Guide Note

Mark Waid is a popular American comic book writer and editor. He is best known for his work on DC Comics' The Flash, Superman: Birthright and Kingdom Come as well as Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four and Captain America.

Waid began his career in the mid-80s as an editor and writer for Fantagraphics' comic book fan magazine Amazing Heroes. He was hired as an editor for DC Comics, but left in 1990 to pursue freelance writing assignments for both DC and Marvel. In 1992, he wrote The Flash for DC, starting an acclaimed eight-year run for the character. In 1996, Waid released the graphic novel Kingdom Come, a story set in the future of the DC Universe, which depicted the fates of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

In 2003, Waid wrote a modernized version of Superman's origin tale. Entitled Superman: Birthright, it has been recognized by DC as the official Superman origin story.

Waid was one of the four writers, along with Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka and Grant Morrison, of DC's weekly 52 series, which ran for 52 weeks between May 2006 and 2007.

At the 2007 Comic-Con, Waid announced that he would be joining the comic publisher Boom! as an editor-in-chief.

Fast Facts

1. Born: March 21, 1962
2. Birthplace: Hueytown, Alabama
3. Notable Works: Superman: Birthright, The Flash (#62-129), Kingdom Come and Fantastic Four (#500-524)
4. Award(s): Comic Buyer's Guide Award for "Best Writer" (1997)
5. Superman: Birthright has been acknowledged by DC Comics as Superman's official origin story
6. Waid, along with the late Mike Wieringo, created Bart Allen, Impulse