Roger Stern (born September 17, 1950) is an American comic book author and novelist. He is best known for his work on The Amazing Spider-Man, The Avengers, Captain America, and Doctor Strange for Marvel Comics and for his work on Superman for DC Comics including "The Death of Superman" storyline.
Among the comic characters Stern co-created are Nebula, Monica Rambeau, Doomsday, Hobgoblin and Maxima. He also created the Westcoast Avengers team.
Biography
Early career
In the early 1970s, Stern and
Bob Layton published the
fanzine CPL (
Contemporary Pictorial Literature), one of the first platforms for the work of John Byrne.
rapidly became a popular fan publication, and led to the two forming an alliance with
Charlton Comics to produce and publish "the now-famous
Charlton Bullseye magazine".
During the mid-1970s, both Marvel and DC were publishing in-house "fan" publications (
FOOM and
The Amazing World of DC Comics respectively), and Charlton wished to make inroads into the superhero market, as well as "establish a fan presence," leading to the alliance with CPL to produce the
Charlton Bullseye.
This led to Charlton giving Layton and Stern "access to unpublished material from their vaults by the likes of
Steve Ditko, Jeff Jones and a host of others."
Comics
Stern broke into the industry as a writer in 1975 as part of the
Marvel Comics "third wave" of creators, which included artists John Byrne and
Frank Miller, and writers
Jo Duffy,
Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio. Stern worked as an
editing from 1976 to 1980.
claims that Stern co-plotted (as a
ghostwriter) his last few stories for
DC Comics in 1976.
Stern wrote the "Guardians of the Galaxy" feature in
Marvel Presents #10-12 in 1977.
He briefly collaborated with Byrne on
Captain America. The two produced a story wherein Captain America considered running for the office of President of the United States,
an idea originally developed by Roger McKenzie and
Don Perlin. Stern, in his capacity as editor of the title, had originally rejected the idea but later changed his mind about the concept.
McKenzie and Perlin received credit for the idea on the letters page at Stern's insistence.
His first regular monthly book was as staff writer for
The Incredible Hulk taking over for departing
Len Wein in 1978.
Stern later became the writer of
The Spectacular Spider-Man with issue #43 (June 1980).
He then took over
The Amazing Spider-Man with issue #224 (January 1982).
[Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 126: "Writer Roger Stern moved from the helm of Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man to sit behind the wheel as the new regular writer of The Amazing Spider-Man with this issue."] In addition to his Spider-Man work, Stern is known for his lengthy stints on
Doctor Strange, and
The Avengers.
In 1982, he co-created Marvel's second
Monica Rambeau[DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 209: "Created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Romita, Jr., this new Captain Marvel soon went to New York to ask the Avengers to teach her how to control her new abilities."] and the Hobgoblin, both with artist John Romita Jr.
[Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 133: "Writer Roger Stern and artists John Romita, Jr. and John Romita, Sr. introduced a new - and frighteningly sane - version of the Green concept with the debut of the Hobgoblin."] Stern wrote "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man" in
The Amazing Spider-Man #248 (January 1984), a story which ranks among his most popular.
[Cronin "Stern and guest-artist Ron Frenz tell the heartfelt tale of a little boy who might be Spider-Man's biggest fan. Spidey visits the boy and has a nice talk with him (and naturally, there is a twist to the tale)."] Stern ended his run with
Amazing Spider-Man #252 (May 1984), chiefly due to his difficulty working with new Spider-Man editor
Danny Fingeroth.
Later that same year, he co-created the Avengers spin-off
The West Coast Avengers, with artist Bob Hall.
In 1987, after a dispute with editor Mark Gruenwald over upcoming storylines, Stern was fired from The Avengers.[Gruenwald, Mark. "Mark's Remarks," Avengers #288 (March 1988).] He began freelancing for DC Comics, where he was one of the core Superman writers for almost a decade, working on Superman (vol. 2), Action Comics, and . He contributed to such storylines as "Panic in the Sky"[Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: "The issue also featured four teaser comics that introduced a group of contenders all vying for the Superman name...The Eradicator returned in a preview tale by writer Roger Stern and artist Jackson Guice."] Stern wrote the 1991 story wherein Clark Kent finally revealed his identity as Superman to Lois Lane.[Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 249: "With their nuptials looming, Clark thought it was time to reveal his dual identity to the love of his life, in this landmark issue by writer Roger Stern and artist Bob McLeod."] In Summer 1995, Stern and artist Tom Grummett created a new quarterly series, .[Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 271: "Superman gained a new quarterly title to ensure his weekly appearance on comic book store racks in... Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #1, by writer Roger Stern and penciller Tom Grummett."] Additionally, Stern was one of the many creators who worked on the one-shot in 1996 which featured the title character's marriage to Lois Lane.[Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 275: " The behind-the-scenes talent on the monumental issue appropriately spanned several generations of the Man of Tomorrow's career. Written by Dan Jurgens, Karl Kesel, David Michelinie, Louise Simonson, and Roger Stern, the one-shot featured the pencils of John Byrne, Gil Kane, Stuart Immonen, Paul Ryan, Jon Bogdanove, Kieron Dwyer, Tom Grummett, Dick Giordano, Jim Mooney, Curt Swan, Nick Cardy, Al Plastino, Barry Kitson, Ron Frenz, and Dan Jurgens."] Besides his work on Superman, Stern (with co-plotter Tom McCraw) wrote Legionnaires from 1996 to 1999. Other work for DC included a relaunched Atom series, drawn by Dwayne Turner[Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 235: "New Starman Will Payton debuted in his own ongoing series in October 1988 by writer Roger Stern and artist Tom Lyle."]
In 1996, Stern returned to Marvel to write the miniseries ,[Cowsill, Alan "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 234: "The mystery of the Hobgoblin's true identity was finally solved in this three-issue miniseries by writer Roger Stern and artist Ron Frenz."] and contributed to three issues of Spectacular Spider-Man in 1998 which featured the first confrontation between Green Goblin and Roderick Kingsley.[Cowsill "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 242] Over the next four years, he wrote the short-lived Marvel Universe series, as well as such miniseries as Avengers Two, Avengers Infinity, and Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin. Stern collaborated with Avengers writer Kurt Busiek on Iron Man and the miniseries Avengers Forever, and with John Byrne on .
After a major editorial shuffle at Marvel in 2000 left him without assignments, Stern began writing for European publisher Egmont, for whom he produced scripts for Fantomen ( The Phantom), and Panini UK, for whose Marvel Rampage magazine he wrote Spider-Man and Hulk stories.
The next year, Stern returned to Marvel, where he wrote new stories for Giant-Size Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man,[Cowsill "2010s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 329] Young Allies 70th Anniversary Special, Amazing Spider-Man Family, Web of Spider-Man (vol. 2), Captain America and The Many Loves of the Amazing Spider-Man. He collaborated again with Busiek, co-writing several issues of , the sequel to the Marvels miniseries.
As part of Marvel Comics' 80th Anniversary the one-shot Avengers: Loki Unleashed! by Roger Stern and artist Ron Lim that takes place after Stern's famous "The Siege" storyline, has been published in September 2019.
For the Binge Books label of publisher Sitcomics, Stern wrote the 68-page comic book Heroes Union #1 (August 2021), pencilled by Ron Frenz and inked by Sal Buscema.
In 2023, Stern contributed a story to The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1, drawn by Jackson Guice. He also wrote a five-page story for the anniversary issue Doctor Strange #450, published in 2025.
Graphic novels
Stern has also written a number of
, including
Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment;
Superman for Earth;
The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman;
Superman: A Nation Divided; and
Untold Tales of Spider-Man: Strange Encounters.
Prose
In addition to his comics work, Stern has written three novels:
The Death and Life of Superman (
Bantam Books, 1993),
Smallville: Strange Visitors (
Warner Books, 2002), and
Superman: The Never-Ending Battle (
Pocket Books, 2005).
The Death and Life of Superman was a
New York Times bestseller in hardcover and was released as a mass market paperback in 1994; a new trade paperback edition was released by Barnes & Noble in 2004.
Personal life
Stern married Cornell University chemistry professor Carmela Merlo in Ithaca, New York, on June 19, 1982, at a ceremony attended by many Marvel staffers, including editor-in-chief
Jim Shooter.
[Shooter, Jim. "Bullpen Bulletins," Marvel Comics cover-dated December 1982.]
Bibliography
DC Comics
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9-11 – The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember Volume 2 (2002)
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Action Comics #601–642, 644–657, 659–665, 667–693, 696–700, 737, Annual #2–3 (1988–1994)
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The Adventures of Superman #453–454, 457 (with George Perez), 462, 500 (1989–1993)
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The All-New Atom #16 (2007)
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The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 (2023)
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Doomsday Annual #1 (1995)
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Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #1–4 (1992–1993)
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JLA Classified #50–54 (2008)
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Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #91, 100, 105 (1998)
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Legionnaires #35–53, 55–74, 76–77, Annual #3 (1996–1999)
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Newstime #1 (1993)
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Power of the Atom #1–11, 14–15 (1988–1989)
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Secret Origins vol. 2 #29 (1988)
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Showcase '95 #4–5 (1995)
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Starman #1–28 (1988–1990)
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Supergirl vol. 3 #1–4 (1994)
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Supergirl and Team Luthor Special #1 (1993)
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Superman vol. 2 #23–28, 30–34. Annual #2, 7 (1988–1995)
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#1 (1999)
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Superman: For Earth #1 (1991)
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Superman Secret Files #1 (1998)
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Superman: The Legacy of Superman #1 (1993)
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#1, 57 (1991–1996)
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#1–10 (1995–1998)
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(introduction) (2006)
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#1 (1996)
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Superman Villains Secret Files #1 (1999)
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#1 (1995)
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Who's Who in the DC Universe #3–7, 10–14, 16 (1990–1992)
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Who's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993 #1–2 (1992–1993)
DC Comics / Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
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The Amazing Spider-Man #206, 224–227, 229–252, 580, 627–629, Annual #15–17, 22, Annual '97 (1980–1988, 1997, 2009–2010)
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Amazing Spider-Man Family #7 (2009)
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The Avengers #189–190, 201, 227–279, 281–287, Annual #13–14 (1979–1988)
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Avengers 1½ (1999)
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Avengers Forever #3–12 (1998–1999)
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Avengers Infinity #1–4 (2000)
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Avengers: Loki Unleashed! #1 (2019)
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#1 (2001)
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Avengers Two: Wonder Man and Beast #1–3 (2000)
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Captain America #230, 247–255, 600 (1979–1981, 2009)
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Captain America Corps #1–5 (2011)
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Captain America: Forever Allies #1–4 (2010–2011)
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Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #6–7 (1999)
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Crazy Magazine #63, 65 (incorrectly marked as #66 on cover) (1980)
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Doctor Strange vol. 2 #27–30, 32–33, 35–37, 47–62, 65–73, 75 (1978–1986)
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Doctor Strange/Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (1989)
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Doctor Strange: From the Marvel Vault (2011)
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Doctor Strange #450 (oneshot) (2025)
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Epic Illustrated #20 (1983)
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Fantastic Four #183, 294–295, 297–302 (1977, 1986–1987)
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FOOM #7, 14, 21–22 (1974–1978)
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Ghost Rider vol. 2 #68–70, 72–73 (1982)
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Giant-Size Incredible Hulk #1 (2008)
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Heroes for Hire #1 (1996)
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The Hulk #23 (1980)
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Hulk Smash Avengers #3 (2012)
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The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #218–221, 223–229, 231–243, Annual #7–8 (1978–1980)
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Iron Man #129, Annual #4 (1977–1979)
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Iron Man vol. 3 #14–25 (1999–2000)
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Iron Man/Captain America Annual '98 (1998)
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The Many Loves of the Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2010)
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Marvel Age #3, 33, Annual #3–4 (1983–1988)
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Marvel Comics #1001 (among others) (2019)
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Marvel Fanfare #6, 12, 18, 57 (1983–1985, 1991)
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Marvel No-Prize Book #1 (research) (1983)
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Marvel Premiere #50 (1979)
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Marvel Presents #8, 10–12 (1977)
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Marvel Preview #20–21, 23 (1980)
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Marvel Super-Heroes #103–104 (1981)
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Marvel Team-Up #3 (1980)
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#1–12 (12–1) (2000–2001)
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Marvel Treasury Edition #13 (1977)
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Marvel Universe #1–7 (1998)
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#3–6 (2009–2010)
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Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #5 (1983)
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Omega the Unknown #8 (1977)
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vol. 2 #156.1 (2012)
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Power Pachyderms #1 (1989)
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Shadows and Light vol. 2 #3 (1998)
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Solo Avengers #2–4 (1988)
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The Spectacular Spider-Man #43, 45–52, 54–61, 85, 259–261, Annual #3 (1980–1981, 1998)
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Robbie Baldwin #1–8 (1988–1989)
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#1 (1997)
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Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives #1–3 (1997)
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Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin #1–3 (2000)
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Spider-Man Team-Up #2 (1996)
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Spider-Verse Team-Up #1 (2015)
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Thor #394, Annual #6 (1977–1988)
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Thunderbolts #7–9 (1997)
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Untold Tales of Spider-Man #–1, 25 (1997)
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Untold Tales of Spider-Man: Strange Encounter (1997)
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Web of Spider-Man Annual #3 (1987)
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Web of Spider-Man vol. 2 #12 (2010)
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West Coast Avengers mini-series #1–4 (1984)
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What If? #31, 34–35 (1982)
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X-Men: Odd Men Out #1 (2008)
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X-Men vs. The Avengers #1–3 (1987)
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Young Allies 70th Anniversary Special #1 (2009)
Panini UK
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Marvel Rampage #8–10, 12–14 (2005)
Other publishers
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Charlton Bullseye #1–2, 4–5 (1975–1976)
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Dark Man vs. Army of Darkness #1–4 (2006–2007)
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The Complete Rog 2000 (1982)
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Contemporary Pictorial Literature #9/10 (double issue), 11–12 (1974–1975)
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Don Rosa #1 (introduction) (1983)
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Fantaco Chronicles #5 (1982)
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Fantomen (Egmont) #13/2004 (#1334)
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Heroes, Inc. #2 (1976)
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Heroes Union #1 (2021)
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Images of Omaha #2 (1992)
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Magnus Robot Fighter #15–17 (1992)
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Monster in My Pocket #1 (plot) (1991)
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The Most Important Comic Book on Earth: Stories to Save the World (2021)
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Prince Valiant Vol.14: 1963–1964 (introduction) (2016)
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Star Hawks comic strip (writing assistance) (1980)
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Stray Bullets #2 (text piece) (1995)
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The Spirit #30 (1981)
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Superman & Batman Magazine #3, 8 (1994–1995)
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The Uncanny Dave Cockrum... A Tribute (2004)
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Writer's Block 2003
External links
