Mindy Newell (born October 24, 1953) is an American

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

writer and editor, best known for her work with

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

Early life

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Newell graduated from high school in 1971. She then attended the

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. It was formed out of the 1996 merger of Beth Israel Hospital (founded in 1916) and New England Deaconess Hospital (founded ...

to study nursing. Following her nursing schooling, Newell enrolled at

Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac University () is a private university in Hamden, Connecticut. The university grants undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees through its College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Engineering, School of C ...

and studied biology while working as a nurse.

Biography

A longtime fan of comics, particularly of Marvel's

Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book '' Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the ...

, Mindy Newell sent submissions to

in 1983 at a time when the company was actively looking for new talent. Her first professional work was her creation of the character Jenesis, which appeared in three issues of ''

New Talent Showcase ''Showcase'' is a comic anthology series published by DC Comics. The general theme of the series was to feature new and minor characters as a way to gauge reader interest in them, without the difficulty and risk of featuring untested characters in ...

''. Editor

Karen Berger Karen Berger (; born February 26, 1958) is an American comic book editor. She is best known for her role in helping create DC Comics' Vertigo imprint in 1993 and serving as the line's Executive Editor until 2013. She currently oversees Berger B ...

called her in for an interview four days after DC received her submission. Hired by editors

Dick Giordano Richard Joseph Giordano (; July 20, 1932 – March 27, 2010) was an American comics artist and editor whose career included introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes and serving as executive editor of DC Comics. Early li ...

and Karen Berger, Newell wrote fill-in issues for ''

Legion of Super-Heroes The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the Legion is a group of superpowered beings living in the 30th and 31st c ...

'' and ''

Action Comics ''Action Comics'' is an American comic book/Comic anthology, magazine series that introduced Superman, one of the first major superhero characters. The publisher was originally known as National Allied Publications, and later as National Comics ...

''. While working as part of the new talent program, Newell became the writer of ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...

''. She was the first credited woman to write the ''Wonder Woman'' series in an ongoing capacity but was limited in what she could write due to editorial mandates. In 1986, Newell and artist

Gray Morrow Dwight Graydon "Gray" Morrow (March 7, 1934 – November 6, 2001).e., the Gilberton Company, publisher of the ''Classics Illustrated'' comic-book series of literary adaptations], and I was given a script. One thing led to another and I was soo ...

collaborated on a ''

Lois Lane Lois Lane is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in ''Action Comics'' #1 (June 1938). Lois is an award-winning journalist for ...

'' limited series which dealt with the subject of

missing children A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, de ...

. In addition, Newell wrote ''

'' and ''Her Sister's Keeper,'' a seminal ''

Catwoman Catwoman is a fictional character created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Debuting as "the Cat" in ''Batman'' #1 (spring 1940), she ...

'' limited series. Newell also briefly worked on

First Comics First Comics was an American comic book publisher that was active from 1983 to 1991, known for titles like ''American Flagg!'', ''Grimjack'', ''Nexus'', ''Badger'', ''Dreadstar'', and ''Jon Sable''. Along with competitors like Pacific Comics and ...

's ''

American Flagg ''American Flagg!'' is an American comic book series created by writer-artist Howard Chaykin, published by First Comics from 1983 to 1989. A science fiction series and political satire, it was set in the U.S., particularly Chicago, Illinois, in th ...

'' and

Eclipse Comics Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market. It was ...

's '' The New Wave''. Newell has always maintained a career as a

nurse Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...

while writing comics, and has since returned to that occupation full-time.

Personal life

Newell is a full-time nurse and mother, while still contributing to comics and other projects. Her former husband,

John Higgins John Higgins, (born 18 May 1975) is a Scottish professional snooker player. He has won 31 career ranking titles, placing him in third position on the all-time list of ranking event winners, behind Ronnie O'Sullivan (39) and Stephen Hendry ( ...

, is a British comic book writer, illustrator, and letterer.

Bibliography

Writer

Angry Isis Press

*''Choices: A Pro-Choice Benefit Comic Anthology for the National Organization for Women'' #1 (1990)

DC Comics

*''

'' (Superman) #566 (1985), (Catwoman) #611–614 (1988) *''

Amethyst Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek αμέθυστος ''amethystos'' from α- ''a-'', "not" and μεθύσκω (Ancient Greek) / μεθώ (Modern Greek), "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that t ...

'' vol. 2 #12, 15–16, ''Special'' #1 (1985–1986) *''Amethyst'' vol. 3 #1–4 (mini-series, 1987–1988) *''

'' #1–4 (mini-series, 1989) *''

Green Lantern Corps Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic law enforcement organization appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residin ...

Annual'' #2 (1986) *''

Heroes Against Hunger ''Heroes Against Hunger'' is a 1986 all-star benefit comic book for African famine relief and recovery. Published by DC Comics in the form of a "comic jam" or exquisite corpse, the book starred Superman and Batman. Spearheaded by Jim Starlin and B ...

'' #1 (two pages only, 1986) *'' Legionnaires 3'' #1–4 (with co-author

Keith Giffen Keith Ian Giffen (born November 30, 1952) is an American comics artist and writer. He is known for his work for DC Comics on their ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' and ''Justice League'' titles as well as for being the co-creator of Lobo. Biography K ...

, pencils by

Ernie Colón Ernesto Colón SierraColón in English translation of Via (July 13, 1931 – August 8, 2019) was a stateside Puerto Rican comics artist, known for his wide-ranging career illustrating children's, superhero, and horror comics, as well as mains ...

and inks by

Karl Kesel Karl Kesel (born January 7, 1959, Victor, New York) is an American comics writer and inker whose works have primarily been under contract for DC Comics. He is a member of Periscope Studio and is best known for his collaborations with fellow artis ...

, mini-series, 1986) *''

'' #1–2 (art by

, miniseries) (1986) *''

'' #5, 7–11, 13 (1984) *'' Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #315–317, 320–325 (1984–1985) *'' V'' #7 (1985) *''

'' #326–328 (1985) *''Wonder Woman'' vol. 2 #36–46, 49 (1989–1990)

Eclipse Comics

*'' Miracleman'' #8 (The New Wave preview) (1986) *'' The New Wave'' #1–13 (1986–1987) *''The New Wave vs. the Volunteers'' #1–2 (1987) *''Tales of Terror'' #3 (1985)

First Comics

*''

American Flagg! ''American Flagg!'' is an American comic book series created by writer-artist Howard Chaykin, published by First Comics from 1983 to 1989. A science fiction series and political satire, it was set in the U.S., particularly Chicago, Illinois, in th ...

'' #46–49 (scripting over

Howard Chaykin Howard Victor Chaykin (; born October 7, 1950) is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker. Early life ...

's plot, 1987) *''American Flagg!'' vol. 2 #1 (scripting over Howard Chaykin's plot, 1988)

IPC Magazines

*'' 2000 AD'' #1412–1419, with co-author and artist

(2004)

Last Gasp

*''

Strip AIDS ''Strip AIDS'' and ''Strip AIDS U.S.A.'' are comics anthology volumes published in 1987 in the UK, and 1988 in the US (respectively). They combined short comics with educational and sometimes comedic themes, to educate readers about HIV disease an ...

U.S.A.'' #1 (1988)

Marvel Comics

*''

Daredevil Daredevil may refer to: * A stunt performer Arts and media Comics * Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro * Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...

Annual'' #10 (1994) *''Daredevil vs. Vapora'' #1 (1993) *''

Marvel Comics Presents ''Marvel Comics Presents'' was an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics originally from 1988 to 1995. It returned for a second volume in 2007–2008, and a third volume that started in 2019. Volume 1 The first volume ...

'' #135 ( Black Widow) (1993) *''

Power Pack Power Pack is a superhero team consisting of four young siblings appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist June Brigman, they first appeared in their own series in 1984, which las ...

Holiday Special'' #1 (1992) *'' Thunderstrike'' #17 (1995) *'' 2099 Special: The World of Doom'' #1 (1995)

Editor

Marvel Comics

*'' Car Warriors'' #3–4 (Epic, 1991) *''

Deathlok Deathlok (also referred to as Deathlok the Demolisher) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in ''Astonishing Tales'' #25 (Aug. 1974), created by Rich Buckler. At least three subs ...

'' #25–27 (1993) *''The Marvel X-Men Collection'' #1–3 (1994)

References

External links

Mindy Newell
at ComicMix *
Mindy Newell
at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators {{DEFAULTSORT:Newell, Mindy 1953 births American comics writers American nurses American women nurses Comic book editors DC Comics people Female comics writers Jewish American writers Living people Marvel Comics writers Quinnipiac University alumni