Peter Tomasi
Encyclopedia
Peter J. Tomasi is an American
comic book
editor and writer
, best known for his work for DC Comics
. As an editor, he oversaw numerous books featuring the Justice League
, including books starring various members of that team, such as Batman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern and the Flash. As a writer, he has written books featuring Batman-related characters, such as Batman and Robin
and The Outsiders
, and Green Lantern-related books such as "Blackest Night", Brightest Day
and Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors.
books his father bought him, and through TV shows such as the Super Friends
animated series and the Adam West
Batman
series. Batman was the first superhero who entered his consciousness, as it was the first character he dressed up as for Halloween, and the first comic book whose creators he recognized. Specifically he cites the work of Denny O'Neill and Neal Adams
as the first to draw him into the character, as well as Bob Haney
's work on The Brave and the Bold
and that of Jim Aparo
.
, the Batman
titles, Aquaman
, Hawkman
, and JSA
, Tomasi was an occasional writer on various titles, including JSA, The Outsiders
, Steel
and The Light Brigade. In 2003, DC promoted him to Senior Editor.
In 2007, Tomasi left his fifteen-year role as an editor and transitioned to writing. He began on the limited series
Black Adam: The Dark Age
. In 2008, he wrote Requiem, a tie-in to Final Crisis
that paid tribute to the fallen Martian Manhunter
. He wrote the Nightwing
title for 14 issues until its cancellation in April 2009 due to events in the "Battle for the Cowl" storyline. That year, Tomasi took over as writer on Batman and Robin
with issue #20 from Grant Morrison
, writing the "Tree of Blood" storyline that ran until issue #22.
From 2009 to 2010, Tomasi co-wrote the creator-owned title The Mighty with Keith Champagne
, as well as Green Lantern Corps
through the "The Blackest Night" storyline.
From 2010 to 2011, Tomasi co-wrote the "Blackest Night" follow-up maxiseries, Brightest Day
, with Geoff Johns
. During that same period, he was the regular writer on the monthly Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors and Outsiders
, which ended in 2011 as part of DC's New 52 line-wide relaunch. As part of that relaunch, Tomasi was appointed writer on a relaunched Batman and Robin #1, which was released on September 14, 2011.
, Tomasi discussed how his then-eight-year-old son influenced his approach to writing Damian Wayne
in Batman and Robin.
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 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 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...
. As an editor, he oversaw numerous books featuring the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
, including books starring various members of that team, such as Batman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern and the Flash. As a writer, he has written books featuring Batman-related characters, such as Batman and Robin
Batman and Robin (comic book)
Batman and Robin is an American comic book ongoing series, created by Grant Morrison and featuring Batman and Robin. The debut of the series followed the events of "Batman R.I.P.", Final Crisis, and "Battle for the Cowl" in which the original Batman, Bruce Wayne, apparently died at the hands of DC...
and The Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
, and Green Lantern-related books such as "Blackest Night", Brightest Day
Brightest Day
Brightest Day is a year-long comic book maxi-series that began in April 2010. The story follows the ending of the series Blackest Night and how the aftermath of these events affect the entire DC Universe.-Plot:...
and Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors.
Early life
Tomasi became a fan of comics at a young age through the BatmanBatman
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...
books his father bought him, and through TV shows such as the Super Friends
Super Friends
Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes, which ran from 1973 to 1986 on ABC as part of its Saturday morning cartoon lineup...
animated series and the Adam West
Adam West
William West Anderson , better known by the stage name Adam West, is an American actor best known for his lead role in the Batman TV series and the film of the same name...
Batman
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
series. Batman was the first superhero who entered his consciousness, as it was the first character he dressed up as for Halloween, and the first comic book whose creators he recognized. Specifically he cites the work of Denny O'Neill and Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
as the first to draw him into the character, as well as Bob Haney
Bob Haney
Robert G. "Bob" Haney was a US comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.- Early life and career :...
's work on The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983...
and that of Jim Aparo
Jim Aparo
James N. "Jim" Aparo was an American comic book artist best known for his 1960s and 1970s DC Comics work, including on the characters Batman, Aquaman and the Spectre....
.
Career
Starting as an editor at DC in 1993, and working on such titles as Green LanternGreen Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
, the Batman
Batman (comic book)
Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
titles, Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, Hawkman
Hawkman
Hawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
, and JSA
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
, Tomasi was an occasional writer on various titles, including JSA, The Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
, Steel
John Henry Irons
Steel , also known as the Man of Steel, is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. First appearing in The Adventures of Superman #500 , he is the third character known as Steel and was created by Louise Simonson and artist Jon Bogdanove...
and The Light Brigade. In 2003, DC promoted him to Senior Editor.
In 2007, Tomasi left his fifteen-year role as an editor and transitioned to writing. He began on the limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
Black Adam: The Dark Age
Black Adam
Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
. In 2008, he wrote Requiem, a tie-in to Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
that paid tribute to the fallen Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
. He wrote the Nightwing
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
title for 14 issues until its cancellation in April 2009 due to events in the "Battle for the Cowl" storyline. That year, Tomasi took over as writer on Batman and Robin
Batman and Robin (comic book)
Batman and Robin is an American comic book ongoing series, created by Grant Morrison and featuring Batman and Robin. The debut of the series followed the events of "Batman R.I.P.", Final Crisis, and "Battle for the Cowl" in which the original Batman, Bruce Wayne, apparently died at the hands of DC...
with issue #20 from Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
, writing the "Tree of Blood" storyline that ran until issue #22.
From 2009 to 2010, Tomasi co-wrote the creator-owned title The Mighty with Keith Champagne
Keith Champagne
Keith Champagne is an American comic artist, who has also moved into writing, and is known for his work at DC Comics.-Biography:Keith graduated from Montville High School, Oakdale Connecticut in 1988. He is a 1994 graduate of The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic art...
, as well as Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern Corps
The Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
through the "The Blackest Night" storyline.
From 2010 to 2011, Tomasi co-wrote the "Blackest Night" follow-up maxiseries, Brightest Day
Brightest Day
Brightest Day is a year-long comic book maxi-series that began in April 2010. The story follows the ending of the series Blackest Night and how the aftermath of these events affect the entire DC Universe.-Plot:...
, with Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
. During that same period, he was the regular writer on the monthly Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors and Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
, which ended in 2011 as part of DC's New 52 line-wide relaunch. As part of that relaunch, Tomasi was appointed writer on a relaunched Batman and Robin #1, which was released on September 14, 2011.
Personal life
Tomasi has a son. In a February 2011 interview with Comic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
, Tomasi discussed how his then-eight-year-old son influenced his approach to writing Damian Wayne
Damian Wayne
Damian Wayne is a fictional character in the . Damian is the child of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, and thus the grandson of Batman villain Ra's al Ghul....
in Batman and Robin.
External links
- Peter Tomasi at the Big Comic Book DataBaseBig Comic Book DataBaseThe Big Comic Book DataBase is a website containing information about comic books, and run by the maintainers of the Big Cartoon DataBase. , the database contains information on over 100,000 books in 5000+ series, including over 35,000 cover scans....