Denny O'Neil, legendary DC and Marvel Comics writer, dies

GamesRadar+ reports on the passing of comic book writer and editor Denny O’Neil at age 81 from natural causes.

Best known for his work on Batman, O’Neil is “credited for guiding the Dark Knight back to his darker roots after a period of campiness brought on by the success of the 1960s Batman TV series.”

“During his time on Batman, he created/co-created Ra’s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Leslie Thompkins, Azrael, and Richard Dragon; he was also involved in the revitalization of the Joker and Two-Face as modern DC villains, and oversaw the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin.”
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Comic book legends Denny O'Neil and Roy Thomas at Phoenix Fan Fusion

Nerdvana file photos by Bob Leeper

Denny O’Neil tributes from Twitter:

Denny O'Neil – he saved the best of comics Golden Age, revitalized it for the Silver Age, and became the architect of all that was to come. RIP. pic.twitter.com/nqzfn469e1
— Paul_Dini (@Paul_Dini) June 12, 2020

RIP Denny O'Neill. His book on writing comics was indispensable to me as a teenager. pic.twitter.com/nqupTPYgP3
— Danny Djeljosevic (@djeljosevic) June 12, 2020

RIP Denny O'Neil. I was such an enormous fan of this guy that I still have his faxed, hand-written notes for my Superman: Red Son proposal as a souvenir in my office. A true gent who pretty much reinvented what a comic-book writer was capable of. https://t.co/3G0xCapaVI
— Mark Millar (@mrmarkmillar) June 12, 2020

Oh man. The architect of so much of what DC Comics is today. One of the best to ever do it. RIP, Denny. https://t.co/3lXybW03hv
— Chris Conroy (@ConroyForReal) June 12, 2020

RIP Denny O’ Neil—one of visionary architects of DC Comics who helped revive Batman in the 1970’s and remains my favorite Green Lantern writer to date. Through his editing and writing, Denny was one of the earliest writers whose work and focus on social issues pushed comics 1/ pic.twitter.com/5zqmD4Wz7T
— Jim Lee (@JimLee) June 12, 2020

Denny O’Neil made timeless comics by making comics about his time. The revolutions of the 60s, the excesses of the 70s, the corruption of the 80s, the facades of the 90s—he used super hero tropes as brushstrokes to paint a picture of who we are and who we could be. RIP. pic.twitter.com/eWwI6tfnrp
— Tom King (@TomKingTK) June 12, 2020

This is the bitterest pill. Denny O’Neill’s run with Neal Adams on Green Lantern/Green Arrow has always been the comic I have strived to emulate. His heroes were just and kind and real… just like the man himself.

Thanks for the memories Denny. https://t.co/TKaPGteeum
— Joshua Smith (@PKLD_BEATZ) June 12, 2020

RIP Denny O’Neill. One of the greatest progressive writers DC comics ever had. pic.twitter.com/oewvgUU5Gu
— Dan Jacka (@TheDanJacka) June 12, 2020

Crushed to hear about Denny O'Neil. I met him for the 1st time in 2012 filming this extras reel for Batman Year One & I couldn't stop geeking out. He was so kind and encouraging tho, &I feel lucky to have gotten to know him over the years. True giant. Lights dim in Gotham tonight https://t.co/OUFleKcNbL
— Scott Snyder (@Ssnyder1835) June 12, 2020

Saddened to hear we lost one of the great comic book writers/editors/teachers Denny O'Neil. @shawnabenson & I obsessed over all his work especially his groundbreaking Green Lantern/Green Arrow "Snowbirds Don't Fly" which we paid homage to in our Green Arrow run. RIP to a legend. https://t.co/mu0OuvujAi
— Julie Benson (@TheJulieBenson) June 12, 2020