Tom and Mary Bierbaum
Encyclopedia
Tom and Mary Bierbaum are an American
husband-and-wife writing team, known for their work on the DC
comic book
Legion of Super-Heroes
.
. Tom Bierbaum grew up as a Legion fan, first becoming exposed to the characters via Adventure Comics
#310 (July 1963). Meanwhile, Mary Gilmore became a serious Legion fan in the late 1970s.
Interlac
, where he met fellow member Gilmore, who had joined the APA around the same time. Through Interlac, the two struck up a relationship. Gilmore lived in California, and as Bierbaum had designs on getting into the entertainment industry, he moved out West, and the two began living together, eventually getting married.
Early on in their relationship, the Bierbaums wrote stories together, their first published piece being a Halloween-themed short story for a local newspaper. (The story was actually a thinly veiled Legion of Super-Heroes story with the characters' names and situations changed.) They also submitted and published articles and stories in Interlac, which attracted the attention of veteran Legion artist Keith Giffen
and future Legion editor Mark Waid
.
that Tom suggested.
In 1984, when Giffen was looking for a scripter for his "Lightning" stories in Deluxe Comics
' Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
, he recruited the husband and wife writing team for the job. That, along with their work for DC's New Talent Showcase editor Sal Amendola
, convinced the editors at DC (specifically Dick Giordano
) that they were ready to become Legion scripters.
vol. 4, from 1989–1993. Working under editor Waid and alongside Giffen and Al Gordon (who was a co-writer and Inker on the book) for the first 36 issues, the Bierbaums dialogued the "Five Years Later" storyline. The revival of the title was controversial with many longtime Legion fans, as it incorporated several major "retcons," including the editorially-mandated excision of Superboy
from Legion history; the housing of Proty
's consciousness in Lightning Lad's body; and the revelation that former Science Police
liaison Shvaughn Erin
was actually a formerly male transsexual who used drugs to maintain her female identity, while her longtime beau Element Lad
was of ambiguous sexuality and would not have required her to be female. In fairness, other Legion fans felt the reboot gave the characters a much-needed jolt of freshness. In any case, Tom Bierbaum claims that only about "15%" of the plots from that period originated with them — most of it being Giffen's handiwork. Furthermore, Giffen had even more radical shakeups in mind for the team, and part of the Bierbaums' job in their role as co-writers was to remind him of Legion precedent and "rein" in some of his more extreme changes.
After Giffen's departure, the Bierbaums continued on the title for another year, overseeing the return of several classic characters, until leaving for Legionnaires (a spin-off title) after Legion issue #50 (Nov. 1993). They wrote Legionnaires for its first 15 issues, until 1994.
The Bierbaums and Giffen also worked together on DC's short-lived offbeat title The Heckler
in 1992–1993.
, including Supreme
, SuperPatriot
, Youngblood: Strikefile
, and Star, as well as Xena: Warrior Princess
and Jurassic Park for Topps Comics
. Most recently, they worked on Wonderlanders for Oktomica and Stormquest for Blue Line Pro Comics.
, with their two children. Mary retired from being a nurse in 1991; Tom used to freelance for Variety
before becoming a staffer at the short-lived entertainment/business website Inside.com. In 2001, he began work at NBC
as a ratings analyst.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
husband-and-wife writing team, known for their work on the DC
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...
comic book
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...
Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
.
Biography
The Bierbaums entered the world of professional comic book writing through Legion fandomFandom
Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
. Tom Bierbaum grew up as a Legion fan, first becoming exposed to the characters via 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...
#310 (July 1963). Meanwhile, Mary Gilmore became a serious Legion fan in the late 1970s.
Interlac and marriage
Tom joined the Legion fan club The Legion Outpost, and then the Legion amateur press associationAmateur press association
An amateur press association is a group of people who produce individual pages or magazines that are sent to a Central Mailer for collation and distribution to all members of the group.-Organisation:...
Interlac
Interlac (APA)
Interlac is a bimonthly amateur press association devoted to the DC Comics science fiction superhero team the Legion of Super-Heroes. It was the first APA devoted to the Legion and, despite the decline of APAs due to Internet forums, continues to operate to this day.Interlac’s name comes from the...
, where he met fellow member Gilmore, who had joined the APA around the same time. Through Interlac, the two struck up a relationship. Gilmore lived in California, and as Bierbaum had designs on getting into the entertainment industry, he moved out West, and the two began living together, eventually getting married.
Early on in their relationship, the Bierbaums wrote stories together, their first published piece being a Halloween-themed short story for a local newspaper. (The story was actually a thinly veiled Legion of Super-Heroes story with the characters' names and situations changed.) They also submitted and published articles and stories in Interlac, which attracted the attention of veteran Legion artist Keith Giffen
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
and future Legion editor Mark Waid
Mark Waid
Mark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is well known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America...
.
Keith Giffen and early writing work
Recognizing the Bierbaum's devotion to the Legion, Giffen contacted them, at first using them as a sounding board for his ideas about the Legion. Giffen also utilized a new costume idea for Element LadElement Lad
Element Lad is a fictional character in the 30th and 31st centuries of the , a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. A native of the planet Trom, he has the power to transmute chemical elements.-Pre-Zero Hour:...
that Tom suggested.
In 1984, when Giffen was looking for a scripter for his "Lightning" stories in Deluxe Comics
Deluxe Comics
Deluxe Comics was a short-lived comic book publishing company which published one title, Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.- History :Deluxe Comics was a division of Singer Publishing, founded by David M. Singer. It lasted from 1984 to 1986....
' Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a fictional team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics in the 1960s. They were an arm of the United Nations and were notable for their depiction of the heroes as everyday people whose heroic careers were merely their day jobs...
, he recruited the husband and wife writing team for the job. That, along with their work for DC's New Talent Showcase editor Sal Amendola
Sal Amendola
Sal Amendola is an Italian-American comic book artist and teacher primarily known for his association with DC Comics.-Career:...
, convinced the editors at DC (specifically 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 they were ready to become Legion scripters.
Legion of Super-Heroes: "Five Years Later"
The Bierbaums wrote the first fifty issues of Legion of Super-HeroesLegion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
vol. 4, from 1989–1993. Working under editor Waid and alongside Giffen and Al Gordon (who was a co-writer and Inker on the book) for the first 36 issues, the Bierbaums dialogued the "Five Years Later" storyline. The revival of the title was controversial with many longtime Legion fans, as it incorporated several major "retcons," including the editorially-mandated excision of Superboy
Superboy (Kal-El)
The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. The name of Superman as a boy, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...
from Legion history; the housing of Proty
Proty
Proty is the name of two fictional extraterrestrials in the DC Comics universe. The original Proty first appeared in Adventure Comics #308 , while the second Proty debuted in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #72 ....
's consciousness in Lightning Lad's body; and the revelation that former Science Police
Science Police
Science Police is a fictional law enforcement agency in the . They were referred to as "World-Wide Police" in their first appearance in the 30th century. They were featured in a four issue limited series titled Legion Science Police. In the 30th and 31st centuries, the Science Police serves the...
liaison Shvaughn Erin
Shvaughn Erin
Shvaughn Erin is a fictional character in the 30th and 31st centuries of the , appearing primarily as a supporting character in the various Legion of Super-Heroes series...
was actually a formerly male transsexual who used drugs to maintain her female identity, while her longtime beau Element Lad
Element Lad
Element Lad is a fictional character in the 30th and 31st centuries of the , a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. A native of the planet Trom, he has the power to transmute chemical elements.-Pre-Zero Hour:...
was of ambiguous sexuality and would not have required her to be female. In fairness, other Legion fans felt the reboot gave the characters a much-needed jolt of freshness. In any case, Tom Bierbaum claims that only about "15%" of the plots from that period originated with them — most of it being Giffen's handiwork. Furthermore, Giffen had even more radical shakeups in mind for the team, and part of the Bierbaums' job in their role as co-writers was to remind him of Legion precedent and "rein" in some of his more extreme changes.
After Giffen's departure, the Bierbaums continued on the title for another year, overseeing the return of several classic characters, until leaving for Legionnaires (a spin-off title) after Legion issue #50 (Nov. 1993). They wrote Legionnaires for its first 15 issues, until 1994.
The Bierbaums and Giffen also worked together on DC's short-lived offbeat title The Heckler
Heckler (comics)
The Heckler is a fictional character, a superhero parody published by DC Comics'. He first appeared in The Heckler #1 , an on-going series that lasted six issues, ending with The Heckler #6 ....
in 1992–1993.
Image and other publishers
After their DC work, the Bierbaums went on to write various titles for Image ComicsImage Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
, including Supreme
Supreme (comics)
Supreme is a fictional superhero created by Rob Liefeld and first published by Image Comics, then Maximum Press, and later by Awesome Entertainment...
, SuperPatriot
SuperPatriot
SuperPatriot is an Image Comics superhero created by Erik Larsen in 1992. SuperPatriot has had regular appearances in Erik Larsen's titles, whether in his own mini-series or as a supporting character and is currently a member of the Liberty League....
, Youngblood: Strikefile
Youngblood (comics)
Youngblood is a superhero team that starred in their self-titled comic book, created by writer/artist Rob Liefeld. The team made its debut as a backup feature in the 1987 one-shot Megaton: Explosion before later appearing in its own ongoing series in 1992 as the flagship publication for Image Comics...
, and Star, as well as Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess (comics)
Xena: Warrior Princess comics, are spin-offs from the series of the same name, itself a spin-off series of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.Topps Comics and Dark Horse Comics created a series of comics tying in to the property...
and Jurassic Park for Topps Comics
Topps Comics
Topps Comics is a division of the American trading card publisher and gum/candy distributor the Topps Company, Inc. that published comic books from 1993–1998, beginning its existence during a short comics-industry boom that attracted many investors and new companies...
. Most recently, they worked on Wonderlanders for Oktomica and Stormquest for Blue Line Pro Comics.
Personal life
Never full-time comics writers, the couple live in Erie, PennsylvaniaErie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, with their two children. Mary retired from being a nurse in 1991; Tom used to freelance for Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
before becoming a staffer at the short-lived entertainment/business website Inside.com. In 2001, he began work at NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
as a ratings analyst.