Jenette Kahn
Encyclopedia
Jenette Kahn is an American
comic book
editor and executive. She joined DC Comics
in 1976 as publisher, and five years later was promoted to President. In 1989, she stepped down as publisher and assumed the title of Editor-in-Chief while retaining the office of president. After 26 years with DC, she stepped down in 2002 to pursue other endeavors.
) and brother Si
. She was an avid comics fan, a practice supported by her parents, with particular favorites being Batman
, Superman
, Little Lulu
, Uncle Scrooge
, and Archie
.
After graduating from Harvard with honors in art history, she went on to found three groundbreaking magazines for young people. The original publication, Kids
, was entirely written by children for one another. Although published in the early 1970s, Kids tackled subjects that are relevant today: drug abuse, diversity, animal protection, and the environment.
Kahn's second magazine was Dynamite!. Created for Scholastic Inc., it changed the fortunes of the company, becoming the most successful publication in its history and inspiring two similar periodicals for Scholastic, WOW and Bananas. Ms. Kahn followed with another magazine, Smash, for Xerox Education Publications. Though she was just 25 years old when she founded Smash, Kahn was savvy enough to convince legendary designer Milton Glaser
to become the magazine’s art director.
in 1976, a division of Warner Bros.
and Time Warner
, and home to over five thousand characters, including Superman
, Batman
and Wonder Woman
. In February 1981, she became President, and — when its founder William Gaines
died — President and Editor-in-Chief of MAD Magazine as well. She was the youngest person in the company to become president of a division, and the first woman.
After a tough start at DC, which saw Kahn announce the "DC Explosion" of new titles and formats and then suffer through the infamous "DC Implosion
" of 1978, Kahn oversaw much success for the company. She was the driving creative force behind the growth of a comic book imprint into the multi-billion dollar home of some of the most recognized iconic characters in the world. Along with editor and executive vice president Paul Levitz
and managing editor Dick Giordano
, she was responsible for the 1970s and 1980s revitalization of the company's entire line of heroes, including the introduction of Dollar Comics
publications. Others who played vital roles in the process were writers Marv Wolfman
and Alan Moore
, artists George Pérez
and Keith Giffen
, and editor Karen Berger
.
Considered the doyenne of the comic book industry, and one of the most talented and respected women in the entertainment industry, Kahn is renowned for transforming comics from a children's medium to a visually stylish and sophisticated art form for adults. Under Kahn’s aegis, DC broke new ground with comic books and graphic novels, including Ronin, The Dark Knight Returns, Hellblazer
, Watchmen
, Road to Perdition
, A History of Violence
, Books of Magic, V for Vendetta
, Sandman
and 100 Bullets
, many of which have been made or are currently in development as feature films. Kahn broke ground by championing and implementing extensive rights for creators in an industry where there were none.
Kahn oversaw the launch of the acclaimed Vertigo imprint in 1993, and of Milestone Media
, a minority-founded and ethnically diverse line of comic books that DC published for several years (and from which Static Shock
, the animated show on The WB Television Network
, was developed). Kahn is credited with reinventing the classic DC characters, overseeing in the process the death and rebirth of Superman. In an interview conducted soon after Kahn joined DC, Dick Giordano commented that Kahn had no editorial restrictions on creators, as far as he could tell. Under Kahn’s leadership, DC became known for pushing boundaries in subject matter by addressing issues of domestic violence, sexual preference, gun violence, homelessness, racism, and AIDS in the company’s mainstream titles. One exception to this editorial stance was Kahn cancelling an issue of Swamp Thing
where the title character interacts with Jesus
, which led to the writer and artist Rick Veitch
quitting, citing censorship concerns.
She also oversaw a diversification of the originally overwhelmingly male staff at DC, to the point where when she left, almost half the employees were women.
starring Richard Gere
and Claire Danes
and directed by Andrew Lau
, the director of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs
, the movie on which The Departed
was based. Gran Torino, which Clint Eastwood
directed and stars in, is Double Nickel's second film to be released.
In addition Kahn serves on the boards of Exit Art
and Harlem Stage, and is an advisor to The Bill T. Jones
Dance Company. She is a founding member of The Committee of 200
, a nationwide forum of key women in business. Her first book, In Your Space, was published by Abbeville Press in the spring of 2002.
Living Legends
award in the "Writers and Artists" category in April 2000 for her significant contributions to America's cultural heritage.
President Ronald Reagan
honored Kahn for her work on drug awareness, and she has been honored by the Clinton Administration
, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
, the United Nations
, and the Department of Defense
for her work on land mine
s.
The FBI honored Kahn for her efforts on gun control, as did former Governor Douglas Wilder
of Virginia
, who credited her with helping to pass stricter gun control legislation in his state.
She has also been honored by the World Design Foundation for outstanding creative achievements. In addition, Kahn created The Wonder Woman Foundation in honor of Wonder Woman’s 40th Anniversary. In its three years of existence, the foundation gave out more than $350,000 in grants to women over 40 in categories that exemplified the inspirational characteristics of the DC heroine: women taking risks, women pursuing equality and truth, women striving for peace, women helping other women.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
editor and executive. She joined DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
in 1976 as publisher, and five years later was promoted to President. In 1989, she stepped down as publisher and assumed the title of Editor-in-Chief while retaining the office of president. After 26 years with DC, she stepped down in 2002 to pursue other endeavors.
Education and early career
Jenette Kahn grew up in Pennsylvania with her parents (her father was a rabbiRabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
) and brother Si
Si Kahn
Si Kahn is an American singer-songwriter, activist, and founder and former executive director of Grassroots Leadership.- Early life and education :...
. She was an avid comics fan, a practice supported by her parents, with particular favorites being Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, Little Lulu
Little Lulu
"Little Lulu" is the nickname for Lulu Moppett, a comic strip character created in the mid-1930s by Marjorie Henderson Buell. The character debuted in The Saturday Evening Post on February 23, 1935 in a single panel, appearing as a flower girl at a wedding and strewing the aisle with banana peels...
, Uncle Scrooge
Uncle Scrooge
Uncle Scrooge is a comic book with the stingy Scrooge McDuck "the richest duck in the world" as the main character. The series also featured Donald Duck and his nephews as supporting characters. The first 70 issues mostly consisted of stories written and drawn by Carl Barks, the creator of Scrooge...
, and Archie
Archie
-People:* Archie Karas , a Greek gambler known for turning $50 into $40 million before losing it all* Archie Brown , a British political scientist and historian* Archie Macpherson, Scottish sports broadcaster* Archie Thompson, Australian footballer...
.
After graduating from Harvard with honors in art history, she went on to found three groundbreaking magazines for young people. The original publication, Kids
Kids (1970s magazine)
Kids was a children's magazine published in Cambridge, Massachusetts and later New York City from 1970 to 1975. Its aim was to create a magazine which was, as much as possible, created and edited by children themselves, with minimal adult supervision.Its founding editors were Jenette Kahn and Jim...
, was entirely written by children for one another. Although published in the early 1970s, Kids tackled subjects that are relevant today: drug abuse, diversity, animal protection, and the environment.
Kahn's second magazine was Dynamite!. Created for Scholastic Inc., it changed the fortunes of the company, becoming the most successful publication in its history and inspiring two similar periodicals for Scholastic, WOW and Bananas. Ms. Kahn followed with another magazine, Smash, for Xerox Education Publications. Though she was just 25 years old when she founded Smash, Kahn was savvy enough to convince legendary designer Milton Glaser
Milton Glaser
Milton Glaser is a graphic designer, best known for the I Love New York logo, his "Bob Dylan" poster, the "DC bullet" logo used by DC Comics from 1977 to 2005, and the "Brooklyn Brewery" logo. He also founded New York Magazine with Clay Felker in 1968.-Biography:Glaser was born into a Hungarian...
to become the magazine’s art director.
DC Comics
Kahn was 28 when she became publisher of DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
in 1976, a division of Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
and Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
, and home to over five thousand characters, including Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
. In February 1981, she became President, and — when its founder William Gaines
William Gaines
William Maxwell Gaines , better known as Bill Gaines, was an American publisher and co-editor of EC Comics. Following a shift in EC's direction in 1950, Gaines presided over what became an artistically influential and historically important line of mature-audience comics...
died — President and Editor-in-Chief of MAD Magazine as well. She was the youngest person in the company to become president of a division, and the first woman.
After a tough start at DC, which saw Kahn announce the "DC Explosion" of new titles and formats and then suffer through the infamous "DC Implosion
DC Implosion
The DC Implosion is the popular label for the sudden cancellation of more than two dozen ongoing and planned series by the American comics publisher DC Comics in 1978.-History:...
" of 1978, Kahn oversaw much success for the company. She was the driving creative force behind the growth of a comic book imprint into the multi-billion dollar home of some of the most recognized iconic characters in the world. Along with editor and executive vice president Paul Levitz
Paul Levitz
Paul Levitz is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics from 2002–2009, he has worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles...
and managing editor Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph "Dick" Giordano was an American comic book artist and editor best known for introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes, and serving as executive editor of then–industry leader DC Comics...
, she was responsible for the 1970s and 1980s revitalization of the company's entire line of heroes, including the introduction of Dollar Comics
Dollar Comics
Dollar Comics was a line of DC Comics comic book publications issued from 1977 to 1983. They included the titles Superman Family, House of Mystery, G.I. Combat, World's Finest Comics, Batman Family, and Adventure Comics; as well as the series of specials with the umbrella title of DC Special Series...
publications. Others who played vital roles in the process were writers Marv Wolfman
Marv Wolfman
Marvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.-1960s:...
and Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
, artists George Pérez
George Pérez
George Pérez is a Puerto Rican-American writer and illustrator of comic books, known for his work on various titles, including Avengers, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman.-Biography:...
and Keith Giffen
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
, and editor Karen Berger
Karen Berger
Karen Berger is an American comic book editor. She is best known as the Executive Editor of DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.-Biography:...
.
Considered the doyenne of the comic book industry, and one of the most talented and respected women in the entertainment industry, Kahn is renowned for transforming comics from a children's medium to a visually stylish and sophisticated art form for adults. Under Kahn’s aegis, DC broke new ground with comic books and graphic novels, including Ronin, The Dark Knight Returns, Hellblazer
Hellblazer
Hellblazer is a contemporary horror comic book series, originally published by DC Comics, and subsequently by the Vertigo imprint since March 1993, the month the imprint was introduced, where it remains to this day...
, Watchmen
Watchmen
Watchmen is a twelve-issue comic book limited series created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colourist John Higgins. The series was published by DC Comics during 1986 and 1987, and has been subsequently reprinted in collected form...
, Road to Perdition
Road to Perdition (comics)
Road to Perdition is a series of fictional works written by Max Allan Collins.The comic book of the original series, with art by Richard Piers Rayner, was published by DC Comics' imprint, Paradox Press...
, A History of Violence
A History of Violence
A History of Violence is a graphic novel written by John Wagner and illustrated by Vince Locke, originally published in 1997 by Paradox Press and later by Vertigo, both imprints of DC Comics....
, Books of Magic, V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta is a ten-issue comic book series written by Alan Moore and illustrated mostly by David Lloyd, set in a dystopian future United Kingdom imagined from the 1980s to about the 1990s. A mysterious masked revolutionary who calls himself "V" works to destroy the totalitarian government,...
, Sandman
Sandman (DC Comics)
Sandman is the name of seven fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. All are connected in one way or the other, though there are three largely dissimilar concepts, with two or three persons having served in each role various times...
and 100 Bullets
100 Bullets
100 Bullets is an Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic book written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso. It was published in the USA by DC Comics under its Vertigo imprint and initially ran for one hundred issues...
, many of which have been made or are currently in development as feature films. Kahn broke ground by championing and implementing extensive rights for creators in an industry where there were none.
Kahn oversaw the launch of the acclaimed Vertigo imprint in 1993, and of Milestone Media
Milestone Media
Milestone Media is a company best known for creating Milestone Comics and securing an unheard of publishing and distribution deal with DC Comics and the Static Shock cartoon series. It was founded in 1993 by a coalition of African-American artists and writers Milestone Media is a company best known...
, a minority-founded and ethnically diverse line of comic books that DC published for several years (and from which Static Shock
Static Shock
Static Shock is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It premiered in September 2000 on the Kids' WB! block and ran for four seasons, with a total of 52 half-hour episodes....
, the animated show on The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
, was developed). Kahn is credited with reinventing the classic DC characters, overseeing in the process the death and rebirth of Superman. In an interview conducted soon after Kahn joined DC, Dick Giordano commented that Kahn had no editorial restrictions on creators, as far as he could tell. Under Kahn’s leadership, DC became known for pushing boundaries in subject matter by addressing issues of domestic violence, sexual preference, gun violence, homelessness, racism, and AIDS in the company’s mainstream titles. One exception to this editorial stance was Kahn cancelling an issue of Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
where the title character interacts with Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, which led to the writer and artist Rick Veitch
Rick Veitch
Richard "Rick" Veitch is an American comic book artist and writer who has worked in mainstream, underground, and alternative comics.-Early career:...
quitting, citing censorship concerns.
She also oversaw a diversification of the originally overwhelmingly male staff at DC, to the point where when she left, almost half the employees were women.
Double Nickel Entertainment
Jenette Kahn is a partner in Double Nickel Entertainment, a film production company she co-founded with Adam Richman after stepping down as the head of DC Comics and MAD Magazine. Double Nickel's first film is The FlockThe Flock (film)
The Flock is a 2007 American thriller film directed by Andrew Lau, the co-director of the Infernal Affairs trilogy. The film, which marks his first English-language film, stars Richard Gere and Claire Danes.-Plot:...
starring Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
and Claire Danes
Claire Danes
Claire Catherine Danes is an American actress of television, stage and film. She has appeared in roles as diverse as Angela Chase in My So-Called Life, as Juliet in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, as Kate Brewster in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, as Yvaine in Stardust and as Temple Grandin in...
and directed by Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau Wai-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer and filmmaker. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong Kar-wai. In the 1990s, Lau decided to have more creative freedom as a cinematographer by becoming a film...
, the director of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs
Infernal Affairs
Infernal Affairs is a 2002 Hong Kong crime-thriller film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It tells the story of a police officer who infiltrates the triads, and a police officer secretly working for the same gang. The Chinese title means "the non-stop path", a reference to Avici, the lowest...
, the movie on which The Departed
The Departed
The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film, fashioned as a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan...
was based. Gran Torino, which Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
directed and stars in, is Double Nickel's second film to be released.
In addition Kahn serves on the boards of Exit Art
Exit Art
Exit Art is a non-profit cultural center established in 1982. Located in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City, United States, the two-story gallery exhibits contemporary visual art, installation, video, theater, and performance....
and Harlem Stage, and is an advisor to The Bill T. Jones
Bill T. Jones
Bill T. Jones is an American artistic director, choreographer and dancer.-Early life:Jones was born in Bunnell, Florida and his family moved North as part of the Great Migration in the first half of the twentieth century. They settled in Wayland, New York, where Jones attended Wayland High School...
Dance Company. She is a founding member of The Committee of 200
The Committee of 200
The Committee of 200 is an invitation-only membership organization of successful women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.-History:It was created in 1982 by a small handful of successful and powerful women in business, including fashion designer Kay Unger and American comic book editor and...
, a nationwide forum of key women in business. Her first book, In Your Space, was published by Abbeville Press in the spring of 2002.
Awards
Kahn received the Library of CongressLibrary of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
Living Legends
Library of Congress Living Legend
A Library of Congress Living Legend is someone recognized by the Library of Congress for his or her creative contributions to American life. Those honored include artists, writers, activists, film makers, physicians, entertainers, sports figures, and public servants.-Partial list of honorees:*...
award in the "Writers and Artists" category in April 2000 for her significant contributions to America's cultural heritage.
President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
honored Kahn for her work on drug awareness, and she has been honored by the Clinton Administration
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Korbelová Albright is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99–0...
, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
for her work on land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
s.
The FBI honored Kahn for her efforts on gun control, as did former Governor Douglas Wilder
Douglas Wilder
Lawrence Douglas "Doug" Wilder is an American politician, the first African American to be elected as governor of Virginia, and the second to serve as governor of a U.S. state. Wilder served as the 66th Governor of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. When earlier elected as Lieutenant Governor, he was...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, who credited her with helping to pass stricter gun control legislation in his state.
She has also been honored by the World Design Foundation for outstanding creative achievements. In addition, Kahn created The Wonder Woman Foundation in honor of Wonder Woman’s 40th Anniversary. In its three years of existence, the foundation gave out more than $350,000 in grants to women over 40 in categories that exemplified the inspirational characteristics of the DC heroine: women taking risks, women pursuing equality and truth, women striving for peace, women helping other women.