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Dann Thomas
Dann Thomas
Dann Thomas
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Dann Thomas (born Danette Maxx Couto,[1] January 30, 1952)[2] is an American comic book writer and is married to comic book writer and editor Roy Thomas. She has at times collaborated with her husband on All-Star Squadron, Arak, Son of Thunder, the Crimson Avenger miniseries, and Avengers West Coast.

Key Information

She married Roy Thomas in May 1981[3] and legally changed her first name from Danette in the early 1980s.[4]

Biography

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Dann Thomas' earliest comic book credit appears on "The Sea of No Return" (credited as "Adapted from a story by Danette Couto") in Savage Sword of Conan #66 (July 1981).[5] Her husband credits her with the original idea for Arak, Son of Thunder, noting, "Danette Couto (soon to be Dann Thomas) had this idea: What if a Native American had discovered Europe?"[1] He also credits her with initiating the concept behind their series Captain Thunder and Blue Bolt (published by Hero Comics in 1987-88 and 1992) and writing most of the dialogue.[6] She began co-writing the Arak title with issue #12 (Aug. 1982) and would work with Thomas on most of his projects afterwards. Roy Thomas explained in 2011 that "Dann and I co-wrote Infinity [Inc.] from the beginning, coplotting it, with Dann usually, if not always, doing the first draft on the script, which I then rewrote. Not that she was openly credited as co-writer right away; I had to take it slow in that area."[7] Dann Thomas co-wrote Wonder Woman #300 (Feb. 1983)[8] and, as Roy Thomas noted in 1999 "became the first woman ever to receive scripting credit on the world's foremost super-heroine."[4] A rare example of Dann Thomas' solo writing appeared in the Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents series published by Deluxe Comics.[9] Roy Thomas' contractual obligations to DC Comics prevented him from working on the series but Dann Thomas was able to work on it.[10]

Dann Thomas' last new comic book writing appeared in Cadillacs and Dinosaurs #9 (Nov. 1994), published by Topps Comics.[11]

In 2003, she obtained her Masters of Arts degree from California State University. Her thesis was entitled "Comic Books 1938-1945: A Study of the Evolution of Attitudes Towards the Enemy Nations and Their Populations In American Comic Books During World War II." In it, she credits her "husband, Roy Thomas, for his encouragement and support, and for the use of his library of comics-related materials."[12]

Tributes

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The super-heroine Firebrand of the All-Star Squadron takes her civilian name, Danette Reilly, from Dann Thomas.[13] Dann Thomas co-wrote later issues of All-Star Squadron. Another character based upon Dann Thomas is a woman named Danette who appeared in the story "What If Conan the Barbarian Walked the Earth Today?" published in What If? #13 (Feb. 1979).[14]

Bibliography

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Screenwriting

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References

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Dann Thomas

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Dann Thomas (born Danette Maxx Couto; January 30, 1952) is an American comic book writer known for her collaborations with her husband Roy Thomas on numerous superhero titles for Marvel Comics and DC Comics during the 1980s and 1990s. She married Roy Thomas in May 1981 and often shared writing and plotting credits with him on series featuring prominent Marvel characters. Her work at Marvel included significant contributions to West Coast Avengers, Avengers West Coast, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, and Saga of the Sub-Mariner, frequently involving team-based stories, crossovers such as Acts of Vengeance, and adaptations of classic characters. These efforts have been reprinted in various Epic Collections and Omnibuses, reflecting her role in expanding Marvel's interconnected universe during that era. Thomas also wrote for DC Comics, contributing to All-Star Squadron, Arak, Son of Thunder, Secret Origins, and the Crimson Avenger miniseries, as well as the DC Comics miniseries Jonni Thunder. Her career focused on co-writing and script contributions that supported larger narrative arcs and character developments across the superhero genre.

Early Life

Birth and Background

Dann Thomas was born Danette R. Peck on January 30, 1952, in California, United States. She later became known professionally as Dann Thomas. No additional verified details about her childhood, family, or pre-career background are available from reliable sources.

Career

Entry into Comic Book Writing

Dann Thomas entered the comic book industry in 1981 with her earliest known professional credit as a writer. The story "The Sea of No Return" appeared in Marvel's The Savage Sword of Conan #66 (July 1981), where she received credit for the plot under the name Danette Couto, adapted from her own prior short story of the same title. Roy Thomas was credited with the script for the 45-page feature. This credit marked her initial foray into comic scripting and adaptation, coming shortly after her marriage to Roy Thomas in May 1981. No earlier comic book writing credits for Thomas (under any of her names: Danette Maxx Couto, Danette Couto, or Danette Thomas) are documented in major industry databases, and information about her pre-1981 professional activities in comics remains scarce. This Conan story thus represents her documented entry point into the field.

Collaboration with Roy Thomas

Dann Thomas married Roy Thomas in May 1981, after which she became his regular writing partner in comic books. Their professional collaboration began shortly thereafter, with Dann Thomas often handling initial drafts, co-plotting, or contributing original concepts to Roy Thomas's projects. Roy Thomas has spoken positively about the creative benefits of their partnership, noting that Dann's relative unfamiliarity with comics brought unexpected ideas to their joint work: "Dann, for instance, because she was almost totally unfamiliar with comics, would often come up with something I wouldn’t have thought of." This dynamic allowed her to originate key concepts, including the foundational premise for Arak, Son of Thunder, which explored the idea of a Native American discovering Europe. In the early years of their collaboration, some of Dann Thomas's contributions were uncredited or made covertly, such as co-plotting on certain projects before she received open co-scripting credits. As their partnership progressed, she frequently shared billing on series including All-Star Squadron, Arak, Son of Thunder, and Avengers West Coast, where she often provided first drafts or substantial writing input from the outset of series like Infinity, Inc. Their joint efforts became a consistent feature of Roy Thomas's output in the 1980s and beyond, blending their complementary approaches to storytelling.

Major Comic Book Works

Dann Thomas's major comic book works primarily consist of extended runs and notable appearances across DC Comics and Marvel Comics, often in collaboration with Roy Thomas, alongside select independent publisher contributions. Her credits frequently involved superhero team books, fantasy adventures, and character revivals, with precise issue ranges and publication years establishing her consistent presence in the industry during the 1980s and early 1990s. At DC Comics, she contributed to Arak, Son of Thunder #12–50 (1982–1985) and various issues of All-Star Squadron (1984–1986). She co-wrote the complete run of Infinity, Inc. #1–53 (1984–1988) and Young All-Stars (1987–1989). She also scripted the Crimson Avenger miniseries (1988). Her Marvel Comics output included Avengers West Coast #60–74 (1990–1991), Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (select issues including early run #5–8), and Saga of the Sub-Mariner #1–12 (1988–1989). Outside the major publishers, she handled a solo writing run on Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents for Deluxe Comics (1984–1986). Her final new credit appeared in Cadillacs and Dinosaurs #9 (November 1994, Topps Comics).

Television and Animation Credits

Dann Thomas's contributions to television and animation are limited compared to her extensive comic book career. She received a story credit for one episode of the animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985), where she is credited as Dan Thomas. Her only other notable connection to animation involves the uncredited use of material from the All-Star Squadron comic series, which she co-wrote with Roy Thomas, in one episode of the Young Justice (2011) television series.

Academic Work

Master's Degree and Thesis

Dann Thomas earned her Master of Arts degree from California State University Dominguez Hills in 2003. Her thesis, titled "Comic Books 1938-1945: A Study of the Evolution of Attitudes Towards the Enemy Nations and Their Populations In American Comic Books During World War II", presented to the Faculty of California State University Dominguez Hills, examined the shifting portrayals of Axis powers and their peoples in American comic books throughout World War II. In the acknowledgments section, she thanked Roy Thomas for his encouragement, support, and permission to use his extensive library of comics-related materials for her research. This work marked a shift in her professional focus from comic book scripting to historical and cultural analysis of the medium.

Personal Life

Marriages and Name Change

Dann Thomas was previously married to Phillip R. Couto, and she used the name Danette Couto during the early stages of her career. She married comic book writer and editor Roy Thomas on May 3, 1981. This marriage prompted her to legally change her first name from Danette to Dann in the early 1980s. The union also led to their professional collaboration on comic book projects, though specific details of their joint work appear in the relevant career sections.

Tributes and Legacy

Dann Thomas has been commemorated in comic book stories through characters bearing her name or inspired by her. The civilian identity of the second Firebrand, a member of the All-Star Squadron who first appeared in the 1980s, is Danette Reilly, a direct tribute to Dann Thomas (then known as Danette Thomas). This homage reflects her close collaboration with Roy Thomas on the series. Thomas received a scripting credit (with Roy Thomas) for Wonder Woman #300 (February 1983). After an active period co-writing numerous titles throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Thomas stepped back from comic book scripting following 1994. Her legacy endures through these in-universe tributes and her role in expanding creative partnerships in the industry during her career.
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