Paul Kupperberg - 5 Quick Questions

Paul Kupperberg is a former editor for DC Comics, and a prolific writer of comic books and newspaper strips.



Paul Kupperberg was born on June 14, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York, and entered the comics field from comics fandom as had his brother, artist and writer, Alan Kupperberg. Kupperberg (with Paul Levitz) produced the comics fanzine The Comic Reader between 1971 - 1973, and Etcetera between 1972 - 1973.

Since then he has written an estimated 600 comic book stories, primarily at DC Comics, for the Julius Schwartz edited Superman, Action Comics, Supergirl, and Superboy titles as well as the new Doom Patrol, Vigilante, Green Lantern, The Brave and the Bold, Showcase, Superman Family, House of Mystery, Weird War Tales, Justice League of America, Ghosts, Star Trek, Aquaman, Adventure Comics, The Savage Sword of Conan, and many others. Kupperberg created the comic book series Arion Lord of Atlantis (1981-1985), Checkmate! (1988-1992), and Takion (1996). He wrote the syndicated Superman newspaper comic strip (with Jose Delbo) from 1981-1985 and the Tom & Jerry newspaper strip from 1990-1991.

He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.

1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?

Lasting over 30 years in comics is pretty impressive, but I guess I'd have to go with creating Arion Lord of Atlantis. He seems to have made the most lasting impression.

2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?

I worked with so many of my childhood heroes, including Curt Swan, Carmine Infantino, Kurt Schaffenberger, Gil Kane, Jack Kirby, Bob Oksner, Don Heck, that it's hard to say. I would suppose it's a toss-up between working with Curt Swan (on Superman), Carmine Infantino and Gil Kane. And Kirby. And Oksner. Heck...oh, crap. I can't pick just one!

3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?

I think I've worked with pretty much most my favorites, but I would like another crack at Captain America (I did one fill-in, in the 70s, that was awful).

4) Who are your influences?

In comics: Arnold Drake, Len Wein, David Michelinie, Will Eisner. In prose: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Frederick Exley, Jack London


5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?

These days, I'd change them all: back to who they're really supposed to be because everybody's managed to muck up just about every character.

Check out Paul's own blog at kupperberg.blogspot.com