Greg Rucka

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Greg Rucka
GregRucka.jpg
Rucka at a comic book convention during a meet-and-greet in 2004
Born Gregory Rucka
San Francisco, California
Nationality American
Area(s) Writer
Notable works
 Action Comics
Detective Comics
52
Gotham Central
Queen & Country
Stumptown
Whiteout
Wolverine
Wonder Woman
Awards 3 Eisner Awards
2004 Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story
2010 Annual GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book
Spouse(s) Jennifer Van Meter
http://www.gregrucka.com/wp/category/blog/

Gregory "Greg" Rucka is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman, Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Atticus Kodiak series.

Early life

Greg Rucka was born on November 29, 1969 in San Francisco and raised on the Monterey Peninsula of California, in an area known to the locals as "Steinbeck Country". He first discovered comics at the Nob Hill Market in Salinas, California, where at age five, he first saw digest-sized black and white reprints of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's work on The Incredible Hulk, which he convinced his mother to buy. He began writing at a young age, and at age 10, he won a county-wide short story contest. He graduated from Vassar College with an A.B. in English. He then enrolled in the University of Southern California's Master of Professional Writing program, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts. He names Douglas Adams as his biggest influence.[1][2]

Before becoming a professional fiction writer he worked in a number of other occupations, including house painting, restaurant work, emergency medical technician, security guard, technical writer and fight choreographer.[2]

Career

Rucka's writing career began with the Atticus Kodiak series. Kodiak is a bodyguard whose jobs are rarely as uncomplicated as they at first appear. The series to date consists of Keeper, Finder, Smoker, Shooting at Midnight, Critical Space, Patriot Acts, and Walking Dead. These works garnered Rucka much critical acclaim and comparisons to the elite writers of crime/suspense fiction. The "Atticus" novels are notable for their realism and attention to detail, which are partly a product of Rucka's fight training and experience as an EMT. He has written three non-Atticus books: Fistful of Rain, A Gentleman's Game and Private Wars; the latter two are tie-ins to his comic book series Queen & Country.

In 1998, Rucka entered the comics industry with Whiteout, published through Oni Press.[3] Whiteout focuses on a murder in an Antarctic base. It was followed by a sequel, Whiteout: Melt.

The majority of Rucka's work throughout the 2000s was for DC Comics,[3] where he was involved with their main trinity of characters: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Rucka wrote Batman on a regular basis in the Detective Comics series following the events of "No Man's Land'".[4] He wrote the novelization of the year-long arc.[5] While writing Detective Comics, he created a number of background characters that led to the co-creation of Gotham Central with co-writer Ed Brubaker.[6] His Batman work includes such story arcs as "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?"[7] and "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive".[8] as well as the Batman: Death and the Maidens limited series.[9] From October 2003 to April 2006 he wrote Wonder Woman after having previously written the character in the Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia original graphic novel.

From 2002 to 2004, he did some work for Marvel, including the start of the third volume of Wolverine,[10] Elektra and the mini-series Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra. He has worked for Image Comics. The first volume of his series Queen & Country concluded in July 2007 with issue #32.

He co-wrote Countdown to Infinite Crisis, a one-shot and the official start of the Infinite Crisis storyline, with Geoff Johns and Judd Winick.[11] Rucka's work on both Wonder Woman and Gotham Central ended in 2006. Although he was not involved in the main storyline of Infinite Crisis, he did write The OMAC Project[3] which built towards the event, focusing on Batman's distrust of other superheroes. This led to the revival of Checkmate, a UN authority that oversaw superheroes including Sasha Bordeaux, an integral character of The OMAC Project. He was a co-writer on the weekly series 52, which he co-wrote with Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, and Mark Waid.[12] This series chronicled in real-time the year following Infinite Crisis, and saw Rucka focus on Renee Montoya of Gotham Central[13] and the creation of the new Batwoman, Kate Kane.[14] Rucka returned to the Batwoman character frequently over the years in a 52 sequel The Crime Bible and Final Crisis: Revelations before by returning to Detective Comics with artist J. H. Williams III.[15][16][17]

Rucka wrote the screenplay for the "Crossfire" segment in the direct-to-DVD anime Batman: Gotham Knight, in which Crispus Allen, a character he created, appears.[18] In 2009, Rucka and artist Eddy Barrows took over Action Comics as the title moved its focus from Superman to Kryptonian heroes Nightwing and Flamebird in the aftermath of the "New Krypton" story arc.[19] As well as writing Action Comics, Rucka co-wrote the main New Krypton 12 part series with Superman writer James Robinson.

At Wondercon 2010 Rucka announced he would part ways with DC Comics to focus on his own projects, in part because of DC's failure to keep him on as writer of Wonder Woman: Earth One as promised.[20][21][22] Rucka then wrote The Punisher for Marvel Comics.[23]

On July 11, 2011, Rucka launched the webcomic Lady Sabre and the Pirates of the Ineffable Aether, a steampunk adventure series illustrated by Rick Burchett. New installments appear every Monday and Thursday.[24] In May 2013, Rucka launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the publication of a print edition of Lady Sabre,[25] and achieved their initial funding goal of $27,500 within eight hours.[26]

Appearances in media

Rucka was featured as a character in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation comic book miniseries Dying in the Gutters, as someone who accidentally killed a comics gossip columnist while attempting to kill Joe Quesada over his perceived role in the cancellation of Gotham Central.[27]

Personal life

Rucka, his wife, author Jen Van Meter, and their two children, lived in Eugene, Oregon, and today live in Portland, Oregon.[1][2]

Rucka's best friend, David Hale Smith, is also his literary agent.[1]

Rucka names The Conversation, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Silence of the Lambs as his favorite films.[1] He enjoys the music of Dexter Gordon, Lester Bowie, Joe Jackson, Warren Zevon, and Melissa Ferrick. His other hobbies include roleplaying games, computer games, playing the guitar and collecting action figures. He previously rode a motorcycle, but stopped doing so after its battery died, and hopes one day to give it to someone.[2]

Awards

Wins

Nominations

  • 1999 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series (for Whiteout, with Steve Lieber)[33]
  • 1999 Eisner Award for Best Writer (for Whiteout)[33]
  • 2000 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: Reprint (for Whiteout, with Steve Lieber)[28]
  • 2000 Eisner Award for Best Writer (for Whiteout: Melt)[28]
  • 2002 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story (for Queen & Country #1-4: "Operation: Broken Ground", with Steve Rolston)[29]
  • 2002 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series (for Queen & Country, with Steve Rolston)[29]
  • 2002 Eisner Award for Best Writer (for Queen & Country)[29]
  • 2003 Eisner Award for Best Writer (for Queen & Country)[34]
  • 2003 Eisner Award for Best Writer (for Queen & Country and Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia)[35]
  • 2003 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story (for Queen & Country #8-12: "Operation: Crystal Ball", with Leandro Fernández)[35]
  • 2003 Eisner Award for Best New Series (for Gotham Central, with Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark)[35]
  • 2003 Harvey Award for Best Writer (for Gotham Central, with Ed Brubaker)[36]
  • 2004 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story (for Queen & Country #13-15: "Operation Blackwall", with Jason Shawn Alexander)[30]
  • 2004 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series (for Gotham Central, with Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark, Brian Hurtt, and Stefano Gaudiano)[30]
  • 2004 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series (for Queen & Country, with Jason Alexander, Carla Speed McNeil, and Mike Hawthorne)[30]
  • 2004 Eisner Award for Best Writer (for Queen & Country, Wonder Woman and Wolverine)[30]
  • 2005 Eisner Award for Best Writer (for Queen & Country and Gotham Central)[34]
  • 2007 Harvey Award for Best New Series (for 52, with Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, and Keith Giffen)[37]
  • 2011 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series (for Stumptown, with Matthew Southworth)
  • 2014 Eisner Award for Best New Series (for Lazarus, with Michael Lark)

Bibliography

Novels

Atticus Kodiak series

  1. Keeper 332 pages, 1997, ISBN 978-0553574289
  2. Finder 352 pages, 1998, ISBN 978-0553574296
  3. Smoker 432 pages, 1999, ISBN 978-0553578294
  4. Shooting At Midnight 400 pages, 2000, ISBN 978-0553578270
  5. Critical Space 528 pages, 2003, ISBN 978-0553581799
  6. Patriot Acts 416 pages, 2008, ISBN 978-0553588996
  7. Walking Dead 400 pages, 2010, ISBN 978-0553589009

Jad Bell series

  1. Alpha 304 pages, 2012, ISBN 978-0316182287
  2. Bravo (forthcoming)

Queen & Country series

  1. A Gentleman's Game 528 pages, 2005, ISBN 978-0553584929
  2. Private Wars 544 pages, 2006, ISBN 978-0553584936
  3. The Last Run 352 pages, 2011, ISBN 978-0553589016

Others

Comic books

DC

Image

Dark Horse Comics

  • Veil #1-ongoing (2014)
  • Dragon Age: Magekiller (November 2015)

Marvel

Oni Press

  • Oni Press Color Special 2001 (six page Queen & Country story)
  • Oni Press Summer Vacation Supercolor Fun Special (pages 37–42)
  • Queen & Country #1-32 (2001-2004)
  • Queen & Country: Declassified #1-3 (2002-2003)
  • Stumptown #1-4 (2009-2010)
  • Stumptown vol. 2 #1-5 (2012-2013)
  • Whiteout #1-4 (1998)
  • Whiteout: Melt #1-4 (1999-2000)
  • Whiteout: Night (forthcoming) #1-4

Webcomics

  • Lady Sabre and the Pirates of the Ineffable Ether

Video games

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Third Degree: Greg Rucka". Jupiter's Legacy #2 (June 2013) Image Comics. p. 27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Greg Rucka at the Grand Comics Database
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 262
  8. ↑ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 263
  9. ↑ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 269: "Writer Greg Rucka and artist Klaus Janson created this series that delved into the family tree of [Ra's al Ghul]."
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 319: "The prequel to Infinite Crisis was a collection of short stories...which were written by Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, and Judd Winick."
  12. ↑ Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 325: "The title was masterminded by writers Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid, with Keith Giffen providing art breakdowns."
  13. ↑ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 292
  14. ↑ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 287
  15. ↑ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 305: "Batman's flagship title had a new boss - Batwoman. Taking over as the title's protagonist...thanks to her longtime writer Greg Rucka and artist J. H. Williams III."
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lady Sabre and the Pirates of the Ineffable Aether
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Interviews

Audio interviews

Preceded by Detective Comics writer
2000–2002		 Succeeded by
Ed Brubaker
Preceded by Wolverine writer
2003–2004		 Succeeded by
Mark Millar
Preceded by Wonder Woman writer
2003–2006		 Succeeded by
Allan Heinberg
Preceded by Supergirl writer
2006		 Succeeded by
Joe Kelly
Preceded by
none
 Checkmate writer
2006–2008		 Succeeded by
Bruce Jones
Preceded by Action Comics writer with Eric Trautmann and James Dale Robinson (on the Captain Atom feature)
2009-2010		 Succeeded by
Paul Cornell
Preceded by Detective Comics writer
2009-2010		 Succeeded by
David Hine
Preceded by The Punisher writer
2011-2013		 Succeeded by
Nathan Edmondson
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