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Bob Haney
Bob Haney
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Robert Gilbert Haney, Jr. (March 15, 1926[2] – November 25, 2004) was an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Lance Bruner, Black Manta, Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.

Key Information

Biography

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Early life and career

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Haney grew up in Philadelphia, where he read popular newspaper comic strips such as Prince Valiant and Flash Gordon, and was a regular listener of radio dramas. Haney attended Swarthmore College.[3][4] During World War II, he served in the Navy and saw action during the Battle of Okinawa.[2] After the war, he earned a Master's degree from Columbia University and then embarked on a writing career, publishing a number of novels under a variety of assumed names.[5]

In 1948, Haney entered the comic book industry. His first published comics story was "College for Murder" in Black Cat #9 (January 1948).[6] From 1948 to 1955 Haney wrote crime and war comics for a number of publishers, including Fawcett, Standard, Hillman, Harvey, and St. John.[5]

DC Comics

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In large part due to the anti-comic book campaign launched by Fredric Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent and the United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency in 1953, most of Haney's publishers went out of business in the 1950s. In 1955 he connected with DC Comics and his first DC credit was the story "Frogman's Secret!" in All-American Men of War #17 (January 1955).[6] Thus began a long association with DC, which lasted almost thirty years, with Haney scripting just about every sort of comic DC published.[7]

Haney was the writer of the story "The Rock of Easy Co.!" in Our Army at War #81 (April 1959), the first appearance of Sgt. Rock.[8] Haney and artist Lee Elias created the supervillain Eclipso in House of Secrets #61 (August 1963).[9][10]

Haney frequently claimed to have co-created the Doom Patrol with Arnold Drake and worked with him on the first few issues, but Drake insisted that Haney worked on the first issue only, and that his only role in creating Doom Patrol was co-creating the character Negative Man.[11][12]

In 1964, Haney created the Teen Titans with artists Bruno Premiani and Nick Cardy. Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad teamed up in The Brave and the Bold #54 (July 1964) to defeat a weather-controlling villain known as Mister Twister.[13] They subsequently appeared under the name "Teen Titans" in The Brave and the Bold #60 in July 1965, joined by Wonder Woman's younger sister Wonder Girl in her first appearance.[14] After next being featured in Showcase #59 (Dec. 1965), the team was spun off into their own series with Teen Titans #1 (February 1966).[15]

The Metamorpho character was created by Haney and artist Ramona Fradon in The Brave and the Bold #57 (January 1965).[16] Haney stated in 1995 that "The most creative single thing I ever did was Metamorpho".[17] The character was featured in his own title, also written by Haney, from 1965 to 1968.[6] Metamorpho later appeared in a series of back-up stories in Action Comics #413–418 and World's Finest Comics #218–220 and #229.[18]

Haney and artist Howard Purcell created the supernatural character the Enchantress in Strange Adventures #187 (April 1966).[19] The Enchantress appears in the 2016 live-action movie Suicide Squad, portrayed by actress Cara Delevingne.[20]

Haney was the writer of many of the issues of The Brave and the Bold[21] including #59 (April–May 1965) which featured Batman's first team-up in the title.[22] Haney scripted issue #85 (Aug.-Sept 1969) wherein artist Neal Adams updated Green Arrow's visual appearance by designing a new costume for the character.[23] Haney frequently disregarded continuity by scripting stories which contradicted DC's canon or by writing major heroes in an out-of-character fashion.[24] Haney himself, along with artist Jim Aparo, appeared as a character in The Brave and the Bold #124 (January 1976).[25] Haney's final story of the series was a Batman and Kamandi team-up in issue #157 (Dec. 1979).[6]

Among his contributions to the Aquaman mythos are the characters Tula introduced in Aquaman #33 (May–June 1967)[26] and Nuidis Vulko in The Brave and the Bold #73 (Aug.–Sept. 1967). He also co-created Black Manta who first appeared in Aquaman #35 (September 1967).[27]

The Super-Sons, Superman Jr. and Batman Jr., were co-created by Haney and Dick Dillin in World's Finest Comics #215 (January 1973).[28] Haney introduced Batman's older brother, Thomas Wayne Jr., in World's Finest Comics #223 (May–June 1974). This story was used a basis for a plot detail in the "Court of Owls" story arc in 2012.[29] The House of Mystery's host Cain, a character modeled on writer Len Wein, was created by Haney with artist Jack Sparling and editor Joe Orlando.[30]

His later war comics work included the four-page "Dirty Job," illustrated by Alex Toth, for Our Army at War #241 (February 1972), which has been described as Haney's "true masterpiece".[31][32] He wrote the "Unknown Soldier" feature in Star Spangled War Stories in 1971 and 1972. He returned in 1977 and oversaw the series being renamed after the character.[33] He wrote the retitled series until its cancellation with #268 (October 1982).[6]

Haney's stories in the 1960s and 1970s, especially with the Teen Titans and the Super-Sons, often dealt with youth culture and current issues, but by the late 1970s and early 1980s, Haney struggled to produce material that DC's editors considered timely or contemporary. This led to clashes with the DC editorial staff and ultimately to his departure from the comics industry.[7]

Animation

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In the 1960s Haney contributed scripts to The New Adventures of Superman and The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure cartoon shows; and in the 1980s, after leaving DC, wrote for several Rankin/Bass animated shows, including ThunderCats, Silverhawks and Karate Kat.[7]

Later life

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When comics and animation work petered out in the late 1980s, Haney turned to other forms of writing, including a book on carpentry. He wrote a few additional comics scripts for DC including Elseworlds 80-Page Giant #1 (August 1999); Silver Age: The Brave and the Bold #1 (July 2000);[6] and the posthumously published Teen Titans Lost Annual #1 (March 2008).[34] His last few years were spent in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.[7] Haney died at age 78 on November 25, 2004, in La Mesa, California. He is interred at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California.

Awards

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Haney's industry recognitions included the 1968 Alley Award for Best Full-Length Story ("Track of the Hook" in The Brave and the Bold #79, drawn by Neal Adams)[35] and a 1997 Inkpot Award at San Diego Comic-Con.[36] He was awarded the Bill Finger Award posthumously in 2011.[37]

Family

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Haney's brother-in-law was Ned Chase, the father of actor Chevy Chase.[38]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Robert Gilbert "Bob" Haney Jr. (March 15, 1926 – November 25, 2004) was an American comic book writer renowned for his prolific output at DC Comics during the Silver Age and beyond, where he introduced enduring characters such as , and co-created the superhero team the as well as characters such as and . Over his nearly four-decade career, Haney scripted hundreds of stories across genres including , , and superhero tales, contributing to the evolution of DC's iconic franchises and earning recognition for his imaginative, often unconventional narratives. Born in , , Haney grew up in the city and served as a U.S. veteran during , including participation in the Battle of Okinawa. After the war, he earned a master's degree from before entering the comics industry in 1948, initially freelancing war, crime, and western stories for publishers such as Fawcett, Standard, , Harvey, and St. John. By 1955, Haney had joined DC Comics full-time, where he spent nearly three decades shaping key titles and launching groundbreaking series that influenced generations of superhero storytelling. Among Haney's most notable contributions were the introduction of in "The Rock of Easy Co.!" in Our Army at War #81 (June 1959), the debut of the —as a team of young sidekicks—in #54 (June–July 1964), and the elemental hero in #57 (December 1964–January 1965). He also co-created the demonic entity in House of Secrets #61 (August–September 1963), the supernatural Enchantress in Strange Adventures #205 (October 1966), and the Super-Sons duo of Jr. and Batman Jr. in #215 (September 1972). Beyond comics, Haney wrote animation scripts for shows including The New Adventures of (1966), The /Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967), and Rankin/Bass productions like (1985). His innovative work earned him the 1968 Alley Award for Best Full-Length Story ("Track of the Hook" in #79), the 1997 at Comic-Con International, and a posthumous 2011 Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing from the Comic Industry Awards.

Early Life

Childhood and Influences

Robert Gilbert Haney Jr., known professionally as Bob Haney, was born on March 15, 1926, in , . He was the son of Robert G. Haney Sr., and grew up in a environment in the city that provided a stable foundation during his formative years. From an early age, Haney displayed a keen interest in popular media forms that would shape his future as a storyteller. He avidly read newspaper comic strips such as and , immersing himself in their adventurous narratives and visual storytelling techniques. These strips, along with pulp fiction magazines featuring heroic tales, fostered his appreciation for dynamic plots and larger-than-life characters. Haney's childhood hobbies extended to listening to radio dramas, which captivated him with their suspenseful audio presentations and moral dilemmas. Programs like , with its mysterious detective solving crimes through cunning and dramatic flair, particularly inspired his sense of dramatic tension and ethical storytelling. This exposure to auditory narratives honed his ability to craft engaging dialogue and atmospheric scenes, elements that became hallmarks of his later writing.

Education and Military Service

Haney began undergraduate studies at in in the mid-1940s, but his education was interrupted by military service. During , Haney served in the United States Navy, participating in combat operations in the Pacific theater, including the in 1945. He returned after the war and graduated from Swarthmore in 1948 with a . His undergraduate studies provided a foundation in liberal arts, reflecting the institution's emphasis on and intellectual rigor, which would later influence his narrative style in writing. Following graduation, Haney pursued graduate studies at , earning a degree in the late . His program focused on and , honing his skills in and creative expression. With this academic background, Haney turned to , initially attempting to establish himself through short stories and novels published under various pseudonyms, reflecting his early aspirations to build a career in before entering the industry.

Comics Career

Entry into Comics and Early DC Work

Bob Haney's professional writing career began in 1948, when he contributed to pulp fiction novels under various pen names and entered the comic book industry with his debut story, "College for Murder," published in Harvey Comics' Black Cat #9 (January 1948). Over the next seven years, Haney freelanced for multiple publishers, including Fawcett, Standard, Hillman, Harvey, and St. John, primarily scripting crime, war, and western tales that reflected the post-World War II demand for action-oriented narratives. These early assignments honed his ability to craft fast-paced, self-contained stories suited to the anthology format prevalent in the era's comics. In 1955, Haney transitioned to DC Comics, debuting with the war story "Frogman's Secret!" in All-American #17 (January 1955), under the editorial guidance of . His initial DC output focused on military-themed titles, aligning with the company's robust line amid the Korean War's lingering influence, before expanding into superhero features during the emerging Silver Age. Key early assignments included scripts for in , starting with "The Floating Hall of Fame" in issue #228 (September 1956), and contributions to Blackhawk, where he revitalized the aviation squadron's adventures with high-stakes espionage plots. Haney's writing style evolved within DC's Silver Age framework, emphasizing adventurous, standalone tales that prioritized spectacle and moral clarity over intricate continuity, allowing for flexible character interpretations across titles. This approach proved ideal for anthology books and team-ups, distinguishing his work from more serialized narratives. A notable collaboration emerged with artist Ramona Fradon on Aquaman stories from 1956 onward, where Haney's dynamic underwater exploits complemented Fradon's expressive, fluid artwork, helping to elevate the character from backup feature to solo prominence.

Major Contributions and Creations

Bob Haney played a pivotal role in shaping DC Comics' Silver Age landscape through his innovative character co-creations and dynamic storytelling, particularly during his tenure on titles like . One of his most enduring contributions was the co-creation of the , first assembled in #54 (June-July 1964), where he scripted the team-up of Robin, , and against the villain Mr. Twister, establishing the group's formation and early adventurous spirit as young sidekicks banding together for justice. This concept expanded into a flagship series, influencing generations of teen hero teams by emphasizing camaraderie, youthful rebellion, and standalone exploits that captured the era's cultural shift toward . Haney's vision for the Titans prioritized high-stakes action and moral dilemmas tailored to adolescent protagonists, setting a template for ensemble dynamics in . In 1965, Haney introduced , the Element Man, in #57 (December 1964-January 1965), co-creating the character with artist Ramona Fradon as Rex Mason, a transformed by an ancient orb into a being capable of manipulating chemical elements. The story's origin—blending pulp adventure with sci-fi absurdity—proved so popular that it led to Metamorpho's own in 1965, where Haney explored themes of identity and alienation through the hero's outsider status and reluctant heroism. This creation exemplified Haney's flair for unconventional protagonists, expanding DC's roster beyond traditional archetypes and influencing later elemental-based characters. Haney also developed memorable antagonists, most notably co-creating with artist Nick Cardy in Aquaman #35 (September-October 1967), portraying the villain as a ruthless, technologically advanced pirate driven by personal vendetta against . 's debut involved a daring on , establishing him as a formidable foe whose tactical brutality and oceanic weaponry challenged 's sovereignty, and he became one of the character's most iconic adversaries. Haney's scripting infused the villain with psychological depth, contrasting Manta's cold against 's heroic idealism, which heightened the stakes in underwater adventures. A hallmark of Haney's style was his emphasis on self-contained, full-length narratives that often disregarded broader DC continuity to prioritize dramatic impact, as seen in standout stories like "Track of the Hook" in #79 (August-September 1968), where Batman teams with Deadman to unravel a murder mystery involving a hook-handed killer. This tale, illustrated by , earned the 1968 Alley Award for Best Full-Length Story due to its seamless integration of supernatural elements into a gritty detective plot, showcasing Haney's ability to craft immersive, 23-page epics that advanced character arcs without relying on established lore. His approach extended to series like , where he penned standalone Superman-Batman team-ups that bent canon for fresh conflicts, such as alternate family dynamics or impossible scenarios, allowing heroes to shine in isolation from the larger universe. Similarly, in Unknown Soldier (issues #205-268, 1977-1982), Haney revived the faceless WWII spy for poignant, continuity-free tales of espionage and sacrifice, drawing from his own military experience to deliver emotionally resonant war dramas that focused on individual heroism amid global chaos. This disregard for rigid continuity enabled Haney to produce era-defining stories during the , prioritizing narrative freedom and reader engagement over interconnected mythology.

Work in Animation and Other Media

Television Animation Scripts

Bob Haney transitioned from to television in the mid-1960s, contributing scripts to Filmation's DC Comics-based series that brought superheroes to Saturday morning audiences. He wrote several episodes for The New Adventures of (1966), including stories like "Can a Luthor Change His Spots?", adapting the Man of Steel's adventures into fast-paced animated tales. These efforts marked Haney's entry into scripting for limited- formats, where he emphasized heroic monologues and villainous schemes to fit the medium's stylistic demands. Haney's involvement expanded with The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967–1968), a 60-minute anthology featuring rotating segments with . He penned numerous episodes, drawing on his recent tenure as the character's primary writer, to depict underwater battles against foes like and in self-contained stories. The show's structure, with 6–7-minute shorts, posed adaptation challenges, requiring Haney to condense comic-style narratives into tight runtimes while preserving character essence and episodic resolutions. In the 1980s, after departing DC, Haney collaborated with Rankin/Bass on syndicated animated series, providing episode outlines and character arcs for science-fiction and adventure properties. He authored seven episodes of ThunderCats (1985), including "Lord of the Snows" and "All That Glitters," which explored themes of leadership and ancient evils on Third Earth. For SilverHawks (1986), Haney wrote three installments, such as "Gotbucks" and "Junkyard Dog," developing interstellar conflicts involving cyborg heroes against the villain Mon*Star. His contributions extended to Karate Kat (1989), where he helped shape the anthropomorphic martial arts comedy through scripts emphasizing humor and feline antics in a Big Apple setting. These later works showcased Haney's versatility in tailoring comic-inspired elements to longer-form animation, often incorporating moral lessons amid high-stakes action.

Non-Comics Writing Projects

In the mid-1980s, Haney departed from DC Comics following challenges with younger editors who preferred ensemble-driven stories over the more intimate, character-centric narratives that had defined much of his career. This shift reflected broader changes in the industry, where his traditional style increasingly clashed with evolving editorial directions. Transitioning to freelance writing, Haney explored opportunities beyond , though his output in this period was more limited and varied. By the late , as work in both and waned, he turned to other creative pursuits, including authoring a book on .

Personal Life

Family Connections

Haney kept his personal life largely private, with scant public details available regarding his or members such as a or children. One notable familial connection was through his sister, who married Ned Chase, a Manhattan-based editor and , thereby making Chase Haney's brother-in-law and linking the to prominent circles. This relationship positioned Haney as the uncle to Chase's son, the acclaimed comedian and actor , potentially broadening his social network amid the New York publishing and Hollywood scenes during the mid-20th century.

Later Years and Death

In the late 1980s, following the decline of his work in and , Haney relocated to San Felipe in , , seeking a quieter centered on personal hobbies such as . There, he pursued as a passion. As his health deteriorated in the early 2000s, Haney suffered a severe that impaired his speech and recognition abilities, prompting his return to the . He returned to , near , where he received medical care at a local facility. Haney died on November 25, 2004, at the age of 78, from complications related to the stroke while under hospice care in . He was buried at in . In later interviews, Haney expressed satisfaction with his career, taking particular pride in his creations like the despite frequent critiques of his disregard for established continuity. He viewed his approach as prioritizing engaging, standalone adventures over rigid canon adherence, a philosophy that defined much of his prolific output at DC Comics.

Awards and Legacy

Comic Book Awards

Bob Haney received notable recognition for his comic book writing during the Silver Age, particularly through fan-voted awards that highlighted his contributions to DC Comics. In 1968, he won the Alley Award for Best Full-Length Story for "Track of the Hook," a Batman tale illustrated by in #79, tying with Marvel's "Origin of the " after receiving 31 votes out of 616 total ballots cast by comic fans. The Alley Awards, originating in 1962 and administered through fanzines like , were among the earliest fan-driven honors in the industry, reflecting the preferences of dedicated readers during the Silver Age's creative boom, with nominations and voting open to enthusiasts. This accolade underscored Haney's skill in crafting engaging, self-contained narratives that prioritized dramatic tension over strict adherence to continuity, a style that earned both praise for its boldness and criticism for its inconsistencies within DC's . In interviews, Haney emphasized choosing story impact over canonical constraints, stating that continuity should not hinder a compelling tale, which bolstered his reputation as an innovative writer willing to bend rules for entertainment value. Later in his career, Haney was honored with the 1997 at Comic-Con International in , recognizing his lifetime achievement in comics for decades of prolific scripting at DC, including co-creating the and scripting key Batman team-ups. The , established in 1974, celebrated professionals across comics fields through peer and convention committee selection, affirming Haney's enduring influence amid evolving industry standards that increasingly valued his adventurous, continuity-defying approach as a hallmark of Silver Age dynamism. These awards collectively elevated Haney's standing among fans and peers, highlighting how his storytelling innovations resonated despite debates over their fit within broader continuity frameworks.

Posthumous Recognition and Influence

In 2011, Bob Haney was posthumously awarded the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Writing, an honor established by Comic-Con International to recognize underappreciated and overlooked contributors to the medium. The award highlighted Haney's prolific output at DC Comics, including co-creations like the and , as well as his innovative storytelling that often prioritized bold narratives over strict continuity. One of Haney's unpublished scripts saw release after his death as Teen Titans: The Lost Annual #1 in 2008, featuring the team rescuing President from an on the planet Ullustra. Illustrated by and , the story exemplified Haney's signature blend of Silver Age adventure and outlandish premises, preserving his voice for a new generation of readers. Haney's 1974 story in #223, introducing Jr. as Wayne's long-lost, mentally unstable older brother who becomes the Killer, directly inspired elements of the 2012 Batman: storyline by and . In that arc, the character Lincoln March emerges as a claimant to the Jr. identity, weaving Haney's concept of a hidden familial threat into the ' conspiracy against Batman, thus reviving and expanding the forgotten lore in modern DC continuity. The Enchantress, co-created by Haney and Howard Purcell in Strange Adventures #187 (1966) as an otherworldly entity possessing artist June Moone, gained renewed prominence through her portrayal by in the 2016 film , where she serves as a central antagonist with amplified mystical powers. This adaptation drew from Haney's foundational depiction of the character's dual nature and supernatural abilities, integrating her into the DC Extended Universe's ensemble dynamics. Haney's original , launched in 1966, continues to underpin ongoing media franchises, including animated series like Teen Titans Go! (2013–present) and live-action projects such as the Max series Titans (2018–2023), which build on his team-up formula of youthful heroes confronting global threats. Comic book analyses have increasingly credited Haney's continuity-breaking style—marked by frequent retcons, alternate realities, and whimsical divergences—with foreshadowing DC's embrace of the multiverse as a framework, a concept formalized in events like (1985) and evolving through 2025's interconnected tales. For instance, his disregard for canonical consistency in Batman stories allowed for experimental premises that prefigured the multiverse's role in reconciling disparate timelines, influencing contemporary writers to explore variant realities without fear of invalidation.

References

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