Leo Dorfman

Leo Dorfman (February 17, 1914[2] – July 9, 1974)[3] (also credited as Geoff Brown[4] and David George[5]) was an American writer of comic books throughout the Silver Age. Although the majority of his work was for DC Comics, he also wrote for Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics.

Leo Dorfman
Dorfman being interviewed on the game show Two for the Money
Born(1914-02-17)February 17, 1914
New York, New York
DiedJuly 9, 1974(1974-07-09) (aged 60)
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Writer
Pseudonym(s)Geoff Brown, David George
Notable works
Action Comics
Superboy
Superman
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen
AwardsBill Finger Award 2020 posthumously[1]

Early life

Dorfman grew up on New York City's Lower East Side.[6]

Career

Leo Dorfman began working for National Periodical Publications in the 1950s. Comics historian Mark Evanier has estimated that Dorfman may have been "the most prolific scripter" for Superman during the 1960s.[7]

Dorfman's work included the creation of the Superman supporting character Pete Ross in 1961 as well as writing the "Superman Red/Superman Blue" story in Superman #162 (July 1963), which inspired a year-long plot arc in 1998.[8] As the writer of Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, he and artist Kurt Schaffenberger crafted Catwoman's first appearance in the Silver Age of Comic Books in issue #70 (Nov. 1966)[9] and updated Lois Lane's fashions to a then-more contemporary look in #80 (Jan. 1968).[10] Dorfman also modernized Jimmy Olsen, making him a more independent figure who solved crimes as "Mr. Action", with less help from Superman.[11] Dorfman wrote World's Finest Comics #175 (May 1968) which featured Neal Adams' first Batman story.[12] In 1971, Dorfman created the Ghosts anthology series for DC.[13]

He produced stories for Gold Key Comics' supernaturally-themed The Twilight Zone, Ripley's Believe it or Not!, Boris Karloff Mystery and Grimm's Ghost Stories. One of Gold Key's editors at the time told Mark Evanier "Leo writes stories and then he decides whether he's going to sell them to DC [for Ghosts] or to us. He tells us that if they come out good, they go to us and if they don't, they go to DC. I assume he tells DC the opposite."[7]

Leo Dorfman died unexpectedly on July 9, 1974, at the age of 60 while still writing for Ghosts. Editor and longtime friend Murray Boltinoff replaced Dorfman with Carl Wessler as the series' primary writer.[5]

Bibliography

DC Comics

Dell Comics

Fawcett Comics
  • Fawcett Movie Comic #20 (1952)
  • Motion Picture Comics #105, 109–110 (1951–1952)

Gold Key Comics

References
  1. Six Posthumous Recipients to Receive 2020 Bill Finger Award
  2. "United States Social Security Death Index," FamilySearch : accessed March 12, 2013), Leo Dorfman, July 1974.
  3. Social Security Death Index, SS# 052-05-6867.
  4. Action Comics #396, DC Comics, January 1971
  5. Aushenker, Michael (October 2011). "Beyond Capes: You 'Will' Believe In Ghosts" (PDF). Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (52): 22.
  6. Letters page, Action Comics #397 (Feb. 1971).
  7. Evanier, Mark (May 29, 2009). "More on Leo Dorfman". News From ME. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.
  8. Eury, Michael (2006). "More Men Behind the Man of Tomorrow". The Krypton Companion. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 978-1893905610.
  9. Forbeck, Matt; Dougall, Alastair, ed. (2014). "1960s". Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 95. ISBN 978-1465424563. In this wacky story, written by Leo Dorfman and drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger, Catwoman kidnapped Lois Lane as she was investigating the Penguin's escape from prison. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1960s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Scripter Leo Dorfman and artist Kurt Schaffenberger presented her dilemma in the story 'Get Out of My Life, Superman!'...She started trading in her generic blouse-and-pencil skirt combinations for a "mod" wardrobe filled with printed dresses, go-go boots, mini-skirts, and hot pants. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Wells, John (February 2013). "Superman Family Portraits". Back Issue! (#62): 44–54.
  12. McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 129: "Adams tackled his first interiors with Batman on Leo Dorfman's script for 'The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads' story in World's Finest Comics #175."
  13. McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 147
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