymandias|Ozymandias]]'' with art by [[Jae Lee]] and the serialized feature "[[Curse of the Crimson Corsair]]" with art by ''Watchmen'' colorist [[John Higgins (comics)|John Higgins]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2012/02/01/dc-entertainment-officially-announces-%25e2%2580%259cbefore-watchmen%25e2%2580%259d|title= DC Entertainment Officially Announces ''Before Watchmen''|first= David|last= Hyde|date= February 1, 2012|publisher= DC Comics |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/69gYoIwk2|archivedate= August 4, 2012|deadurl= |accessdate= August 4, 2012}}</ref> ===Personal life=== Wein is of Jewish ancestry.<ref>http://www.marvwolfman.com/marv/Speaking_with_Len_Wein_Part_Two.html</ref> Wein's first wife was [[Glynis Oliver]],<ref>Thomas, Roy. "Marvel Bullpen Bulletins," Marvel comics cover-dated January 1974.</ref> a comics [[colorist]] who spent years on the ''X-Men'' titles. His second wife is Christine Valada, a [[photographer]] and attorney.<ref>[http://lenwein.blogspot.com WeinWords] (Len Wein blog)</ref> On April 6, 2009, Wein's [[California]] home burned down with considerable loss of property and mementos, including his [[Shazam Award]]s. He and his wife also lost their dog, Sheba, to the fire.<ref>[http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2009_04_06.html#016921 Evanier, Mark. "Dreadful News"], "POV Online: News from Me", column of April 6, 2009</ref> Beginning October 26, 2009, Valada appeared on and won the television [[game show]] ''[[Jeopardy!]]'', becoming a four-time champion with winnings of over $60,000. She indicated on the show that she would use the money to recover or replace much of the artwork and books the couple lost in the fire.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=6450 | title=J! Archive - Christine Valada player page and contestant blog | accessdate=2010-03-28 }}</ref> ==Awards== * Won Shazam Awards for Best Writer (Dramatic) for ''[[Swamp Thing]]'' and for Best Individual Story (Dramatic), for "Dark Genesis" in ''Swamp Thing ''#1 (with [[Berni Wrightson]]) in 1972.<ref>[http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam72.php 1972 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards] at the Comic Book Awards Almanac</ref> * Nominated in the same categories in 1973. He and Wrightson won the Shazam Award that year for Best Continuing Feature again for ''Swamp Thing''.<ref>[http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam73.php 1973 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards] at the Comic Book Awards Almanac</ref> * Won an [[Inkpot Award]] in 1977.<ref>[http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_inkpot.php Comic-Con International's Inkpot Awards] San Diego Comic-Con International</ref> * Won the 1982 ''Comics Buyers Guide'' Award as Best Editor. * Nominated in 1998 for the [[Bram Stoker Award]], given by the [[Horror Writers Association]], for the one-shot ''[[The Dreaming (comics)|The Dreaming: Trial and Error]]'', from DC's [[Vertigo Comics]] imprint.<ref>[http://www.horror.org/stokerwinnom.htm Past Stoker Nominees & Winners] Horror Writer's Association</ref> * Inducted into the [[List of Eisner Award winners#The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame|Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame]] in 2008.<ref>[http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/letters/14877/ ''The Comics Reporter'', July 31, 2008: "Jackie Estrada on the 2008 Eisner Awards"]</ref> * Won First Place Award from First Comics News.com for Best Miniseries 2010 for ''DC Universe Legacies'' ==References== {{Reflist|3}} ==External links== *{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Len+Wein|title=Len Wein}} *{{Comicbookdb|type=creator|id=322|title=Len Wein}} *{{IMDb name|0918083|Len Wein}} *[http://www.swampthingroots.com Roots of the Swamp Thing] *[http://www.captphilonline.com/Destinies/Destinies_5_26_06.mp3 Interview with Len Wein on Destinies-The Voice of Science Fiction] {{S-start}} {{Succession box| title=[[Marvel_Comics#Editors-in-chief|Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief]]| before=[[Roy Thomas]]| after=[[Marv Wolfman]]| years=1974–1975}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Swamp Thing]]'' writer| before=[[n/a]] | after=[[David Michelinie]] | years=1971-1974}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]'' writer| before=[[Mike Friedrich]]| after=[[Dennis O'Neil]]| years=1972&ndash;1974}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Incredible Hulk]]'' writer| before=[[Gerry Conway]] & [[Roy Thomas]]| after=[[Roger Stern]]| years=1974–1977}} {{Succession box| title=''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' writer| before=[[Gerry Conway]]| after=[[Marv Wolfman]]| years=1975–1978}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]'' writer| before=[[Bill Mantlo]]| after=[[Roy Thomas]]| years=1975–1978<br/>(with [[Marv Wolfman]] in 1976)}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Iron Man]]'' writer| before=[[Mike Friedrich]] | after=[[Bill Mantlo]] | years=1976<br/>(with [[Roger Slifer]] in part of the run)}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Fantastic Four]]'' writer| before=[[Gerry Conway]]| after=[[Marv Wolfman]]| years=1977–1978}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Detective Comics]]'' writer| before=[[Steve Englehart]] | after=[[Dennis O'Neil]] | years=1978}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]'' editor| before=[[Ross Andru]] | after=[[Alan Gold (comics)|Alan Gold]] | years=1979-1984}} {{Succession box| title=''[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]'' editor| before=[[Ross Andru]] | after=[[Mike W. Barr]] | years=1979-1982}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Wonder Woman]]'' editor| before=[[Ross Andru]] | after=[[Marv Wolfman]] | years=1979-1982}} {{Succession box| title=''[[World's Finest Comics]]'' editor| before=[[Jack C. Harris]] | after=[[Mike W. Barr]] | years=1981-1982}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Teen Titans|The New Teen Titans]]'' editor| before= none | after=[[Marv Wolfman]] and [[George Pérez]] | years=1980-1983}} {{Succession box| title=''[[All-Star Squadron]]'' editor| before= none | after=[[Roy Thomas]] | years=1981-1982}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Swamp Thing|Saga of the Swamp Thing]]'' editor| before= none | after=[[Karen Berger]] | years=1982-1984}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Watchmen]]'' editor| before= none | after=[[Barbara Kesel|Barbara Randall]] | years=1986-1987}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Wonder Woman]]'' writer| before=[[Greg Potter]]| after=[[George Pérez]]| years=1987&ndash;1988}} {{Succession box| title=''[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]'' writer| before=[[Dwayne McDuffie]]| after=[[James Robinson (comics)|James Robinson]]| years=2009&ndash;2009}} {{end}} {{Freedom Fighters}} {{Swamp Thing}} {{Wolverine}} {{Authority control|VIAF=29654160}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> | NAME =Wein, Len | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American comic book writer | DATE OF BIRTH =June 12, 1948 | PLACE OF BIRTH =[[New York, New York]] | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wein, Len}} [[Category:People from New York City]] [[Category:American Jews]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame inductees]] [[Category:Comic book editors]] [[Category:1948 births]] [[de:Len Wein]] [[es:Len Wein]] [[fr:Len Wein]] [[it:Len Wein]] [[ka:ლენ უინი]] [[nl:Len Wein]] [[pt:Len Wein]] [[fi:Len Wein]]'