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'''Chris Claremont''' (]- ) is a ] writer, best known for his 16-year (]-]) stint on ''],'' during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties. Claremont's ] approach to the ] of ''X-Men'' set the standard for team-based comic books for decades. Claremont also promotes strong female characters.
{{Short description|American comic book writer}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| image = 10.8.16ChrisClaremontByLuigiNovi4.jpg
| alt = Claremont seated and smiling with his arms crossed
| caption = Claremont at the 2016 ]
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{Birth date and age|1950|11|25}}}}
| birth_name = Christopher S. Claremont
| birth_place = ], England
| nationality = American
| death_date =
| death_place =
| notable works= '']''<br/>'']''<br/>'']''<br/>'']''<br/>'']''<br/>'']''<br/>'']''<br/>'']''<br/>'']''
| awards = ]: 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990<br/>]: 1979 and 1980<br/>] Hall of Fame (2015)
| website = {{URL|chrisclaremont.com}}
| spouse = Bonnie Wilford (?–?)<br/>Beth Fleisher (current)
| children = 2
}}
'''Christopher S. Claremont'''<ref>]: cover, ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' #5: ''X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills''.</ref><ref>Middle initial: "X-Mail" ], ''Uncanny X-Men'' #144 (Apr. 1981).</ref> ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|ɛər|m|ɒ|n|t}}; born November 25, 1950) is an American ] writer and novelist. Claremont is best known for his 16-year stint on '']'' from 1975 to 1991, far longer than that of any other writer,<ref name="X-MenAnniversarySpecial">Claremont, Chris. ''Marvel Age Special: X-Men Anniversary Magazine'' vol. 1, #1 (Sept. 1993).</ref> during which he is credited with developing strong female characters as well as introducing complex literary themes into superhero narratives, turning the once underachieving comic into one of ]'s most popular series.<ref name=PublishersWeekly>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/49499-x-men-writer-chris-claremont-donates-archive-to-columbia-university.html|title= X-Men Writer Chris Claremont Donates Archive to Columbia University|first= Calvin|last= Reid|date= November 14, 2011|magazine= ]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121119023132/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/49499-x-men-writer-chris-claremont-donates-archive-to-columbia-university.html|archive-date= November 19, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=NewYorkMag>{{cite magazine |url= http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/3522/|title= The X-Men Files|first= Alec|last= Foege|date= July 17, 2000|magazine= ]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130901233120/http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/3522/|archive-date= September 1, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=Hiatt>{{cite magazine |last1=Hiatt |first1=Brian |title=The True Origins of 'X-Men' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/the-true-origins-of-x-men-77108/ |access-date=December 11, 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 26, 2014}}</ref> During his tenure, ''X-Men'' was the best-selling comic book in the world.<ref>Deman, p. 1.</ref>


During his tenure at Marvel, Claremont co-created numerous ] characters, such as ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].
As an entry into comic writing Claremont was given the failing title, '']'' in ] that also teamed him with ] for the first time. Claremont set up an unusual extended plot line but could not save the title. Fortunately ] gifted him the writing duties for the relaunched X-Men.Claremont also found narrative excuses to sideline ], as one of the problems with the original X-Men series was that the Professor would appear at the end of the story to magically correct the situation no matter how dire.


Claremont wrote many classic stories, including "]" and "]", on which he collaborated with ].<ref name=CBRAIDS>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=29600|title= Comic Legend Chris Claremont Allies with Borders for World AIDS Day|date= November 26, 2010|website=Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101128014314/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=29600|archive-date= November 28, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref> He developed the character of ] into a fan favorite. '']'' #1, the 1991 spinoff series premiere that Claremont co-wrote with ], remains the bestselling comic book of all time, according to '']''. In 2015, Claremont and his ''X-Men'' collaborator John Byrne were entered into the ] Hall of Fame.
]]
During his years as X-Men writer, Claremont wrote or co-wrote many classic X-Men stories such as "the ]", "]", and "]". He also co-created numerous important X-Men characters, including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. He also helped launch best-selling spin-offs such as ''New Mutants'', ''Excalibur'', and ''Wolverine''. In 1991, however, he left Marvel over differences with the editorial staff. In 1985 Marvel launched an X-Men spin-off '']'' that confused the Phoenix/Rachel Summers continuity that Claremont had established. Also Claremont was upset when ] used ] as a conventional villain in the '']'' even though Claremont had been slowly rehabilitating the character.


==Early life==
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the '']'' ''Debt of Honor'' graphic novel, '']'' for ] and ''] vs ]'' for ].
Claremont was born in ], England.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=John Jackson |author-link=John Jackson Miller |url=http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |title=Comics Industry Birthdays |work=] |date=June 10, 2005 |location=Iola, Wisconsin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/chris-claremont/|title= Chris Claremont|year= 2013|publisher= Fantastic Fiction|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130914003217/http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/chris-claremont/|archive-date= September 14, 2013|url-status= live|access-date= November 17, 2010}}</ref> His father was an internist and his mother was a pilot and caterer.<ref name=NewYorkMag/> Claremont is ] on his mother's side, and lived in a ] in ] during his youth.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://jewishworldnews.org/good-guys-win-in-the-end-must-we-wait-for-the-30th-century/|title= Good guys win in the end— Must we wait for the 30th century??|first= Larry|last= Wilson|date= September 5, 2012|publisher= Jewishworldnews.org|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131201081739/http://jewishworldnews.org/good-guys-win-in-the-end-must-we-wait-for-the-30th-century/|archive-date= December 1, 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= December 1, 2013|quote= All that changed however in the mid 1970s when writer Chris Claremont came on board. Despite his non-Jewish-sounding name, this London-born, New York-raised lad is Jewish… he even spent time on an Israeli kibbutz in his youth.}}</ref><ref>Klotz, Bryan (June 2009). . ]. Retrieved May 24, 2014.</ref> His family moved to the United States when he was three years old,<ref name=TheTimes>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/article2432216.ece |title=Now where was I? The uncanny Chris Claremont on rejoining the X-Men |first=Owen |last= Vaughan |date=October 30, 2009 |newspaper=] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131221001423/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/article2432216.ece |archive-date=December 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 1, 2013 }}</ref> and he was raised primarily on ]. Alienated by the sports-oriented suburbs,<ref name="NewYorkMag"/> his grandmother purchased for him a subscription to '']'' when he was a child, and he grew up reading '']'', finding them more exciting than the ] and ] comics of the 1950s and early 1960s.<ref name=TheTimes/> He read works by science fiction writers such as ], as well as writers of other genres such as ] and ].<ref name=NewYorkMag/>


==Career==
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the ''Chronicles of the Shadow War'' trilogy, ''Shadow Moon'' (1995), ''Shadow Dawn'' (1996), and ''Shadow Star'' (1999), with ]. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie'' ]''. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of ''First Flight'' (1987), ''Grounded!'' (1991), and ''Sundowner'' (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the '']'' anthology series.
===Comics===
====1969–1991====
]
Claremont initially did not view the comic book industry as the place where he would make his career, as he believed the dwindling readership to be a sign that the industry was dying, and found the material being published to be uninteresting.<ref name=TheTimes/> Instead, when he began at ], he did so as a political theorist, studying acting and political theory,<ref name=NewYorkMag/><ref name=XMail>"X-Mail", ''Uncanny X-Men'' #164 (December 1982). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref name=Bard>{{cite web |url= http://www.bard.edu/catalogue/index.php?aid=11412&sid=669465|title= Charles Flint Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters|year= 2013 |publisher= Bard College Catalogue|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131201005511/http://www.bard.edu/catalogue/index.php?aid=11412&sid=669465|archive-date=December 1, 2013 |url-status= live}}</ref> and writing novels with the hope of becoming a director. His first professional sale was a prose story.<ref name=TheTimes/> He graduated in 1972.<ref name=XMail/><ref name=Bard/>


Claremont's career began in 1969, as a college undergraduate, when he was hired as a ]/editorial assistant at ]. His first professional scripting assignment was '']'' #102 (Aug. 1973). As an entry into regular comics writing, Claremont was given the fledgling feature "]" in '']'' as of issue #23 (Aug. 1975). He was joined two issues later by artist ]. The Claremont/Byrne team continued to work together when the character received its own self-titled series in November 1975. This title lasted 15 issues.
In ] he returned to Marvel (as part of the company's "]" event) and wrote ''Uncanny X-Men'' and ''X-Men'' until he moved to '']'' with penciller ].


Though his acting career did not yield great success, he functioned well at Marvel, where he obtained a full-time position. One of the first new characters created by Claremont was ] in '']'' #4 (Feb. 1975).<ref>{{cite book|last1= Sanderson|first1= Peter|author-link= Peter Sanderson|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura, ed.|chapter= 1970s|title= Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher= ]|year= 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 168|isbn=978-0-7566-4123-8|quote= In this issue, new Marvel writer Chris Claremont and artist John Buscema introduced Madrox the Multiple Man, a mutant who could duplicate his body over and over.}}</ref> Marvel's editor-in-chief at the time, ], who recognized Claremont's enthusiasm for the new X-Men that Wein and ] had created in 1975, hired Claremont, a relatively young writer, to take over the series as of ] (May 1975),<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 170: "The 'new' X-Men team...moved into this thirty-two-page bimonthly comic...and writer Chris Claremont took over the scripting."</ref> reasoning that doing so would not draw opposition from other writers, given the book's poor standing. Claremont approached the job as a ], developing the characters by examining their motives, desires and individual personalities. This approach drew immediate positive reaction. According to former Marvel editor-in-chief ], "He lived it and breathed it. He would write whole paragraphs about what people were wearing. He really got into these people's thoughts, hopes, dreams." Claremont's take on the series has been likened to writing "the ] about complex characters who just happened to fly", incorporating surprise character developments and emotional nuances amid the operatic battles that otherwise typified American superhero comics.<ref name=NewYorkMag/> By his own admission,<ref>{{cite book|last= Claremont|first= Chris|chapter= Introduction|title= X-Men: Asgardian Wars|publisher= Marvel Comics|year= 1988|pages= 6–7|isbn= 978-0-87135-434-1}}</ref> Claremont acquired a reputation for taking a long time to resolve plot threads, and longtime X-Men editor ] recounted that whenever she was at a loss for story ideas, "All I'd have to do was go through all of the plot threads that he had left for the last year or two."<ref name="PoorDoug">{{cite news | last= Grant | first= Paul J. | date= August 1993 | title= Poor Dead Doug, and Other Mutant Memories | work= Wizard: X-Men Turn Thirty | pages= 66–69}}</ref>
As of ], he is again writing ''Uncanny X-Men'' as well as '']'' for Marvel Comics.


Claremont introduced new supporting characters to the ''X-Men'' series including ] in issue #96<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 171: "In this issue, the first to be plotted as well as scripted by Chris Claremont, Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum introduced geneticist Moira MacTaggert."</ref> and ] in #97.<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 175: "Writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum also introduced the alien Shi'ar race, the Shi'ar Princess Lilandra, and covert agent Erik the Red in ''X-Men'' #97."</ref> ] a.k.a. Marvel Girl, one of Marvel's first female heroes, underwent a dramatic transformation into the extremely powerful Phoenix in issue #101.<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 176: "The transformation of Jean Grey into Phoenix was a dramatic affair...Writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum's intent in transforming Jean Grey into Phoenix was to boost Jean's powers to a higher level."</ref> Issue #107 (Oct. 1977) saw the introduction of the ]<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 181: "Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont introduced the Starjammers, a band of space pirates led by Corsair."</ref> as well as the departure of artist Dave Cockrum. Claremont began his collaboration with artist John Byrne in the following issue.<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 181: "When 'new' X-Men co-creator Dave Cockrum left the series, John Byrne took over as penciler and co-plotter. In his first issue, Byrne and writer Chris Claremont wound up the Shi'ar story arc."</ref>
The most common criticism of his work is his overly descriptive writing style. Claremont's characters tend to speak in long paragraphs that are often called forced or unrealistic. He frequently employs omniscient narration to describe events that can easily be conveyed in the art and uneeded thought bubbles to spell out character motivation and personality, especially during action scenes.


During his 17 years as ''X-Men'' writer, Claremont wrote or co-wrote many classic X-Men stories, such as "]"<ref>] "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 196: "In January a nine-part story began that changed the X-Men forever...Claremont proposed a story that would show how Jean Grey – one of the original members of the X-Men – had become corrupted by her new Phoenix power."</ref> and "]".<ref name=DeFalco200>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 200: "The Sentinels ruled the earth in an alternate reality...''The Uncanny X-Men'' #141 also introduced Rachel Summers, the daughter of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, who was born in the 'Days of Future Past' timeline."</ref> Comics writers and historians Roy Thomas and ] observed that "'The Dark Phoenix Saga' is to Claremont and Byrne what the ']' is to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. It is a landmark in Marvel history, showcasing its creators' work at the height of their abilities."<ref>{{cite book|last= Thomas|first= Roy|author-link= Roy Thomas|author2=Sanderson, Peter|title= The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel|publisher= ]|year= 2007|location= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|page= 136|isbn= 978-0-7624-2844-1}}</ref> Comics historian ] noted that "The controversial story created a sensation and ''The X-Men'' became the comic book to watch."<ref>{{cite book|last= Daniels|first= Les|author-link= Les Daniels|title= Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics|chapter= The Marvel Universe (1978–1990)|publisher= ]|year= 1991|location= New York City|page= 186|isbn= 978-0-8109-3821-2}}</ref> In 2010, ] ranked Claremont and Byrne's run on ''The X-Men'' second on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicsbulletin.com/top-10-1970s-marvels/ |title=Top 10 1970s Marvels |first=Jason |last=Sacks |date=September 6, 2010 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801070005/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/columns/447/top-10-1970s-marvels |archive-date=August 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 3, 2013 }}</ref> Claremont and artist ] crafted a '']'' limited series in 1982.<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 208: "The most popular member of the X-Men was finally featured in his first solo title, a four-issue limited series by writer Chris Claremont and writer/artist Frank Miller."</ref> With artist ], Claremont produced '']'' in 1982, an ] between the top-selling Marvel and DC titles.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Manning|first1= Matthew K.|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah, ed.|chapter= 1980s|title= DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=]|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 199|quote= The issue, written by longtime ''X-Men'' scribe Chris Claremont and drawn by Walter Simonson ...one of the most well-received crossovers of its time – or of any time for that matter – the team-up was a huge success.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last= Brown|first= Jonathan|title= The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans: The Breakfast Club of the Comics Crossover|journal= ]|issue= 66|page= 68|publisher= ]|date= August 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> The ] were introduced by Claremont and ] in '']'' #4 (Dec. 1982)<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 209: "Writer Chris Claremont proposed ''The New Mutants'' and artist Bob McLeod was brought in to design the characters."</ref> and received their own ongoing series soon after. The second ] was loosely based on his 1982 ''X-Men'' graphic novel ''].''<ref>{{cite magazine|url= http://www.ew.com/article/2003/05/02/ew-tracks-evolution-x2|title= The NeXt Level|first= Scott|last= Brown|date= May 2, 2003|magazine= ]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131002102341/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C449160%2C00.html|archive-date= October 2, 2013|url-status= live|access-date= February 18, 2008}}</ref>


Besides his work on ''X-Men'' and its spinoffs, Claremont wrote '']'',<ref>{{cite book|last1= Manning|first1= Matthew K.|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura, ed.|chapter= 1970s|title= Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging|publisher= ]|year= 2012|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 95|isbn= 978-0-7566-9236-0}}</ref> '']''<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 185: "Later writers in the fifty-issue run of this series included Chris Claremont, a specialist in portraying self-reliant heroines."</ref> and '']''<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 186: "Ms. Marvel's...series was in the hands of Chris Claremont...and Dave Cockrum, a master of imaginative costume design."</ref> during this time. He and artist ] created the ] character in 1981.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Catron|first= Michael|author-link= Michael Catron|title= Red Sonja/Marada Tale Yanked from ''Bizarre Adventures''|journal= ]|issue= 3|page= 16|publisher= ]|date= August 1981|location= Stamford, Connecticut<!--location in 1981-->}}</ref> Claremont's stories for ''Marvel Team-Up'' included the cast of ]'s '']'' appearing in issue #74 (Oct. 1978)<ref>{{cite journal|last= Aushenker|first= Michael|title= That ''Other'' Spider-Man Title...''Marvel Team-Up'' Offered an Alternative Spidey Experience|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 66|pages= 15–22|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= August 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref><ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 104: "The web-slinger found himself sharing the stage with a cast who had dressed as super-heroes to attack the Samurai's gang in this quirky tale written by Chris Claremont and penciled by Bob Hall."</ref> and the introduction of ], a character that later joined the ], in #100 (Dec. 1980).<ref>Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 117: "1980 was a year for anniversary issues, and this centennial effort by writer Chris Claremont and artist Frank Miller was one of them...Future New Mutant Karma also made her debut."</ref> Claremont helped launch the '']'' title in March 1982.<ref>Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 126: "The debut issue featured the inspired pairing of writer Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden as they teamed up two other fan-favorites, the X-Men's Angel and Spider-Man."</ref>

Claremont co-created numerous other important female X-Men characters, including ],<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 203: " first published appearance occurred in ''The Avengers Annual'' #10 by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden."</ref> ],<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 177</ref> ],<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 188: "In this issue , by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, the X-Men arrived in Japan, where Wolverine met and fell in love with a shy, quiet woman named Mariko Yashida."</ref> ]/Shadowcat, ], ], ], ], ], ],<ref name=DeFalco200/> ],<ref name=DeFalco>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008)</ref>{{rp|211}} and ].<ref name=DeFalco/>{{rp|241}} He co-created such notable male characters as ], ], ], ], ],<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 176: "British-born writer Chris Claremont and artist Herb Trimpe created a new super hero specifically for Marvel's readers in the United Kingdom."</ref> ],<ref name=DeFalco/>{{rp|218}} ], and ].

Claremont launched various ''X-Men'' spin-offs, beginning with ''The New Mutants'' in 1982. The spinoffs '']''<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 233: " produced ''Excalibur Special Edition'', a graphic novel about a team of superheroes based in England."</ref> and ''Wolverine'',<ref name=DeFalco/>{{rp|239}} initially written by Claremont, followed in 1987 and 1988, respectively. ''X-Men'' crossover stories written by Claremont during the latter half of his tenure on the series include "]",<ref name=DeFalco/>{{rp|228}} "]",<ref name=DeFalco/>{{rp|236}} and "]".<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 251</ref> In 1991, Marvel launched a second ''X-Men'' title simply called '']'' with Claremont and penciler ] as co-writers.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 255: "It was a matter of simple addition. Take Chris Claremont, the writer who had made ''The Uncanny X-Men'' the continual hit that it was, and add Jim Lee, the artist who had reinvigorated the title's popularity in recent months...The sum of all these parts was ''X-Men'' #1, the best selling comic book in the history of the medium, selling well over eight million copies."</ref> ''X-Men'' #1 is still the bestselling comic book of all-time, with sales of over 8.1 million copies (and nearly $7 million), according to '']'', which presented honors to Claremont at the 2010 ].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://marvel.com/news/story/13598/sdcc_2010_marvel_breaks_world_record|title= SDCC 2010: Marvel Breaks World Record|first= Ben|last= Morse|date= August 10, 2010|publisher= Marvel Comics|access-date= December 1, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101125174656/http://marvel.com/news/story/13598/sdcc_2010_marvel_breaks_world_record|archive-date= November 25, 2010|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/07/22/x-men-1-the-guinness-world-record-best-selling-comic-of-all-time/|title= ''X-Men'' #1 The Guinness World Record Best Selling Comic Of All Time?|author=Johnston, Rich|author-link=Johnston, Rich|date= July 22, 2010|publisher= ]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131016033714/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/07/22/x-men-1-the-guinness-world-record-best-selling-comic-of-all-time/|archive-date= October 16, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>Cantor, Michael (Producer); ] (Narrator) ''Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle''. ]. October 15, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-last= Glenday|editor-first= Craig|editor-link= Craig Glenday|title= ]|publisher= ]|year= 2013|page= |isbn= 978-1-904994-87-9}}</ref> The sales figures were generated in part by publishing the issue with four different variant covers which showed different characters from the book (and later a fifth ] cover that combined all four), large numbers of which were purchased by retailers, who anticipated fans and speculators who would buy multiple copies in order to acquire a complete collection of the covers.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://blog.comichron.com/2010/11/x-men-1-one-piece-and-world-records.html|title= ''X-Men'' #1, One Piece, and world records|first= John Jackson|last= Miller|date= November 16, 2010|publisher= The Comichron|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131016084723/http://blog.comichron.com/2010/11/x-men-1-one-piece-and-world-records.html|archive-date= October 16, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> Claremont left the series after the first three-issue story arc, due to clashes with editor Bob Harras.<ref name=NewYorkMag/>

====1992–present====
The 1990s saw Claremont diversify his comics work, as he wrote for other publishers, and wrote his own creator-owned properties. In December 1991, he sent artist ] a proposal to illustrate Claremont's project, ''The Huntsman'', as a creator-owned project, and when the then-new comics publisher ] was announced in 1992, Claremont was named as one of its founders. However, the project was canceled when Portacio decided instead to do '']''. Claremont attempted to find other artist for the series, but all those in whom he was interested were either drawing ''X-Men'' or had their own projects with Image, and thus he did not become one of Image's founders.<ref name="ReturnWrite">{{cite news | last= O'Neill | first= Patrick Daniel | date= June 1993 | title= Claremont Returns With the Write Stuff | work= Wizard| issue= 22 | pages= 28–35}}</ref> In 1992 he wrote the graphic novel '']: Debt of Honor'', which was illustrated by ]. ] interviewed Claremont for episode 7 of the 1991–92 documentary series ''].''<ref>Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8llwQ6Yt4j8|title=The Comic Book Greats Chris Claremont|website=YouTube.com|date=March 13, 2016 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1993, he began writing the 12-issue miniseries '']'' for ], which was completed in 1995. That year saw a decline in his comics output, however, as he turned his focus to writing novels, citing frustration with how the comics industry had become dominated by artists and editors.<ref name="ReturnWrite"/> In 1994, he wrote issues #10–13 of Jim Lee and ]'s series, '']'' at Image Comics, in which he finally introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.<ref name="TCJ">{{cite journal|title= Bye Bye Marvel; Here Comes Image: Portacio, Claremont, Liefeld, Jim Lee Join McFarlane's New Imprint at Malibu|journal= ]|issue= 148|pages= 11–12|publisher= Fantagraphics Books|date= February 1992|location= Seattle, Washington}}</ref>

In 1995, Claremont began writing his creator-owned series, '']'', which was published by ], running for 36 issues until 1998.

In 1998, Claremont returned to Marvel as editorial director and the regular writer of '']'', where he created ]. The book was pencilled by artist ] and inked by ] for the entirety of his duration on the series. Claremont's run on ''Fantastic Four'' would last for 29 issues and 2 annuals, making it his longest tenure on a title outside of the X-Men.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/writer-artist/chris-claremont | title=Chris Claremont Comic Book Reviews }}</ref> Despite outselling books such as '']'' and '']'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2000/2000-06.html | title=Comichron: June 2000 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops }}</ref> Claremont was fired by editor ] in early 2000, a decision that he was angered by.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQrb_ZhIgJs&t=5324s | title=Chris Claremont Talks Comics with Cartoonist Kayfabe! | website=] | date=May 24, 2020 }}</ref> Claremont also wrote ''The Fantastic 4th Voyage of Sinbad'' in 2001, a one shot starring the Fantastic Four on an adventure with ]. The comic was pencilled ].

In 2000, as part of the company's "]" event, he wrote ''Uncanny X-Men'' and ''X-Men'' until he moved to '']'', again working with penciller Salvador Larroca. He returned to ''Uncanny X-Men'' again for a two-year run starting in 2004, while teaming up with his former ''Excalibur'' collaborator and artist, ].

In 2004, Claremont was co-writer on '']'' issues #94–99, the "Tenth Circle" story arc for ], which reunited him with his former ''Uncanny X-Men'' artist ], with ] as inker.

In 2007, Claremont returned to ''New Excalibur'', writing a story arc in which the character ] has a stroke. He has completed his first arc on ''Exiles,'' adding ] to the team.

In 2008 Claremont wrote the miniseries '']'', followed by its 2009 sequel, ''GeNext: United''. He was the writer of an '']'' series<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.newsarama.com/2139-nycc-09-claremont-and-the-x-men-with-a-twist.html|title= NYCC '09: Claremont and the X-Men: With a Twist|first= Steve|last= Ekstrom|date= February 6, 2009|work= ]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130630082945/http://www.newsarama.com/2139-nycc-09-claremont-and-the-x-men-with-a-twist.html|archive-date= June 30, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> which was set in an ], and focuses on the present day lives of the X-Men in a reality where Magneto never returned following the destruction of ] in ''X-Men'' #3 (December 1991). In 2010, Claremont collaborated with Italian comics artist ] on ''X-Women''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25606|title= Claremont Unveils ''X-Women''|first= Kiel|last= Phegley|date= April 7, 2010|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120722072657/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25606|archive-date= July 22, 2012|url-status= live|access-date= November 30, 2013}}</ref>

As of 2014 Claremont was under an exclusive contract for Marvel. In April of that year, Marvel launched a '']'' series with Claremont as writer, which he finished in March 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/01/14/chris-claremont-and-todd-nauck-on-new-nightcrawler-comic/|title= Chris Claremont And Todd Nauck On New Nightcrawler Comic?|first= Rich|last= Johnston|date= January 14, 2014|publisher= Bleeding Cool|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000748/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/01/14/chris-claremont-and-todd-nauck-on-new-nightcrawler-comic/|archive-date= March 4, 2016|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cbr.com/nightcrawler-1/|title= ''Nightcrawler'' #1|first= Meagan|last= Damore|date= April 9, 2014|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170907011450/http://www.cbr.com/nightcrawler-1/|archive-date= September 7, 2017|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> He re-united with his former ''New Mutants''-artist artist ] for the oneshot ''New Mutants: War Children'' in 2019.

====Writing style====
]
According to writer/editor ], Claremont's complex story structures "played a pivotal role in assembling the audience that enabled American comics to move to more mature and sophisticated storytelling, and the graphic novel."<ref name=PublishersWeekly/> Claremont's editor on the series, ], attributes the X-Men's success to his approach to the characters: "Chris took them very seriously. They were real people to him."<ref name="PoorDoug"/>

As the writer of ''X-Men'', Claremont became known for certain characteristic phrases, such as Wolverine's saying, "I'm the best there is at what I do. And what I do...isn't very nice", which became closely associated with the character.<ref name="racmxFAQ8">{{cite web |url= http://www.peterdavid.net/2009/05/01/the-best-there-is-at-what-he-doesand-what-he-does-is-set-up-other-movies/|title= The Best There Is At What He Does…and What He Does is Set Up Other Movies|first= Peter|last= David|author-link= Peter David|date= May 1, 2009|publisher= PeterDavid.net|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130704012108/http://www.peterdavid.net/2009/05/01/the-best-there-is-at-what-he-doesand-what-he-does-is-set-up-other-movies/|archive-date= July 4, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref>

A 2009 '']'' article called Claremont the "] writer in comic books.... The classic Claremont pose is either a character, head hung in shame with two enormous rivers of tears running down the cheeks as he or she delivers a self-loathing monologue, or a character with head thrown back and mouth open in a shout of rage, shaking tiny fists at heaven and vowing that the whole world will soon learn about his or her feelings." However, the article goes to state that "the genius of Chris Claremont was that he made mutants a generic stand-in for all minorities".<ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2009/04/i_heart_wolverine.html|title= I Heart Wolverine|first= Grady|last= Hendrix|date= April 30, 2009|magazine= ] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130724125035/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2009/04/i_heart_wolverine.html|archive-date= July 24, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> "I'm an immigrant," said Claremont in 2014, describing his affinity with outsiders. After arriving in the United States from England, he was beaten up "because I looked like a geek." His emphasis on the theme of prejudice resonated with readers as the ''X-Men'' series rose in popularity.<ref name=Hiatt/>

===Novels and acting===
In 1987 Claremont began writing genre novels. His first was a science fiction trilogy about female USAF pilot/astronaut Nicole Shea, consisting of '']'' (1987), ''Grounded!'' (1991), and ''Sundowner'' (1994). Claremont co-wrote the '']'' trilogy, '']'' (1995), '']'' (1996), and '']'' (1999), with ], which continued the story of Elora Danan from the movie'' ]''. Claremont was a contributor to the '']'' anthology series.

Claremont made a cameo appearance in the opening scene of the 2006 film '']'', for which he is credited as "Lawnmower man". He made a cameo appearance as a Congressional committee member alongside fellow comic book writer ] in an early scene in the 2014 film '']''.

===Charity work===
] on March 24, 2012]]
In December 2010 Claremont appeared at a book signing at ] at ] in Manhattan as part of a series of events nationwide to commemorate ], with 25% of the proceeds of books sold at the event donated to Lifebeat, a nonprofit organization that educates young people on ]/AIDS prevention.<ref name=CBRAIDS/>

In July 2011 Claremont signed a deed of gift to ]'s ], donating his archives of all his major writing projects over the previous 40 years to the Library's nascent comics archives collection, forming the foundation of a research collection focusing on New York City-based cartoonists and comics writers. Following the examination and processing of the materials, which include notebooks, correspondence, early story drafts, plays, novels, comic books and materials from Claremont's early training in the theater and his career as an actor, Claremont's archive will be housed at the ] in ], separate from the graphic novels collection, and will be open to anyone who demonstrates a need for its use, with a Finding Aid being made available online. Claremont's longtime editor ] said, "his papers will provide many clues, not only to the evolving way comic books are created and presented, but also how they are perceived, licensed, bought and sold in America and around the world."<ref name=PublishersWeekly/>

A symposium called Comic New York was held March 24–25, 2012 at Columbia University's ] to mark the occasion, which was organized by Graphic Novels Librarian Karen Green, Professor Jeremy Dauber, and editor ].<ref name=PublishersWeekly/> A discussion between Claremont and Simonson held in recognition of Claremont's gift was the keynote event of the symposium, which focused on the intertwined histories of American comics and New York City, which has served both as a breeding ground for creators and the home of the Big Two publishers, Marvel and DC.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://conferences.cdrs.columbia.edu/comicny/|title= Comic New York: A Symposium|date= March 24–25, 2012|publisher= ]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131201020927/http://conferences.cdrs.columbia.edu/comicny/|archive-date=December 1, 2013 |url-status= live|access-date= March 29, 2012}}</ref> Signings and panel discussions with other creators, scholars and academics of the comics medium were held during the two-day event. Among the other creators in attendance were ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://conferences.cdrs.columbia.edu/comicny/?page_id=9|title= Panelist Bios|year= 2012|publisher= ]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130121120034/http://conferences.cdrs.columbia.edu/comicny/?page_id=9|archive-date= January 21, 2013|url-status= live|access-date= March 29, 2012}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In the mid-1970s, Claremont was married to Bonnie Wilford.<ref name=Bonniedoom>{{cite web |url= http://nypress.com/the-doom-that-came-to-chelsea/|title= The Doom that Came to Chelsea|first= Alan|last= Cabal|date= June 10, 2003|newspaper=]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131015035410/http://nypress.com/the-doom-that-came-to-chelsea/|archive-date= October 15, 2013|url-status= live|quote= Chris was her third husband}}</ref> Following the dissolution of that marriage, he married Beth Fleisher,<ref name=PublishersWeekly/> with whom Claremont co-authored ''Dragon Moon''. Fleisher is the cousin (through marriage) of editor ], who was the editor on '']'' during the six-issue "Tenth Circle" story arc Claremont and John Byrne wrote in 2004.<ref>{{cite book|last= Claremont|first= Chris|chapter= Introduction|title= Modern Masters Volume 6: Arthur Adams|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|year= 2006|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|page= 5|isbn= 978-1-893905-54-2}}</ref> Claremont and Fleisher have twin sons.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.peterdavid.net/2012/09/21/the-most-awards-1997/|title= The Most Awards 1997|first= Peter|last= David|author-link= Peter David|date= September 21, 2012|publisher= PeterDavid.net|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131031173623/http://www.peterdavid.net/2012/09/21/the-most-awards-1997/|archive-date= October 31, 2013|url-status= live}} Originally published in '']'' #1261 (January 16, 1998)</ref>

==Awards==
{{expand section|date=May 2020}}
* 1980 ]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|title= Inkpot Award Winners |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120709055558/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|archive-date= July 9, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref>
* 1992 ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' Fan Award for Favorite Graphic Novel or Album for ''Star Trek: Debt of Honor''<ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/cbg-fan-award-winners-1982-present|title= CBG Fan Award winners 1982–present|first= John Jackson|last= Miller|author-link= John Jackson Miller|date= June 9, 2005|location= Iola, Wisconsin
|magazine= ]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130925092523/http://www.cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/cbg-fan-award-winners-1982-present|archive-date= September 25, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref>
* 1979 ] for Best Comicbook Writer (US)<ref name="Eagle1979">{{cite web|url=http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1979/ |title=Previous Winners 1979 |year=2013 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060235/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1979/ |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 30, 2013 }}</ref>
* 1979 Eagle Award for Favourite Single Story – ''X-Men'' #111 – "Mindgames" with ]<ref name="Eagle1979"/>
* 1979 Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook – ''X-Men''<ref name="Eagle1979"/>
* 1979 Eagle Award for Favourite Group or Team – X-Men<ref name="Eagle1979"/>
* 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook Writer<ref name="Eagle1980">{{cite web|url=http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1980/ |title=Previous Winners 1980 |year=2013 |publisher=Eagle Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023124342/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1980/ |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 30, 2013 }}</ref>
* 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Continued Comic Story – ''X-Men'' #125–128 with John Byrne<ref name="Eagle1980"/>
* 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook – ''X-Men''<ref name="Eagle1980"/>
* 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Team – X-Men<ref name="Eagle1980"/>
* 1984 Eagle Award for Favourite Group or Team (US) – X-Men<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1984/|title= Previous Winners 1984|year= 2013|publisher= Eagle Awards|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131023105244/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1984/|archive-date= October 23, 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= November 30, 2013}}</ref>
* 1986 Eagle Award for Favourite Group or Team (US) – X-Men<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1986/|title= Previous Winners 1986|year= 2013|publisher= Eagle Awards|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131023114740/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1986/|archive-date= October 23, 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= November 30, 2013}}</ref>
* Charles Flint Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters from ]<ref name=Bard/>

==Bibliography==
{{Main|Chris Claremont bibliography}}

==See also==
* '']''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Secondary literature bibliography===
* Deman, J. Andrew (2023). ''The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X-Men''. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-3075-3.


==External links== ==External links==
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* {{isfdb name|id=Chris_Claremont|name=Chris Claremont}}
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* . ]. Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Latest revision as of 14:47, 1 November 2024

American comic book writer
Chris Claremont
Claremont seated and smiling with his arms crossedClaremont at the 2016 New York Comic Con
BornChristopher S. Claremont
(1950-11-25) November 25, 1950 (age 74)
London, England
NationalityAmerican
Notable worksUncanny X-Men
New Mutants
Captain Britain
Excalibur
Wolverine
Fantastic Four
Ms. Marvel
Iron Fist
X-Treme X-Men
AwardsComics Buyer's Guide Fan Award: 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990
Eagle Award: 1979 and 1980
Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame (2015)
Spouse(s)Bonnie Wilford (?–?)
Beth Fleisher (current)
Children2
chrisclaremont.com

Christopher S. Claremont (/ˈklɛərmɒnt/; born November 25, 1950) is an American comic book writer and novelist. Claremont is best known for his 16-year stint on Uncanny X-Men from 1975 to 1991, far longer than that of any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters as well as introducing complex literary themes into superhero narratives, turning the once underachieving comic into one of Marvel's most popular series. During his tenure, X-Men was the best-selling comic book in the world.

During his tenure at Marvel, Claremont co-created numerous X-Men characters, such as Rogue, Psylocke (Betsy Braddock), Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat, Phoenix, the Brood, Lockheed, Shi'ar, Shi'ar Imperial Guard, Mystique, Destiny, Selene, Reverend William Stryker, Lady Mastermind, Emma Frost, Tessa, Siryn, Jubilee, Rachel Summers, Madelyne Pryor, Moira MacTaggert, Lilandra, Shadow King, Cannonball, Warpath, Mirage, Wolfsbane, Karma, Cypher, Sabretooth, Empath, Sebastian Shaw, Donald Pierce, Avalanche, Pyro, Legion, Nimrod, Gateway, Strong Guy, Proteus, Mister Sinister, Marauders, Purifiers, Captain Britain, Sunspot, Forge, and Gambit.

Claremont wrote many classic stories, including "The Dark Phoenix Saga" and "Days of Future Past", on which he collaborated with John Byrne. He developed the character of Wolverine into a fan favorite. X-Men #1, the 1991 spinoff series premiere that Claremont co-wrote with Jim Lee, remains the bestselling comic book of all time, according to Guinness World Records. In 2015, Claremont and his X-Men collaborator John Byrne were entered into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame.

Early life

Claremont was born in London, England. His father was an internist and his mother was a pilot and caterer. Claremont is Jewish on his mother's side, and lived in a kibbutz in Israel during his youth. His family moved to the United States when he was three years old, and he was raised primarily on Long Island. Alienated by the sports-oriented suburbs, his grandmother purchased for him a subscription to Eagle when he was a child, and he grew up reading Dan Dare, finding them more exciting than the Batman and Superman comics of the 1950s and early 1960s. He read works by science fiction writers such as Robert Heinlein, as well as writers of other genres such as Rudyard Kipling and C. S. Forester.

Career

Comics

1969–1991

Chris Claremont at a comic convention in New York City around 1990

Claremont initially did not view the comic book industry as the place where he would make his career, as he believed the dwindling readership to be a sign that the industry was dying, and found the material being published to be uninteresting. Instead, when he began at Bard College, he did so as a political theorist, studying acting and political theory, and writing novels with the hope of becoming a director. His first professional sale was a prose story. He graduated in 1972.

Claremont's career began in 1969, as a college undergraduate, when he was hired as a gofer/editorial assistant at Marvel Comics. His first professional scripting assignment was Daredevil #102 (Aug. 1973). As an entry into regular comics writing, Claremont was given the fledgling feature "Iron Fist" in Marvel Premiere as of issue #23 (Aug. 1975). He was joined two issues later by artist John Byrne. The Claremont/Byrne team continued to work together when the character received its own self-titled series in November 1975. This title lasted 15 issues.

Though his acting career did not yield great success, he functioned well at Marvel, where he obtained a full-time position. One of the first new characters created by Claremont was Madrox the Multiple Man in Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 (Feb. 1975). Marvel's editor-in-chief at the time, Len Wein, who recognized Claremont's enthusiasm for the new X-Men that Wein and Dave Cockrum had created in 1975, hired Claremont, a relatively young writer, to take over the series as of issue #94 (May 1975), reasoning that doing so would not draw opposition from other writers, given the book's poor standing. Claremont approached the job as a method actor, developing the characters by examining their motives, desires and individual personalities. This approach drew immediate positive reaction. According to former Marvel editor-in-chief Bob Harras, "He lived it and breathed it. He would write whole paragraphs about what people were wearing. He really got into these people's thoughts, hopes, dreams." Claremont's take on the series has been likened to writing "the Great American Novel about complex characters who just happened to fly", incorporating surprise character developments and emotional nuances amid the operatic battles that otherwise typified American superhero comics. By his own admission, Claremont acquired a reputation for taking a long time to resolve plot threads, and longtime X-Men editor Louise Simonson recounted that whenever she was at a loss for story ideas, "All I'd have to do was go through all of the plot threads that he had left for the last year or two."

Claremont introduced new supporting characters to the X-Men series including Moira MacTaggert in issue #96 and Lilandra Neramani in #97. Jean Grey a.k.a. Marvel Girl, one of Marvel's first female heroes, underwent a dramatic transformation into the extremely powerful Phoenix in issue #101. Issue #107 (Oct. 1977) saw the introduction of the Starjammers as well as the departure of artist Dave Cockrum. Claremont began his collaboration with artist John Byrne in the following issue.

During his 17 years as X-Men writer, Claremont wrote or co-wrote many classic X-Men stories, such as "The Dark Phoenix Saga" and "Days of Future Past". Comics writers and historians Roy Thomas and Peter Sanderson observed that "'The Dark Phoenix Saga' is to Claremont and Byrne what the 'Galactus Trilogy' is to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. It is a landmark in Marvel history, showcasing its creators' work at the height of their abilities." Comics historian Les Daniels noted that "The controversial story created a sensation and The X-Men became the comic book to watch." In 2010, Comics Bulletin ranked Claremont and Byrne's run on The X-Men second on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels". Claremont and artist Frank Miller crafted a Wolverine limited series in 1982. With artist Walt Simonson, Claremont produced The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans in 1982, an intercompany crossover between the top-selling Marvel and DC titles. The New Mutants were introduced by Claremont and Bob McLeod in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (Dec. 1982) and received their own ongoing series soon after. The second X-Men film was loosely based on his 1982 X-Men graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills.

Besides his work on X-Men and its spinoffs, Claremont wrote Marvel Team-Up, Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel during this time. He and artist John Bolton created the Marada the She-Wolf character in 1981. Claremont's stories for Marvel Team-Up included the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live appearing in issue #74 (Oct. 1978) and the introduction of Karma, a character that later joined the New Mutants, in #100 (Dec. 1980). Claremont helped launch the Marvel Fanfare title in March 1982.

Claremont co-created numerous other important female X-Men characters, including Rogue, Betsy Braddock, Mariko Yashida, Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat, Phoenix, Mystique, Lady Mastermind, Emma Frost, Siryn, Rachel Summers, Madelyne Pryor, and Jubilee. He co-created such notable male characters as Sabretooth, Pyro, Avalanche, Strong Guy, Captain Britain, Forge, Mister Sinister, and Gambit.

Claremont launched various X-Men spin-offs, beginning with The New Mutants in 1982. The spinoffs Excalibur and Wolverine, initially written by Claremont, followed in 1987 and 1988, respectively. X-Men crossover stories written by Claremont during the latter half of his tenure on the series include "Mutant Massacre", "Fall of the Mutants", and "X-Tinction Agenda". In 1991, Marvel launched a second X-Men title simply called X-Men with Claremont and penciler Jim Lee as co-writers. X-Men #1 is still the bestselling comic book of all-time, with sales of over 8.1 million copies (and nearly $7 million), according to Guinness World Records, which presented honors to Claremont at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con. The sales figures were generated in part by publishing the issue with four different variant covers which showed different characters from the book (and later a fifth gatefold cover that combined all four), large numbers of which were purchased by retailers, who anticipated fans and speculators who would buy multiple copies in order to acquire a complete collection of the covers. Claremont left the series after the first three-issue story arc, due to clashes with editor Bob Harras.

1992–present

The 1990s saw Claremont diversify his comics work, as he wrote for other publishers, and wrote his own creator-owned properties. In December 1991, he sent artist Whilce Portacio a proposal to illustrate Claremont's project, The Huntsman, as a creator-owned project, and when the then-new comics publisher Image Comics was announced in 1992, Claremont was named as one of its founders. However, the project was canceled when Portacio decided instead to do Wetworks. Claremont attempted to find other artist for the series, but all those in whom he was interested were either drawing X-Men or had their own projects with Image, and thus he did not become one of Image's founders. In 1992 he wrote the graphic novel Star Trek: Debt of Honor, which was illustrated by Adam Hughes. Stan Lee interviewed Claremont for episode 7 of the 1991–92 documentary series The Comic Book Greats.

In 1993, he began writing the 12-issue miniseries Aliens/Predator: Deadliest of the Species for Dark Horse Comics, which was completed in 1995. That year saw a decline in his comics output, however, as he turned his focus to writing novels, citing frustration with how the comics industry had become dominated by artists and editors. In 1994, he wrote issues #10–13 of Jim Lee and Brandon Choi's series, WildC.A.T.s at Image Comics, in which he finally introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.

In 1995, Claremont began writing his creator-owned series, Sovereign Seven, which was published by DC Comics, running for 36 issues until 1998.

In 1998, Claremont returned to Marvel as editorial director and the regular writer of Fantastic Four, where he created Valeria Richards. The book was pencilled by artist Salvador Larrocca and inked by Art Thibert for the entirety of his duration on the series. Claremont's run on Fantastic Four would last for 29 issues and 2 annuals, making it his longest tenure on a title outside of the X-Men. Despite outselling books such as Amazing Spider-Man and Batman, Claremont was fired by editor Bobbie Chase in early 2000, a decision that he was angered by. Claremont also wrote The Fantastic 4th Voyage of Sinbad in 2001, a one shot starring the Fantastic Four on an adventure with Sinbad the Sailor. The comic was pencilled Pascual Ferry.

In 2000, as part of the company's "Revolution" event, he wrote Uncanny X-Men and X-Men until he moved to X-Treme X-Men, again working with penciller Salvador Larroca. He returned to Uncanny X-Men again for a two-year run starting in 2004, while teaming up with his former Excalibur collaborator and artist, Alan Davis.

In 2004, Claremont was co-writer on JLA issues #94–99, the "Tenth Circle" story arc for DC Comics, which reunited him with his former Uncanny X-Men artist John Byrne, with Jerry Ordway as inker.

In 2007, Claremont returned to New Excalibur, writing a story arc in which the character Nocturne has a stroke. He has completed his first arc on Exiles, adding Betsy Braddock to the team.

In 2008 Claremont wrote the miniseries GeNEXT, followed by its 2009 sequel, GeNext: United. He was the writer of an X-Men Forever series which was set in an alternate universe, and focuses on the present day lives of the X-Men in a reality where Magneto never returned following the destruction of Asteroid M in X-Men #3 (December 1991). In 2010, Claremont collaborated with Italian comics artist Milo Manara on X-Women.

As of 2014 Claremont was under an exclusive contract for Marvel. In April of that year, Marvel launched a Nightcrawler series with Claremont as writer, which he finished in March 2015. He re-united with his former New Mutants-artist artist Bill Sienkiewicz for the oneshot New Mutants: War Children in 2019.

Writing style

Claremont being interviewed on breaking into the comics industry at the 2011 New York Comic Con

According to writer/editor Paul Levitz, Claremont's complex story structures "played a pivotal role in assembling the audience that enabled American comics to move to more mature and sophisticated storytelling, and the graphic novel." Claremont's editor on the series, Louise Simonson, attributes the X-Men's success to his approach to the characters: "Chris took them very seriously. They were real people to him."

As the writer of X-Men, Claremont became known for certain characteristic phrases, such as Wolverine's saying, "I'm the best there is at what I do. And what I do...isn't very nice", which became closely associated with the character.

A 2009 Slate article called Claremont the "soapiest writer in comic books.... The classic Claremont pose is either a character, head hung in shame with two enormous rivers of tears running down the cheeks as he or she delivers a self-loathing monologue, or a character with head thrown back and mouth open in a shout of rage, shaking tiny fists at heaven and vowing that the whole world will soon learn about his or her feelings." However, the article goes to state that "the genius of Chris Claremont was that he made mutants a generic stand-in for all minorities". "I'm an immigrant," said Claremont in 2014, describing his affinity with outsiders. After arriving in the United States from England, he was beaten up "because I looked like a geek." His emphasis on the theme of prejudice resonated with readers as the X-Men series rose in popularity.

Novels and acting

In 1987 Claremont began writing genre novels. His first was a science fiction trilogy about female USAF pilot/astronaut Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas, which continued the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. Claremont was a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.

Claremont made a cameo appearance in the opening scene of the 2006 film X-Men: The Last Stand, for which he is credited as "Lawnmower man". He made a cameo appearance as a Congressional committee member alongside fellow comic book writer Len Wein in an early scene in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Charity work

Claremont at the Comic New York symposium at Columbia University on March 24, 2012

In December 2010 Claremont appeared at a book signing at Borders Books at Penn Plaza in Manhattan as part of a series of events nationwide to commemorate World AIDS Day, with 25% of the proceeds of books sold at the event donated to Lifebeat, a nonprofit organization that educates young people on HIV/AIDS prevention.

In July 2011 Claremont signed a deed of gift to Columbia University's Rare Book & Manuscript Library, donating his archives of all his major writing projects over the previous 40 years to the Library's nascent comics archives collection, forming the foundation of a research collection focusing on New York City-based cartoonists and comics writers. Following the examination and processing of the materials, which include notebooks, correspondence, early story drafts, plays, novels, comic books and materials from Claremont's early training in the theater and his career as an actor, Claremont's archive will be housed at the Rare Book & Manuscript Library in Butler Library, separate from the graphic novels collection, and will be open to anyone who demonstrates a need for its use, with a Finding Aid being made available online. Claremont's longtime editor Louise Simonson said, "his papers will provide many clues, not only to the evolving way comic books are created and presented, but also how they are perceived, licensed, bought and sold in America and around the world."

A symposium called Comic New York was held March 24–25, 2012 at Columbia University's Low Memorial Library to mark the occasion, which was organized by Graphic Novels Librarian Karen Green, Professor Jeremy Dauber, and editor Danny Fingeroth. A discussion between Claremont and Simonson held in recognition of Claremont's gift was the keynote event of the symposium, which focused on the intertwined histories of American comics and New York City, which has served both as a breeding ground for creators and the home of the Big Two publishers, Marvel and DC. Signings and panel discussions with other creators, scholars and academics of the comics medium were held during the two-day event. Among the other creators in attendance were Paul Levitz, Al Jaffee, Peter Kuper, Denis Kitchen, Molly Crabapple, John Romita, John Romita Jr., Irwin Hasen, Miss Lasko-Gross and Dean Haspiel.

Personal life

In the mid-1970s, Claremont was married to Bonnie Wilford. Following the dissolution of that marriage, he married Beth Fleisher, with whom Claremont co-authored Dragon Moon. Fleisher is the cousin (through marriage) of editor Dan Raspler, who was the editor on JLA during the six-issue "Tenth Circle" story arc Claremont and John Byrne wrote in 2004. Claremont and Fleisher have twin sons.

Awards

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2020)
  • 1980 Inkpot Award
  • 1992 Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Graphic Novel or Album for Star Trek: Debt of Honor
  • 1979 Eagle Award for Best Comicbook Writer (US)
  • 1979 Eagle Award for Favourite Single Story – X-Men #111 – "Mindgames" with John Byrne
  • 1979 Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook – X-Men
  • 1979 Eagle Award for Favourite Group or Team – X-Men
  • 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook Writer
  • 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Continued Comic Story – X-Men #125–128 with John Byrne
  • 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook – X-Men
  • 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Team – X-Men
  • 1984 Eagle Award for Favourite Group or Team (US) – X-Men
  • 1986 Eagle Award for Favourite Group or Team (US) – X-Men
  • Charles Flint Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters from Bard College

Bibliography

Main article: Chris Claremont bibliography

See also

References

  1. Given name: cover, Marvel Graphic Novel #5: X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.
  2. Middle initial: "X-Mail" letter column, Uncanny X-Men #144 (Apr. 1981).
  3. Claremont, Chris. Marvel Age Special: X-Men Anniversary Magazine vol. 1, #1 (Sept. 1993).
  4. ^ Reid, Calvin (November 14, 2011). "X-Men Writer Chris Claremont Donates Archive to Columbia University". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012.
  5. ^ Foege, Alec (July 17, 2000). "The X-Men Files". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013.
  6. ^ Hiatt, Brian (May 26, 2014). "The True Origins of 'X-Men'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  7. Deman, p. 1.
  8. ^ "Comic Legend Chris Claremont Allies with Borders for World AIDS Day". Comic Book Resources. November 26, 2010. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010.
  9. Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011.
  10. "Chris Claremont". Fantastic Fiction. 2013. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  11. Wilson, Larry (September 5, 2012). "Good guys win in the end— Must we wait for the 30th century??". Jewishworldnews.org. Archived from the original on December 1, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013. All that changed however in the mid 1970s when writer Chris Claremont came on board. Despite his non-Jewish-sounding name, this London-born, New York-raised lad is Jewish… he even spent time on an Israeli kibbutz in his youth.
  12. Klotz, Bryan (June 2009). "Secret Identities: Graphic Literature and the Jewish- American Experience". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  13. ^ Vaughan, Owen (October 30, 2009). "Now where was I? The uncanny Chris Claremont on rejoining the X-Men". The Times. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  14. ^ "X-Mail", Uncanny X-Men #164 (December 1982). Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ "Charles Flint Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters". Bard College Catalogue. 2013. Archived from the original on December 1, 2013.
  16. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-7566-4123-8. In this issue, new Marvel writer Chris Claremont and artist John Buscema introduced Madrox the Multiple Man, a mutant who could duplicate his body over and over. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 170: "The 'new' X-Men team...moved into this thirty-two-page bimonthly comic...and writer Chris Claremont took over the scripting."
  18. Claremont, Chris (1988). "Introduction". X-Men: Asgardian Wars. Marvel Comics. pp. 6–7. ISBN 978-0-87135-434-1.
  19. ^ Grant, Paul J. (August 1993). "Poor Dead Doug, and Other Mutant Memories". Wizard: X-Men Turn Thirty. pp. 66–69.
  20. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 171: "In this issue, the first to be plotted as well as scripted by Chris Claremont, Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum introduced geneticist Moira MacTaggert."
  21. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 175: "Writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum also introduced the alien Shi'ar race, the Shi'ar Princess Lilandra, and covert agent Erik the Red in X-Men #97."
  22. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 176: "The transformation of Jean Grey into Phoenix was a dramatic affair...Writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum's intent in transforming Jean Grey into Phoenix was to boost Jean's powers to a higher level."
  23. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 181: "Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont introduced the Starjammers, a band of space pirates led by Corsair."
  24. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 181: "When 'new' X-Men co-creator Dave Cockrum left the series, John Byrne took over as penciler and co-plotter. In his first issue, Byrne and writer Chris Claremont wound up the Shi'ar story arc."
  25. DeFalco, Tom "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 196: "In January a nine-part story began that changed the X-Men forever...Claremont proposed a story that would show how Jean Grey – one of the original members of the X-Men – had become corrupted by her new Phoenix power."
  26. ^ DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 200: "The Sentinels ruled the earth in an alternate reality...The Uncanny X-Men #141 also introduced Rachel Summers, the daughter of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, who was born in the 'Days of Future Past' timeline."
  27. Thomas, Roy; Sanderson, Peter (2007). The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Running Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-7624-2844-1.
  28. Daniels, Les (1991). "The Marvel Universe (1978–1990)". Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics. New York City: Harry N. Abrams. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-8109-3821-2.
  29. Sacks, Jason (September 6, 2010). "Top 10 1970s Marvels". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  30. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 208: "The most popular member of the X-Men was finally featured in his first solo title, a four-issue limited series by writer Chris Claremont and writer/artist Frank Miller."
  31. Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The issue, written by longtime X-Men scribe Chris Claremont and drawn by Walter Simonson ...one of the most well-received crossovers of its time – or of any time for that matter – the team-up was a huge success. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. Brown, Jonathan (August 2013). "The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans: The Breakfast Club of the Comics Crossover". Back Issue! (66). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 68.
  33. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 209: "Writer Chris Claremont proposed The New Mutants and artist Bob McLeod was brought in to design the characters."
  34. Brown, Scott (May 2, 2003). "The NeXt Level". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  35. Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1970s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-7566-9236-0. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 185: "Later writers in the fifty-issue run of this series included Chris Claremont, a specialist in portraying self-reliant heroines."
  37. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 186: "Ms. Marvel's...series was in the hands of Chris Claremont...and Dave Cockrum, a master of imaginative costume design."
  38. Catron, Michael (August 1981). "Red Sonja/Marada Tale Yanked from Bizarre Adventures". Amazing Heroes (3). Stamford, Connecticut: Fantagraphics Books: 16.
  39. Aushenker, Michael (August 2013). "That Other Spider-Man Title...Marvel Team-Up Offered an Alternative Spidey Experience". Back Issue! (66). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 15–22.
  40. Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 104: "The web-slinger found himself sharing the stage with a cast who had dressed as super-heroes to attack the Samurai's gang in this quirky tale written by Chris Claremont and penciled by Bob Hall."
  41. Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 117: "1980 was a year for anniversary issues, and this centennial effort by writer Chris Claremont and artist Frank Miller was one of them...Future New Mutant Karma also made her debut."
  42. Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 126: "The debut issue featured the inspired pairing of writer Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden as they teamed up two other fan-favorites, the X-Men's Angel and Spider-Man."
  43. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 203: " first published appearance occurred in The Avengers Annual #10 by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden."
  44. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 177
  45. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 188: "In this issue , by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, the X-Men arrived in Japan, where Wolverine met and fell in love with a shy, quiet woman named Mariko Yashida."
  46. ^ DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008)
  47. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 176: "British-born writer Chris Claremont and artist Herb Trimpe created a new super hero specifically for Marvel's readers in the United Kingdom."
  48. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 233: " produced Excalibur Special Edition, a graphic novel about a team of superheroes based in England."
  49. Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 251
  50. Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 255: "It was a matter of simple addition. Take Chris Claremont, the writer who had made The Uncanny X-Men the continual hit that it was, and add Jim Lee, the artist who had reinvigorated the title's popularity in recent months...The sum of all these parts was X-Men #1, the best selling comic book in the history of the medium, selling well over eight million copies."
  51. Morse, Ben (August 10, 2010). "SDCC 2010: Marvel Breaks World Record". Marvel Comics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  52. Johnston, Rich (July 22, 2010). "X-Men #1 The Guinness World Record Best Selling Comic Of All Time?". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013.
  53. Cantor, Michael (Producer); Schreiber, Liev (Narrator) Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle. PBS. October 15, 2013.
  54. Glenday, Craig, ed. (2013). Guinness World Records 2013. Jim Pattison Group. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-904994-87-9.
  55. Miller, John Jackson (November 16, 2010). "X-Men #1, One Piece, and world records". The Comichron. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013.
  56. ^ O'Neill, Patrick Daniel (June 1993). "Claremont Returns With the Write Stuff". Wizard. No. 22. pp. 28–35.
  57. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "The Comic Book Greats Chris Claremont". YouTube.com. March 13, 2016.
  58. "Bye Bye Marvel; Here Comes Image: Portacio, Claremont, Liefeld, Jim Lee Join McFarlane's New Imprint at Malibu". The Comics Journal (148). Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics Books: 11–12. February 1992.
  59. "Chris Claremont Comic Book Reviews".
  60. "Comichron: June 2000 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops".
  61. "Chris Claremont Talks Comics with Cartoonist Kayfabe!". YouTube. May 24, 2020.
  62. Ekstrom, Steve (February 6, 2009). "NYCC '09: Claremont and the X-Men: With a Twist". Newsarama. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013.
  63. Phegley, Kiel (April 7, 2010). "Claremont Unveils X-Women". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  64. Johnston, Rich (January 14, 2014). "Chris Claremont And Todd Nauck On New Nightcrawler Comic?". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  65. Damore, Meagan (April 9, 2014). "Nightcrawler #1". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017.
  66. David, Peter (May 1, 2009). "The Best There Is At What He Does…and What He Does is Set Up Other Movies". PeterDavid.net. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013.
  67. Hendrix, Grady (April 30, 2009). "I Heart Wolverine". Slate. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013.
  68. "Comic New York: A Symposium". Columbia University. March 24–25, 2012. Archived from the original on December 1, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  69. "Panelist Bios". Columbia University Libraries. 2012. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  70. Cabal, Alan (June 10, 2003). "The Doom that Came to Chelsea". New York Press. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Chris was her third husband
  71. Claremont, Chris (2006). "Introduction". Modern Masters Volume 6: Arthur Adams. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-893905-54-2.
  72. David, Peter (September 21, 2012). "The Most Awards 1997". PeterDavid.net. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Originally published in Comics Buyer's Guide #1261 (January 16, 1998)
  73. "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
  74. Miller, John Jackson (June 9, 2005). "CBG Fan Award winners 1982–present". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013.
  75. ^ "Previous Winners 1979". Eagle Awards. 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  76. ^ "Previous Winners 1980". Eagle Awards. 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  77. "Previous Winners 1984". Eagle Awards. 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  78. "Previous Winners 1986". Eagle Awards. 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.

Secondary literature bibliography

  • Deman, J. Andrew (2023). The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X-Men. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-3075-3.

External links

Preceded bySteve Gerber Daredevil writer
1975
Succeeded byTony Isabella
Preceded byLen Wein Uncanny X-Men writer
1975–1991
Succeeded byJohn Byrne
Preceded byn/a Captain Britain writer
1976
Succeeded byGary Friedrich
Preceded byMichael Fleisher Man-Thing writer
1980–1981
(with fill-ins by Dickie Mackenzie and J. M. DeMatteis)
Succeeded byJ. M. DeMatteis
Preceded byn/a New Mutants writer
1983–1987
Succeeded byLouise Simonson
Preceded byn/a Excalibur writer
1987–1991
Succeeded byScott Lobdell
Preceded byn/a Wolverine writer
1988–1989
Succeeded byPeter David
Preceded byLouise Simonson X-Factor writer
1991
Succeeded byPeter David
Preceded byn/a X-Men vol. 2 writer
1991
Succeeded byJohn Byrne
Preceded byWarren Ellis Wolverine writer
1998
Succeeded byTodd Dezago
Preceded byScott Lobdell Fantastic Four writer
1998–2000
Succeeded byJohn Francis Moore
Preceded byAlan Davis Uncanny X-Men writer
2000–2001
Succeeded byScott Lobdell
Preceded byAlan Davis X-Men vol. 2 writer
2000–2001
Succeeded byScott Lobdell
Preceded byChuck Austen Uncanny X-Men writer
2004–2006
Succeeded byEd Brubaker
Inkpot Award (1980s)
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
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