Ed Herron (b. 1917)

Born: 1917 July 23 in Virginia, United States

Died: 1966 September 2 in New York, New York, United States

Biography: Herron got his start in comics while still a teenager, with the Chesler studio in 1937, writing and editing for such Centaur titles as Star Comics and Star Ranger Funnies. In 1939, he joined Fox Features Syndicate, where he first met Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. In 1940–1941, Simon and Kirby hired Herron to write stories for their new creation Captain America. Herron and artist Kirby co-created the Red Skull in Captain America Comics #7 (October 1941).

Beginning in 1940 and continuing throughout the decade, Herron wrote various features for Quality. From 1942–1944, he wrote the Captain Midnight strip for the Chicago Sun Syndicate.

Herron joined Fawcett in 1940, eventually becoming the company's executive editor by 1942. With artist Mac Raboy, he created Captain Marvel Jr. in Whiz Comics #25 (December 1941), and with Jack Kirby he created Mr. Scarlet in Wow Comics #1 (Winter 1940-1941) and Pinky the Whiz Kid in Wow Comics #4 (Spring 1942). During this period, Herron wrote for such Fawcett titles as Captain Marvel Adventures and Captain Marvel Jr.

Herron joined the U.S. Army in 1942, where he wrote for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes during his tour of duty. While at Stars and Stripes, he met artist Curt Swan. According to Swan, it was Herron who first directed him to DC.

Herron began writing for DC in 1945, initially on Green Arrow stories in Adventure Comics and World's Finest Comics. He was Green Arrow's lead writer throughout the 1950s, staying with the character until 1963. Other superhero titles he worked on included Superman, for which he wrote many stories throughout the 1950s, and Challengers of the Unknown, for which he was the lead writer from 1959 until 1966. He wrote a number of Batman and Robin stories for Detective Comics and Batman in the mid-1950s and mid-1960s. He was one of the lead writers on Batman during the overhaul of the character and the introduction of his "New Look". Throughout the 1950s and the 1960s, he partnered with artist Fred Ray as the creative team on DC's Tomahawk and the Tomahawk stories which appeared in World's Finest Comics during this period. In the mid-1950s, Herron wrote the features Pow Wow Smith and Nighthawk for DC's Western Comics; he continued to write occasional stories for the title until 1961. He wrote mystery comics titles including House of Mystery, Mystery in Space, Strange Adventures, and Tales of the Unexpected. From 1953–1959, he wrote many stories for such DC war comics as All-American Men of War, Our Army at War, Our Fighting Forces, and Star Spangled War Stories; returning to such work in 1963–1964.

With artist Dick Sprang, Herron co-created Firefly in Detective Comics #184 (June 1952) and the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh in Batman #113 (August 1958). With artist Lee Elias, he co-created the Clock King in World's Finest Comics #111 (August 1960). With artist Bruno Premiani, he co-created Cave Carson in The Brave and the Bold #31 (August 1960).

In 1966 Herron moved to Harvey, hired by his old associate Joe Simon. During that year, Herron was the lead writer for the publisher's short-lived Harvey Thriller superhero line, working on characters such as Dynamite Joe, Glowing Gladiator, Jack Q. Frost, and Lone Tiger, in the titles Robot Parade and Spyman.

In addition to his work in the comic book field, Herron wrote syndicated newspaper comic strips for Columbia Features. Beginning in 1955, he wrote the daily strips Davy Crockett, Frontiersman and Nero Wolfe--staying on the Davy Crocket strip until 1959, when he became the writer of the Bat Masterson and Rip Tide strips, which he wrote until his death in 1966.

Notes: To be confirmed against the Who's Who entry.

• Issue Checklist (via credit search for name "Ed Herron")
• Issue Checklist (via linked credit records)
• Issue Overview (via linked credit records)
• List of to be migrated issues (via credit search for name "Ed Herron")
• Issue Edit List (via linked credit records)
• Cover List (via linked credit records)
• Series List (via linked credit records)
• Characters List (via linked credit records)
• Features List (via linked credit records)
• Sequences List (via linked credit records)
• Story Credits in the GCD (via search for "Ed Herron")
• Co-Creators List (via linked credit records)
• Who's Who of American Comic Books