TV writers moonlight in comics

By MICHAEL SANGIACOMO
Newhouse News Service

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The first issue of Heinberg's "Young Avengers" series comes out in February, making him the latest in a growing group of television writers who have made the jump from the small screen to the colored page.

"It's not like we need the money, but it's something that many of us just want to do," says Heinberg. "I get together with a bunch of TV writer friends at the comic shop. We don't talk about our television shows, we talk about comics and what we enjoy."

Heinberg says comics can be more satisfying. Television writers constantly worry about what the studio's budget will allow them to show on-screen. Car chases are OK, but go easy on expensive special effects, guys.

"In comics, we can do anything the mind allows," Heinberg says. "I can tell a story only limited by my imagination and never have to worry about special-effects budgets. Comics are very freeing for us."

So who else is in the club?

• Joss Whedon , creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel" and both the television show and feature film "Firefly," is the writer of "The Astonishing X-Men" for Marvel. He also wrote the futuristic "Fray" series for Dark Horse Comics.

• Chris Gage , writer on "Law & Order," has a five-issue miniseries on "Deadshot" coming from DC Comics early next year.

• Brad Meltzer's "Identity Crisis" project is one of the top-selling comics in the world. Meanwhile, his latest television show, "Jack and Bobby," is one of the buzz shows of the season. (He's also a novelist. "The Millionaires," "The Zero Game," "First Counsel" and other titles have made The New York Times' best-seller list.)

• J. Michael Straczynski , creator and writer on "Babylon 5" and "Jeremiah," is the regular writer on "Amazing Spider-Man" and "Supreme Power" for Marvel and "Rising Stars" for Top Cow/Image.

• Sara "Samm" Barnes , who wrote episodes of "Jeremiah" and worked on Straczynski's other television shows in various capacities, is writing the "Supreme Power" spinoff "Doctor Spectrum" for Marvel.
 
• Another Straczynski partner, Fiona Avery , who wrote episodes of "Babylon 5," "Crusade" and "Earth: Final Conflict," writes "No Honor" from Top Cow/Image Comics. She also wrote "Rogue" for Marvel and an issue or two of "Amazing Spider-Man."

• Briton Si Spencer cut his teeth on British television as a writer on "The Eastenders" and Neil Gaiman's creepy TV show, "Neverwhere." It was a small jump for him to begin writing "The Books of Magick" for DC/Vertigo.

Writer of "Teen Wolf"

Comics heavyweight Jeph Loeb has written movies ("Teen Wolf," "Burglar," "Commando") as well as TV shows ("Model by Day," "Seven Little Monsters"). He is in production with a TV version of the comic "Herobear and the Kid." He's also an occasional writer and the consulting producer of "Smallville" and executive producer of a new "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" animated series.

Loeb started in comics in the early 1990s, at the invitation of former DC President Jeanette Kahn.

Loeb immediately asked to write the adventures of his hero, Superman, and was told no. After running down 15 "second choices," he accepted the only book available. In 1991, Loeb cut his comic teeth on "The Challengers of the Unknown" for DC.

Eventually he got to work on "Superman," turning in one of the more offbeat series, "Superman for All Seasons." He since has become one of the hottest writers in comics, with yearlong Batman epics such as "The Long Halloween" and "Hush." He managed to top his own work by writing "World's Finest Comics," which chronicles the adventures of Superman and Batman.

DC editor Dan DiDio, who previously worked for CBS and ABC, says he seeks out TV writers for his company's comics.

"I'm always amazed at the number of people who have an abiding love of comics," he said. "Chris Gage of 'Law & Order' is one of them. His miniseries about the Batman villain Deadshot explores what happens when a man who has nothing to live for suddenly finds a reason to live. He learns he has children who are in danger, and it changes him."

DiDio also said the comic-book companies are becoming more flexible about the hours that writers work.

Grew up with comics

"There is this generation of creators who are working in movies and television that grew up with comics," said Joe Quesada, DiDio's counterpart at Marvel Comics. "They were weaned on 'Dark Knight' and 'Watchmen.' "

Quesada could be talking about Heinberg, who is giving comics prime-time exposure on "The O.C." by making one of the lead characters, Seth, a comics fan.

Seth can be seen reading DC Comics staples such as the "Legion of Super-Heroes" or waxing philosophic about "The Watchmen" and "The JSA" on the show, often to the confusion of the other characters.

In a classic episode, he tries to describe two people who don't get along by saying, "She's Green Arrow to her Hawkman. Wolverine to her Cyclops. Get it?"