In the early 1980s, DC Comics found itself in the enviable position of having landed two legends of Marvel Comics— Roy Thomas, who had succeeded Stan Lee as writer and editor, and artist Gene Colan, renowned for his work on Daredevil and Tomb of Dracula. With two creators gifted at telling dynamic superhero stories, DC seized the opportunity and paired them on Wonder Woman, hoping to breathe new life into one of its flagship characters. DC’s “sensational new” incarnation first appeared in a 16-page insert in DC Comics Presents #41, then moved to Wonder Woman with issue #288. DC’s original intentions were good, but it did not ultimately work out as planned. Colan remained on the book for a total of 18 issues, but Thomas departed after only nine, returning briefly to pen issue #300. Their collaboration on Wonder Woman was well received by most fans, but both artist and writer had misgivings, as revealed in this interview. – Dewey Cassell DEWEY CASSELL: How did working for DC compare to working for Marvel? GENE COLAN: I always wanted to work for Marvel. I never did too well up at DC. Marvel was a little better company to work for financially. They didn’t let you do everything you wanted to do, but they were more openminded as to what you wanted to do with a story and pretty much let you alone. At DC, they wanted you to be more of a generalist. I didn’t like it there, but in this business it’s like a revolving door, you move from one place to another and catch the work wherever you can. ROY THOMAS: I had left Marvel because Jim Shooter had lied to me and therefore I wouldn’t work under him, so I took a contract with DC. I enjoyed it for the first couple of years or so. I had told them I didn’t want to do Superman and Batman—so naturally some of my first assignments were doing stories with Superman and Batman. Then, they offered me Wonder Woman, and I thought to myself, “This is better! Not only is she an old JSAer and Justice Leaguer, but all her adventures appear in just the one comic.” As for working at DC, the main thing for me was that, at Marvel, I had edited my own books, so I wasn’t technically subject to anybody except Stan. But suddenly [I was] under this DC editor for that, and that editor for this. I got along with them all and didn’t have a lot of problems. It was just a different environment. I know when Gene was doing Wonder Woman, they decided to put that new “W” symbol on her. Do you remember that, Gene? You were drawing her with the eagle and they came up with that W. I think you
Bustin’ Loose Wonder Woman #288 (Feb. 1982) trumpeted the debut of Roy Thomas and Gene Colan as the Amazon Princess’ new creative team. Cover inked by Dick Giordano. TM & © DC Entertainment.
26 • BACK ISSUE • Red, White, and Blue Issue
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