Wikipedia

Paul Jenkins (writer)

Paul Jenkins(born 6 December 1965) is a British comic book writer, screenwriter, novelist, and narrative director. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working forMarvel Comics,Jenkins had a big part shaping the characters of the company, helping via theMarvel Knightsimprint to propel Marvel from Chapter 11 bankruptcy before choosing to focus on independent publications. He is also noted for his groundbreaking narrative work in the field of video games, and is recognized as one of the world's preeminent "cross-media" creators for his work across such multiple media as animation, video games, comic books, and film.

Paul Jenkins
Jenkins at afan conventionin 2006
Born(1965-12-06)6 December 1965(age 58)
United Kingdom
Area(s)Writer, Editor
Notable works
Hellblazer
Wolverine: Origin
The Inhumans
Spectacular Spider-Man
The Sentry
AwardsEisner Award, Wizard Fan Award (5), Prism Award

Despite his commercial success, Jenkins is a noted advocate for creators' rights thanks in part to his early days atMirage Studiosand Tundra Publishing, where he witnessed first hand the drafting of theCreators Bill of Rights.He has spoken frequently in support of mentoring, and the need for hands-on education in the entertainment industry.

Jenkins is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of META Studios, a cross-media development and production house based in Atlanta, Georgia.[1]

His current projects includeCommissioner GordonandBlack AdamwithDC Comics.

Early life

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Paul Jenkins was raised by a single parent in the West Country of his native United Kingdom. He gained his first writing and directing experience while studying for his degree in acting.[2]Jenkins moved to the United States in 1987, where he first taught music and drama to learning-disabled children before embarking on a successful career in the entertainment industry.

Career

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After moving to the US, he joined Mirage Studios in 1988, where he worked as editor/production manager. He editedKevin EastmanandPeter Laird's books, includingTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,and even negotiated their licensing deals.[2]Seeing the TMNT were fully owned and controlled by Eastman and Laird, Jenkins gained an important understanding of the benefits of cross-media development and ancillary exploitation.

Leaving Mirage, Jenkins followed Eastman to Tundra Publishing - another Eastman publishing venture - where he became Editor-in-Chief at the age of 24. His duties also included heading the production and licensing departments. During this time, Jenkins edited such notable comics creators asAlan Moore,Neil Gaiman,Dave McKean,andGeorge Pratt.This was followed by stints as Editor-in-Chief at Majestic Entertainment[3]and the short-lived Scoreboard Comics.

Tired of editing, Jenkins pitched to several companies as a writer. Despite minimal writing experience, he journeyed toSan Diego Comiconwhere he approachedDC Comics'Vertigoeditor Lou Stathis and pitched for the prestigious gig as writer ofHellblazer.In 1994, with no previous mainstream credits to his name, he took over as writer ofHellblazer,and began what would go on to be a five-year-long stint.[4]His work on this title gained him attention in the American comic industry, and as of January 2016, his complete run has been collected.

Paul'sMarvel Comicscareer began in 1997, when he worked on reviving some of the company's horror-themed properties. He relaunched the psychological horror titleWerewolf By Night,writing six issues, until the title was canceled to start the anthology titleStrange Tales,the first two issues of which printed the rest of hisWerewolf By Nightstory.

Later in the year, he and artistJae Leewere responsible for launching the critically acclaimed and commercially successfulMarvel KnightsseriesInhumans.Thelimited seriesran twelve issues between November 1998 and October 1999, and earned Jenkins anEisner Award.[5]

In 2000, Jenkins and Lee followed up their collaboration with another five issue Marvel Knights limited series, this time concerningThe Sentry,a series Jenkins had unsuccessfully pitched to Marvel and DC Comics for a number of years. Although the mentally tortured hero was an original creation of Jenkins', Marvel ran a marketing hoax claiming that the character was a long-lost Silver Age creation of Stan Lee himself, even pre-dating the Fantastic Four. Several years later,Brian Michael Bendisreused the Sentry by making him a member of theNew Avengers:Jenkins himself was featured as a character in the storyline which reintroduced the Sentry.[6]Also in 2000, Jenkins given writing assignments in the mainstream Marvel Universe. In March, he was made the regular writer onThe Incredible Hulk.Like in much of his earlier work, Jenkins conducted a psychiatric examination of Bruce Banner, including a look at Banner's multiple Hulk personas. His 20 issue run onThe Incredible Hulkran until November 2001. During this same period, Jenkins became the regular writer ofPeter Parker: Spider-Man.Taking over the title from issue 20, in August 2000, he wrote it until its end in August 2003. Marvel placed him onThe Spectacular Spider-ManVol.2, which Jenkins wrote for most of its three-year run, which paired him with artistHumberto Ramos.

In 2001 he collaborated withpencillerAndy Kuberton the six-issue limited seriesOrigin,which for the first time revealed the details ofWolverine'schildhood and early life. The title was one of the biggest sales successes of that year for Marvel. Jenkins later wroteWolverine: The End,a story addressing plot threads begun inOrigin,although it is not a direct sequel, as Marvel'sThe Endstories are notcanon.

Jenkins later wroteWolverinefor Marvel, andThe DarknessforTop Cow.Another project undertaken by Jenkins for Marvel was theMythosseries of one-shots where Jenkins, with Paolo Rivera's painted artwork, would retell the origin stories of Marvel's movie adapted characters to bridge the gap between the movie and the comic book versions of the characters.

In 2005 Jenkins wrote theDark Horse Comicssix issue miniseriesRevelations,illustrated by Ramos, and Marvel'sThe Sentrywith artistJohn Romita Jr.In 2006 he wrote his own independent comic,Sidekick,published byImage Comics.[7]That same year, he wroteCivil War: Front Line,a tie-in to Marvel's crossover storyline, "Civil War"[7]that depicted the transformation ofRobbie Baldwinfrom Speedball to Penance,[8]was expanded on in thelimited seriesPenance: Relentless.[9]It also led toWorld War Hulk:Front Line.[10]He also took over the writing onSon of Hulkwhen it lost its focus onSkaar,the series ran from No. 13 to 17.[11]

Jenkins has worked on several video games including theLegacy of Kain,Prototype,Twisted Metal BlackandGod of Warseries. Most recently, Paul is credited as writer onIncredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction,created withRadical Entertainment,The Darkness,created byStarbreeze Studios,andThe Darkness 2byDigital Extremes.

He made his return to DC Comics in 2011, taking a big part in theNew 52initiative, include writing stints onDC Universe Presents[12]featuring the character ofDeadman;Batman: The Dark Knightwith artistDavid Finch,[13]and a two-issue fill-in arc onStormwatch.[14]

In February 2013 Paul Jenkins left DC and Marvel to work withBoom! Studios.Jenkins launchedDeathmatchwith Carlos Magno andFairy Questwith Humberto Ramos, and broughtRevelationsfrom Dark Horse to Boom!

In 2014, Jenkins founded his own production company, META Studios. Based in Atlanta, Georgia it works in the creation of nearly all existing forms of media from graphic novels and books to variable reality.[1]

In 2015, Jenkins subsequently moved on to work withAfterShock Comicswhere he created the comic seriesReplica.This was followed by the ongoing seriesAlters,which focuses on various disadvantaged heroes with mutant powers known as "alterations."

In 2015, Jenkins was asked by Georgia GovernorNathan Dealto assemble and chair an advisory committee to educate the Georgia General Assembly on the evolution of digital and interactive technologies.

In 2016, Jenkins created thetransgendersuperheroChalicefor theAlterscomic book series.[15]

Jenkins' current projects includeCommissioner GordonandBlack AdamwithDC Comics.

Bibliography

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References

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  1. ^ab"META Studios - The Executive Team".Retrieved22 August2020.
  2. ^abWeiland, Jonah (2005)."Paul Jenkins Signs Exclusive to Marvel".Comic Book Resources.Retrieved28 February2008.
  3. ^Moore, Vince (6 February 2006)."Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, Part 1: A Conversation with Jamal Igle".CBR.com.Retrieved22 August2020.
  4. ^Irvine, Alex(2008). "John Constantine Hellblazer". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.).The Vertigo Encyclopedia.New York:Dorling Kindersley.pp. 102–111.ISBN0-7566-4122-5.OCLC213309015.
  5. ^"1999 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards".Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  6. ^New Avengers Vol. 1 #07-102005
  7. ^abPaul Jenkins Civil Wars and SidekicksArchived12 October 2008 at theWayback Machine,Cinescape, 26 September 2006
  8. ^"Paul Jenkins on Penance"Archived6 September 2007 at theWayback Machine.Newsarama,19 January 2007
  9. ^Taylor, Robert (9 September 2007)."REFLECTIONS #221: Paul Jenkins, Part 2".Comic Book Resources.
  10. ^"NYCC '07: Paul Jenkins on World War Hulk: Frontline"Archived23 March 2014 at theWayback Machine.Newsarama. 23 February 2007. Archived fromthe originalArchived3 March 2007 at theWayback Machine.
  11. ^Phegley, Kiel (24 November 2009)."Jenkins Ends" Son of Hulk "".Comic Book Resources.Retrieved3 May2010.
  12. ^Hyde, David (6 July 2011)."Paul Jenkins and Bernard Chang on DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS".DC Comics.
  13. ^Campbell, Josie (23 January 2012)."THE BAT SIGNAL: Jenkins Follows The White Rabbit In 'Dark Knight'".Comic Book Resources.
  14. ^"Paul Jenkins to pen STORMWATCH two-part story".DC Comics. 7 December 2011.
  15. ^"In a New Comic, a Transgender Superhero Hides 2 Identities (Published 2016)".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 25 February 2023.
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Preceded by Hellblazerwriter
1994–1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Incredible Hulkwriter
2000–2001
(withSean McKeeverin late 2001) 		Succeeded by
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