Ben Blacker

Ben Blacker is primarily known for working with his writing partner Ben Acker as a podcaster, comic book writer, and screenwriter. Blacker is known for his work on three podcasts, The Thrilling Adventure Hour, The Writers Panel (2011), The Writers Panel, and Dead Pilots Society are two podcasts he started without Acker.

Blacker and Acker spun-off the stage radio show into The Thrilling Adventure Hour graphic novel from Archaia/Boom Studios for which Blacker and Acker were nominated for an Eisner Award in 2014. After this, in 2014 Blacker and Acker worked on two more comic books from The Thrilling Adventure Hour stage radio show, from Image Comics, Sparks Nevada, Marshal on Mars and Beyond Belief!. They also worked for Marvel, writing Thunderbolts comics (2013–2014).

As screenwriters, he and Ben Acker have contributed to The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015) and a few other shows and movies. In 2018, Blacker took on a solo writing project and wrote a book known as Hex Wives for DC/Vertigo comics.

Early life and education

Blacker met his writing partner Ben Acker at Syracuse University. Blacker than transferred to Emerson College to complete his studies in television writing.

In 2011, Ben Blacker, without Acker, began the Writers Panel, in which Blacker would gather television industry screenwriters to talk about the craft of screenwriting, and the business of making television and movies.

Comic book writing

In 2013 and 2014, Blacker and Acker contributed to the Marvel comics series Thunderbolts. They wrote an annual issue, a once a year oversized issue for a series, in 2013. In 2014, they wrote a six issue trade paperback covering issues #27-32 of “Thunderbolts” as well. Jordan Richards of AIPT found the annual issue to be humorous as well as serious with Blacker, Acker, and their fellow artists creating memorable characters in the issue. The #27-32 trade paperback was not as well received by Frank Plowright of Slings and Arrows: Graphic Novel Guide. He found the ending to be rushed, and one of the main characters, “Thunderbolt” Ross to be completely mischaracterized. He ended up giving the trade a 1 ½ star rating.

Also, in 2013 they published a spin off of their radio stage play into a graphic novel entitled The Thrilling Adventure Hour. In 2014 it was nominated for an Eisner award for Best Anthology. It ended up losing to Dark Horse Presents from comic imprint Dark Horse.

In 2018 Blacker created a comic for DC/Vertigo Comics. This comic was entitled Hex Wives. Blacker wrote this comic on his own accompanied by the artwork of Mirka Andolfo. Hex Wives is a story set in what seems like an idyllic suburb but all of the suburb's wives are witches, and their husbands have taken away their awareness of their powers. Etelka Lehoczky of NPR wrote that the comic book is a fun romp. She also said that Blacker did not lose any of his confidence in writing a book about women with supernatural powers. Lehoczky said he learned from the women around him that empathy is a superpower.

The pair have also written for other live action series, such as martial arts sitcom Supah Ninjas, which follows a teenager's adventures with his friends after he finds out he descends from a long line of ninjas.

In 2010, Blacker and Acker wrote a film entitled Drones, directed by Amber Benson and Adam Busch, in which a mild-mannered office worker discovers many of his co-workers are in fact space aliens. Dennis Harvey of Variety thought the film might find a cult following after its release due to “deft farcical performances, witty script and sure-footed handling (by two thesps-turned-helmers)”.

Personal life

Blacker spends his off time with his wife, and his dogs.

Podcasts The Thrilling Adventure Hour (2011) The Writers Panel (2011) Dead Pilots Society (2016)

Illustrated bibliography The Thrilling Adventure Hour (2013) Marvel's Thunderbolts (2013/2014) Sparks Nevada, Marshall on Mars (2015) Beyond Belief! (2015) Hex Wives (2018)

Selected filmography

Drones (2010 film) Supernatural (2011) Supah Ninjas (2011) The Adventures of Puss In Boots (2015)