David Vern Reed
Description
David Vern Reed was the professional pseudonym of David Levine, an American writer born on December 13, 1914, in New York City. He is best known for his extensive work on DC Comics, particularly as a writer for Batman during two distinct periods, first in the 1950s and again in the 1970s. His career began in prose, writing science fiction stories for pulp magazines such as Amazing Stories and Fantastic Adventures under various pseudonyms, including Alexander Blade and Craig Ellis, before his friend, editor Julius Schwartz, brought him into comics.
At DC Comics, Reed became a significant contributor to the Batman franchise. His first published story for the company was Ride, Bat-Hombre, Ride in Batman 56 in 1949. During his initial tenure, he co-created the iconic villain Deadshot with artist Lew Schwartz in Batman 59, which was published in July 1950. He also wrote foundational stories for the character, including the introduction of the Batplane II and well-regarded tales like The Jokers Millions and Two-Face Strikes Again. His story The Jokers Utility Belt from this era was later adapted for the 1960s Batman television series.
After leaving comics for a period, Reed returned in the 1970s, writing for Batman again from 1975 to 1978. This later run featured a series of mystery stories, including the notable four-part saga Where Were You On The Night Batman Was Killed?. His work from this period is credited with exploring more modern psychological themes within the character. He wrote his final Batman story, Hang the Batman, in 1978. Throughout his comics career, he also wrote for other DC series such as Superman in Action Comics, World’s Finest Comics, and various war and mystery titles.
His connection to anime stems from the 2024 series Suicide Squad ISEKAI, in which he receives a credit. This credit acknowledges his foundational work as a comic book writer, particularly his co-creation of Deadshot, a character who is a key member of the Suicide Squad. His inclusion in the staff credits for the anime reflects the adaptation of intellectual property originally developed in American comics. David Vern Reed died on August 11, 1994, in New York.
At DC Comics, Reed became a significant contributor to the Batman franchise. His first published story for the company was Ride, Bat-Hombre, Ride in Batman 56 in 1949. During his initial tenure, he co-created the iconic villain Deadshot with artist Lew Schwartz in Batman 59, which was published in July 1950. He also wrote foundational stories for the character, including the introduction of the Batplane II and well-regarded tales like The Jokers Millions and Two-Face Strikes Again. His story The Jokers Utility Belt from this era was later adapted for the 1960s Batman television series.
After leaving comics for a period, Reed returned in the 1970s, writing for Batman again from 1975 to 1978. This later run featured a series of mystery stories, including the notable four-part saga Where Were You On The Night Batman Was Killed?. His work from this period is credited with exploring more modern psychological themes within the character. He wrote his final Batman story, Hang the Batman, in 1978. Throughout his comics career, he also wrote for other DC series such as Superman in Action Comics, World’s Finest Comics, and various war and mystery titles.
His connection to anime stems from the 2024 series Suicide Squad ISEKAI, in which he receives a credit. This credit acknowledges his foundational work as a comic book writer, particularly his co-creation of Deadshot, a character who is a key member of the Suicide Squad. His inclusion in the staff credits for the anime reflects the adaptation of intellectual property originally developed in American comics. David Vern Reed died on August 11, 1994, in New York.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview