Doug Moench - Biography

Biography

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moench has also written novels, short stories, newspaper feature articles, weekly newspaper comic strips, film screenplays and teleplays. His first published work was My Dog Sandy, a comic strip printed in his elementary school newspaper. He began his professional writing career in the early 1970s with scripts for Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella and articles for the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1973, he moved to New York City.

Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. His first run on the title ended with issue #400 which featured work by several popular comics artists and included an introduction by novelist Stephen King. Moench also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986. In his second run on the title, Moench was one of the writers of the "Knightfall" storyline and wrote Batman #500 in which the character Azrael replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman.

Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.

Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds graphic novels, including Batman & Dracula: Red Rain and a long run of the monthly Batman comic. In 1994, Moench co-wrote the Batman-Spawn: War Devil intercompany crossover with Chuck Dixon and Alan Grant.

Married to Debra with a son (Derek), Moench currently lives in Pennsylvania.