occupation jan strnad
DC Comics , Inc . is an American ___MASK75___ ___MASK67___ . It is the publishing unit of DC ___MASK42___ , a subsidiary of Warner Bros . ___MASK42___ , Inc . , a division of Time Warner . DC Comics is one of the largest , oldest , and most successful companies operating in American comic books , and produces material featuring numerous well - known heroic characters , including Superman , Batman , Wonder Woman , Green Lantern , Supergirl , The Flash , Aquaman , Cyborg , Shazam , Martian Manhunter , Zatanna , Static Shock , Hawkman , Hawkgirl and Green Arrow . The fictional DC universe also features teams such as the Justice League , the Justice Society of America , the Suicide Squad , and the Teen Titans , and well - known villains such as Joker , Lex Luthor , Darkseid , Catwoman , Ra ' s al Ghul , Deathstroke , Professor Zoom , Sinestro , Black Adam and Brainiac . The company has also published non - DC Universe - related material , including " Watchmen ", " V for Vendetta " and many titles under their alternative imprint Vertigo . ___MASK38___ fiction ( often shortened to SF , sci - fi or scifi ) is a genre of speculative fiction , typically dealing with imaginative concepts such as futuristic ___MASK38___ and technology , space ___MASK1___ , time ___MASK1___ , faster than light ___MASK1___ , parallel universes , and extraterrestrial life . ___MASK38___ fiction often explores the potential consequences of scientific and other innovations , and has been called a " literature of ideas ." It usually avoids the supernatural , and unlike the related genre of fantasy , historically ___MASK38___ fiction stories were intended to have a grounding in ___MASK38___ - based fact or theory at the time the story was created , but this connection is now limited to hard ___MASK38___ fiction . Marvel Comics is the common name and primary imprint of Marvel Worldwide Inc ., formerly Marvel Publishing , Inc . and Marvel Comics Group , an American ___MASK67___ of comic books and related media . In 2009 , The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel ___MASK42___ , Marvel Worldwide ' s parent company . Static Shock is an American animated ___MASK2___ series based on the Milestone Media / DC Comics superhero Static . It premiered on September 23 , 2000 , on The WB ___MASK2___ Network ' s Kids ' WB ! block ___MASK23___ . " Static Shock " ran for four seasons , with 52 half - hour episodes in total . The show revolves around Virgil Hawkins , an African - American boy who uses the secret identity of Static after exposure to a mutagen gas during a gang fight gave him electromagnetic powers . Part of the DC animated universe , the series was produced by Warner Bros . Animation from a crew composed mostly of people from the company ' s past shows but also with the involvement of two of the comic ' s creators , Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan . Supergirl is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . Supergirl was created to be a female counterpart to DC ' s popular ___MASK24___ Superman . The character was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959 . She first appeared in the " Action Comics " comic book series and later branched out into animation , film , television , and merchandising . In May 2011 , Supergirl placed 94th on IGN ' s list of the Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time . Black Adam is a fictional DC Comics ___MASK73___ , occasional antihero , and the archenemy of the ___MASK34___ formerly known as ___MASK56___ Marvel , Shazam . Black Adam was created by Otto Binder and C . C . Beck in 1945 as a one - shot villain for the first issue of Fawcett Comics ' " The Marvel Family " comic book ; however , Black Adam was revived as a recurring character after DC Comics first licensed and then acquired the Fawcett characters and began publishing ___MASK56___ Marvel / Marvel Family stories under the title " Shazam !" in the 1970s . Franklin Christenson " Chris " Ware ( born December 28 , 1967 ), is an American ___MASK100___ known for his " Acme Novelty Library " series ( begun 1994 ) and the graphic novels " Jimmy Corrigan , the Smartest Kid on Earth " ( 2000 ) and " Building Stories " ( 2012 ). His works explore themes of social isolation , emotional torment and depression . He tends to use a vivid color palette and realistic , meticulous detail . His lettering and images are often elaborate and sometimes evoke the ragtime era or another early 20th - century American design style . Richard Corben ( born October 1 , 1940 ) is an American ___MASK77___ and comic book artist best known for his comics featured in " Heavy Metal " magazine . He is the winner of the 2009 Spectrum Grand ___MASK9___ Award . In 2012 he was elected to The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame . Jan Steven Strnad is an American ___MASK13___ of comic books and science fiction . He is most known for his work in the Star Wars expanded universe , the majority of which has been published by Dark Horse Comics . He has collaborated frequently with artist Richard Corben . He has also written professionally for DC Comics , Marvel Comics , Eclipse Comics , and Fantagraphics Books . A native of Kansas , of Czech descent , his career in comics began at Warren Publishing . Before that , in the 1960s , Strnad was active in comics fandom : he was a contributor to fanzines like Rocket ' s Blast Comicollector , where he wrote the column `` Eyeing the Egos ; '' and even published his own zine , Anomaly , until it was taken over by Bud Plant . Strnad wrote Starship Troopers : Dominant Species # 1 - 4 ( 1998 , with art by Davide Fabbri ) . Innovation can be defined simply as a " new idea , device , or method ". However , innovation is often also viewed as the application of better solutions that meet new requirements , unarticulated needs , or existing market needs . This is accomplished through more - effective products , processes , services , technologies , or business models that are readily available to markets , governments and society . The term " innovation " can be defined as something original and more effective and , as a consequence , new , that " breaks into " the market or society . It is related to , but not the same as , invention . Innovation is often manifested via the ___MASK74___ process . The exnovation is the opposite of innovation . Wonder Woman is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . The character is said to be a founding ___MASK12___ of the ___MASK36___ League , demigoddess , and ___MASK82___ princess of the Amazonian people . In her homeland , she is Princess Diana of Themyscira , and outside of her homeland , she is known by her civilian identity Diana ___MASK19___ . Technology (" ___MASK38___ of craft ", from Greek , " techne ", " art , skill , cunning of hand "; and , "- logia ") is the collection of techniques , skills , methods and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives , such as scientific investigation . Technology can be the knowledge of techniques , processes , and the like , or it can be embedded in machines which can be operated without detailed knowledge of their workings . Zatanna Zatara is a fictional ___MASK34___ appearing in American comic books published DC Comics . The character was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson , and first appeared in " Hawkman " # 4 ( November 1964 ). The DC Universe ( DCU ) is the fictional shared universe where the stories in most American ___MASK75___ titles published by DC Comics take place . DC superheroes such as Batman , Superman , and Wonder Woman are from this universe , and it also contains well known supervillains such as the Joker , Lex Luthor , and Darkseid . It should be noted that in context , " DC Universe " usually refers to the main DC continuity . Ivan Brunetti ( born Mondavio , Italy , October 3 , 1967 ) is an Italian - American ___MASK100___ and comics ___MASK81___ based in Chicago , Illinois . Darkseid ( pronounced " Darkside ") is a fictional ___MASK73___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . Created by ___MASK13___ - artist Jack Kirby , the character made a cameo appearance in " Superman ' s Pal Jimmy Olsen " # 134 ( December 1970 ) before making his full first appearance in " Forever People " # 1 ( February 1971 ). Fantasy is a fiction genre set in an imaginary universe , often but not always without any locations , events , or people from the real world . Most fantasy uses ___MASK59___ or other supernatural elements as a main plot element , theme , or setting . ___MASK59___ and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds . Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific and macabre themes , respectively , though there is a great deal of overlap between the three , all of which are subgenres of speculative fiction . Mary Fleener ( 1951 ) is an American alternative ___MASK76___ , writer and musician from Los Angeles . Fleener ' s drawing style , which she calls " cubismo ", derives from the cubist aesthetic and other artistic traditions . Her first publication was a work about Zora Neale Hurston , called " Hoodoo " ( 1988 ), followed by the semi - autobiographical comics series " Slutburger ", and the anthology " Life of the Party " ( 1996 ). She is a member of the rock band called The Wigbillies . The Martian Manhunter ( J ' onn J ' onzz ) is a fictional ___MASK34___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . Created by ___MASK13___ Joseph Samachson and designed by artist Joe Certa , the character first appeared in " ___MASK66___ Comics " # 225 " The Manhunter From Mars " in November 1955 . He is one of the seven original members of the Justice League of America . Time ___MASK1___ is the concept of movement ( such as by a human ) between certain points in time , analogous to movement between different points in space , typically using a hypothetical device known as a time machine , in the form of a vehicle or of a portal connecting distant points in time . Time ___MASK1___ is a recognized concept in philosophy and fiction , but traveling to an arbitrary point in time has a very limited support in theoretical ___MASK32___ , and usually only in conjunction with quantum mechanics or wormholes , also known as Einstein - Rosen bridges . In a more narrow sense , one - way time ___MASK1___ into the future via time dilation is a well - understood phenomenon within the frameworks of special relativity and general relativity , but advancing a large amount of time is not feasible with current technology . The concept was touched upon in various earlier works of fiction , but was popularized by H . G . Wells ' 1895 novel " The Time Machine ", which moved the concept of time ___MASK1___ into the public imagination , and it remains a popular subject in science fiction . Jessica Abel ( born 1969 ) is an American ___MASK75___ ___MASK13___ and artist , known as the ___MASK4___ of such works as " Life Sucks ", " Drawing Words & Writing Pictures ", " Soundtrack ", " La Perdida ", " Mirror , Window ", " Radio : An Illustrated Guide " ( with collaborator Ira Glass ), and the omnibus series " Artbabe ". The ___MASK36___ League , also known as the ___MASK36___ League of America ( JLA ), is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . The ___MASK36___ League was conceived by ___MASK13___ Gardner Fox , and first appeared in " The Brave and the Bold " # 28 ( March 1960 ). Aquaman is a fictional ___MASK34___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger , the character debuted in " More Fun Comics " # 73 ( November 1941 ). Initially a backup feature in DC ' s anthology titles , Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title . During the late 1950s and 1960s ___MASK34___ - revival period known as the Silver Age , he was a founding ___MASK12___ of the ___MASK36___ League of America . In the 1990s Modern Age , Aquaman ' s character became more serious than in most previous interpretations , with storylines depicting the weight of his role as ___MASK16___ of Atlantis . Eclipse Comics was an American ___MASK75___ ___MASK67___ , one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s . In 1978 , it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created ___MASK75___ specialty store market . It was one of the first to offer royalties and creator ownership of rights , and the first comics company to publish trading cards . Thaal Sinestro is a fictional ___MASK73___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . Sinestro is a former Green Lantern Corps ___MASK12___ who was dishonorably discharged for abusing his power . He is the archenemy of Green Lantern and founder of the Sinestro Corps , though he occasionally has acted in anti - heroic roles as well . The ___MASK36___ Society of America ( JSA ) is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . The ___MASK36___ Society of America was conceived by ___MASK28___ Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox . The JSA first appeared in " All Star Comics " # 3 ( Winter 1940  1941 ), making it the first team of superheroes in comic books . Alexander Joseph " Lex " Luthor is a fictional ___MASK73___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster , Lex Luthor first appeared in " Action Comics " # 23 ( April 1940 ) and has since endured as the archenemy of Superman . Warner Bros . ___MASK42___ Inc . ( known professionally as Warner Bros . Pictures , often referred to as Warner Bros . and Warner Brothers and abbreviated as WB ) is an American ___MASK42___ company , film studio and film distributor that is a division of Time Warner and is headquartered in Burbank , California . It is one of the " Big Six " major American film studios . Green Arrow is a fictional ___MASK34___ who appears in comic books published by DC Comics . Created by Mortimer Weisinger and designed by George Papp , he first appeared in " More Fun Comics " # 73 in November 1941 . His real name is Oliver " Ollie " Queen , a billionaire businessman and owner of Queen Industries , also a well - known ___MASK21___ in his locale of Star City . Sometimes shown dressed like Robin Hood , Green Arrow is an archer who uses his skills to fight crime in his home cities of Star City and Seattle , as well as alongside his fellow superheroes as a member of the Justice League . Though much less frequently used in modern stories , he also deploys a range of trick arrows with various special functions , such as glue , explosive - tipped , grappling hook , flash grenade , tear gas and even kryptonite arrows for use in a range of special situations . At the time of his debut , Green Arrow functioned in many ways as an archery - themed analogue of the very popular Batman character , but writers at DC subsequently developed him into a voice of progressivism very much distinct in character from Batman . The supernatural ( Medieval Latin : " superntrlis ": " supra " " above " + " naturalis " " natural ", first used : 1520  1530 AD ) includes all that cannot be explained by ___MASK38___ or the laws of nature , including things characteristic of or relating to ghosts , gods , or other supernatural beings , or to things beyond nature . Daniel Gillespie Clowes ( born April 14 , 1961 ) is an American ___MASK100___ , graphic novelist , ___MASK77___ , and screenwriter . Most of Clowes ' s work first appeared in " Eightball ", a solo anthology comic book series . An " Eightball " issue typically contained several short pieces and a chapter of a longer narrative that was later collected and published as a graphic novel , such as " Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron " ( 1993 ), " Ghost World " ( 1997 ), and " David Boring " ( 2000 ). Clowes  s illustrations have appeared in " The New Yorker ", " Newsweek ", " Vogue ", " The Village Voice ", and elsewhere . With filmmaker Terry Zwigoff , Clowes adapted " Ghost World " into a 2001 film and another " Eightball " story into the 2006 film , " Art School Confidential ". Clowes  s comics , graphic novels , and films have received numerous awards , including a Pen Award for Outstanding Work in Graphic Literature , over a dozen Harvey and Eisner Awards , and an Academy Award nomination . Batman is a fictional ___MASK34___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . The character was created by ___MASK65___ Bob Kane and ___MASK13___ Bill Finger , and first appeared in " ___MASK66___ Comics " # 27 ( 1939 ). Originally named the " Bat - Man ", the character is also referred to by such epithets as the Caped Crusader , the Dark Knight , and the World ' s Greatest ___MASK66___ . An American ___MASK75___ is a thin ( typically 32 - ___MASK93___ ) periodical containing primarily comics content . Time Warner , Inc . ( also known as AOL Time Warner from 2001 - 2003 ; stylized as TimeWarner ) is an American multinational media and ___MASK42___ conglomerate headquartered in New York City . It is currently the world ' s third largest ___MASK42___ company in terms of revenue , after Comcast and The Walt Disney Company . It was also once the world ' s largest media conglomerate . Time Warner was first founded in 1990 with the merger of Time Inc . and Warner Communications . The current company consists largely of the assets of the former Warner Communications ( as well as HBO , a Time Inc . subsidiary prior to the merger ), and the assets of Turner Broadcasting ( which was acquired by the company in 1996 ). Time Warner currently has major operations in film and television , with a limited amount in publishing operations . Among its most popular assets are HBO , Turner Broadcasting System , The CW Television Network , Warner Bros ., CNN , DC Comics , and as of August 2016 , Hulu , owning 10 %. In the past , other major divisions of Time Warner included Time Inc ., AOL , Time Warner Cable , Warner Books and Warner Music Group . All of these operations were either sold to other investors or spun off as independent companies from 2004 to 2014 . Hawkgirl is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics , and was one of the first female superheroes . The original Hawkgirl , Shiera Sanders Hall , was created by ___MASK13___ Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville , and first appeared in " Flash Comics " # 1 ( January 1940 ). Kendra Saunders was created by ___MASK13___ David S . Goyer , ___MASK13___ James Robinson , and artist Stephen Sadowski , and first appeared in " JSA Secret Files and Origins " # 1 ( August 1999 ). A graphic novel is a ___MASK26___ made up of comics content . Although the word " novel " normally refers to long fictional works , the term " graphic novel " is applied broadly and includes fiction , non - fiction , and anthologized work . It is distinguished from the term " ___MASK75___ ", which is used for comics periodicals . The Walt Disney Company , commonly known as Disney , is an American diversified multinational mass media and ___MASK42___ conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank , California . It is the world ' s second largest media conglomerate in terms of revenue , after Comcast . Disney was founded on October 16 , 1923 , by brothers Walt Disney and Roy O . Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio , and established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live - action film production , television , and theme parks . The company also operated under the names The Walt Disney Studio , then Walt Disney Productions . Taking on its current name in 1986 , it expanded its existing operations and also started divisions focused upon theater , radio , music , publishing , and online media . Joe Sacco ( born October 2 , 1960 ) is a Maltese - American ___MASK100___ and journalist . He is best known for his comics journalism , in particular in the books " Palestine " ( 1996 ) and " Footnotes in Gaza " ( 2009 ), on Israeli  Palestinian relations ; and " Safe Area Goražde " ( 2000 ) and " The Fixer " ( 2003 ) on the Bosnian War . Hard ___MASK38___ fiction is a category of ___MASK38___ fiction characterized by an emphasis on scientific accuracy . The term was first used in print in 1957 by P . Schuyler ___MASK7___ in a review of John W . Campbell , Jr .' s " Islands of Space " in " Astounding Science Fiction ". The complementary term soft ___MASK38___ fiction , formed by analogy to hard ___MASK38___ fiction , first appeared in the late 1970s . The term is formed by analogy to the popular distinction between the " hard " ( natural ) and " soft " ( social ) sciences . Science fiction critic Gary Westfahl argues that neither term is part of a rigorous taxonomy ; instead they are approximate ways of characterizing stories that reviewers and commentators have found useful . Catwoman ( Selina Kyle ) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics , commonly in association with the ___MASK34___ Batman . The character was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger , and she made her debut in " Batman " # 1 ( Spring 1940 ), in which she is known as " the Cat ". Catwoman has traditionally been portrayed as a ___MASK73___ and adversary of Batman , but since the 1990s , she has been featured in an eponymous series that depicts her as an antiheroine rather than a traditional villain . Catwoman is known for having a complex love - hate relationship with Batman and has been Batman ' s most enduring love interest . Roberta Gregory ( born 1953 ) is an American ___MASK75___ ___MASK13___ and artist best known for her character Bitchy Bitch from her Fantagraphics Books series " Naughty Bits ". Gilberto Hernández ( born February 1 , 1957 ), usually credited as Gilbert Hernandez and also by the nickname Beto , is an American ___MASK100___ . He is best known for his " Palomar "/" Heartbreak Soup " stories in " Love and Rockets ", an alternative comic book he shared with his brothers Jaime and Mario . Fantagraphics Books is an American ___MASK67___ of alternative comics , classic comic strip anthologies , magazines , graphic novels , and the adult - oriented Eros Comix imprint . Many notable cartoonists publish their work through Fantagraphics , including Jessica Abel , Peter Bagge , Ivan Brunetti , Charles Burns , Daniel Clowes , Mary Fleener , Roberta Gregory , Joe Sacco , Chris Ware , and Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez a . k . a . the Hernandez Brothers . Superman is a fictional ___MASK34___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . The character was created by ___MASK13___ Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster , high school students living in Cleveland , Ohio , in 1933 . They sold Superman to ___MASK66___ Comics , the future DC Comics , in 1938 . Superman debuted in " Action Comics " # 1 ( cover - dated June 1938 ) and subsequently appeared in various radio serials , newspaper strips , television programs , films , and video games . With this success , Superman helped to create the ___MASK34___ archetype and establish its primacy within the American comic book . The character is also referred to by such epithets as the Man of Steel , the Man of Tomorrow , and The Last Son of Krypton . V for Vendetta is a British graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd ( with additional art by Tony Weare ), published by DC Comics . Later versions were published by Vertigo , an imprint of DC Comics . The story depicts a dystopian and post - apocalyptic near - future history version of the ___MASK91___ in the 1990s , preceded by a nuclear war in the 1980s which had devastated most of the rest of the world . The fascist Norsefire party has exterminated its opponents in concentration camps and rules the country as a police state . The comics follow its title character and protagonist , V , an anarchist revolutionary dressed in a Guy Fawkes mask , as he begins an elaborate and theatrical revolutionist campaign to kill his former captors , bring down the fascist state and convince the people to bring about democratic government , while inspiring a young woman , Evey Hammond , to be his protégé . ___MASK38___ is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe . Extraterrestrial life , also called alien life ( or , if it is a sentient or relatively complex individual , an " extraterrestrial " or " alien "), is life that does not originate from Earth . These as - yet - hypothetical life forms may range from simple single - celled organisms to beings with civilizations far more advanced than humanity . Although many scientists expect extraterrestrial life to exist , there is no unambiguous evidence for its existence so far . The ___MASK38___ of extraterrestrial life is known as exobiology . Hawkman is a fictional ___MASK34___ who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics . Created by ___MASK13___ Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville , the original Hawkman first appeared in " Flash Comics " # 1 , published by All - American Publications in 1940 . Alternative comics cover a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s , following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s . Alternative comics present an alternative to mainstream ___MASK34___ comics which in the past have dominated the American comic book industry . Alternative comic books span a wide range of genres , artistic styles , and subjects . The Teen Titans , also known as the New Teen Titans and the Titans , are a fictional ___MASK34___ team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics , often in an eponymous monthly series . As the group ' s name suggests , its members are teenage superheroes . The theme of teenagers learning to take on adult roles and responsibilities was common throughout the series . Speculative fiction is a broad umbrella genre denoting any narrative fiction with supernatural or futuristic elements ; this encompasses the genres of ___MASK38___ fiction , fantasy , horror , alternative history , ___MASK59___ realism , and ___MASK34___ fiction , as well as combinations of the previous genres . It typically strays strongly from reality and so may feature fictional types of beings like mythical creatures and supernatural entities , technologies that do not exist in real life like time machines and interstellar spaceships , or magical or otherwise scientifically inexplicable elements . The term ' s popularity is sometimes attributed to Robert Heinlein , who referenced it in 1947 in an editorial essay , although there are prior mentions of speculative fiction , or its variant " speculative literature ". A ___MASK75___ or comicbook , also called comic magazine or simply comic , is a publication that consists of comic art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes . Panels are often accompanied by brief descriptive prose and written narrative , usually dialog contained in word balloons emblematic of the comics art form . Although some origins in 18th century Japan and 1830s Europe , comic books were first popularized in the United States during the 1930s . The first modern ___MASK75___ , " Famous Funnies ", was released in the United States in 1933 and was a reprinting of earlier newspaper humor comic strips , which had established many of the story - telling devices used in comics . The term " ___MASK75___ " derives from American comic books once being a compilation of comic strips of a humorous tone ; however , this practice was replaced by featuring stories of all genres , usually not humorous in tone . Jaime ( sometimes spelled Xaime ) Hernandez ( born 1959 ) is the co - ___MASK4___ of the alternative comic book " Love and Rockets " with his brothers Gilbert and Mario . Ra ' s al Ghul (" Ras al - l "; " Ghoul ' s Head " or " Demon ' s Head "; pronounced or ) is a fictional ___MASK73___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics , commonly as an adversary of the ___MASK34___ Batman . Created by ___MASK28___ Julius Schwartz , writer Dennis O ' Neil and artist Neal Adams , the character first appeared in " Batman " # 232 ' s " Daughter of the Demon " ( June 1971 ). The character is one of Batman ' s most enduring enemies and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up Batman ' s rogues gallery . Given Ra ' s al Ghul ' s high status as a ___MASK73___ , he also comes into conflict with other superheroes in the DC Universe . William Erwin " Will " Eisner ( March 6 , 1917  January 3 , 2005 ) was an American ___MASK100___ , ___MASK13___ , and ___MASK71___ . He was one of the earliest cartoonists to work in the American comic book industry , and his series " The Spirit " ( 1940  1952 ) was noted for its experiments in content and form . In 1978 , he popularized the term " graphic novel " with the publication of his book " A Contract with God ". He was an early contributor to formal comics studies with his book " Comics and Sequential Art " ( 1985 ). The Eisner Award was named in his honor , and is given to recognize achievements each year in the comics medium ; he was one of the three inaugural inductees to the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame . Dark Horse Comics is an American ___MASK75___ and manga ___MASK67___ . It was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie , Oregon , with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals . Marvel ___MASK42___ , LLC ( formerly Marvel Enterprises and Toy Biz , Inc . and marketed and stylized as MARVEL ) is an American ___MASK42___ company founded in June 1998 , merging Marvel ___MASK42___ Group , Inc . and ToyBiz . The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company , and is mainly known for its Marvel Comics , Marvel Animation and Marvel Television units . Marvel Studios , formerly under the " Marvel " umbrella , became a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios , where it develops and produces a shared universe that shares continuity with shows produced by the television unit . Peter Bagge ( pronounced , as in " bag "; born December 11 , 1957 ) is an American ___MASK100___ whose best - known work includes the comics " Hate " and " Neat Stuff ". His stories often use black humor and exaggerated cartooning to dramatize the reduced expectations of middle - class American youth . He won two Harvey Awards in 1991 , one for best ___MASK100___ and one for his work on " Hate ". Bagge has expressed his libertarian views in features for " Reason ". Watchmen is an American comic - ___MASK26___ limited series published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987 , and collected in 1987 . The series was created by a British collaboration consisting of ___MASK13___ Alan Moore , artist Dave Gibbons , and colorist John Higgins . " Watchmen " originated from a story proposal Moore submitted to DC featuring superhero characters that the company had acquired from Charlton Comics . As Moore ' s proposed story would have left many of the characters unusable for future stories , managing ___MASK28___ Dick Giordano convinced Moore to create original characters instead . Deathstroke ( Slade Joseph Wilson ) is a fictional ___MASK73___ appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . The character was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez . He is a ___MASK8___ and assassin who first appeared in " The New Teen Titans " ( vol . 1 ) # 2 ( 1980 ). " Wizard " magazine rated him the 24th greatest villain of all time . Also , in 2009 , Deathstroke was ranked as IGN ' s 32nd greatest ___MASK75___ villain of all time .