Dennis O'Neil obit

Denny O’Neil, ‘Batman’ writer and comic book legend, dead at 81

 

He was not on the list.

Longtime comic book writer and editor Denny O’Neil died Thursday at home of natural causes, Games Radar reports. He was 81.

Best known for his work writing DC Comics’ “Batman” and editing Batman titles from 1986 to 2000, O’Neil also worked at Marvel Comics on such series as “Spider-Man” and “Iron Man.” Over the course of his more-than-four-decades-long career in the industry, he was involved in the naming of the character Optimus Prime and in leading Batman back to a darker narrative. He also wrote episodes for TV shows “Batman: The Animated Series” and “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,” among others.

Following his death, family and friends flooded social media with love for the comic world legend.

“The saying goes that you should never meet your heroes,” Matthew Manning, a loyal fan of O’Neil’s work and a former DC Comics intern, wrote on Facebook. He recalled the overwhelming feeling of seeing O’Neil in the DC offices during his internship there. “To me, it was like walking past a movie star in the halls. This was the writer that redefined Batman in the 1970s. A writer whose work only got better with time,” Manning memorializes. “He never disappointed and always inspired. Denny O’Neil was the single most influential writer and editor to me as both a kid and an adult.”

Many credited the late great O’Neil, who also taught at Manhattan’s School of Visual Arts and wrote “The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics,” for preserving the Dark Knight’s ongoing relevance.

“He was an absolute titan in the industry and one of its finest creative minds. I honestly don’t believe Batman would still be around today, and many other characters, if it hadn’t been for him,” another reader commented. “Godspeed Dennis O’Neil, thank you for the stories and for the inspiration.”

In addition to his influence on beloved characters, O’Neil is also recalled for his mentorship of fellow artists.

“He was a kind man with an acerbic edge, a giving soul, wickedly funny, and an incredibly talented writer who penned some of the greatest comic stories ever told,” wrote artist Bill Sienkiewicz.

“He took time out of work life to become a friend, one who generously gave of his personal time to talk from experience and of demons, to a young farm kid from New Jersey about the path of self-destruction [said] farm kid was heading down because of farm kid’s drinking. Not many folks will step up like that. Denny did, and I will be forever grateful.”

Writer

Batman: Caped Crusader (2024)

Batman: Caped Crusader

7.2

TV Series

Dr. Leslie Thompkins created by (as Dennis O'Neil)

2024

1 episode

 

Dakota Johnson, Tahar Rahim, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O'Connor in Madame Web (2024)

Madame Web

4.1

created by "Madame Web" (as Dennis O'Neill)

2024

 

Harley Quinn (2019)

Harley Quinn

8.4

TV Series

Talia Al Ghul created bycreated by: Maxie ZeusMaxie Zeus created by

2019–2023

8 episodes

 

Lacey Chabert, Danica McKellar, Jesse McCartney, Nolan North, Stephanie Lemelin, Khary Payton, and Denise Boutte in Young Justice (2010)

Young Justice

8.6

TV Series

Lady Shiva created byRa's Al Ghul created byTalia Al Ghul created by (as Dennis O'Neil) ...

2019–2021

7 episodes

 

Mark Dacascos, Kelly Hu, James Hong, Michael Jai White, and David Giuntoli in Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)

Batman: Soul of the Dragon

6.1

Lady Shiva, Bronze Tiger, Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and O-Sensei created by (as Dennis O'Neil)

2021

 

Batman: Death in the Family (2020)

Batman: Death in the Family

5.6

Video

Talia al Ghul created by

2020

 

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War

7.7

Video

Lady Shiva created by (as Dennis O'Neil)

2020

 

Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)

Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

7.1

Video

Ra's al Ghul created by (as Dennis O'Neil)

2019

 

Christian Slater, Billy Brown, and Tara Strong in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018)

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

7.0

Video

character created by: Bronze Tiger (as Dennis O'Neil)

2018

 

Grey DeLisle, Bruce Greenwood, Anthony Head, and Jennifer Carpenter in Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight

6.7

Leslie Thompkins created by

2018

 

DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games (2017)

DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games

5.3

Video

Lady Shiva created by (as Dennis O'Neil)

2017

 

DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year (2016)

DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year

5.5

Video

Lady Shiva created by (as Dennis O'Neil)

2016

 

Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016)

Justice League vs. Teen Titans

6.9

Video

Ra's al Ghul created by

2016

 

DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High (2016)

DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High

5.7

TV Movie

Lady Shiva created by (as Dennis O'Neil)

2016

 

Sean Maher, Jason O'Mara, and Yvonne Strahovski in Batman: Bad Blood (2016)

Batman: Bad Blood

6.7

Video

character created by: Talia al Ghul

2016

 

Beware the Batman (2013)

Beware the Batman

7.3

TV Series

character created by: Lady Shiva

2013–2014

5 episodes

 

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (2010)

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

7.7

Video Game

character: Cassandra Webb/Madame Web (uncredited)

2010

 

Christian Bale in Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins

8.2

Video Game

character: Ra's al Ghul (uncredited)

2005

 

Tara Strong, Kevin Conroy, Loren Lester, and Mathew Valencia in The New Batman Adventures (1997)

The New Batman Adventures

8.4

TV Series

concept: "Matches Malone" (uncredited)

1997

1 episode

 

Wolverine: Adamantium Rage (1994)

Wolverine: Adamantium Rage

6.2

Video Game

characters (uncredited)

1994

 

Batman: The Animated Series (1992)

Batman: The Animated Series

9.0

TV Series

based on the comic book story "A Vow From the Grave" byconcept: "Matches Malone"based on the comic book stories "Daughter of the Demon" & "The Demon Lives Again" by ...

1992–1994

7 episodes

 

Gerard Christopher in Superboy (1988)

Superboy

6.0

TV Series

Writer

1989

2 episodes

 

G.I. Joe (1985)

G.I. Joe

7.7

TV Series

written by (as Dennis O'Neil)

1985

1 episode

 

Gregory Harrison and Heather Menzies-Urich in Logan's Run (1977)

Logan's Run

7.1

TV Series

written by (as Dennis O'Neil)

1978

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Matthew Modine, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises

8.4

character: Talia al Ghul as Miranda Tate/Talia al Ghul (uncredited)

2012

 

Christian Bale in Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins

8.2

Video Game

writing consultant

2005

 

Christian Bale in Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins

8.2

character: Ra's al Ghul (uncredited)

2005

 

Thanks

Bird of Steel!

special thanks

Completed

 

What If...? (2021)

What If...?

7.3

TV Series

with special thanks to: Marvel Studios (as Dennis O'Neil)

2021–2024

2 episodes

 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter (2024)

Kraven the Hunter

5.5

special thanks (as Dennis O'Neil)

2024

 

Untold Legends of Comic Books

TV Series

in memory of

2024

 

Olivia Swann, Shayan Sobhian, Nick Zano, Amy Louise Pemberton, Matt Ryan, Adam Tsekhman, Caity Lotz, Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, and Lisseth Chavez in DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow

6.7

TV Series

special thanks

2022

1 episode

 

Paul Dano, Colin Farrell, Robert Pattinson, and Zoë Kravitz in The Batman (2022)

The Batman

7.8

special thanks (as Dennis O'Neil)

2022

 

Franka Potente, Jay Lycurgo, Anna Diop, Ryan Potter, Brenton Thwaites, Joshua Orpin, and Teagan Croft in Titans (2018)

Titans

7.5

TV Series

special thanks

2021

1 episode

 

Mark Dacascos, Kelly Hu, James Hong, Michael Jai White, and David Giuntoli in Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)

Batman: Soul of the Dragon

6.1

in memory of (as Dennis O'Neil)

2021

 

Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margot Robbie, and Ella Jay Basco in Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

6.1

special thanks

2020

 

Long Live Superman (2019)

Long Live Superman

special thanks

2019

 

Knight Immortal (2019)

Knight Immortal

6.4

Short

special thanks

2019

 

Jason Todd: Fate by the Fans

Video

special thanks

2019

 

Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

Spider-Man: Far from Home

7.4

with special thanks to

2019

 

Masterpiece: Frank Miller's the Dark Knight Returns (2013)

Masterpiece: Frank Miller's the Dark Knight Returns

7.6

special thanks

2013

 

The Joker: Laughing in the Face of Death

7.8

Video

special thanks

2013

 

Superman vs. Batman: When Heroes Collide (2013)

Superman vs. Batman: When Heroes Collide

6.8

Video

special thanks

2013

 

Guarding the Balance: Batman and the JLA (2012)

Guarding the Balance: Batman and the JLA

6.0

Video

special thanks (as Dennis O'Neil)

2012

 

Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots (2011)

Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots

8.0

Video

special thanks (as Dennis O'Neil)

2011

 

Batman Year One: A Conversation with DC Comics (2011)

Batman Year One: A Conversation with DC Comics

7.6

Video

special thanks (as Dennis O'Neil)

2011

 

You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman (2006)

You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman

7.7

Video

special thanks

2006

 

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - Dark Side of the Knight (2005)

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - Dark Side of the Knight

7.2

Video

special thanks

2005

 

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - The Road to Gotham City (2005)

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - The Road to Gotham City

7.5

Video

special thanks

2005

 

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - The Gathering Storm (2005)

Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - The Gathering Storm

7.5

Video

special thanks

2005

 

Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman (2005)

Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman

7.5

Video

special thanks

2005

 

Christopher Nolan in Batman: The Journey Begins (2005)

Batman: The Journey Begins

7.5

Video

additional thanks

2005

 

Justice (2003)

Justice

5.0

special thanks (as Denny O'Neill)

2003

 

Comic Books & Superheroes

6.5

Video

thanks

2001

 

Self

Untold Legends of Comic Books

TV Series

Self

2024

1 episode

 

Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto, Joaquin Phoenix, Cesar Romero, and Heath Ledger in Joker: Put on A Happy Face (2020)

Joker: Put on A Happy Face

6.8

Short

Self

2020

 

Long Live Superman (2019)

Long Live Superman

Self

2019

 

Knight Immortal (2019)

Knight Immortal

6.4

Short

Self

2019

 

Jason Todd: Fate by the Fans

Video

Self

2019

 

Happy Birthday, Batman! (2019)

Happy Birthday, Batman!

Short

Self

2019

 

The Toys That Made Us (2017)

The Toys That Made Us

7.9

TV Series

Self

2018

1 episode

 

Charlton Comics: The Movie (2017)

Charlton Comics: The Movie

Self

2017

 

Kevin Smith in Comic Book Men (2012)

Comic Book Men

7.7

TV Series

Self

2015

1 episode

 

The Sixties (2014)

The Sixties

8.4

TV Mini Series

Self - Scriptwriter

2014

1 episode

 

Kevin Smith and Marc Bernardin in Fat Man Beyond (2012)

Fat Man Beyond

7.9

Podcast Series

Self - Guest (voice)

2014

3 episodes

 

Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle (2013)

Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle

8.1

TV Mini Series

Self - Writer

2013

2 episodes

 

Masterpiece: Frank Miller's the Dark Knight Returns (2013)

Masterpiece: Frank Miller's the Dark Knight Returns

7.6

Self

2013

 

Legends of the Knight (2013)

Legends of the Knight

7.6

Self

2013

 

The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of the Dark Knight Trilogy (2013)

The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of the Dark Knight Trilogy

7.9

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2013

 

Who Is the Question?

Short

Self

2013

 

The Joker: Laughing in the Face of Death

7.8

Video

Self

2013

 

Superman vs. Batman: When Heroes Collide (2013)

Superman vs. Batman: When Heroes Collide

6.8

Video

Self

2013

 

Guarding the Balance: Batman and the JLA (2012)

Guarding the Balance: Batman and the JLA

6.0

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2012

 

Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots (2011)

Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots

8.0

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2011

 

Batman Year One: A Conversation with DC Comics (2011)

Batman Year One: A Conversation with DC Comics

7.6

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2011

 

The Universe According to Green Lantern (2011)

The Universe According to Green Lantern

6.9

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2011

 

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (2010)

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics

7.6

Video

Self - Writer; Editor (as Dennis O'Neil)

2010

 

Robin: The Story of Dick Grayson (2010)

Robin: The Story of Dick Grayson

5.8

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2010

 

Wonder Woman: A Subversive Dream

6.8

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2009

 

Wonder Woman: Daughter of Myth

6.6

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2009

 

The Legion of Doom: The Pathology of the Super Villain (2008)

The Legion of Doom: The Pathology of the Super Villain

7.5

Video

Self

2008

 

Batman Unmasked (2008)

Batman Unmasked

7.2

TV Movie

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2008

 

A Mirror for the Bat (2008)

A Mirror for the Bat

7.1

Video

Self (as Dennis O'Neil)

2008

 

The Green Arrow: Legend of the Emerald Archer (2007)

The Green Arrow: Legend of the Emerald Archer

8.0

Video

Self

2007

 

The Legends Behind the Comic Books

Self

2007

 

Evolution: New Heroes, Viler Villains, and Ethnic Additions

Video

2007

 

The Mythology of Superman (2006)

The Mythology of Superman

7.3

Video

Self

2006

 

The Science of Superman (2006)

The Science of Superman

6.8

TV Movie

Self - comic book writer (as Dennis O'Neil)

2006

 

Dean Cain, Christopher Reeve, George Reeves, and Brandon Routh in Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman (2006)

Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman

7.8

TV Movie

Self - Comic Book Writer (as Dennis O'Neil)

2006

 

Batman Forever Heroes: Robin

5.6

Video

Self

2005

 

Batman Heroes: Batman

5.9

Video

Self

2005

 

Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman (2005)

Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman

7.5

Video

Self

2005

 

Genesis of the Bat (2005)

Genesis of the Bat

7.0

Video

Self - WriterFormer 'Batman' Editor

2005

 

Batman Begins: Making the Game (2005)

Batman Begins: Making the Game

Video

Self

2005

 

Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked (2003)

Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked

7.7

TV Movie

Self - Retired and Freelance History Writer

2003

 

Comic Books & Superheroes

6.5

Video

Self

2001

 

The Anti Gravity Room (1995)

The Anti Gravity Room

7.9

TV Series

Self

1997

4 episodes

 

Rick Green in Prisoners of Gravity (1989)

Prisoners of Gravity

8.4

TV Series

Self

1991–1992

5 episodes

 

Jim Carter and Jessica Marshall-Gardiner in The Late Show (1988)

The Late Show

6.5

TV Series

Self

1989

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Untold Legends of Comic Books

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2024

 

Superpowered: The DC Story (2023)

Superpowered: The DC Story

7.2

TV Mini Series

Self - Writer (archive footage, as Dennis O'Neil)

2023

1 episode

 

Marvel 616 (2020)

Marvel 616

6.5

TV Series

Self - Comic Writer & Editor (archive footage)

2020

1 episode

 

The Replacement Gods (2012)

The Replacement Gods

5.5

Video

Self - Writer & Former Editor, DC Comics (archive footage, as Dennis O'Neil)

2012

 

Archive Sound

Kevin Smith and Marc Bernardin in Fat Man Beyond (2012)

Fat Man Beyond

7.9

Podcast Series

Self - Guest (archive footage)

2020

1 episode