Peter B. Gillis
Encyclopedia
Peter B. Gillis is an American
comic book
writer
best known for his work at Marvel Comics
and First Comics
in the mid-1980s, including the series Strikeforce: Morituri
, and the digitally drawn comic series Shatter
.
, New York
. He grew up in suburban Westchester County
, and attended Pocantico Hills Central School and Sleepy Hollow High School. In 1969, he entered the University of Chicago
, where he earned a BA, an MA, and achieved "ABD" status ("All But Dissertation").
Gillis' first work in the comics industry was as a freelance writer for Marvel Comics, where he worked on such titles as Captain America
, Marvel Two-In-One
, and Super-Villain Team-Up
from 1978-1980. Gillis then worked as an editor for the Florida-based publisher New Media Publishing; he left that position in 1981.
Gillis is probably best known for Shatter
(1985–1988), the first digital comic; and the entire run of First Comics' Warp (1983–1985). Gillis co-created Strikeforce: Morituri
(1986–1988) with artist Brent Anderson
. Gillis wrote the entire runs of Micronauts: The New Voyages (1984–1986) and Strange Tales
vol. 2 (1987–1988); other Marvel work included numerous issues of What If (1980–1984), The Defenders
(1984–1986), and The Eternals
vol. 2 (1985–1986).
His more eccentric inventions for other companies include Blaze Barlow and the Eternity Command and the Black Flame for First; and the gonzo post-holocaust comedy Gammarauders
(a tie-in to the Gamma World
role-playing game) for DC Comics
' short-lived TSR
Games line. For DC Comics' he also wrote the science fiction miniseries Tailgunner Jo with art by Tom Artis
.
Gillis returned to comics in 2010 when he wrote the six-issue comic adaptation of Peter S. Beagle
's The Last Unicorn
for IDW Publishing
. The single-volume hardcover version, released in January 2011, premiered at #2 on the New York Times Hardcover Graphic Novel bestseller list. Gillis is scheduled to adapt Peter S. Beagle
's A Fine and Private Place
for IDW Publishing
as well.
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...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
best known for his 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...
and First Comics
First Comics
First Comics was an American comic-book publisher that was active from 1983–1991, known for titles like American Flagg!, Grimjack, Nexus, Badger, Dreadstar, and Jon Sable...
in the mid-1980s, including the series Strikeforce: Morituri
Strikeforce: Morituri
Strikeforce: Morituri is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics from 1986 to 1989. The series was created by writer Peter B. Gillis and artist Brent Anderson....
, and the digitally drawn comic series Shatter
Shatter (digital comic)
Shatter is a digital comic created by Peter B. Gillis and Mike Saenz, and published by First Comics. A dystopian science fiction fantasy somewhat in the mold of Blade Runner, Shatter was written by Gillis and illustrated on the computer by Saenz....
.
Biography
Peter Gillis was born in White PlainsWhite Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He grew up in suburban Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, and attended Pocantico Hills Central School and Sleepy Hollow High School. In 1969, he entered the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he earned a BA, an MA, and achieved "ABD" status ("All But Dissertation").
Gillis' first work in the comics industry was as a freelance writer for Marvel Comics, where he worked on such titles as Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, Marvel Two-In-One
Marvel Two-in-One
Marvel Two-In-One was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics that featured the Fantastic Four member, the Thing, in a different team-up each issue with a different character. The series continued from the team-up stories starring the Thing in the final two issues of Marvel...
, and Super-Villain Team-Up
Super-Villain Team-Up
Super-Villain Team-Up is the name of two American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Both series featured supervillains as the protagonists.-Super-Villain Team-Up:...
from 1978-1980. Gillis then worked as an editor for the Florida-based publisher New Media Publishing; he left that position in 1981.
Gillis is probably best known for Shatter
Shatter (digital comic)
Shatter is a digital comic created by Peter B. Gillis and Mike Saenz, and published by First Comics. A dystopian science fiction fantasy somewhat in the mold of Blade Runner, Shatter was written by Gillis and illustrated on the computer by Saenz....
(1985–1988), the first digital comic; and the entire run of First Comics' Warp (1983–1985). Gillis co-created Strikeforce: Morituri
Strikeforce: Morituri
Strikeforce: Morituri is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics from 1986 to 1989. The series was created by writer Peter B. Gillis and artist Brent Anderson....
(1986–1988) with artist Brent Anderson
Brent Anderson
Brent Anderson is an American comic book artist known for his work on X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills and the comic book series Astro City.- Early life :...
. Gillis wrote the entire runs of Micronauts: The New Voyages (1984–1986) and Strange Tales
Strange Tales
Strange Tales is the name of several comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. It introduced the features "Doctor Strange" and "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.", and was a showcase for the science fiction/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and for the...
vol. 2 (1987–1988); other Marvel work included numerous issues of What If (1980–1984), The Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
(1984–1986), and The Eternals
Eternals (comics)
The Eternals are a fictional race of superhumans in the Marvel Comics universe. They are described as an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth. The original instigators of this process, the alien Celestials, intended the Eternals to be the defenders of Earth which...
vol. 2 (1985–1986).
His more eccentric inventions for other companies include Blaze Barlow and the Eternity Command and the Black Flame for First; and the gonzo post-holocaust comedy Gammarauders
Gammarauders
Gammarauders is a post-apocalyptic board wargame published by TSR, Inc., in which players acted as the human handlers of giant mutant creatures called bioborgs. The game also had a 10-issue comic book series that was published by DC Comics. Three of these comics also featured a "micro-RPG"...
(a tie-in to the Gamma World
Gamma World
Gamma World is a science fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet, and first published by TSR in 1978. It borrowed heavily from James M. Ward's earlier product, Metamorphosis Alpha.-Setting:...
role-playing game) 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...
' short-lived TSR
TSR
The Three-letter abbreviation TSR has a variety of meanings, depending on context:-Science and technology:* Terminate and Stay Resident, utility programs used in MS-DOS* Thermo Sulfate Reduction, relevant to the Kraft process...
Games line. For DC Comics' he also wrote the science fiction miniseries Tailgunner Jo with art by Tom Artis
Tom Artis
Tom Artis was a comic book artist for DC Comics, Fleetway/Quality, and Marvel Comics throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1991, he was a partner in Leadslinger Comics and illustrated their only original release, The Terror...
.
Gillis returned to comics in 2010 when he wrote the six-issue comic adaptation of Peter S. Beagle
Peter S. Beagle
Peter Soyer Beagle is an American fantasist and author of novels, nonfiction, and screenplays. His most notable works include the novels The Last Unicorn, A Fine and Private Place and Tamsin, and the award-winning story "Two Hearts".-Career:Beagle won early recognition from The Scholastic Art &...
's The Last Unicorn
The Last Unicorn
The Last Unicorn is a fantasy novel written by Peter S. Beagle and published in 1968. It has sold more than five million copies worldwide since its original publication, and has been translated into at least twenty languages....
for IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
. The single-volume hardcover version, released in January 2011, premiered at #2 on the New York Times Hardcover Graphic Novel bestseller list. Gillis is scheduled to adapt Peter S. Beagle
Peter S. Beagle
Peter Soyer Beagle is an American fantasist and author of novels, nonfiction, and screenplays. His most notable works include the novels The Last Unicorn, A Fine and Private Place and Tamsin, and the award-winning story "Two Hearts".-Career:Beagle won early recognition from The Scholastic Art &...
's A Fine and Private Place
A Fine and Private Place
A Fine and Private Place is a fantasy novel written by Peter S. Beagle, the first of his major fantasies. It was first published in hardcover by Viking Press on May 23, 1960, followed by a trade paperback from Delta the same year. Frederick Muller Ltd. published the first United Kingdom hardcover...
for IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
as well.