Gerry Conway, comic book writer who co-created the Punisher and Ms. Marvel, dies at 73

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Gerry Conway, the comic book writer behind popular characters like the Punisher, the original Ms. Marvel, Jason Todd, and Power Girl, has passed away at the age of 73. He worked for both Marvel and DC Comics during his career.

Roy Thomas, a former top editor at Marvel Comics, wrote stories featuring many of the company’s most popular heroes. However, he’s remembered most for his work on Spider-Man. Marvel announced that he passed away on Monday.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige praised Gerry Conway’s ability to combine exciting superhero action with realistic, human stories, calling it the foundation for some of the most beloved characters and narratives ever created. Feige noted Conway’s significant influence on both Marvel’s comics and its screen adaptations, citing examples like ‘Werewolf by Night,’ ‘Daredevil,’ ‘Spider-Man,’ and ‘The Punisher.’ He remembered Conway as a valued colleague and friend who will be greatly missed.

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Jim Lee, president and chief creative officer of DC Comics, paid tribute to Conway on social media.

According to a recent Instagram post, Gerry Conway was a groundbreaking storyteller during the 1970s and 80s, known for creating compelling characters and balancing emotional depth with exciting action. While famous for his work at Marvel, his impact on DC Comics was just as important. He helped develop iconic characters like Batman, Superman, and the Justice League, and created Firestorm, Jason Todd, and Power Girl, among others.

Lee thanked Gerry for the wonderful worlds and characters he brought to life, calling his work an incredible legacy and wishing him peace.

Born in Brooklyn on September 10, 1952, Jim Conway was a dedicated comic book enthusiast from a young age and began working in the industry as a teen. He started by writing short stories for horror and fantasy comics published by DC and Marvel, and quickly moved on to writing complete superhero stories for Marvel.

Len Wein worked on many popular Marvel comics, including “Daredevil,” “Iron Man,” “The Fantastic Four,” “Thor,” “Defenders,” and “Avengers.” However, he’s best known for his work on “The Amazing Spider-Man.” In the 1970s, Wein took over as the series writer from Stan Lee and created one of the most famous Spider-Man stories ever: “The Night Gwen Stacy Died.” This storyline featured the Green Goblin killing Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man’s girlfriend, after learning his secret identity.

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While working on “The Amazing Spider-Man,” Gerry Conway helped create the complex character of the Punisher (Frank Castle), alongside artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. He not only wrote the Punisher’s first appearance but also detailed his backstory in a 1975 issue of “Marvel Preview.” Conway also co-created other notable characters during this period, including the villain Jackal and Ben Reilly, a clone of Spider-Man’s alter ego, Peter Parker.

Beyond his famous work on “Spider-Man,” Roy Thomas also significantly shaped other Marvel characters. He reimagined Carol Danvers, a minor Air Force character, into the powerful Ms. Marvel, giving her her own comic book series. He also played a key role in Marvel’s darker, supernatural stories, introducing their version of Dracula and co-creating the original Werewolf by Night.

While working for DC Comics, Conway collaborated with other artists to create several characters, including the superheroes Firestorm, Steel, and Vixen. He also played a role in introducing the Batman villain Killer Croc and Jason Todd, who later became the new Robin after Dick Grayson.

Comic book writer Gail Simone shared that she was a longtime fan of Conway, explaining that his characters and stories deeply influenced her love of comics and her career. She found it difficult to fully express just how much his work meant to her.

Sheryl Conway had previously shared that she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and successfully treated with surgery in 2023. Sadly, reports indicated she was fighting cancer again.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Conway.

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2026-04-28 20:01