CSBG Archive
Gail Simone’s Back Pages
Every day this month I will share with you the first (at least as far as I know) U.S. professional work by a notable comic book creator. Here is an archive of the creators who have been featured so far.
Today’s featured creator is Gail Simone!
Enjoy!
Gail Simone has been writing regularly for DC Comics for almost eight years now, with acclaimed runs following Chuck Dixon on Birds of Prey and following Jodi Picoult on Wonder Woman. During a tie-in to Infinite Crisis in 2005, Simone created a new group of anti-heroes, the Secret Six, who she has written ever since (first as a mini-series and now in their own well-reviewed ongoing series!).
Before working as a comic book writer, Simone wrote a humor column on Comic Book Resources called “You’ll All Be Sorry.”
In 2000, she got her first comic book gig, writing two stories in Simpsons Comics #50 for Bongo Comics.
Here’s the first story…
Lisa soon discovers what the scheme is…
And she enlists Bart’s help to stop the gangsters…
Very clever stuff.
Right after that tale, Simone had her next comic story, an amusing look “behind the scenes” at Bongo…
Simone began writing regularly for Bongo and then began work at Marvel, as well, in 2001, writing Deadpool and its successor series, Agent X. In mid-2003, Simone took over Birds of Prey and has been writing for DC (and Wildstorm, where she created the well-received series, Welcome to Tranquility) ever since (she currently writes the current volume of Birds of Prey and the Secret Six ongoing series).
8 Comments
alxf9
March 18, 2011 at 11:37 am
Whoa, I remember reading these. Didn’t realize that she wrote them, but it makes sense. Is her Deadpool series good?
Brian Cronin
March 18, 2011 at 11:49 am
Yeah, her Deadpool issues were a blast.
Squashua
March 18, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Gail’s what-now?
AS
March 18, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Whoa, I too remember the first story, and I haven’t even read that many Simpsons comics…
Scott Rowland
March 18, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Have her Deadpool issues been collected in trade yet? I never read them, but I love her Birds of Prey, and enjoy her Secret Six.
Jason
March 18, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Her Deadpool/Agent X issues have not been collected. Since she’s exclusive with DC (last I checked), I don’t see Marvel rushing to reprint the issues anytime soon. If Marvel does that, it’ll be after reprinting runs from Kelly, Priest, Palmiotti and Tieri.
I got her first story. I liked Fat Tony muddling through random Italian words before threatening Lisa with a vendetta. And she basically said, “Oh, a vendetta against the Simpsons. I’m so scared.” Good times. I didn’t see the second story, though. Thanks for reprinting it.
chad
March 19, 2011 at 1:19 pm
did not reliize Gail first work was some simpson comics for loved fat tony begging the lawer not to destroy arcade games with the laundred money.
AJ Ryan
March 20, 2011 at 10:32 am
Her Deadpool was great, and her Agent X was just as good. The UDON art (I think it was Alvin Lee) worked perfectly to capture the energy and comedy of the series.
But then they took her off the book and it was awful.
Beside Gail Simone being a big name at DC now, I doubt Marvel is looking to publish a trade that highlights how badly they mishandled such a great writer. Not to mention how badly they mishandled a character who has since proven to be incredibly popular.
Great article, and really fun examples of Gail Simone’s excellent writing.