Jack Schiff (1909 – April 30, 1999) was an American comic book writer and editor best known for his work editing various Batman comic book series for DC Comics from 1942 to 1964. He was the co-creator of Starman, Tommy Tomorrow, and the Wyoming Kid.
Biography Jack Schiff entered the comics industry after attending Cornell University. He got his start at Standard Magazines, editing various pulps. At DC Comics, he co-created the original Starman with artist Jack Burnley and editors Whitney Ellsworth, Murray Boltinoff, Mort Weisinger, and Bernie Breslauer in Adventure Comics #61 (April 1941). DC hired Schiff as an editor in 1942 and he oversaw the various Batman and Superman comic book titles after Weisinger was drafted into military service during World War II. He wrote the story "Case of the Costume-Clad Killers" in Detective Comics #60 (Feb. 1942) which introduced the Bat-Signal into the Batman mythos. In addition, he edited and wrote the Batman comic strip for the McClure Newspaper Syndicate and wrote The Vigilante (1947) and Batman and Robin (1949) serials for Columbia Pictures. He developed a series of public service announcements which ran throughout DC's entire publishing lineDaniels, p. 92: "Jack Schiff enjoyed more success, however, with an even more idealistic experiment. This was a series of single-page public service announcements that he created and wrote for publication in all DC titles." from 1949 to the mid-1960s and scripted the "Johnny Everyman" feature which had been created by Nobel Prize laureate Pearl S. Buck. He launched comic book titles which were licensed from the popular radio programs A Date with Judy, Gang Busters,Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 57: "Edited by Jack Schiff, the Gang Busters comic focused on FBI cases and standalone crime stories." and Mr. District AttorneyPasko, p. 88: "For extra insurance that it would be done in good taste, the book [Gang Busters] was assigned to public service page writer Jack Schiff. Other crime-related titles from radio quickly followed, including Mr. District Attorney." and co-created new characters such as Tommy TomorrowWallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 54: "Tomorrow's inaugural tale...was a fanciful dramatization of what writer Jack Schiff claimed to be a future vision of human space travel." and the Wyoming Kid. His introduction of science fiction concepts into the Batman stories met with mixed results. In 1958, he became involved in a legal dispute with artist Jack Kirby over the "Sky Masters" newspaper comic strip and Schiff won the resulting lawsuit. The following year, he and Dick Dillin created Lady Blackhawk in Blackhawk #133 (Feb. 1959).Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 92: "With Blackhawk #133, the Blackhawk Squadron finally welcomed a woman to their ranks – Zinda Blake – courtesy of editor Jack Schiff and artist Dick Dillin." DC's upper management removed Schiff as editor of Batman and Detective Comics due to low sales and replaced him with Julius Schwartz in 1964.McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 110: "The Dark Knight received a much-needed face lift from new Batman editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino. With sales at an all-time low and threatening the cancellation of one of DC's flagship titles, their overhaul was a lifesaving success for DC and its beloved Batman." Mystery in Space and Strange Adventures were given to Schiff as replacements to edit. He retired from DC after 25 years with the company and his final editing credit appeared in Strange Adventures #203 (Aug. 1967).
Awards Jack Schiff received citations and commendations from such organizations as the Anti-Defamation League (1948), the National Conference of Christians and Jews (1953), the United States Office of War Information (1945), and the United States Department of the Treasury (1945).
Bibliography As writer DC Comics Batman #10, 13, 15, 21, 26 (1942–1944) Detective Comics #60 (1942) World's Finest Comics #8, 15–26, 28, 30, 37, 39 (1942–1949)
As editor DC Comics
Action Comics #56–118 (1943–1948) Adventure Comics #82–194 (1943–1953) The Adventures of Alan Ladd #1–9 (1949–1951) Aquaman #1–4 (1962) Batman #15–163 (1943–1964) Big Town #1–3 (1951) Blackhawk #108–195 (1957–1964) Boy Commandos #2–36 (1943–1949) The Brave and the Bold #31–33, 40–41 (1960–1962) Buzzy #1–27 (1944–1949) Congo Bill #1–7 (1954–1955) Challengers of the Unknown #1–27 (1958–1962) Dale Evans Comics #1–24 (1948–1952) A Date with Judy #1–12 (1947–1949) Detective Comics #71–326 (1943–1964) Feature Films #1–4 (1950) Frontier Fighters #1–8 (1955–1956) Gang Busters #1–67 (1947–1958) House of Mystery #1–125, 143–169 (1951–1962, 1964–1967) House of Secrets #1–56, 66–80 (1956–1962, 1964–1966) Leading Comics #6–14 (1943–1945) Legends of Daniel Boone #1–8 (1955–1956) More Fun Comics #87–107 (1943–1946) Mr. District Attorney #1–67 (1948–1959) My Greatest Adventure #1–70 (1955–1962) Mystery in Space #92–110 (1964–1966) Real Fact Comics #1–21 (1946–1949) Rip Hunter... Time Master #1–9 (1961–1962) Showcase #5–7, 11–12, 15–16, 20–21, 25–26, 30–33 (1956–1961) Star-Spangled Comics #16–130 (1943–1952) Strange Adventures #164–203 (1964–1967) Superboy #1–28 (1949–1953) Superman #20–51 (1943–1948) Tales of the Unexpected #1–72, 83–102 (1956–1962, 1964–1967) Tomahawk #1–81 (1950–1962) Western Comics #1–42 (1948–1953) World's Finest Comics #8–140 (1942–1964)
References
External links
Jack Schiff at Mike's Amazing World of Comics