Michael Uslan

Michael E. Uslan (; born June 2, 1951) is an American lawyer and film producer. Uslan has also dabbled in writing and teaching; he was the first instructor to teach an accredited course on comic book folklore at any university.

Early life Childhood Uslan was born in Bayonne, New Jersey as part of a Jewish family. Uslan has asserted to have been an avid comic book collector from a very young age, claiming to have owned the second issue of Batman and the first Superman comic at one point. He grew up in Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. By the late 60s, Uslan has admitted to storing over 30,000 comic books in his mother's garage. A fan of the earnest heroism inherent in the Batman comics, he was dismayed by the campy portrayal of the character in the '60s television series, which was at the height of its popularity during Uslan's teen years.

Education Uslan graduated from Ocean Township High School in 1969. Uslan then decided to attend Indiana University School of Law – Bloomington with the intention of becoming a patent lawyer eventually. During this time his main agenda was to learn all about copyrights and trademark law in the hopes of one day acquiring the rights to one of his DC heroes. At the same time he was attempting to break into the film industry by sending off over 300 résumés, Uslan "developed a course idea for the Experimental Curriculum program at IU". Stern and Uslan discovered they shared interests, and when Stern "couldn't stand teaching the course any longer," Uslan took it over and changed it into one that took "an academic approach to the comics, divided into its history, folklore, art, sociology, psychology, and literary/educational value. Looking at their stages of relevancy and fantasy, the many aspects of censorship, their effects on other media, penciling and inking styles, their psychological implications, current and future trends, and the role of comics in school systems." Uslan's course, titled "The Comic Book in Society," thus became "the first accredited course on the serious study of comic books." Uslan wrote a textbook dealing with his course, The Comic Book in America (Indiana University, 1971). In 2014, Uslan began instructing as a Professor of Practice at Indiana University, and has been implementing experiential learning in media school courses to better prepare students for their potential careers in the film and television industry. The classes he instructs (Live from L.A.: Pros Make Movies, and Business of Production Motion Pictures) involve bringing people who have worked "in the trenches everyday in Hollywood" to speak to students on the realities of the film industry. Stan Lee's Just Imagine... and contributed short stories with renowned artists like John Severin, Gene Colan and Richard Corben to it.

He wrote some stories for The Spirit, before acquiring the film rights to the character. The film project eventually materialized as a feature film with Uslan's executive producer credit and net profits secure.

With only some brief (foreword) writing and editing stints in between, Uslan scripted the 2009 six-part story, Archie Marries Veronica.

2011 saw the publication of his autobiography, The Boy Who Loved Batman. Uslan then wrote the foreword to the 2012 Wiley & Sons book Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight, by Dr. Travis Langley. In 2021, it was announced that The Boy Who Loved Batman would be adapted into a Broadway play titled Darknights and Daydreams. Starting with Tim Burton's 1989 film, the pair are credited as "executive producers" on all Warner Bros. Batman and related films, including various direct-to-video feature-length animated films but due to the nature of the deal they will never be credited or paid royalties for any episode of television. Uslan continues to be credited as executive producer on Warner Batman film franchise entries, the latest being 2022's The Batman, 2024's Joker: Folie à Deux.

In addition to the Swamp Thing films, Uslan and Melniker were also credited as executive producers on the '90s live-action Swamp Thing TV series and Swamp Thing animated series, and 2008's The Spirit film, among others.

Other credits Additional credits include Three Sovereigns for Sarah (1985), part of the American Playhouse series on PBS, starring Vanessa Redgrave and dealing with the Salem Witch Trials; the children's geography-teaching Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? game show; and the subsequent Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? animated series.

Uslan created, co-produced, and wrote a few episodes of the 1980s cartoon Dinosaucers. Uslan and Melniker were also producers on the Keanu Reeves-fronted Constantine and associate producers on Disney's National Treasure.

He was hired to advise Genius Brands on the use of Stan Lee Universe IP in July 2020. The Stan Lee brand stocks have continued to decline ever since.

Charity and other work In 2005, Uslan donated his 30,000 comic book collection to Indiana University's Lilly Library (rare books and manuscripts library), a collection which (according to his wife Nancy) "filled three rooms of their house." Uslan was the honorary speaker at the 2006 Indiana University commencement ceremonies, held on May 6, 2006. Uslan was the honorary speaker at the 2012 Westfield State University commencement ceremonies, held on May 19, 2012.

Awards With his co-executive producers, Uslan won a 1995 Daytime Emmy for Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, and he was also awarded an Independent Spirit Award at the 2005 Garden State Film Festival. In 2011, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Peace River Film Festival. On October 10, 2012, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. That same year, he was awarded the Inkpot Award.

Personal life Uslan has been a resident of Cedar Grove, New Jersey. He is married to Nancy Uslan. Uslan has indicated on social media that he still celebrates holidays like Hanukkah. His son, David Miles Uslan, joined Planet Tota as a Strategic Advisor.