Bob Rozakis
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Rozakis is a comic book
writer and editor
known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics
, as the writer of 'Mazing Man
and in his capacity as DC's "Answer Man".
promotional page in many late-1970s comics. He has also had an online presence in that capacity since the mid-1990s.
Rozakis got his start in the comics industry through his many letters to comic book letter column
s. Among his earliest credits is that of editor (both managing and contributing) on DC Comics
"Pro-zine
" ("Professional fanzine") The Amazing World of DC Comics between 1974
and 1978
. In addition to editing, Rozakis wrote for the bi-monthly publication and also oversaw the letters page.
#445 (March 1975
), as writer of the back-up feature "The Touchdown Trap", with back-up stories in Action Comics
, The Flash and Batman Family
(among others) soon following. He was assistant editor for Julius Schwartz
on the landmark issue Superman
#300, and also served editorially on issues of Action Comics and Detective Comics
. His writing credits consist largely of back-up features and, in particular, dozens of "Action Comics Featuring:..." (Air-Wave, Hero Hotline
, Aquaman
, etc.), between #461 and #640. Additionally, Rozakis wrote the 1985 four-issue miniseries Superman: The Secret Years (with art by Curt Swan
and Kurt Schaffenberger
), and the comics adaptations of such diverse movies as Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
(1987), Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
(1989) and Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer
(1985). Rozakis was also the writer of the syndicated comic strip
The Superman Sunday Special for two years.
Arguably, his most well-known writing came in the twelve-issue 1986 series 'Mazing Man
, featuring the misadventures of self-declared homemade hero Sigfried Horatio Hunch III, which Rozakis co-created with artist Stephen DeStefano. The two returned to the character for three specials and for June 1987's Secret Origins
#16, to tell "The Closest Thing To A Secret Origin of 'Mazing Man You Will Ever Get". Rozakis also co-created the series Hero Hotline
with DeStefano, on which Rozakis also provided the coloring, a job he also undertook on the "Action Comics Featuring: Hero Hotline" back-up features.
Among his other creations are Mister E
, the Bumblebee
and Duela Dent
(of the Teen Titans, created during his run on the Teen Titans title in the late 1970s), and The Calculator (a character who later played a major role in DC's Infinite Crisis
event). His credits during his 25-year career with DC total "almost four hundred stories" featuring most DC characters, "plus dozens of features, puzzles, and activities pages".
Rozakis' comic book work in 1998-2000 was a variety of custom publications including the "Celebrate the Century" comic books for the United States Postal Service
, as well as publications for Con Edison
, the San Francisco Giants
and the United Nations
Land Mine Awareness program. In 2008, he began writing a series of "alternate reality" articles titled "The Secret History of All-American Comics Inc." for Alter Ego and Back Issue magazines.
In 2003, Rozakis announced his retirement from the comic book industry.
PhD, a professor of English, grammar-expert and "author of more than 100 books", and Rozakis' co-writer on Detective Comics #464 (Oct, 1976). The two have collaborated on The Complete Idiot's Guide to Office Politics (Alpha Books, 1998) (ISBN 0028623975). They have two children: son Charles "Chuck" (who wrote his Princeton University
thesis on the business viability of webcomics), and daughter Samantha "Sammi". In 1974, Laurie and Bob drove the DC Comic-mobile, a van that served as a lending library for comic books.
Rozakis has also taught creative writing
courses for the Farmingdale, New York
Youth Council and CTY, a Johns Hopkins University
summer program for gifted students.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
writer and editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, as the writer of 'Mazing Man
'Mazing Man
Mazing Man is the title character of a comic book series created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano and published by DC Comics. The series ran for twelve issues in 1986, with additional special issues in 1987, 1988, and 1990...
and in his capacity as DC's "Answer Man".
Biography
Rozakis is well known as DC's Answer Man, answering trivia questions from readers in the Daily PlanetDaily Planet (DC Comics house advertisement)
Daily Planet was a promotional page appearing in DC Comics publications from 1976–1981. The Daily Planet contained previews of upcoming stories, as well as recurring features like "The Answer Man", where DC writer/editor Bob Rozakis would answer questions sent in by readers, and a comic strip by...
promotional page in many late-1970s comics. He has also had an online presence in that capacity since the mid-1990s.
Rozakis got his start in the comics industry through his many letters to comic book letter column
Comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
s. Among his earliest credits is that of editor (both managing and contributing) on DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
"Pro-zine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
" ("Professional fanzine") The Amazing World of DC Comics between 1974
1974 in comics
This is a list of comics-related events in 1974.-Year overall:* From May to September, Marvel debuts their Giant-Size series, mostly double- or triple-length comics featuring their most popular characters...
and 1978
1978 in comics
This is a list of comics-related events in 1978.- Year overall :* DC suffers the DC Implosion, the abrupt cancellation of more than two dozen ongoing and planned titles, with the vast majority of the books leaving uncompleted storylines .* Archie Goodwin resigns as Marvel Comics editor-in-chief,...
. In addition to editing, Rozakis wrote for the bi-monthly publication and also oversaw the letters page.
Comics credits
His first comics credit was in Detective ComicsDetective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#445 (March 1975
1975 in comics
This is a list of comics-related events in 1975.- Year overall :* Following up their various Giant-Size series from 1974, Marvel publishes a number of one-shot Giant-Size annuals featuring reprints of "classic" Captain America, Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Invaders, Iron Man,...
), as writer of the back-up feature "The Touchdown Trap", with back-up stories in Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
, The Flash and Batman Family
Batman Family
The Batman Family was a DC Comics comic book series which ran from 1975 to 1978, primarily featuring stories starring supporting characters in the Batman comics...
(among others) soon following. He was assistant editor for Julius Schwartz
Julius Schwartz
Julius "Julie" Schwartz was a comic book and pulp magazine editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. He was born in the Bronx, New York...
on the landmark issue Superman
Superman (comic book)
Superman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938...
#300, and also served editorially on issues of Action Comics and Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
. His writing credits consist largely of back-up features and, in particular, dozens of "Action Comics Featuring:..." (Air-Wave, Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline is a fictional DC Comics corporate superteam introduced in Action Comics Weekly #637, January . They were created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano.-History:...
, Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, etc.), between #461 and #640. Additionally, Rozakis wrote the 1985 four-issue miniseries Superman: The Secret Years (with art by Curt Swan
Curt Swan
Douglas Curtis Swan was an American comic book artist. The artist most associated with Superman during the period fans and historians call the Silver Age of comic books, Swan produced hundreds of covers and stories from the 1950s through the 1980s.-Early life and career:Curt Swan, whose Swedish...
and Kurt Schaffenberger
Kurt Schaffenberger
Kurt Schaffenberger was an American comic book artist. Schaffenberger was best known for his work on Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family , as well as his work on the title Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane during the 1950s and 1960s.-Early career:Schaffenberger was born on a farm in the...
), and the comics adaptations of such diverse movies as Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is a 1987 superhero film directed by Sidney J. Furie. It is the fourth film in the Superman film series and the last installment to star Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. It is the first film in the series not to be produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, but...
(1987), Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction–comedy buddy film and the first film in the Bill & Ted franchise in which two metalhead slackers travel through time to assemble a menagerie of historical figures for their high school history presentation.The film was written by...
(1989) and Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer
Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer
Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer is an animated film released on November 15, 1985 by Warner Bros., and produced by DiC Entertainment and Hallmark Cards...
(1985). Rozakis was also the writer of the syndicated comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
The Superman Sunday Special for two years.
Arguably, his most well-known writing came in the twelve-issue 1986 series 'Mazing Man
'Mazing Man
Mazing Man is the title character of a comic book series created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano and published by DC Comics. The series ran for twelve issues in 1986, with additional special issues in 1987, 1988, and 1990...
, featuring the misadventures of self-declared homemade hero Sigfried Horatio Hunch III, which Rozakis co-created with artist Stephen DeStefano. The two returned to the character for three specials and for June 1987's Secret Origins
Secret Origins
Secret Origins is the title of three American comic book series published by DC Comics.The title began in 1961 and for one issue, all reprints. The title Secret Origins of Super Heroes went onto a second series, also reprints, which ran for seven issues from 1973-1974...
#16, to tell "The Closest Thing To A Secret Origin of 'Mazing Man You Will Ever Get". Rozakis also co-created the series Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline is a fictional DC Comics corporate superteam introduced in Action Comics Weekly #637, January . They were created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano.-History:...
with DeStefano, on which Rozakis also provided the coloring, a job he also undertook on the "Action Comics Featuring: Hero Hotline" back-up features.
Among his other creations are Mister E
Mister E
Mister E is a fictional character that appears mainly in the Vertigo Comics universe, though he sometimes appears in the DC Comics universe. Created by Bob Rozakis and Jack C. Harris, the character first appeared in Secrets of Haunted House and was a recurring character for ten issues...
, the Bumblebee
Bumblebee (comics)
Bumblebee is a fictional character, existing in DC Comics' main shared universe. She is a former member of the Teen Titans and a current member of the Doom Patrol...
and Duela Dent
Duela Dent
Duela Dent is a fictional character in the DC Universe. She is a former member of both the Teen Titans and Titans East. Introduced under the alias of Joker's Daughter, she has also used the aliases "Catgirl", "Scarecrone", "Riddler's Daughter", "Penguin's Daughter", "Card Queen", and...
(of the Teen Titans, created during his run on the Teen Titans title in the late 1970s), and The Calculator (a character who later played a major role in DC's Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
event). His credits during his 25-year career with DC total "almost four hundred stories" featuring most DC characters, "plus dozens of features, puzzles, and activities pages".
Rozakis' comic book work in 1998-2000 was a variety of custom publications including the "Celebrate the Century" comic books for the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, as well as publications for Con Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
, the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Land Mine Awareness program. In 2008, he began writing a series of "alternate reality" articles titled "The Secret History of All-American Comics Inc." for Alter Ego and Back Issue magazines.
Behind the scenes
Between 1981 and 1998, Rozakis ran DC Comics' production department, and as Executive Director of Production he was instrumental in the development of offset-printed comic books in a wide variety of formats. He was also the leading proponent of "computerized color separations and typesetting, electronic page preparation, and computer-to-plate printing", and as a result of his efforts on DC's behalf, the look of comic books across the entire industry changed, DC won "over one hundred awards for printing excellence", and Rozakis himself was profiled in Publishing & Production Executive on two separate occasions.In 2003, Rozakis announced his retirement from the comic book industry.
Personal life
Rozakis is married to prolific author Dr. Laurie E. RozakisLaurie Rozakis
Dr. Laurie Rozakis is a writer of the "Complete Idiots" books and an expert on writing, grammar, usage, and test preparation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Hofstra University in 1973; her Master of Arts from Hofstra in 1975; and her PhD from the State University of New York in 1984.-Career...
PhD, a professor of English, grammar-expert and "author of more than 100 books", and Rozakis' co-writer on Detective Comics #464 (Oct, 1976). The two have collaborated on The Complete Idiot's Guide to Office Politics (Alpha Books, 1998) (ISBN 0028623975). They have two children: son Charles "Chuck" (who wrote his Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
thesis on the business viability of webcomics), and daughter Samantha "Sammi". In 1974, Laurie and Bob drove the DC Comic-mobile, a van that served as a lending library for comic books.
Rozakis has also taught creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
courses for the Farmingdale, New York
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
Youth Council and CTY, a Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
summer program for gifted students.