William Messner-Loebs to appear at Grand Rapids Comic Con

William Messner-Loebs, alumni from DC and Image Comics, will appear at the Grand Rapids Comic-Con on November 21-23.

Since the 1980s, William Messner-Loebs has written substantial runs of series published by DC, Image, Comico, and other smaller comics publishers, including both high-profile publisher-owned superheroes and original creator-owned works which he has also illustrated.

His first comics work was for Power Comics Company and on Noble Comics' Justice Machine with Mike Gustovich. His first ongoing series was Journey: The Adventures of Wolverine MacAlistaire, about 19th-century Michigan frontier life, which he both wrote and illustrated. It was published from 1983 to 1986 by Aardvark-Vanaheim and Fantagraphics, followed by a limited series Journey: Wardrums. He wrote the 31-issue Jonny Quest series published by Comico from 1986 to 1988.

In 1988, he took over writing the recently relaunched series The Flash with issue #15 and continued through #61 (penciled by Greg LaRocque). Meanwhile he wroteDr. Fate #25-41, and the Jaguar series for DC's Impact Comics imprint. He wrote Epicurus the Sage which was illustrated by Sam Kieth and scripted The Maxx (illustrated and co-written by Kieth). In 1990, Messner-Loebs became the writer of the Batman newspaper comic strip and wrote the strip until its cancellation the following year.

In 1992 Loebs took over writing the Wonder Woman series begun several years earlier by George Pérez, with pencils by Mike Deodato. During his run from #63 to #100, he created the character Artemis of Bana-Mighdall, for whom he wrote the mini-series Artemis: Requiem. Meanwhile he wrote Hawkman #9-27, penciled primarily by Steve Lieber. In 1996 he had a brief run writing Marvel Comics' Thor. From 1997 to 1999 he wrote Impulse #29-49, penciled by Craig Rousseau. In 1999 he wrote the "V2K" mini-series Brave Old World for Vertigo, penciled by Guy Davis.

The Grand Rapids Comic-Con will be held on November 21-23 at the DeltaPlex Arena and Conference Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Other comic artists to attend include The Crow creator James O'Barr, Black Lightning creator Tony Isabella, and MAD magazine illustrator Tom Richmond. For more information visit the websitewww.grcomiccon.com.