Charles Dixon (born April 14, 1954) is an American comic book writer, best known for his work on the Marvel Comics character the Punisher and on the DC Comics characters Batman, Nightwing, and Robin in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Early life Dixon was born in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Upper Darby, reading comics of all genres. He is a graduate of Upper Darby High School (1972).
Career
1980s Chuck Dixon's earliest comics work was writing Evangeline (illustrated by his then-wife Judith Hunt) for Comico Comics in 1984 and then for First Comics. Editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' Savage Sword of Conan. Writing under the name "Charles Dixon", he would eventually take over the lead feature of Conan on a semi-regular basis. He contributed stories to the Hama edited re-boot of Savage Tales highlighted by a number of western stories illustrated by John Severin.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy which was edited by Timothy Truman followed by Cat Yronwode for the bulk of its 50 issue run. Continuing to write for both Marvel and Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989 for editor Potts.
1990s (Punisher and Batman) The Punisher Kingdom Gone graphic novel (August 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal and later other Punisher titles, and brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Dennis O'Neil, who asked him and Tom Lyle to produce a Robin miniseries featuring the Tim Drake incarnation. The series proved popular enough to spawn two sequels – The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992). This led to both an ongoing monthly seriesManning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 261: "[Robin] embarked on a solo career, with the help of writer Chuck Dixon and artist Tom Grummett." which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics, and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644 (May 1992) to #738 (Nov. 1999) through the major Batman stories "Knightfall'"Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: Knightfall' was a nineteen-part crossover event that passed through the pages of...Detective Comics, written by Chuck Dixon and illustrated by Norm Breyfogle, Jim Balent, and Graham Nolan." and "KnightsEnd"Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 265 for which he helped create the key character of Bane,Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 200: Batman: Vengeance of Bane Special #1 "[Bane's] harrowing origin story was detailed in this special 64-page one-shot by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Graham Nolan." "Contagion",Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 272: "In the latest crossover to shake up Batman's universe, a manufactured virus nicknamed 'the Clench' was unleashed on the public of Gotham City ... by writers Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Denny O'Neil, and Doug Moench." "Legacy",Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 274 "Cataclysm",Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 283: "The seventeen-part 'Cataclysm' storyline showed a Gotham City devastated by an earthquake. It was written by Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Dennis O'Neil, [and others]." and "No Man's Land". Dixon and Lyle co-created the Electrocutioner in Detective Comics #644 (May 1992)Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 195 and Stephanie Brown in Detective Comics #647 (August 1992).Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 196 Much of his later run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman writer in the 1990s. In addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin, Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101), and Batgirl, as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 286: "Oracle and Black Canary were finally rewarded with their own ongoing series by scripter Chuck Dixon and penciller Greg Land."
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover, he launched Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow, regularly having about seven titles out each month between 1993 and 1998. In 1994, Dixon co-wrote the Batman-Spawn: War Devil intercompany crossover with Doug Moench and Alan Grant.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 267: "Fans were also treated to a companion special entitled Batman-Spawn...by writers Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant, and artist Klaus Janson." Dixon and Tom Grummett crafted a Secret Six one-shot (Dec. 1997) as part of the Tangent Comics imprint.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 281: "The Secret Six found their own monthly one-shot title written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Tom Grummett."
2000s
CrossGen In March 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, slowly leaving Robin, Nightwing, Birds of Prey and Batgirl over the next year although he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One.Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 309: "Scott Beatty and Chuck Dixon came together to pen the story of Barbara Gordon's first year as Batgirl." For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the departing Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March 2003), The Silken Ghost (June 2003) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct 2003), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November 2003 and April 2004, the last released shortly before CrossGen's cancellation of all of its series. Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May 2004). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
Other publishers In mid-2004, Dixon wrote a number of issues and series' for smaller publishers Devil's Due Publishing and Moonstone Books. During this period, he returned briefly to DC but mostly worked on comics at several publishers, including several issues of Simpsons Comics for Bongo Comics, for whom he has worked quite regularly from September 1998 to the present, and a couple of projects with Image Comics. In May 2006, Dixon contributed to IDW Publishing's Free Comic Book Day Transformers giveaway, leading to him writing The Transformers: Hearts of Steel miniseries.
Return to DC In July 2004, Dixon began his return to the DC Universe with Richard Dragon, a revival of the 1970s kung-fu character, which ran for 12 issues. In March of the following year, he returned briefly to Nightwing before shifting his efforts to the Wildstorm imprint, writing the stand-alone Claw the Unconquered (Aug 2006 – Jan 2007); the movie-adaptation of Snakes on a Plane, the movie-spin-off Nightmare on Elm Street,Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 327: "Chuck Dixon's script and Kevin J. West's pencils helped to create a suitably nightmarish start for Freddy's latest incarnation." and the Wildstorm Universe title Grifter/Midnighter from May 2007.
In January 2007, he wrote the Connor Hawke: Dragon's Blood mini-series featuring Green Arrow's son Connor Hawke,Wizard #177 and in March 2008, Dixon returned to writing Robin. He wrote Batman and the Outsiders, a project he was signed to at the last minute, after original writer Tony Bedard dropped out due to being occupied with Final Crisis-related work. On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity." He nonetheless did occasional work for DC after this, including 2017's Bane: Conquest limited series, and a special issue for Robin's 80th anniversary.
After DC It was announced in August 2008 that he would write Dynamite Entertainment's series The Man with No Name based on the Western character. He wrote a G.I. Joe series for IDW Publishing. In March 2009 Moonstone Books published a new Airboy one-shot written by Dixon entitled Airboy 1942: The Best of Enemies. In 2011, Dixon says he was offered a chance to do a rewrite on The Expendables 2 screenplay by Sylvester Stallone, but declined.
2010s In the late 2010s, he went to work for Vox Day's Arkhaven Comics, writing for their Alt-Hero Universe on titles such as Alt-Hero: Q and Chuck Dixon's Avalon.
In 2017 and 2018, Dixon wrote Zenescope's Van Helsing vs. The Werewolf and Robyn Hood: The Curse.
2020s In 2021, he started the Levon Cade series from Rough Edges Press. In 2023, it was announced that he would write the first issue of Alphacore from Rippaverse Comics, with Joe Bennett as the artist.In 2024, Chuck expanded into Rippaverse Comics by writing The Horseman: Welcome To Florespark" with Joe Bennett as the artist for this as well. In 2025, Chuck Dixon will be writing several issues for Rippaverse Comics including Alphacore #2, The Great War of Separation limited series, Zalen: What Kills, Must Die, and The Horseman #1.
Awards Chuck Dixon received an Inkpot Award in 2014.
Bibliography
Across the Pond Studios Iron Ghost #1–6 (2007)
Antarctic Press Airboy: Deadeye #1–5 (2012) with Gianluca Piredda and Ben Dunn
Apple Comics Timejump War #1–3 (1989)
Archie Comics Archie #640, 663 (2013–2015)
Arkhaven Comics Alt*Hero: Q #1–2 Chuck Dixon's Avalon #1–6
Bongo Comics Simpsons Comics #42, 50, 65, 77, 92, 96, 99, 108, 115–116, 125, 131–133, 137, 140, 142–145, 147, 151, 153, 158–159, 164, 169, 173, 176–177, 181, 192, 195, 199, 205 (1999–2013) Simpsons Comics Presents Bart Simpson #8, 25, 34, 41 (2002–2008) The Simpsons Winter Wingding #2, 4 (2007–2009) Treehouse of Horror #4 (1998)
Comico Evangeline #1–2 (1984)
CrossGen Comics Archard's Agents #1–3 (2003–2004) Brath #1–14 (2003–2004) Crux #13–33 (2002–2004) El Cazador #1–6 (2003–2004) Sigil #21–42 (2002–2003) The Silken Ghost #1–5 (2003) Sojourn #34 (2004) Way of the Rat #1–24 (2002–2004)
Dabel Brothers Productions Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son #1–5 (2008) Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time: Dragonmount #0 (2009) Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time: Eye of the World #1 (2009) Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time: New Spring #1–7 (2005–2009)
Dark Horse Comics Alien: Pig (1997) Dark Horse Comics #10–12 (1993) Star Wars: General Grievous #1–4 (2005) Superman/Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle #1–3 (2001–2002)
DC Comics Action Comics #771 (2000) Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant #1 (1998) Bane: Conquest #1–12 (2017–2018) Batgirl #12, 20, 30–32 (2001–2002) Batgirl: Year One #1–9 (2003) Batman #467–469, 560–562, 571, Annual #23 (1991–1999) Batman and The Outsiders vol. 2, #1–10 (2007–2008) Batman: Bane (1997) Batman: Bane of the Demon #1–4 (1998) Batman Black and White #2 (1996) Batman: Blackgate (1997) Batman: Bullock's Law (1999) The Batman Chronicles #1–4, 9, 11–12 (1995–2000) Batman 80-Page Giant #1, 3 (1998–2000) Batman: GCPD #1–4 (1996) Batman: Gordon's Law #1–4 (1996–1997) Batman: Gotham Adventures #29 (2000) Batman: Gotham City Secret Files #1 (2000) Batman: Gotham Knights #19 (2001) Batman: Huntress & Spoiler (1998) Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #55–57, 62, 124, 142–145, Annual #5 (1993–2001) Batman: No Man's Land Secret Files #1 (1999) Batman Secret Files #1 (1997) Batman-Spawn: War Devil #1 (1994) Batman: The Ankh #1–2 (2001) Batman: The Chalice #1 (1999) Batman: Turning Points #4 (2001) Batman: Vengeance of Bane Special #1-2 (1993-1995) Batman Villains Secret Files #1 (1998) Batman/Wildcat #1–3 (1997) Birds of Prey #1–46 (1999–2002) Birds of Prey: Batgirl (1998) Birds of Prey: Black Canary/Oracle (1996) Birds of Prey: Manhunt (1996) Birds of Prey: Revolution (1997) Birds of Prey: The Ravens (1998)