Jen Van Meter
Encyclopedia
Jennifer "Jen" Van Meter is an American
comic book writer best known for her Oni Press
series Hopeless Savages
as well as for series at Marvel
and DC Comics
. Her most recent work for Marvel features Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat
. Jen is married to fellow comic book writer Greg Rucka
.
, and graduated from Vassar College
with an Bachelor of Arts
in English, and followed that with a Master of Arts
in Folklore Studies & Literature from the University of Oregon
. Jen diverged from the Ph.D. track and began pursuing a career in comics, her first published work was a story in the 1998 Dark Horse Presents
annual that saw the first appearance of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
in comic book form.
Jen's first major writing gig in comics was the Oni one-shot set in the world and sharing the name of The Blair Witch Project
, along with the follow-up series The Blair Witch Chronicles. Her work with Oni led to the creation of Hopeless Savages
, featuring members of the Hopeless-Savage family, parents hailing from the 70s era of punk
and their offspring, who have carved out their own cultural identities. The first four-issue series was nominated for an Eisner Award for best limited series in 2002, a Friends of Lulu Award in 2003, and was chosen as a 2004 Popular Paperback for Young Adults by the American Library Association
. The original mini-series was followed by two more four-issue minis, Hopeless Savages: Ground Zero and Too Much Hopeless Savages.
Jen's work at Oni led to other series at DC, including the mini-series Cinnamon: El Ciclo
and Black Lightning: Year One
, and at Marvel, where she recently wrote a mini-series featuring Black Cat
. In addition to her Marvel work, Jen wrote the ten-part Liberty Belle
& Hourman back-up series that ran in JSA All-Stars until October 2010.
Jen lives in Oregon
with her husband and two children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book writer best known for her Oni Press
Oni Press
Oni Press is an American independent comic book publisher based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1997 by Bob Schreck and Joe Nozemack with the goal of publishing the kinds of comics and graphic novels they themselves would want to read...
series Hopeless Savages
Hopeless Savages
Hopeless Savages is a series by Oni Press written by Jen Van Meter. Thus far there have been three 4-issue miniseries and a one-shot, all written by van Meter but each illustrated by a different set of artists, including Christine Norrie, Chynna Clugston, Andi Watson, Bryan Lee O'Malley, and Vera...
as well as for series at Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and 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...
. Her most recent work for Marvel features Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat
Black Cat (comics)
The Black Cat is a fictional character, a superheroine in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 ....
. Jen is married to fellow comic book writer Greg Rucka
Greg Rucka
Gregory "Greg" Rucka is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.-Career:Rucka's writing career...
.
Biography
Jen was born and raised in Fresno, CaliforniaFresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, and graduated from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
with an Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English, and followed that with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Folklore Studies & Literature from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. Jen diverged from the Ph.D. track and began pursuing a career in comics, her first published work was a story in the 1998 Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents was the first comic book published by Dark Horse Comics in 1986 and was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, running from July 2007 until August 2010...
annual that saw the first appearance of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy Summers
Buffy Summers is a fictional character from Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise. She first appeared in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer before going on to appear in the television series and subsequent comic book of the same name...
in comic book form.
Jen's first major writing gig in comics was the Oni one-shot set in the world and sharing the name of The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur footage. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur...
, along with the follow-up series The Blair Witch Chronicles. Her work with Oni led to the creation of Hopeless Savages
Hopeless Savages
Hopeless Savages is a series by Oni Press written by Jen Van Meter. Thus far there have been three 4-issue miniseries and a one-shot, all written by van Meter but each illustrated by a different set of artists, including Christine Norrie, Chynna Clugston, Andi Watson, Bryan Lee O'Malley, and Vera...
, featuring members of the Hopeless-Savage family, parents hailing from the 70s era of punk
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
and their offspring, who have carved out their own cultural identities. The first four-issue series was nominated for an Eisner Award for best limited series in 2002, a Friends of Lulu Award in 2003, and was chosen as a 2004 Popular Paperback for Young Adults by the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
. The original mini-series was followed by two more four-issue minis, Hopeless Savages: Ground Zero and Too Much Hopeless Savages.
Jen's work at Oni led to other series at DC, including the mini-series Cinnamon: El Ciclo
Cinnamon (comics)
Cinnamon is the name of two Western characters in DC Comics, one inhabiting the wild west, the other living in the modern era. The character first appeared in Weird Western Tales #48...
and Black Lightning: Year One
Black Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
, and at Marvel, where she recently wrote a mini-series featuring Black Cat
Black Cat (comics)
The Black Cat is a fictional character, a superheroine in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 ....
. In addition to her Marvel work, Jen wrote the ten-part Liberty Belle
Jesse Chambers
Jesse Chambers is a fictional comic book character in the . Chambers, who first used the superhero name Jesse Quick and later Liberty Belle, is the daughter of Golden Age heroes Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle...
& Hourman back-up series that ran in JSA All-Stars until October 2010.
Jen lives in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
with her husband and two children.