Nick Spencer
Encyclopedia
Nick Spencer is a comic book
writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics
(Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories
), his work at DC Comics
(Action Comics
, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
), and for his current work at Marvel Comics
(Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men
).
soon after the Marvel Knights
imprint launched in 1998. According to Spencer, "Joe [Quesada
] didn’t like the first two but the third one was a Black Cat
pitch that was a Jackie Brown
kind of Tarantino
-esque thing. He said he liked that one but they weren’t going to do anything with anybody new at the time." After another pitch was rejected, this time by Oni Press
, Spencer went on to work in other fields, including politics and music, before he successfully pitched Existence 2.0 to Jim Valentino
of Image Comics
. The first issue was released in July 2009. A second miniseries, Existence 3.0, followed in November. In 2010, Paramount Pictures
acquired the rights to Existence 2.0, and a film is in development through Platinum Dunes
with Miles Millar
and Alfred Gough
to adapt and executive produce. Spencer also wrote Forgetless and Shuddertown at Image. An A.V. Club
review of Shuddertown stated that Spencer "has become one of the finest practitioners" of crime noir
in comics.
Spencer's first ongoing series, Morning Glories
, was released in August 2010. He has written a seven-part Jimmy Olsen
co-feature for DC Comics
beginning in September's Action Comics
#893 which will conclude in a one-shot to be released March 30, 2011 and is writing the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
monthly debuting in November 2010. He was scheduled to take over as the writer of Supergirl
in January 2011 with issue #60, but DC announced soon after that he will only be co-scripting one issue. Spencer is writing Iron Man 2.0, a new War Machine
ongoing for Marvel Comics
which debuted in February 2011. Spencer will also be taking over writing duties on Secret Avengers from Ed Brubaker as of #13. It was announced at the Emerald City Comic Con that Spencer has signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, although he will be allowed to continue writing his existing titles at both DC and Image.
Spencer is one of three writers announced to be working on "Ultimate Comics Universe Reborn", a relaunch of Marvel Comics' Ultimate Marvel
line, along with Jonathan Hickman
and Brian Michael Bendis
. Spencer will be writing Ultimate Comics X-Men.
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...
writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
(Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories
Morning Glories (comics)
Morning Glories is a comic book series published by Image Comics. Described by writer Nick Spencer as "Runaways meets Lost," the series focuses on six "brilliant but troubled" new recruits at Morning Glory Academy, a prestigious prep school hiding "sinister and deadly" secrets...
), his work at 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...
(Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a fictional team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics in the 1960s. They were an arm of the United Nations and were notable for their depiction of the heroes as everyday people whose heroic careers were merely their day jobs...
), and for his current work at Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
(Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men
Ultimate Comics: X-Men
Ultimate Comics: X-Men is an ongoing monthly comic book series published by Marvel Comics that made its debut in September 2011 as part of the second re-launch of Ultimate Marvel...
).
Career
While in college, Spencer wrote three pitches to Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
soon after the Marvel Knights
Marvel Knights
Marvel Knights is an imprint of Marvel Worldwide, Inc. that contains material taking place within the mainstream Marvel Universe .-Production:...
imprint launched in 1998. According to Spencer, "Joe [Quesada
Joe Quesada
Joseph "Joe" Quesada is an American comic book editor, writer and artist. He became known in the 1990s for his work on various Valiant Comics books, such as Ninjak and Solar, Man of the Atom...
] didn’t like the first two but the third one was a Black Cat
Black Cat (comics)
The Black Cat is a fictional character, a superheroine in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 ....
pitch that was a Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown (film)
Jackie Brown is a 1997 American crime drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It is an adaptation of the novel Rum Punch by American novelist Elmore Leonard and pays homage to 1970s blaxploitation films....
kind of Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
-esque thing. He said he liked that one but they weren’t going to do anything with anybody new at the time." After another pitch was rejected, this time by Oni Press
Oni Press
Oni Press is an American independent comic book publisher based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1997 by Bob Schreck and Joe Nozemack with the goal of publishing the kinds of comics and graphic novels they themselves would want to read...
, Spencer went on to work in other fields, including politics and music, before he successfully pitched Existence 2.0 to Jim Valentino
Jim Valentino
Jim Valentino is an American writer, penciler, editor and publisher of comic books.-1970s - 1992:Valentino began his career in the late 1970s creating small press and mostly autobiographical comics. The early-mid 1980s saw normalman which first appeared as a back-up story in Aardvark-Vanaheim's...
of Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
. The first issue was released in July 2009. A second miniseries, Existence 3.0, followed in November. In 2010, Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
acquired the rights to Existence 2.0, and a film is in development through Platinum Dunes
Platinum Dunes
Platinum Dunes is a production company created in 2001 by filmmakers Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form. The company specializes in horror films, particularly remakes.Their website is part of Bloody Disgusting's site....
with Miles Millar
Miles Millar
-Early life and Career:Millar was educated at Claremont Fan Court School, and is a graduate of Christ's College, Cambridge, where he was Chairman of Cambridge University Conservative Association.....
and Alfred Gough
Alfred Gough
Alfred Gough III is an American screenwriter and producer.-Early life and career:Born in Leonardtown, Maryland, Gough graduated from St. Mary's Ryken High School and The Catholic University of America...
to adapt and executive produce. Spencer also wrote Forgetless and Shuddertown at Image. An A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
review of Shuddertown stated that Spencer "has become one of the finest practitioners" of crime noir
Hardboiled
Hardboiled crime fiction is a literary style, most commonly associated with detective stories, distinguished by the unsentimental portrayal of violence and sex. The style was pioneered by Carroll John Daly in the mid-1920s, popularized by Dashiell Hammett over the course of the decade, and refined...
in comics.
Spencer's first ongoing series, Morning Glories
Morning Glories (comics)
Morning Glories is a comic book series published by Image Comics. Described by writer Nick Spencer as "Runaways meets Lost," the series focuses on six "brilliant but troubled" new recruits at Morning Glory Academy, a prestigious prep school hiding "sinister and deadly" secrets...
, was released in August 2010. He has written a seven-part Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
co-feature for 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...
beginning in September's Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#893 which will conclude in a one-shot to be released March 30, 2011 and is writing the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a fictional team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics in the 1960s. They were an arm of the United Nations and were notable for their depiction of the heroes as everyday people whose heroic careers were merely their day jobs...
monthly debuting in November 2010. He was scheduled to take over as the writer of Supergirl
Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)
Kara Zor-El is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and related media, created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino. As Supergirl, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero Superman, created...
in January 2011 with issue #60, but DC announced soon after that he will only be co-scripting one issue. Spencer is writing Iron Man 2.0, a new War Machine
War Machine
War Machine is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in comic books set in the Marvel Comics universe. The character of James Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118 by David Michelinie, John Byrne and Bob Layton...
ongoing for Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
which debuted in February 2011. Spencer will also be taking over writing duties on Secret Avengers from Ed Brubaker as of #13. It was announced at the Emerald City Comic Con that Spencer has signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, although he will be allowed to continue writing his existing titles at both DC and Image.
Spencer is one of three writers announced to be working on "Ultimate Comics Universe Reborn", a relaunch of Marvel Comics' Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
line, along with Jonathan Hickman
Jonathan Hickman
Jonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for the Image Comics series The Nightly News and currently writes FF , and S.H.I.E.L.D for Marvel Comics.-Career:...
and Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
. Spencer will be writing Ultimate Comics X-Men.
DC Comics
- Action ComicsAction ComicsAction Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#893-896 - "Jimmy OlsenJimmy OlsenJimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
" co-feature (began September 2010) - Jimmy OlsenJimmy OlsenJimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
one-shot (2011) - T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AgentsT.H.U.N.D.E.R. AgentsT.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a fictional team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics in the 1960s. They were an arm of the United Nations and were notable for their depiction of the heroes as everyday people whose heroic careers were merely their day jobs...
#1- (2010-present) - SupergirlSupergirl (Kara Zor-El)Kara Zor-El is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and related media, created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino. As Supergirl, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero Superman, created...
#60 (co-writer, 2011)
Image Comics
- Existence 2.0 #1-3 (2009)
- Existence 3.0 #1-4 (2009–2010)
- Forgetless #1-5 (2009–2010)
- Fractured Fables (OGNGraphic novelA graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
) - "Cinderella" (2010) - Morning GloriesMorning Glories (comics)Morning Glories is a comic book series published by Image Comics. Described by writer Nick Spencer as "Runaways meets Lost," the series focuses on six "brilliant but troubled" new recruits at Morning Glory Academy, a prestigious prep school hiding "sinister and deadly" secrets...
#1- (2010–present) - Shuddertown #1-4 (2010)
- Infinite Vacation #1-3 (2011)
Marvel Comics
- Iron Man 2.0War MachineWar Machine is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in comic books set in the Marvel Comics universe. The character of James Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118 by David Michelinie, John Byrne and Bob Layton...
#1-12 (February 2011-December 2011) - Secret AvengersSecret AvengersSecret Avengers is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics featuring a fictional black ops superhero team of the same name. Written by Ed Brubaker, the series depicts a new version of Marvel's premiere super hero team, the Avengers, which operates under the guidance and leadership...
#12.1, 13-15 (2011) - Ultimate Comics: FalloutUltimate FalloutUltimate Comics: Fallout is a comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics that debuted in July 2011 as part of the second re-launch of the Ultimate Universe...
#2-6 (co-writer, August 2011) - Ultimate Comics: X-MenUltimate Comics: X-MenUltimate Comics: X-Men is an ongoing monthly comic book series published by Marvel Comics that made its debut in September 2011 as part of the second re-launch of Ultimate Marvel...
#1- (begins September 2011) - Cloak & DaggerCloak and Dagger (comics)Cloak and Dagger are a fictional comic book superhero duo in the . They were created by writer William "Bill" Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.-Publication history:...
(Spider-IslandSpider-ManSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
tie-in miniseries) #1-3 (2011)