Among the many characters Wolfman created or co-created are Cyborg, Raven, Starfire, Deathstroke, Tim Drake, Rose Wilson, Nova, Black Cat, Phobia, Bullseye, Vigilante (Adrian Chase), the Omega Men, and the Nightwing identity of Dick Grayson.
Early life
Marv Wolfman was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of police officer Abe and housewife Fay.[3] He has a sister, Harriet, 12 years older.[3] When Wolfman was 13, his family moved to Flushing, Queens, in New York City, where he attended junior high school.[4] "I grew Superman was a part of my childhood," Wolfman said in a 1987 DC Comics editorial."I grew up watching the television series and then discovered comics. Superman was then—and now—my favorite character."[5]
He went on to New York's High School of Art and Design, in Manhattan, hoping to become a cartoonist.[6] Wolfman is Jewish.[7]
Career
1960s
Marvin Wolfman was active in fandom[9] before he began his professional comics career at DC Comics in 1968.Wolfman was one of the first to publish Stephen King, with "In A Half-World of Terror" in Wolfman's horrorfanzine Stories of Suspense No. 2 (1965).This was a revised version of King's first published story, "I Was a Teenage Grave Robber", which had been serialized over four issues (three published and one unpublished) of the fanzine Comics Review that same year.[10]
Wolfman's first published work for DC Comics appeared in Blackhawk No. 242 (Aug.–Sept. 1968).He and longtime friend Len Wein created the character Jonny Double in Showcase No. 78 (November 1968) plotted by Wolfman and scripted by Joe Gill
Writing credit pioneer
Wolfman, on the panel "Marvel Comics: The Method and the Madness" at the 1974 New York City Comic Art Convention, told the audience that when he first began working for DC Comics, he received DC's first writing credit on its mystery magazines.Gerry Conway, who wrote the horror-host interstitial pages between stories, wrote in one issue, House of Secrets Vol. 1 Issue 83, that the following story, "The Stuff that Dreams are Made of" was told to him by a "wandering Wolfman."The Comics Code Authority, which did not permit the mention of werewolves or wolfmen at that time, demanded it be removed. DC informed the Authority that "Wolfman" was the writer's last name, so the Authority insisted he be given a credit to show the "Wolfman" was a real person. Once Wolfman was given a credit, other writers demanded them as well. Shortly, credits were given to all writers and artists.[87]
Personal life
Wolfman is married to Noel Watkins.Wolfman was previously married to Michele Wolfman, for many years a colorist in the comics industry.They have a daughter, Jessica Morgan.[88]
No. 18 (Dec. 1968), which would be Wein's first professional comics credit.
Neal Adams was called upon to rewrite and redraw a Teen Titans story which had been written by Wein and Wolfman.
The story, titled "Titans Fit the Battle of Jericho!", would have introduced DC's first African American superhero, but was rejected by publisher Carmine Infantino.[12] The revised story appeared in Teen Titans No. 20 (March–April 1969).
Wolfman and Gil Kane created an origin for Wonder Girl in Teen Titans No. 22 (July–Aug. 1969) which introduced the character's new costume.[13]
In 1972, Wolfman moved to Marvel Comics as a protégé of then-editor Roy Thomas.When Thomas stepped down, Wolfman eventually took over as editor, initially in charge of the publisher's black-and-white magazines, then finally the color line of comics.[15] Wolfman said in 1981 that, "Marvel never gave [its] full commitment to" the black-and-white line. "No one wanted to commit themselves to the staff." He added, "We used to farm the books out to Harry Chester Studios [sic] and whatever they pasted up, they pasted up. I formed the first production staff, hired the first layout people, paste-up people."[16] Wolfman stepped down as editor-in-chief to spend more time writing.[17]
He and artist Gene Colan crafted The Tomb of Dracula, a horror comic that became "one of the most critically- [sic]acclaimed horror-themed comic books ever".[18][19] During their run on this series, they created Blade,[20] a character who would later be portrayed by actor Wesley Snipes in a film trilogy.In addition, the editorship of Marvel could not resist the opportunity to assign a writer with such a surname to contribute a few stories to their concurrent monster title, Werewolf by Night, with a playful editor's comment: "At last -- WEREWOLF -- written by a WOLFMAN."[21]
In 1978, Wolfman and artist Alan Kupperberg took over the Howard the Duck syndicated newspaper comic strip.[31][32] While writing the Fantastic Four (which Wolfman stated to be his favorite comic),[33][34] Wolfman and John Byrne introduced a new herald for Galactus named Terrax in No. 211 (Oct. 1979).[35] A Godzilla story by Wolfman and Steve Ditko was changed into a Dragon Lord
1980s
The New Teen Titans
In 1980, Wolfman returned to DC after a dispute with Marvel.[15] Teaming with penciller George Pérez, Wolfman relaunched DC's Teen Titans in a special preview in DC Comics Presents No. 26 (October 1980).[38] The New Teen Titans added the Wolfman-Pérez creations Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg to the old team's Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, and Beast Boy (renamed Changeling).The series became DC's first new hit in years;[39][40]Christopher J. Priest called Deathstroke, another new character, "the first modern supervillain".[41] Wolfman wrote a series of New Teen Titans drug awareness comic books which were published in cooperation with The President's Drug Awareness Campaign in 1983–1984.The first was pencilled by Pérez and sponsored by the Keebler Company,[42] the second was illustrated by Ross Andru and underwritten by the American Soft Drink Industry,[43] and the third was drawn by Adrian Gonzales and financed by IBM.[44][45] In August 1984, Wolfman and Pérez launched a second The New Teen Titans series.[46]
Other projects by Wolfman for DC during the early 1980s included collaborating with artist Gil Kane on a run on the Superman feature in Action Comics; a revival of Dial H for Hero[47][48] with Carmine Infantino; launching Night Force, a supernatural series drawn by Gene Colan;[49] and a nearly two-year run on Green Lantern with Joe Staton.[47] During their collaboration on that series, Wolfman and Staton created the Omega Men in Green Lantern No. 141 (June 1981).[50]
After Pérez left The New Teen Titans in 1985, Wolfman continued for many years with other collaborators – including pencillers José Luis García-López,[53]Eduardo Barreto and Tom Grummett.In December 1986, Wolfman was informed by Marvel writer Chris Claremont that a DC executive had approached Claremont at a holiday party and offered him the position of writer on The New Teen Titans.[54] Claremont immediately declined the offer and told Wolfman that apparently the publisher was looking to replace him on the title. When Wolfman confronted DC executives about this, he was told it was "just a joke", although Claremont reiterated that he took it to be a credible and official offer.
Crisis on Infinite Earths
In 1985, Wolfman and Pérez launched Crisis on Infinite Earths, a 12-issue limited series[55] celebrating DC's 50th anniversary.Featuring a cast of thousands and a timeline that ranged from the beginning of the universe to the end of time, it killed scores of characters, integrated a number of heroes from other companies to DC continuity, and re-wrote 50 years of DC universe history to streamline it.After finishing Crisis, Wolfman and Pérez produced the History of the DC Universe limited series to summarize the company's new history.[56]
Wolfman was involved in the relaunch of the Superman line as well, reinventing nemesis Lex Luthor and initially scripting the Adventures of Superman title with Jerry Ordway as the artist.During this period they introduced Bibbo Bibbowski and Professor Emil Hamilton.[57]
Ratings dispute
Wolfman got into a public dispute with DC over a proposed ratings system,[58] which led to his being relieved of his editorial duties by the company.[59] DC offered to reinstate Wolfman as an editor provided he apologize for making his criticism of the ratings system public, rather than keeping them internal to the company, but he declined to do so.
The New Teen Titans
In 1980, Wolfman returned to DC after a dispute with Marvel.[15] Teaming with penciller George Pérez, Wolfman relaunched DC's Teen Titans in a special preview in DC Comics Presents No. 26 (October 1980).[38] The New Teen Titans added the Wolfman-Pérez creations Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg to the old team's Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, and Beast Boy (renamed Changeling).The series became DC's first new hit in years;[39][40]Christopher J. Priest called Deathstroke, another new character, "the first modern supervillain".[41] Wolfman wrote a series of New Teen Titans drug awareness comic books which were published in cooperation with The President's Drug Awareness Campaign in 1983–1984.The first was pencilled by Pérez and sponsored by the Keebler Company,[42] the second was illustrated by Ross Andru and underwritten by the American Soft Drink Industry,[43] and the third was drawn by Adrian Gonzales and financed by IBM.[44][45] In August 1984, Wolfman and Pérez launched a second The New Teen Titans series.[46]
Other projects by Wolfman for DC during the early 1980s included collaborating with artist Gil Kane on a run on the Superman feature in Action Comics; a revival of Dial H for Hero[47][48] with Carmine Infantino; launching Night Force, a supernatural series drawn by Gene Colan;[49] and a nearly two-year run on Green Lantern with Joe Staton.[47] During their collaboration on that series, Wolfman and Staton created the Omega Men in Green Lantern No. 141 (June 1981).[50]
After Pérez left The New Teen Titans in 1985, Wolfman continued for many years with other collaborators – including pencillers José Luis García-López,[53]Eduardo Barreto and Tom Grummett.In December 1986, Wolfman was informed by Marvel writer Chris Claremont that a DC executive had approached Claremont at a holiday party and offered him the position of writer on The New Teen Titans.[54] Claremont immediately declined the offer and told Wolfman that apparently the publisher was looking to replace him on the title. When Wolfman confronted DC executives about this, he was told it was "just a joke", although Claremont reiterated that he took it to be a credible and official offer.
Crisis on Infinite Earths
In 1985, Wolfman and Pérez launched Crisis on Infinite Earths, a 12-issue limited series[55] celebrating DC's 50th anniversary.Featuring a cast of thousands and a timeline that ranged from the beginning of the universe to the end of time, it killed scores of characters, integrated a number of heroes from other companies to DC continuity, and re-wrote 50 years of DC universe history to streamline it.After finishing Crisis, Wolfman and Pérez produced the History of the DC Universe limited series to summarize the company's new history.[56]
Wolfman was involved in the relaunch of the Superman line as well, reinventing nemesis Lex Luthor and initially scripting the Adventures of Superman title with Jerry Ordway as the artist.During this period they introduced Bibbo Bibbowski and Professor Emil Hamilton.[57]
Ratings dispute
Wolfman got into a public dispute with DC over a proposed ratings system,[58] which led to his being relieved of his editorial duties by the company.[59] DC offered to reinstate Wolfman as an editor provided he apologize for making his criticism of the ratings system public, rather than keeping them internal to the company, but he declined to do so.
1990s
Wolfman returned to the Dark Knight for another brief run on Batman and Detective Comics,[47] writing "Batman: Year Three",[60] creating the third Robin, Tim Drake,[61] as well as Abattoir[62] and a new version of the Electrocutioner,[63] and writing an anniversary adaptation of the first ever Batman story, which was printed along with two other adaptations and the original.[64] He continued as The New Titans writer and revitalized the series with artist Tom Grummett.[65] Wolfman wrote the series until the title's last issue.[47] Wolfman's writing for comics decreased as he turned to animation and television, though he wrote the mid-1990s DC series The Man Called A-X.[66]
Disney career
In the early-1990s, Wolfman worked at Disney Comics.He wrote scripts for a seven-part DuckTales story ("Scrooge's Quest"),[67] as well as several others – with the characters from the Mickey Mouse universe – that appeared in Mickey Mouse Adventures.[1] He was editor of the comics section on the Disney Adventures magazine for the early years of the publication.[68]
Marvel lawsuit
In 1997, on the eve of the impending release of the Blade motion picture, Wolfman sued Marvel Characters Inc. over ownership of all characters he had created for Marvel Comics.[69] A ruling in Marvel's favor was handed down on November 6, 2000.
Disney career
In the early-1990s, Wolfman worked at Disney Comics.He wrote scripts for a seven-part DuckTales story ("Scrooge's Quest"),[67] as well as several others – with the characters from the Mickey Mouse universe – that appeared in Mickey Mouse Adventures.[1] He was editor of the comics section on the Disney Adventures magazine for the early years of the publication.[68]
Marvel lawsuit
In 1997, on the eve of the impending release of the Blade motion picture, Wolfman sued Marvel Characters Inc. over ownership of all characters he had created for Marvel Comics.[69] A ruling in Marvel's favor was handed down on November 6, 2000.[69] Wolfman's stance was that he had not signed work-for-hire contracts when he created characters including Blade and Nova.In a nonjury trial, the judge ruled that Marvel's later use of the characters was sufficiently different to protect it from Wolfman's claim of copyright ownership.[70]
Beast Machines
In the late 1990s, Wolfman developed the Transformers TV series Beast Machines, which aired on Fox Kids for two seasons from 1999 to 2000.The program was a direct continuation of the Beast Wars series, which itself was a continuation of the original Generation One Transformers series. Beast Machines was met with mixed reviews, as the show was praised for its story, but was criticized for its focus on spirituality. Previously, in the 1980s, Wolfman wrote the story for Optimus Prime's return in "The Return of Optimus Prime" of the third season of Transformers.[71][72]
2000s
A decade later, Wolfman began writing in comics again, scripting Defex, the flagship title of Devil's Due Productions' Aftermath line.He wrote an "Infinite Crisis" issue of DC's "Secret Files", and consulted with writer Geoff Johns on several issues of The Teen Titans.Wolfman wrote a novel based on Crisis on Infinite Earths, but rather than following the original plot, he created a new story starring the Barry AllenFlash that takes place during the original Crisis story.Wolfman wrote the novelization of the film Superman Returns, and worked on a direct-to-video animated film, The Condor, for Stan Lee's Pow Entertainment.[73]
In 2006, Wolfman was editorial director of Impact Comics (no relation to the DC Comics imprint), publisher of educational manga-style comics for high school students.That same year, starting with issue No. 125, Wolfman began writing DC's Nightwing series. Initially scheduled for a four-issue run, Wolfman's run was expanded to 13 issues, and finished with No. 137. During the course of his run, Wolfman introduced a new Vigilante character. Following Wolfman's departure from the pages of Nightwing, the Vigilante was spun off into his own short-lived title, which Wolfman wrote. He wrote a miniseries starring the Teen Titan Raven, a character he and George Pérez co-created during their run on The New Teen Titans, helping to revamp and update the character.He worked with Pérez on a direct-to-DVD movie adaptation of the popular storyline "The Judas Contract" from their tenure on Teen Titans.[73]
2010s
In 2011, he and Pérez completed the New Teen Titans: Gamesgraphic novel, which they had begun working on in the late 1980s.[74] Wolfman revived his Night Force series with artist Tom Mandrake in 2012.[75] He served as writing consultant on the video game Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, which he was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing.[76] In 2015, Wolfman wrote a novelization of the video game Batman: Arkham Knight.[77]And in 2016 he published the novelization of the Suicide Squad film through Titan Books.[78] He received the Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.That year also marked Wolfman's first work for Marvel since 1998: a backup story for Bullseye #1, starring the titular character that he had co-created in 1976.In 2019, he wrote the main story for the DC Primal Age 100-Page Giant.[79] Also in 2019, DC published the oversized, 100-page comic book Man and Superman, Marv Wolfman's retelling of Superman's origin story, to high acclaim.[80][81]
2020s
On the occasion of the Crisis on Infinite EarthsArrowverse crossover, Marv Wolfman co-wrote an episode of The CW series Arrow with Marc Guggenheim that aired in January 2020.[82] He also made a cameo appearance in the crossover finale in an episode of Legends of Tomorrow.[83] In 2021, Wolfman and George Pérez voiced caricatures of themselves in two episodes of Teen Titans Go!.[84]
In 2023, Wolfman returned to Marvel Comics for the oneshot ''What If...? Dark: Tomb of Dracula featuring his character Blade.[85] In April 2024, Wolfman wrote the final two pages of the landmark 300th issue of Nightwing''.[86]
1986 Nominated for the Comics Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Writer in 1986,[93] and his work on the "Batman: Year Three" story arc in Batman #436–439 was nominated Comics Buyer's Guide Favorite Writer Award in 1990.[94]
2007 Scribe Award for "Adapted Speculative Fiction Novel", given by writers of novelization and tie-in fiction for his novel based on Superman Returns.[95]
2007 National Jewish Book Award for "Children's and Young Adult Literature", for Homeland: The Illustrated History of the State of Israel[96]
2011 induction into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame
Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017
13.DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle Dorling Kindersley, 2010^
14.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 152 "The host that was first presented in a framing sequence by scribe Marv Wolfman and artist Bernie Wrightson would provide endless creative material for Neil Gaiman's The Sandman series decades later."^
15.Cadigan, Glen "The New Teen Titans Start a Sensation" Titans Companion TwoMorrows Publishing 2005 ISBN 1-893905-50-0 p. 93 Online version available at Google Books^
16.Peter Sanderson, Peter B. Gillis. Comics Feature Interviews Marv Wolfman Comics Feature, New Media Publishing, September–October 1981^
17."Marv is swapping our editor's chair for a full-time writing schedule here at the bullpen." Lee, Stan "Stan's Soapbox" Bullpen Bulletins Marvel Comics cover-dated September 1976.^
18.Don Markstein. Gene Colan Don Markstein's Toonopedia, retrieved February 3, 2012^
19.Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History Dorling Kindersley, 2008^
20.Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 160: "Early in their collaboration on The Tomb of Dracula, writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan co-created Blade, a black man who stalked and killed vampires with the wooden blades after which he named himself."^
21.Marv Wolfman. Comes the Hangman Werewolf by Night, November 1973^
23.Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 175 "In March [1976], writer Marv Wolfman and artist Bob Brown co-created one of the Man Without Fear's greatest nemeses, Bullseye."^
24.Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 176: "Seeking to create a new teenage Marvel super hero in the tradition of Spider-Man, writer Marv Wolfman and artist John Buscema presented Richard Rider, alias Nova."^
26.Jamie Ewbank. Idol of Millions: The Thing in Marvel Two-in-One Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, August 2013^
27.Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging Dorling Kindersley, 2012^
28.Dan Johnson. Marvel's Dark Angel: Back Issue Gets Caught in Spider-Woman's Web Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, August 2006^
29.Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 103: "As new regular writer Marv Wolfman took over the scripting duties from Len Wein and partnered with artist Ross Andru, Peter Parker decided to make a dramatic change in his personal life."^
30.Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 107: "Spider-Man wasn't exactly sure what to think about his luck when he met a beautiful new thief on the prowl named the Black Cat, courtesy of a story by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard."^
31.Howard the Duck Nemsworld.com, n.d., retrieved March 19, 2011^
32.Alan Kupperberg Lambiek Comiclopedia, May 29, 2009, retrieved April 9, 2009^
35.Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 190: "Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist John Byrne, Terrax would not only become a threat to the Fantastic Four but also Galactus himself."^
36.DeFalco, Tom "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 197: "Tako Shamara became the Dragon Lord in Marvel Spotlight No. 5 by writer/editor Marv Wolfman and artist Steve Ditko."^
38.Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 188 "[The New Teen Titans] went on to become DC's most popular comic team of its day. Not only the springboard for the following month's The New Teen Titans No. 1, the preview's momentous story also featured the first appearance of future DC mainstays Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven."^
39.Heidi MacDonald. DC's Titanic Success The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, October 1982^
40.Paul Levitz. 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking Taschen America, 2010^
46.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 209: "As one of DC's most popular team books, The New Teen Titans was a natural choice to receive the deluxe paper quality and higher price point of the new Baxter format. With the regular newsstand title having already changed its name to Tales of the Teen Titans with issue No. 41, the path was clear for a new comic to once again be titled The New Teen Titans. Featuring the trademark writing of Marv Wolfman and the art of George Pérez, this second incarnation was a success from the start, providing readers with the perfect blend of high-quality paper with high-quality storytelling."^
47.{{gcdb|type=writer|search= Marv+Wolfman|title= Marv Wolfman}}^
48.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 192 Legion of Super-Heroes No. 272 "Within a sixteen-page preview in Legion of Super-Heroes #272...was "Dial 'H' For Hero," a new feature that raised the bar on fan interaction in the creative process. The feature's story, written by Marv Wolfman, with art by Carmine Infantino, saw two high-school students find dials that turned them into super-heroes. Everything from the pair's civilian clothes to the heroes they became was created by fans writing in. his concept would continue in the feature's new regular spot within Adventure Comics."^
49.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 197 The New Teen Titans No. 21 "[T]his issue...hid another dark secret: a sixteen-page preview comic featuring Marv Wolfman's newest team – Night Force. Chronicling the enterprise of the enigmatic Baron Winters and featuring the art of Gene Colan, Night Force spun out into an ongoing title of gothic mystery and horror the following month."^
50.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 193 Green Lantern No. 141 "DC's newest science-fiction franchise, a band of over one hundred aliens called the Omega Men." "They gave Green Lantern a run for his money in this issue written by Marv Wolfman, with art by Joe Staton, and the Omega Men went on to gain their own ongoing series in 1983."^
51.Matthew K. Manning. Batman: A Visual History Dorling Kindersley, 2014^
52.Robert Greenberger. It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge! Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, August 2017^
53.Les Daniels. DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes Bulfinch Press, 1995^
54.Harlan Ellison Speaks at San Diego The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, January 1988^
55.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 213 "Comics didn't get any bigger than this. Crisis on Infinite Earths was a landmark limited series that redefined a universe. It was a twelve-issue maxiseries starring nearly every character in DC Comics fifty-year history and written and drawn by two of the industry's biggest name creative talents – writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez."^
56.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 220: "In an effort to organize the status quo of the DC Universe after the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths maxiseries, artist George Pérez and writer Marv Wolfman collaborated on a two-part prestige-format history of the DCU."^
57.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 226 "The original Superman title had adopted the new title The Adventures of Superman but continued the original numbering of its long and storied history. Popular writer Marv Wolfman and artist Jerry Ordway handled the creative chores. ."^
58.DC Responds to Miller, Moore, Chaykin and Wolfman's Letter The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, April 1987^
59.Newswatch: Marv Wolfman fired by DC as editor The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, April 1987^
60.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 240: "Written by Marv Wolfman and pencilled by Pat Broderick, the four-issue 'Year Three' saga introduced a young boy named Timothy Drake into a flashback sequence starring a young Dick Grayson and his parents."^
61.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 241: "With the pencils of [George] Pérez, Jim Aparo, and Tom Grummett, [Marv] Wolfman concocted the five-issue 'A Lonely Place of Dying'...In it, Tim Drake...earned his place as the new Robin."^
62.Manning "1990s" in Dougall (2014), p. 190: "Marv Wolfman and penciller Jim Aparo introduced serial killer Abattoir."^
63.Manning "1990s" in Dougall (2014), p. 191: "Marv Wolfman and artist Jim Aparo continued their run...by introducing the second villain to bear the name of the Electrocutioner."^
65.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 249: "Writer Marv Wolfman had revitalized the Titans franchise yet again, with the help of his new creative partner, artist Tom Grummett."^
The creature that the Dragon Lord battled was intended to be Godzilla, but since Marvel no longer had the rights to the character, the creature was modified to a dragon called The Wani.
Wolfman's stance was that he had not signed work-for-hire contracts when he created characters including Blade and Nova.
In a nonjury trial, the judge ruled that Marvel's later use of the characters was sufficiently different to protect it from Wolfman's claim of copyright ownership.[70]
Beast Machines
In the late 1990s, Wolfman developed the Transformers TV series Beast Machines, which aired on Fox Kids for two seasons from 1999 to 2000.The program was a direct continuation of the Beast Wars series, which itself was a continuation of the original Generation One Transformers series. Beast Machines was met with mixed reviews, as the show was praised for its story, but was criticized for its focus on spirituality. Previously, in the 1980s, Wolfman wrote the story for Optimus Prime's return in "The Return of Optimus Prime" of the third season of Transformers.[71][72]
