Martin Pasko
Encyclopedia
Martin Pasko is a writer and editor in a diverse array of media, including comic books and television
.
Pasko has worked for many comics publishers, but is best known for his work with DC Comics
over three decades. He has written Superman
in many media, including television animation
, webisode
s, and a syndicated newspaper strip for Tribune Media, as well as comics. He also co-created the 1975 revamp of Doctor Fate
.
s and co-published a fanzine, Fantazine, with Alan Brennert
, now a highly-respected novelist. After attending Northwestern University
and, later, New York University
, Pasko settled in New York.
's Creepy
#51 (March 1973).
, beginning his long association with Superman
in 1973. Pasko was nicknamed "Pesky Pasko" by long-time editor Julius Schwartz
, for whom Pasko wrote for many years. In addition to writing backup stories and occasional features in Action Comics
during this period, Pasko was the featured Superman
writer from 1977–1979. From 1979–1982, Pasko contributed stories to the Superman Family
anthology title. In addition, between 1977 and 1979, Pasko scripted the syndicated newspaper comic strip The World's Greatest Superheroes
which initially starred Superman, Batman
, Robin
, Wonder Woman
, and The Flash, but gradually changed its focus to primarily feature Superman.
story in 1st Issue Special #9 (December 1975), written by Pasko and drawn by Walt Simonson
, led to an important development in the life of the character. With this story, Pasko added the concept that the spirit of Nabu
resided in Doctor Fate's helmet and took control of Fate's alter-ego Kent Nelson
whenever the helmet was donned. In 1981 Roy Thomas
incorporated this into his series All-Star Squadron
, as an explanation of the changes in Fate's helmet and powers. In 1982, this led to DC featuring Kent and his wife Inza in a series of back-up stories, written by Pasko, in The Flash
. DC later collected the back-up stories, as well as the story from 1st Issue Special #9 into a three-issue limited series titled The Immortal Dr. Fate.
from 1975–1977, featuring a major story arc documenting the heroine's attempt to gain readmission to the Justice League of America
. Wonder Woman had quit the organization after renouncing her powers.
Pasko also wrote a number of issues of Justice League of America between 1974 and 1977; he was the regular writer of Metal Men
in 1976–1977, and wrote all seven published issues of Kobra
— whose eponymous character he co-created — in 1976–1977. The story intended to be issue #8 appears as the Batman
story in DC Special Series
#1. In addition, Pasko wrote a number of issues of Adventure Comics
between 1976 and 1980.
, Pasko was the regular scripter of that company's Star Trek comic book in 1980–1981. He was also a writer of the Star Trek comic strip from late 1982 through early 1983. In 1988, Pasko also wrote an issue of the DC Star Trek comic book.
version of Joe Staton
's E-Man
. In 1982, Pasko helped revive Swamp Thing
, in a new title called Saga of the Swamp Thing. Pasko left Swamp Thing in 1984, succeeded by Alan Moore
, who took the title and the character in a different direction.
In 1988–1989 Pasko was a regular contributor to Action Comics
during its stint as a weekly anthology, where he developed a new version of The Secret Six
. Pasko was also the writer of the Blackhawk
series in Action Comics Weekly in 1988, based on the Howard Chaykin
retcon
, and the subsequent monthly title (1989–1990).
line; and various special projects such as the writing of stage and stunt shows for the Six Flags
amusement park chain, and the writing and production of various webisodes for Warner Bros. Online. He also managed the three-person Internal Development Group. In this capacity, he co-created and edited the horror satire Gross Point, which ran in 1997-98.
During his decade on staff at DC, Pasko wrote issues of Impulse
, one of two stories in the Green Lantern
issue of the 2004 Julius Schwartz
tribute series DC Comics Presents
, and the comics adaptation of the film Superman Returns
. Until 2005, he was DC's liaison to Warner Bros. Studios, vetting scripts for WBA animated programming and the live-action series Smallville
and Birds of Prey
, as well as facilitating studio research by supplying comics and consulting on issues related to DC continuity. In this capacity, he suggested the comic book story "The Man Who Falls," by Denny O'Neil and Dick Giordano
that became the structural basis for the franchise-rebooting Batman Begins
feature.
, Fantasy Island
, The Twilight Zone (the mid-'80s CBS revival), Max Headroom
, Simon & Simon
, and Roseanne
. Pasko's main interest in television was hour-long action-adventure or fantasy programming. After 1988, however, the economics of the television business motivated programmers to concentrate on half-hour sitcoms, and Pasko shifted gears, working with his then-writing partner on three sitcoms before returning to animated programming.
with Steve Gerber
and Jack Kirby
. Pasko later became one of several Thundarr the Barbarian screenwriters also known for their work in comics, such as Roy Thomas
and Gerry Conway
, to contribute to the show. Pasko's many other TV writing credits comprise animated series like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
, Exosquad
, Teen Wolf, Berenstain Bears
, G.I. Joe
and My Little Pony
.
For Thundarr the Barbarian, Pasko came up with the name of Ookla the Mok. In 1980, Gerber and Pasko were having dinner in the Westwood
area one night during the period Gerber was writing the "bible" for the series. Gerber commented to Pasko that he had not yet decided upon a name for the Wookiee
-like character the network had insisted be added to the series. As the two walked past the gate to the UCLA
campus, Pasko quipped, "Why don't you name him 'UCLA'?" After writing several scripts, singly and in collaboration with Gerber, Pasko became a story editor on the second season.
After leaving the sitcom world, Pasko wrote for such series as Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars
, The Tick, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
, and The Legend of Prince Valiant
, until accepting a job at Disney Consumer Products' startup comic book division, Disney Comics
, developing a line of superhero titles and writing the Roger Rabbit comics series. This activity lasted nine months until, in a corporate reorganization, Disney decided to stop publishing comics altogether. The day before he was let go by Disney, Pasko finalized a deal to join Warner Bros. Animation's Batman: The Animated Series
as a writer/story editor. For his work on this series, Pasko won a 1993 Daytime Emmy Award
. He is also a co-writer of the animated feature Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
.
, Abandon Interactive Entertainment's massively multiplayer online game
; co-writing The Essential Superman Encyclopedia with Robert Greenberger
; writing the children's book Superman: Prankster of Prime Time; and acting as researcher, consultant, and supplemental copywriter on 75 Years of DC Comics.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
Pasko has worked for many comics publishers, but is best known for his work with 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...
over three decades. He has written Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
in many media, including television animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
, webisode
Webisode
A webisode is a short episode which airs initially as Internet television, either download or stream as opposed to first airing on broadcast or cable television. The format can be used as a preview, a promotion, as part of a collection of shorts, or a commercial.A webisode can be an episode...
s, and a syndicated newspaper strip for Tribune Media, as well as comics. He also co-created the 1975 revamp of Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
.
Early life and career
As a teenager, Pasko was a regular contributor to comic book letter columnComic 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 and co-published a fanzine, Fantazine, with Alan Brennert
Alan Brennert
Alan Brennert is a United States television producer and screenwriter.Brennert has lived in Southern California since 1973 and completed graduate work in screenwriting at the University of California Los Angeles....
, now a highly-respected novelist. After attending Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and, later, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Pasko settled in New York.
Comics
Pasko's first published comics writing credit was for Warren PublishingWarren Publishing
Warren Publishing was an American magazine company founded by James Warren, who published his first magazines in 1957 and continued in the business for decades...
's Creepy
Creepy
Creepy was an American horror-comics magazine launched by Warren Publishing in 1964. Like Mad, it was a black-and-white newsstand publication in a magazine format and thus did not require the approval or seal of the Comics Code Authority. The anthology magazine was initially published quarterly but...
#51 (March 1973).
Superman
Pasko soon started working for DC ComicsDC 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...
, beginning his long association with Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
in 1973. Pasko was nicknamed "Pesky Pasko" by long-time editor 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...
, for whom Pasko wrote for many years. In addition to writing backup stories and occasional features 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...
during this period, Pasko was the featured 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...
writer from 1977–1979. From 1979–1982, Pasko contributed stories to the Superman Family
Superman Family
Superman Family was a DC Comics comic book series which ran from 1974 to 1982 featuring stories starring supporting characters in the Superman comics...
anthology title. In addition, between 1977 and 1979, Pasko scripted the syndicated newspaper comic strip The World's Greatest Superheroes
The World's Greatest Superheroes
The World's Greatest Superheroes was a syndicated newspaper comic strip featuring DC Comics characters which ran Sunday and daily from April 9, 1978 to February 10, 1985...
which initially starred Superman, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, and The Flash, but gradually changed its focus to primarily feature Superman.
Doctor Fate
A solo Doctor FateDoctor Fate
Doctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
story in 1st Issue Special #9 (December 1975), written by Pasko and drawn by Walt Simonson
Walt Simonson
Walter "Walt" Simonson is an American comic book writer and artist. After studying geology at Amherst College, he transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1972. His thesis project there was The Star Slammers, which was published as a black and white promotional comic book...
, led to an important development in the life of the character. With this story, Pasko added the concept that the spirit of Nabu
Nabu
Nabu is the Assyrian and Babylonian god of wisdom and writing, worshipped by Babylonians as the son of Marduk and his consort, Sarpanitum, and as the grandson of Ea. Nabu's consort was Tashmetum....
resided in Doctor Fate's helmet and took control of Fate's alter-ego Kent Nelson
Kent Nelson
Kent Nelson is a contemporary American author specializing in fiction and poetry. He holds a Juris Doctor in Environmental Law from the Harvard Law School....
whenever the helmet was donned. In 1981 Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
incorporated this into his series All-Star Squadron
All-Star Squadron
The All-Star Squadron is a DC Comics superhero team that debuted in a special insert in Justice League of America #193 . Created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway.-The concept:...
, as an explanation of the changes in Fate's helmet and powers. In 1982, this led to DC featuring Kent and his wife Inza in a series of back-up stories, written by Pasko, in The Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
. DC later collected the back-up stories, as well as the story from 1st Issue Special #9 into a three-issue limited series titled The Immortal Dr. Fate.
DC writer
Other titles Pasko wrote for included Wonder WomanWonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
from 1975–1977, featuring a major story arc documenting the heroine's attempt to gain readmission to the Justice League of America
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
. Wonder Woman had quit the organization after renouncing her powers.
Pasko also wrote a number of issues of Justice League of America between 1974 and 1977; he was the regular writer of Metal Men
Metal Men
The Metal Men are fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The characters first appeared in Showcase #37 and were created by writer Robert Kanigher and penciller Ross Andru...
in 1976–1977, and wrote all seven published issues of Kobra
Kobra (comics)
Kobra is the name used by two fictional supervillains published by DC Comics. The Jeffrey Burr Kobra first appeared in Kobra #1 , and was created by Martin Pasko, Steve Sherman, Jack Kirby, and Pablo Marcos...
— whose eponymous character he co-created — in 1976–1977. The story intended to be issue #8 appears as the Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
story in DC Special Series
DC Special Series
DC Special Series was an umbrella title for one-shots and special issues published by DC Comics between 1977 and 1981. Each issue featured a different character and was often in a different format than the issue before it. DC Special Series was published in four different formats: Dollar Comics, 48...
#1. In addition, Pasko wrote a number of issues of Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983 and then revamped from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues , making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman...
between 1976 and 1980.
Star Trek
In his first comics-format work for Marvel ComicsMarvel 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...
, Pasko was the regular scripter of that company's Star Trek comic book in 1980–1981. He was also a writer of the Star Trek comic strip from late 1982 through early 1983. In 1988, Pasko also wrote an issue of the DC Star Trek comic book.
The 1980s
In the early '80s, Pasko wrote a number of issues of the First ComicsFirst Comics
First Comics was an American comic-book publisher that was active from 1983–1991, known for titles like American Flagg!, Grimjack, Nexus, Badger, Dreadstar, and Jon Sable...
version of Joe Staton
Joe Staton
Joe Staton is an American illustrator and writer of comic books.-Career:Staton started his work with Charlton Comics in 1971 and gained notability as the artist of the super-hero book E-Man...
's E-Man
E-Man
E-Man is a fictional comic book superhero created by writer Nicola Cuti and artist Joe Staton for Charlton Comics in 1973. Though the character's original series was short-lived, the lightly humorous hero has become a cult-classic sporadically revived by various independent comics...
. In 1982, Pasko helped revive Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
, in a new title called Saga of the Swamp Thing. Pasko left Swamp Thing in 1984, succeeded by Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
, who took the title and the character in a different direction.
In 1988–1989 Pasko was a regular contributor to 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...
during its stint as a weekly anthology, where he developed a new version of The Secret Six
The Secret Six
For the DC comic book see Secret Six .The Secret Six is a fast-paced 1931 Pre-Code crime film starring Wallace Beery as "Slaughterhouse Scorpio", a character very loosely based on Al Capone, and featuring Lewis Stone, John Mack Brown, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Marjorie Rambeau and Ralph Bellamy. ...
. Pasko was also the writer of the Blackhawk
Blackhawk (comics)
Blackhawk, a long-running comic book series, was also a film serial, a radio series and a novel. The comic book was published first by Quality Comics and later by DC Comics. The series was created by Will Eisner, Chuck Cuidera, and Bob Powell, but the artist most associated with the feature is Reed...
series in Action Comics Weekly in 1988, based on the Howard Chaykin
Howard Chaykin
Howard Victor Chaykin is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial material...
retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
, and the subsequent monthly title (1989–1990).
The 1990s and 2000s
Pasko's last regular series as a freelance comics writer was in 1994 for the Marvel Comics licensed series Gargoyles, based on a Disney Animation TV series. He then returned to New York to serve as DC's Group Editor-Mass Market. In this capacity, he oversaw he production of DC's custom comics; licensed titles such as the Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
line; and various special projects such as the writing of stage and stunt shows for the Six Flags
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
amusement park chain, and the writing and production of various webisodes for Warner Bros. Online. He also managed the three-person Internal Development Group. In this capacity, he co-created and edited the horror satire Gross Point, which ran in 1997-98.
During his decade on staff at DC, Pasko wrote issues of Impulse
Impulse (DC Comics)
Impulse is an identity shared by three comic book superheroes published by DC Comics.-Publication history:Kent Shakespeare was the first DC Comics superhero known as Impulse, he debuted in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #12 . Bart Allen is the second DC Comics superhero known as Impulse, he debuted...
, one of two stories in the Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
issue of the 2004 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...
tribute series DC Comics Presents
DC Comics Presents
DC Comics Presents was a comic book published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 featuring team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters of the DC Universe...
, and the comics adaptation of the film Superman Returns
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
. Until 2005, he was DC's liaison to Warner Bros. Studios, vetting scripts for WBA animated programming and the live-action series Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
and Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey (TV series)
Birds of Prey is a television drama series produced in 2002. The series was developed by Laeta Kalogridis for The WB and is loosely based on the Birds of Prey DC Comics series...
, as well as facilitating studio research by supplying comics and consulting on issues related to DC continuity. In this capacity, he suggested the comic book story "The Man Who Falls," by Denny O'Neil and Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph "Dick" Giordano was an American comic book artist and editor best known for introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes, and serving as executive editor of then–industry leader DC Comics...
that became the structural basis for the franchise-rebooting Batman Begins
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is a 2005 American superhero action film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Batman, along with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson,...
feature.
Live action
In Los Angeles in 1980s, Pasko wrote for, or served as a writer/story editor on, many live-action series, including Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyBuck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an American science fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons between 1979–1981, and the feature-length pilot episode for the series was released as a theatrical film several months before the series aired....
, Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
, The Twilight Zone (the mid-'80s CBS revival), Max Headroom
Max Headroom (TV series)
Max Headroom is a British-produced American science fiction television series by Chrysalis/Lakeside Productions that aired in the United States on ABC from March 1987 to May 1988. The series was based on the Channel 4 British TV pilot Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future...
, Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon is an American detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker.-History:The original 1978 pilot called Pirate's Key was set in Florida...
, and Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
. Pasko's main interest in television was hour-long action-adventure or fantasy programming. After 1988, however, the economics of the television business motivated programmers to concentrate on half-hour sitcoms, and Pasko shifted gears, working with his then-writing partner on three sitcoms before returning to animated programming.
Animation
Pasko began a long career in television animation in 1980, writing several episodes of Thundarr the BarbarianThundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian is a Saturday morning animated television series, created by Steve Gerber and produced by Ruby-Spears Productions. The series ran 2 seasons, 1980-1981 and 1981-1982...
with Steve Gerber
Steve Gerber
Stephen Ross "Steve" Gerber was an American comic book writer best known as co-creator of the satiric Marvel Comics character Howard the Duck....
and Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
. Pasko later became one of several Thundarr the Barbarian screenwriters also known for their work in comics, such as Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and Gerry Conway
Gerry Conway
Gerard F. "Gerry" Conway is an American writer of comic books and television shows. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics vigilante The Punisher and scripting the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man...
, to contribute to the show. Pasko's many other TV writing credits comprise animated series like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated television series produced by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson. The pilot was shown during the week of December 28, 1987 in syndication as a five part miniseries and began its official run on October 1, 1988...
, Exosquad
Exosquad
Exosquad is an American animated television series created by Universal Cartoon Studios as a response to Japanese anime. The show is set in the beginning of the 22nd century and covers the interplanetary war between humanity and Neosapiens, a fictional race artificially created as workers/slaves...
, Teen Wolf, Berenstain Bears
Berenstain Bears
The Berenstain Bears is a series of children's books created by Stan and Jan Berenstain. The books feature a family of anthropomorphic bears who generally learn a moral or safety-related lesson in the course of each story...
, G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
and My Little Pony
My Little Pony
My Little Pony is a brand of toy ponies marketed primarily to girls produced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro. These ponies can be identified by their colorful bodies and manes and a unique symbol on one or both sides of their flanks...
.
For Thundarr the Barbarian, Pasko came up with the name of Ookla the Mok. In 1980, Gerber and Pasko were having dinner in the Westwood
Westwood, Los Angeles, California
Westwood is a neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the home of the University of California, Los Angeles .-History:...
area one night during the period Gerber was writing the "bible" for the series. Gerber commented to Pasko that he had not yet decided upon a name for the Wookiee
Wookiee
Wookiees are a species of bipeds in the Star Wars universe. The most notable Wookiee is Chewbacca, a companion to Han Solo.-Inspiration:...
-like character the network had insisted be added to the series. As the two walked past the gate to the UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
campus, Pasko quipped, "Why don't you name him 'UCLA'?" After writing several scripts, singly and in collaboration with Gerber, Pasko became a story editor on the second season.
After leaving the sitcom world, Pasko wrote for such series as Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars
Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars
Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars , debuted in 1991 in the UK on the BBC, as well as in the United States, and was created by Sunbow Productions, Abrams / Gentile Entertainment, Continuity Comics and IDDH it was based on the cult comic Bucky O'Hare...
, The Tick, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (TV series)
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is an American Saturday morning animated television series which aired on CBS Kids in the United States from 1993 to 1994. Based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Schultz, the show was created by screenwriter Steven E...
, and The Legend of Prince Valiant
The Legend of Prince Valiant
The Legend of Prince Valiant is an American animated television series based on the Prince Valiant comic strip created by Hal Foster. Set in the time of King Arthur, it's a family-oriented adventure show about an exiled prince who goes on a quest to become one of the Knights of the Round Table. He...
, until accepting a job at Disney Consumer Products' startup comic book division, Disney Comics
Disney Comics
Disney Comics was a comic book publishing company operated by The Walt Disney Company which ran from 1990 to 1993. In the USA, Disney only licensed their comic books to other publishers prior to 1990...
, developing a line of superhero titles and writing the Roger Rabbit comics series. This activity lasted nine months until, in a corporate reorganization, Disney decided to stop publishing comics altogether. The day before he was let go by Disney, Pasko finalized a deal to join Warner Bros. Animation's Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
as a writer/story editor. For his work on this series, Pasko won a 1993 Daytime Emmy Award
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
. He is also a co-writer of the animated feature Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a 1993 animated superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, and is a spin-off of the Emmy Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series...
.
2000s work
Pasko in the 2000s has worked on nonfiction about various aspects of pop culture history, as a writer-researcher and consultant. These projects include writing The DC Vault, published in 2008; consulting on the dramatics for Freaky CreaturesFreaky Creatures
Freaky Creatures is a fantasy themed massively multiplayer online game from Abandon Interactive Entertainment.Abandon Interactive is distributing the game with collectible action figures. The customer buys a starter pack with two collectible creatures and a reusable one gigabyte USB flash drive....
, Abandon Interactive Entertainment's massively multiplayer online game
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
; co-writing The Essential Superman Encyclopedia with Robert Greenberger
Robert Greenberger
Robert "Bob" Greenberger known for his work as an editor for Comics Scene, Starlog Press and Weekly World News, as well as holding executive positions at both Marvel Comics and DC Comics. He is also an elected office holder in his home of Fairfield, Connecticut.-Early life:Greenberger was born in...
; writing the children's book Superman: Prankster of Prime Time; and acting as researcher, consultant, and supplemental copywriter on 75 Years of DC Comics.
Interviews
- "DC Writer Marty Pasko: Man Of Bronze Pt1," Word Balloon with John Siuntres (August 24, 2007).
- "Marty Pasko Interview Part 2," Word Balloon with John Siuntres (September 5, 2007).
- "Cracking the DC Vault With Marty Pasko," Word Balloon with John Siuntres (November 7, 2008)