| Peter Tomasi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 18, 1967 |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Writer, Editor |
Notable works | Batman and Robin Brightest Day Green Lantern Corps Nightwing Superman |
Peter J. Tomasi is an American comic book editor and writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. As an editor, he oversaw numerous comic books featuring the Justice League, including series starring various members of that team such as Batman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, and the Flash. As a writer, he has written titles featuring Batman-related characters, such as Batman and Robin and The Outsiders, and Green Lantern-related series such as Blackest Night (alongside Geoff Johns), Brightest Day and Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors. He also wrote the screenplay for the animated movie The Death of Superman.
Peter Tomasi became a fan of comics at a young age through the Batman comic books his father bought him, and through TV shows such as the Super Friends animated series and the Adam West Batman series. Batman was the first superhero who entered his consciousness, as it was the first character he dressed up as for Halloween, and the first comic book whose creators he recognized. Specifically he cites the work of Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams as the first to draw him into the character, as well as Bob Haney's work on The Brave and the Bold and that of Jim Aparo.[1]
Starting as an editor at DC Comics in 1993, and working on such titles as Green Lantern, the Batman titles, Aquaman, Hawkman, and JSA,[2] Tomasi was an occasional writer on various titles, including JSA, The Outsiders, Steel, and The Light Brigade. In 2003, DC promoted him to Senior Editor.[3]
In 2007, Tomasi left his 14-year role as an editor and transitioned to writing.[4] He began on the limited series Black Adam: The Dark Age. In 2008, he wrote Requiem, a tie-in to Final Crisis that paid tribute to the fallen Martian Manhunter.[5] Tomasi wrote the Nightwing title for 14 issues until its cancellation in April 2009 due to events in the "Battle for the Cowl" storyline.[6][7][8] In 2011, Tomasi took over as writer on Batman and Robin with issue No. 20 from Paul Cornell, writing the three part "Tree of Blood" storyline that ran until issue No. 22.[9]
From 2009 to 2010, Tomasi co-wrote the creator-owned title The Mighty with Keith Champagne,[10][11] as well as Green Lantern Corps through the "Blackest Night" storyline.[12]
Tomasi co-wrote the "Blackest Night" follow-up maxiseries Brightest Day in 2010–2011, with Geoff Johns.[13][14] During that same period, he was the regular writer on the monthly Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors and The Outsiders, which ended in 2011 as part of DC's The New 52 line-wide relaunch.[15] As part of that relaunch, Tomasi became the writer on the relaunched volumes of Batman and Robin[16] and Green Lantern Corps which were released in September 2011.[17] As part of the 2016 DC Rebirth relaunch of DC's titles, Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason became the creative team on Superman vol. 4 in June 2016.[18][19] Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez produced a new version of the Super Sons beginning in 2017. The two new super-kids are Damian Wayne, son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, and Jonathan Kent, son of Superman and Lois Lane.[20] The series ran for 16 issues and one annual. Tomasi and Gleason crafted the "Never-Ending Battle" chapter in Action Comics #1000 (June 2018).[21] Tomasi launched the Adventures of the Super Sons limited series in August 2018.[22]
Tomasi penned the screenplay for the 2018 animated feature film The Death of Superman. Directed by Jake Castorena and Sam Liu, this is the eleventh film in the shared animated film continuity series: The DC Animated Movie Universe and the first of a two-part animated feature based on the comic book story arc of the same name, with part one released on August 7, 2018.[23]
That same year, Tomasi became the new writer for Detective Comics as of issue No. 994.[24] He concluded his run with Detective Comics issue No. 1033.[25]
On October 12, 2023, Tomasi and a group of colleagues announced at the New York Comic Con that they were forming a cooperative media company called Ghost Machine which would publish creator-owned comics, and allow the participating creators to benefit from the development of their intellectual properties. The company publishes its books through Image Comics, and its founding creators include Geoff Johns, Brad Meltzer, Jason Fabok, Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, and Francis Manapul, all of whom would produce comics work exclusively through that company.[26][27] Tomasi's inaugural work for the company would be writing The Rocketfellers, with Manapul providing the art.[28][29] The series' premise is based on the idea that Manapul explains thus: "The best place to hide when you're in the Witness Protection Program perhaps is through a different time."[30] The story depicts a 26th century dysfunctional family who when threatened, flee by traveling through time to the year 2024, where they to encounter the strange inhabitants and culture of that era, only to find that the threat they thought they had escaped has followed them.[31]
Tomasi has a son. In a February 2011 interview with Comic Book Resources, Tomasi discussed how his then-eight-year-old son influenced his approach to writing Damian Wayne in Batman and Robin. Tomasi also spoke about his son's influence on the way he writes Superman's son, Jon.[1]
