Who Was Considered The Greatest Comics Writer Before Alan Moore Came Along?

[Timothy Hunter]

Stan Lee? Chris Claremont? Will Eisner?

[Kirby101]

At the time, probably Stan.

[babyblob]

The greatest at the time has to go to Stan Lee.

But i often wonder where Marvel would be right now if Chris Claremont had not dusted off and gave fresh life to the Failed Xmen.

[Jim Kelly]

At the time, I would have said Denny O'Neil. I don't even have to think about it, that's the name that comes to mind. Stan Lee had worn out his welcome by then and was considered old hat. He had that very weird manner of writing that most people found difficult. Of course, O'Neil's writing now also seems to have the marks of time. But back around 1980, he appeared to be the gold standard.

[DrNewGod]

I won't necessarily say that he was the greatest, but Roy Thomas name belongs in the discussion. I feel he's often under appreciated.

That was also the era when Wein and Levitz were building their names.

[Mister Mets]

If we’re talking superhero comics, probably Stan Lee.

For the crowd that didn’t like superhero comics, probably Harvey Kurtzman. EC comics had an outsized reputation for quality and he excelled in multiple genres (humor, war, adventure.)

There was also the argument that the best talent were writer/artists like Charles Schultz, George Herriman, Will Eisner, Walt Kelly, Milton Caniff, Carl Barks, or New Gods Jack Kirby

[CaptCleghorn]

I'm not sure Lee was looked upon as "the greatest". It's clear that books with Lee's name took the superhero world by storm in the sixties. But even in the seventies, there were ramblings of how much was Lee and how much Kirby and Ditko shared in that revolution. Pre-1970, Stan Lee was certainly part of the who's best discussion. At least in the US market. Those with a better handle on Japan and other countries may have names worthy of consideration.

A name I am going to throw out is Denny O'Neil who got some kudos and who referbished DC's Trinity AND dudes called Green Lantern and Green Arrow.

[Kirby101]

I'm not sure Lee was looked upon as "the greatest". It's clear that books with Lee's name took the superhero world by storm in the sixties. But even in the seventies, there were ramblings of how much was Lee and how much Kirby and Ditko shared in that revolution. Pre-1970, Stan Lee was certainly part of the who's best discussion. At least in the US market. Those with a better handle on Japan and other countries may have names worthy of consideration.

A name I am going to throw out is Denny O'Neil who got some kudos and who referbished DC's Trinity AND dudes called Green Lantern and Green Arrow.

Stan would not have been considered the best current writer at that time. But he was still seen as the greatest. The man who created Marvel. (Yes, we see that history differently now)

[CaptCleghorn]

Stan would not have been considered the best current writer at that time. But he was still seen as the greatest. The man who created Marvel. (Yes, we see that history differently now)

Definitely. Stan's blustery huckstering was a major reason for Marvel's Silver Age stuff going from a niche set of stories to a worldwide empire. As creative, brilliant, and imaginative as Kirby and Ditko were, far FAR fewer people would have seen or even knew of their work if it wasn't for Stan.

[Kirby101]

The greatest at the time has to go to Stan Lee.

But i often wonder where Marvel would be right now if Chris Claremont had not dusted off and gave fresh life to the Failed Xmen.

While the X-Men was the big thing at Marvel into the 80s, Marvel had other arrows in their quiver. They were not just big because of the mutants.

[babyblob]

While the X-Men was the big thing at Marvel into the 80s, Marvel had other arrows in their quiver. They were not just big because of the mutants.

This is true. but the Xmen is one of if not their biggest brand and have been for a long time. I think had Claremont not reinvented the Xmen that they would have waited many more years before they became huge, if that even would have happened. most likely they would have ended up a cult like franchise with in marvel.

[Zelena]

I’m thinking about Jack Kirby.

[DrNewGod]

This is true. but the Xmen is one of if not their biggest brand and have been for a long time. I think had Claremont not reinvented the Xmen that they would have waited many more years before they became huge, if that even would have happened. most likely they would have ended up a cult like franchise with in marvel.

Claremont's role in The X-Men's breakout cannot be exaggerated, or his impact on Marvel (and, arguably, all superhero comics) as a whole. Nonetheless, it minorly annoys me when he's given credit for remaking the X-Men. That was Wein and Cockrum, the latter of whom was on the title for two long runs with Claremont, including those that introduced Phoenix, the Shiar and their Imperial Guard, The Brood (arguably Marvel's most terrifying species), and Magneto's elevation to a serious menace, and his transformation into a complex anti-hero figure.

Claremont was - undeniably - great. But he owes much to others.

[Mister Mets]

This is true. but the Xmen is one of if not their biggest brand and have been for a long time. I think had Claremont not reinvented the Xmen that they would have waited many more years before they became huge, if that even would have happened. most likely they would have ended up a cult like franchise with in marvel.

That is a fair point. It might be like Defenders or Moon Knight without Claremont.

For the purposes of this discussion, I don't know if Claremont was popular enough to be seen as the best writer in comics.

Alan Moore exploded in the mid-80s with Swamp Thing, Miracleman, Superman: For the Man Who Had Everything, Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, Watchmen, and V For Vendetta.

Claremont had a head start, with the peak of his X-Men run a few years earlier. In 1982, he had the Brood saga, God Loves Man Kills, and the Wolverine mini-series. Although I don't know if anyone at that point was calling him the best writer in comics, let alone whether that was the consensus.

He was very popular, but there's now even more of a critical consensus that he was very good.

The Claremont Run twitter account is an excellent analysis of what makes his work unique.

https://twitter.com/ClaremontRun

Ed Piskor had an in-depth interview with him where Claremont is correctly treated as one of the best writers in comics.

[Powerboy]

Stan Lee? Chris Claremont? Will Eisner?

I don't know that Alan Moore was ever considered the greatest but Stan Lee was probably considered the greatest just in creating all of those characters with a healthy assist from Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby.

I would nominate Denny ONeill as well.

Lee, Kirby, Ditko, O'Neill and, heck, Seagal, Bill Finger, Edmond Hamilton and a host of others were ther gods of comic book writing when people (kids though they were) read comic books.

Granted Miller, Moore and some others did some great work but it was on the edge of a cliff just before comics tanked as a market.