Bob Haney

Robert Gilbert Haney, Jr. (March 15, 1926 – November 25, 2004) was an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Lance Bruner, Black Manta, Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.

Biography Early life and career Haney grew up in Philadelphia, where he read popular newspaper comic strips such as Prince Valiant and Flash Gordon, and was a regular listener of radio dramas. Haney attended Swarthmore College. During World War II, he served in the Navy and saw action during the Battle of Okinawa.

In 1948, Haney entered the comic book industry. His first published comics story was "College for Murder" in Black Cat #9 (January 1948). From 1948 to 1955 Haney wrote crime and war comics for a number of publishers, including Fawcett, Standard, Hillman, Harvey, and St. John.

Haney was the writer of the story "The Rock of Easy Co.!" in Our Army at War #81 (April 1959), the first appearance of Sgt. Rock. Haney and artist Lee Elias created the supervillain Eclipso in House of Secrets #61 (August 1963).

Haney frequently claimed to have co-created the Doom Patrol with Arnold Drake and worked with him on the first few issues, but Drake insisted that Haney worked on the first issue only, and that his only role in creating Doom Patrol was co-creating the character Negative Man.

In 1964, Haney created the Teen Titans with artists Bruno Premiani and Nick Cardy. Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad teamed up in The Brave and the Bold #54 (July 1964) to defeat a weather-controlling villain known as Mister Twister. They subsequently appeared under the name "Teen Titans" in The Brave and the Bold #60 in July 1965, joined by Wonder Woman's younger sister Wonder Girl in her first appearance. After next being featured in Showcase #59 (Dec. 1965), the team was spun off into their own series with Teen Titans #1 (February 1966).

The Metamorpho character was created by Haney and artist Ramona Fradon in The Brave and the Bold #57 (January 1965). Haney stated in 1995 that "The most creative single thing I ever did was Metamorpho". The character was featured in his own title, also written by Haney, from 1965 to 1968.

Haney and artist Howard Purcell created the supernatural character the Enchantress in Strange Adventures #187 (April 1966). The Enchantress appears in the 2016 live-action movie Suicide Squad, portrayed by actress Cara Delevingne.

Haney was the writer of many of the issues of The Brave and the Bold including #59 (April–May 1965) which featured Batman's first team-up in the title. Haney scripted issue #85 (Aug.-Sept 1969) wherein artist Neal Adams updated Green Arrow's visual appearance by designing a new costume for the character. Haney frequently disregarded continuity by scripting stories which contradicted DC's canon or by writing major heroes in an out-of-character fashion. Haney himself, along with artist Jim Aparo, appeared as a character in The Brave and the Bold #124 (January 1976). Haney's final story of the series was a Batman and Kamandi team-up in issue #157 (Dec. 1979). and Nuidis Vulko in The Brave and the Bold #73 (Aug.–Sept. 1967). He also co-created Black Manta who first appeared in Aquaman #35 (September 1967).

The Super-Sons, Superman Jr. and Batman Jr., were co-created by Haney and Dick Dillin in World's Finest Comics #215 (January 1973). Haney introduced Batman's older brother, Thomas Wayne Jr., in World's Finest Comics #223 (May–June 1974). This story was used a basis for a plot detail in the "Court of Owls" story arc in 2012. The House of Mystery's host Cain, a character modeled on writer Len Wein, was created by Haney with artist Jack Sparling and editor Joe Orlando.

His later war comics work included the four-page "Dirty Job," illustrated by Alex Toth, for Our Army at War #241 (February 1972), which has been described as Haney's "true masterpiece". He wrote the "Unknown Soldier" feature in Star Spangled War Stories in 1971 and 1972. He returned in 1977 and oversaw the series being renamed after the character. He wrote the retitled series until its cancellation with #268 (October 1982). His last few years were spent in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico. and a 1997 Inkpot Award at San Diego Comic-Con. He was awarded the Bill Finger Award posthumously in 2011.

Family Haney's brother-in-law was Ned Chase, the father of actor Chevy Chase.