Next week marks the 45th birthday for one of the most formidable forces working within the comic industry today. He holds the title of comic book writer, screenwriter, film and television producer, President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics, co-chairman of DC Films and co-runner of the DC Extended Universe. But just who is this powerhouse creator that wears so many hats?
Geoff Johns was born January 25, 1973 and grew up in the suburbs of Clarkston, Michigan. Johns’ passion for comics began at a young age when he discovered an old box of comics in his grandmother’s attic. This treasure trove included Silver Age copies of The Flash, Superman, Green Lantern, and Batman from the 1960s and ’70s. After discovering a local comic shop, Johns recalled purchasing the latest comics from Crisis on Infinite Earths and The Flash – who had since become his favorite character. As he got older, Johns continued collecting comics specifically gravitating toward DC Comics. He graduated from Michigan State in 1995 after studying media arts, screenwriting, film production, and film theory.
Eventually Johns moved to Los Angeles where he began interning for director Richard Donner, later becoming his production assistant. While working on Donner’s film, Conspiracy Theory, Johns happened to meet DC Comics’ Eddie Berganza. The rest, as they say, is history. By 2000 Johns had already produced his own comic Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., and was offered co-writing duties on Justice Society of America. At the same time, Johns became the regular writer on The Flash ongoing series, co-wrote a Beast Boy limited series with Ben Raab, and crafted the “Return to Krypton” story arc in the Superman titles with Pasqual Ferry. He also oversaw the relaunch of Hawkman and Teen Titans and was responsible for the return of Hal Jordan in the 2005 Green Lantern: Rebirth miniseries.
In 2009, Johns worked extensively on the The Flash: Rebirth miniseries and the Blackest Night limited series. He was also instrumental in introducing the concept of the Blue Lantern Corps, the Red Lantern Corps, and the Indigo Tribe. DC Comics writer and executive Paul Levitz once noted that these latter creations are “one of Johns’ sharpest additions to DC mythology.” The following year Johns was named DC Comics’ new chief creative officer, but continued to write for the Brightest Day series and the Flashpoint miniseries. During DC Comics’ New 52 event, Johns contributed to the new Justice League, Aquaman, and Green Lantern titles. In 2016, Warner Bros. promoted Johns to President of DC Entertainment while still retaining his position as chief creative officer. Johns is currently collaborating on the limited series Doomsday Clock with Gary Frank.
Outside of comics, Johns has worked on the television series Smallville, Blade: The Series, Arrow, The Flash, and Justice League Unlimited. He also wrote for the films Green Lantern, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and the upcoming Aquaman, Green Lantern Corps, and Wonder Woman 2. Additional projects for Johns include a proposed live-action digital Static Shock series from DC and Warner Bros.
Johns went from reading about adventures with his favorite comic heroes to writing their adventures for them. Let that be a lesson for all the fanboys and girls out there, you never know where life will take you. As Johns once said, “If you want to write comic books, write a comic book! There’s no one out there saying you can’t write an issue of Batman. Go out there and do it. If you have a story idea, and you want to become a writer, and that’s what you want to do, then go for it. There’s nothing holding anybody back.”
