Steve Gerber (1947-2008) is among the most significant comics writers of
the modern era. Best known for his magnum opus Howard the Duck, he also
wrote influential series such as Man-Thing, Omega the Unknown, The
Phantom Zone, and Hard Time, expressing a combination of intelligence
and empathy rare in American comics.
Gerber rose to prominence during the 1970s. His work for Marvel Comics
during that era helped revitalize several increasingly clichéd generic
conventions of superhero, horror, and funny animal comics by inserting
satire, psychological complexity, and existential absurdism. Gerber's
scripts were also often socially conscious, confronting, among other
things, capitalism, environmentalism, political corruption, and
censorship. His critique also extended into the personal sphere,
addressing such taboo topics as domestic violence, racism, inequality,
and poverty.
This volume follows Gerber's career through a range of interviews,
beginning with his height during the 1970s and ending with an interview
with Michael Eury just before Gerber's death in 2008. Among the pieces
featured is a 1976 interview with Mark Lerer, originally published in
the low-circulation fanzine Pittsburgh Fan Forum, where Gerber looks
back on his work for Marvel during the early to mid-1970s, his most
prolific period. This volume concludes with selections from Gerber's
dialogue with his readers and admirers in online forums and a
Gerber-based Yahoo Group, wherein he candidly discusses his many
projects over the years.
Gerber's unique voice in comics has established his legacy. Indeed, his
contribution earned him a posthumous induction into the Will Eisner
Comic Book Hall of Fame.
