James Asmus

James Asmus is a New York Times Bestselling author and playwright, known for writing comic books such as Quantum and Woody, Thief of Thieves, Gambit, and Rick and Morty. Additionally, he has written several official nonfiction licensed books for Call of Duty, Wolverine, Hazbin Hotel, and several others.

Career Asmus initially emerged writing plays and performing comedy in Chicago, IL with theaters like The Annoyance and the sketch group Hey You Millionaires, as well as in the founding ensemble of The New Colony theater company. The plays he has written include Love Is Dead (The Annoyance), Hearts Full of Blood (the New Colony) and Amelia Earhart Jungle Princes (The New Colony). Both Love is Dead and Hearts Full of Blood received remounts in the New York Fringe Fest, winning awards for Outstanding Music & Lyrics and Outstanding Achievement in Playwrighting respectively.

Asmus is most prolific as a comic book writer, contributing to titles such as Gambit for Marvel Comics, Rick and Morty for Oni Press, Survival Street for Dark Horse Comics, and Quantum & Woody for Valiant Entertainment. In the 2020s, he began writing several officially licensed non-fiction books for Insight Editions publishing, including cookbooks, guided journals, and more for properties like Rick and Morty, Supernatural, Winne the Pooh, and others. His book on the art and history of Call of Duty Zombies became a New York Times Bestseller on release in August, 2026.

Awards and nominations 2008 Fringe NYC Outstanding Music & Lyrics - Love Is Dead: a NecRomantic Musical Comedy 2008 After Dark Awards' Outstanding Original Score - Love Is Dead: a NecRomantic Musical Comedy 2009 Chicago Readers' Choice Best Emerging Playwright 2010 Fringe NYC Overall Excellence in Playwrighting - Hearts Full of Blood 2014 Stan Lee Excelsior Award - Silver Award, Readers' Favorite Graphic Novel - Quantum & Woody vol. 1 - World's Worst 2014 Harvey Awards, 3 Nominations - Best Writer, Most Promising New Talent, and Special Award for Humor in Comics - Quantum & Woody 2015 Harvey Awards, 2 Nominations - Special Award for Humor in Comics - Quantum & Woody and The Delinquents 2017 Eisner Awards, Winner - Best Anthology - Love Is Love (contributor, short story with artist Ming Doyle) 2026 Eisner Awards, 1 Nomination - Best Anthology - Stardust: the Super Wizard Anthology (contributor, co-writing the story 'Rainbow Rampage' with his children at ages 9 and 5, with artist Tony Gregori)