Doug Moench

Doug Moench
Born	February 23, 1948 (1948-02-23) (age 63) Chicago, Illinois
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer
Notable works	Master of Kung Fu Batman Moon Knight Deathlok
Awards	Eagle Award, 1977 Inkpot Award, 1981

Douglas Moench (b. February 23, 1948), better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.

Biography

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moench has also written novels, short stories, newspaper feature articles, weekly newspaper comic strips, film screenplays and teleplays. His first published work was My Dog Sandy, a comic strip printed in his elementary school newspaper. He began his professional writing career in the early 1970s with scripts for Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella and articles for the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1973, he moved to New York City.

Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)

Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.

Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.

Married to Debra with a son (Derek), Moench currently lives in Pennsylvania.

Comics bibliography (selected)

DC Comics

• Arion, Lord of Atlantis #4-11
• Batman #0, 360-400, 481-559, 1,000,000 and Annual #10, 12, 13, 17-21
• Batman: Blackgate: Isle of Men
• Batman: Bloodstorm (the second in the three-part Batman Vampire Elseworlds saga)
• Batman: Book of the Dead #1-2 (Elseworlds)
• Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat (Elseworlds)
• Batman: Cataclysm #1
• Batman Chronicles #1-3
• Batman: Crimson Mist (the third and final Batman Vampire Elseworlds saga)
• Batman: Dark Joker: The Wild (Elseworlds)
• Batman & Dracula: Red Rain (the first of three Batman Vampire Elseworlds graphic novels)
• Batman: Haunted Gotham #1-4 (Elseworlds - Bruce Wayne's parents killed by a Werewolf)
• Batman: Hong Kong (Manhua-style art)
• Batman: Knight Gallery
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #11-15 (Batman: Prey), 46-49, 86-88, 137-141, 146-148
• Batman: Outlaws #1-3
• Batman vs. Predator II: Bloodmatch #1-4
• Batman/Spawn: War Devil (co-written with Chuck Dixon and Alan Grant)
• The Big Book of Conspiracies
• The Big Book of The Unexplained
• Blackhawk volume 2 #12-16
• Catwoman #0, 25, 41-55
• Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham #1-2 (Elseworlds: Batman and Catwoman's roles are reversed)
• Celebrate the Century Super Heroes Stamp Album #1 (accompanied the "Celebrate the Century" stamps issued by the US Postal Service. The stamps fit into the comic. There was one album for each decade and were written by Moench and others.)
• C.O.P.S. #1-15
• DC Challenge #3
• Detective Comics #526-566
• Electric Warrior #1-18
• Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion #11
• G.I. Combat #163
• Green Arrow volume 2 #86 (Catwoman crossover)
• Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #2
• Green Lantern: Dragon Lord #1-3 (a Green Lantern mini-series set in ancient China)
• Heroes against Hunger
• House of Mystery #216, 228, 244, 253
• House of Secrets #113
• JLA: Act of God
• Lords of the Ultra-Realm #1-6, Special #1 (co-created by Moench and Pat Broderick)
• Mister Miracle Volume 2 #14-28
• The Omega Men #17-20, 22, 23, 25 and Annual #1
• Our Army at War Featuring Sgt. Rock #271
• The Sandkings (adaptation by Moench, Pat Broderick, and Neal McPheeters of the novel by George R. R. Martin)
• Showcase '93 #1-12
• Slash Maraud #1-6
• The Spectre volume 2 #1-31, Annual #1
• S.C.I. Spy #1-6
• Teen Titans Spotlight #12
• The Wanderers #1-13
• World's Finest Comics #289-292
• Xenobrood #0, 1-6

Marvel Comics

• Adventure into Fear #25-28 (starring Morbius)
• Adventures on the Planet of the Apes #1-11
• Astonishing Tales #25-27, 30-31 (starring Deathlok the Demolisher, who was co-created by Moench)
• Bizarre Adventures #26, 28, 33
• Captain Marvel #56, 58-62
• Chamber of Chills #7
• Conan the Barbarian: The Skull of Set graphic novel
• Conan Saga #17, 33, 36 (basically reprints of The Savage Sword of Conan)
• Creatures on the Loose featuring Man-Wolf #30-31
• The Deep (comic book adaptation of the Columbia Pictures movie)
• Epic Illustrated #3, 5, 9, 11-13, 33 (numerous short fantasy stories and a Weirdworld serial, in a color anthology magazine)
• Fantastic Four #219, 222-231, Annual #15
• The Frankenstein Monster #12-17
• Ghost Rider volume 2 #5
• Giant-Size Chillers #1
• Giant-Size Master of Kung-Fu #1-4
• Giant Size Werewolf #2-5
• Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1-24
• The Incredible Hulk Annual #9
• Inhumans volume 1 #1-8, 10-12
• The Island of Dr. Moreau (comic book adaptation of the American International film)
• Ka-Zar: Lord of the Hidden Jungle (1974 series) #10-20
• King Conan #9-15
• Kull the Conqueror (volume 1) 16-20, (1982 mini-series) #2
• Legion of Monsters #1
• Marvel Classics Comics #13, 16, 19, 21, 22, 25, 27, 29-30, 32-36 (adaptations of classic novels)
• Marvel Comics Presents #1-8, 26-35 (featuring Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu in the first run and Coldblood in the second)
• Marvel Fanfare #24-26 (featuring Weirdworld)
• Marvel Premiere #17-19, 38, 41, 61 (#38 features Weirdworld, #41 Seeker 3000, #61 Star-Lord)
• Marvel Special Collector's Edition #1: Savage Fists of Kung Fu
• Marvel Spotlight (1971 series) #28-29 (featuring Moon Knight)
• Marvel Spotlight (1979 series) #1-3,6,7 (#1-3 feature Captain Marvel, #6-7 feature Star Lord)
• Marvel Super Special #10-13 (#10 features Star-Lord, #11-13 feature Weirdworld)
• Marvel Two-in-One Annual #6
• (The Hands of) Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu #20-63, 65-120, 122, Annual #1
• Master of Kung Fu: Hellfire Apocalypse #1-6 (Marvel MAX)
• Moon Knight volume 1 #1-15, 17-26, 28-33 (Moon Knight was co-created by Moench)
• Moon Knight: High Strangers (1999 series) #1-4
• Moon Knight: The Resurrection (1997 series) #1-4
• Moon Knight Special Featuring Master of Kung Fu #1 (Moon Knight and the Master of Kung Fu team up to battle evil on Mordillo's Island)
• Morbius Revisited #2 (Michael Morbius, an award-winning biologist, has turned himself into a vampire. He has been searching for a cure ever since the accidental experiment that transformed him.)
• The Return of Shang-Chi Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black #1
• Savage Sword of Conan #180
• Seeker 3000 #1
• Shogun Warriors #1-14, 16-20
• The Mighty Thor #303, 308, 310-322, 324-328
• The Toxic Avenger #1-11 (based on Troma Films' character)
• What If? volume 1 #16 (featuring "What If Shang Chi Master of Kung Fu Fought on the Side of Fu Manchu?")
• Werewolf by Night volume 1 #20-43
• Wolverine: Doombringer #1
• X-Men Unlimited volume 1 #25

Curtis Magazines

Marvel's black-and-white magazine-sized imprint

• Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #3-14, 16-18, 29, 33, Special #1 (featuring Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu)
• Doc Savage #1-8 (1976)
• Dracula Lives! #2-3, 5-6, 8-12
• Haunt of Horror #2-5, 12
• The Hulk! #10-22 (continuation of Rampaging Hulk, printed in magazine format in "Super Marvel Color")
• Kull and the Barbarians #3
• Marvel Preview #1, 5-6, 8, 12-13, 18, 21-22, 26, 28, 33 (#5-6 adapt the Sherlock Holmes story The Hound of the Baskervilles; #8 features the Legion of Monsters; #12 is The Haunt of Horror, a collection of short horror stories)
• Marvel Super Action #1 (first Weirdworld story)
• Monsters of the Movies #1, 8
• Monsters Unleashed #5-11
• Planet of the Apes #1-29 (adaptations of the Apes films, plus a handful of original spinoff tales, most notably the ongoing "Terror on the Planet of the Apes" saga)
• Rampaging Hulk #1-9
• Savage Sword of Conan #5, 9, 13, 14, 180
• Savage Tales (featuring Conan and Ka-Zar) #5, 7, 8, 11
• Tales of the Zombie #2-7, 9, 10, Annual #1
• Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #3, 6
• Vampire Tales #2, 4-7, 9-11, Annual #1

Epic Comics

Marvel's creator-owned imprint started in 1982

• Six from Sirius #1-4
• Six from Sirius II #1-4

Malibu Comics

Acquired by Marvel in 1996

• Rune: Hearts of Darkness #1-3
• Terror on the Planet of the Apes #1-4 (reprints from Marvel's Planet of the Apes magazine)

Eclipse Comics

• Aztec Ace #1-15
• Nightmares #1-2 (reprints "Blood on Black Satin", originally published in Eerie #109-111)
• Miracleman #14 (backup story: "Nuclear Spring")
• Total Eclipse #2 ("Aztec Ace" backup story)

TSR Comics

• R.I.P. Brasher: Avenger of the Dead #1-4

Skywald Comics

• Psycho #5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16
• Nightmare #9-12, 14, Annual #1, Yearbook 1974

Dark Horse Comics

• Dark Horse Comics #25 (James Bond story)
• James Bond: Serpent's Tooth #1-3
• Ghost & The Shadow.(one-shot special, 1995)

Warren Publishing

• Eerie #29-30, 35-45, 47, 50, 53-55, 57-58, 72, 78, 109-112
• Creepy #37, 46-47, 49-54 56-59 64-66 68, 71-72, 76, 80, 82, 88
• Vampirella volume 1 #7, 9, 14-15, 17-20, 24-29, 31, 34, 39

Smashout Comics

Smashout Comics is currently distributing, via the internet, several creator-owned comics that were previously released in comic book format. These comics can be downloaded through Wowio.com

• Six from Sirius #1-4
• Six from Sirius II #1-4

Non-comics bibliography (selected)

Moench did book, movie and music reviews for Fling, and he wrote for several other men's magazines, including Adam, Cavalier, Knight, Man to Man and Swingle. He wrote several articles for Midwest, the Sunday magazine of the Chicago Sun-Times. For the never-published WLS Generation, he interviewed The Who, The Monkees and The Seeds. Moench also wrote an article called "23 on the 23rd" (a true story about Moench's 23rd birthday).

• Batman Masters Collection — Set of 120 trading cards, with front art by artists Scott Hampton, Carl Critchlow, Duncan Fegredo, and Dermot Power. The flip sides of the first 90 cards, when read in order, form a cohesive storyline in which Batman fakes his own death. The set also provides a look at the posthumous feelings of the residents of Gotham City and Arkham Asylum towards the Dark Knight. A special collector's binder was also released for the card set. This card set was reprinted as a 208-page coffeetable book entitled Batman Masterpieces. It contains full-page reproductions of the card art opposite the card's text (so one can still follow the story), art concepts (instructions to the artists) and comments by the artist. Additionally, early sketches have been printed for most of the cards.

• Batgirl: To Dare The Darkness — A young-reader novel that was released with the marketing blitz for the Batman & Robin movie.

• Bucky O'Hare — Teleplay for one episode.

• Double Dragon — Series bible for the cartoon released by DiC Entertainment.

• The Forensic Files of Batman — A short story collection about how Batman uses clues found at crime scenes to foil the plans of his most famous villains. Each chapter is a different case presented from the notes, journals, and case files of the Batman, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, and Jim Gordon.

• The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse — Story editor and head writer for the 1980s cartoon.

• Red Sonja — Original screenplay for the Red Sonja movie. The movie was later rewritten and changed quite a bit from Moench's version.

Awards

• 1972: Nominated for Chicago Newspaper Guild Award
• 1977: Eagle Award for Favorite Continued Comic Story for Master of Kung Fu #48-51 with Paul Gulacy^{[citation needed]}
• 1978: Nominated at the Eagle Awards for Favourite Single Story for Marvel Premiere #38: The Lord of Tyndall's Quest with Mike Ploog
• 1979: Nominated at the Eagle Awards for Best Comic Book Writer (US), and for Best Continued Story for Captain Marvel #58-62 with Pat Broderick
• 1980: Nominated at the Eagle Awards for Favourite Comicbook Writer
• 1981: Inkpot Award
• 1990: Nominated at the Haxtur Awards for Best Long Comic Strip for Slash Maraud with Paul Gulacy
• 1997: Nominated at the Haxtur Awards for Best Long Comic Strip for Batman versus Predator II

References

• Doug Moench at the Comic Book DB
• The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
• The Man Behind the Batman: Doug Moench
• Comic Geek Speak Podcast Interview (September 2005)

External links

• Official website

Preceded by Mike Friedrich	Werewolf by Night writer 1974–1977	Succeeded by N/A
Preceded by Steve Englehart	Master of Kung Fu writer 1974–1983	Succeeded by Alan Zelenetz
Preceded by John Byrne	Fantastic Four writer 1980–1981	Succeeded by John Byrne
Preceded by Mark Gruenwald & Ralph Macchio	Thor writer 1981–1983	Succeeded by Alan Zelenetz
Preceded by Gerry Conway	Detective Comics writer 1983–1986	Succeeded by Mike W. Barr
Preceded by Gerry Conway	Batman writer 1983–1986	Succeeded by Barbara Randall
Preceded by Len Wein	Mister Miracle writer 1990–1991	Succeeded by N/A
Preceded by Alan Grant	Batman writer 1992–1998	Succeeded by Chuck Dixon
Preceded by Chuck Dixon	Catwoman writer 1997–1998	Succeeded by Devin Grayson

Persondata
Name	Moench, Doug
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 23, 1948
Place of birth	Chicago, Illinois
Date of death
Place of death