Erica Schultz (born June 29, 1977) is an American comic book writer, letterer, and editor. She is the first woman to write a Spawn comic,[1] and is best known for her writing work at Marvel on titles like Daredevil, X-23, and Hallows' Eve.[2]

Erica Schultz
Born (1977-06-29) June 29, 1977 (age 47)
Occupation(s)Comic book writer, letterer, and editor

Career

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Art and design

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Schultz worked as an art director at an advertising agency in New York City, and then started working at Neal Adams' Continuity Studios. Originally she was an animator on Marvel's Astonishing X-Men motion comic,[3] but continued doing art and design work, including inking and coloring on books such as Batman: Odyssey, The First X-Men, The Coming of the Supermen, and Blood.[4]

Schultz has also served as a letterer on multiple comic books, including Neal Adams' "Batman Zombie" in DC's Batman: Black and White #1,[5] Alan Moore's "Big Nemo" and Garth Ennis' "Red Horse" for Electricomics,[6] and she lettered the entire Swords of Sorrow series. Schultz lettered Dynamite's Red Sonja, Dejah Thoris, and Vampirella titles in 2016.[7] In April 2019, Schultz was announced as lettering instructor for Comics Experience.[8]

Writing

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In 2010/2011, Schultz co-created the Vices Press crime series M3, with Vicente Alcázar.[9] It won the 2012 award for Best Comic Book at the Burbank International Film Festival.[10]

In 2014, Schultz scripted Revenge: The Secret Origin of Emily Thorne, Marvel's Original Graphic Novel based on ABC's Revenge, in collaboration with TV series writer Ted Sullivan.[11][12][13][14] In 2015, Schultz was chosen by Gail Simone as one of the many female writers to be involved with Dynamite Entertainment's Swords of Sorrow crossover series.[15] Schultz wrote the Swords of Sorrow: Black Sparrow & Lady Zorro One-Shot and also co-wrote the Swords of Sorrow: Masquerade & Kato One-Shot with G. Willow Wilson.[16][17][18] Schultz also wrote a story titled "Pop Goes the World" for the Vertigo Comics anthology Vertigo Quarterly: SFX #1.[19]

In 2016, Schultz participated in the first DC Writers Workshop class taught by Scott Snyder.[20] She was also published in DC Comics' New Talent Showcase #1 for her Hawkgirl story with artist Sonny Liew.[21][22] In December 2016, Dynamite Entertainment announced Schultz, along with artist Maria Sanapo, would be relaunching the Charmed[23] comic book series, based on the television show that ran from 1998 to 2006. In addition to the release of Schultz's Charmed: A Thousand Deaths in 2017, she was a contributing writer to Space Between Entertainment's Destiny, NY Volume 2.[24]

In March 2018, Schultz was announced as a contributor to Image Comics' Where We Live Las Vegas Shooting Benefit Anthology,[25] and in April, Action Lab Comics announced that Schultz's Twelve Devils Dancing comic series with artist Dave Acosta would premiere under their Action Lab/Danger Zone imprint.[26] In May 2018, Schultz was announced as the new writer for Dynamite Entertainment's Xena: Warrior Princess beginning with issue #6[27] and as the writer for Marvel's 2018 Daredevil Annual.[28]

In August 2019, Schultz was announced as a writing and storytelling teacher for the Kubert School.[29] Schultz's story, "Future Shocks: The Switch" was included in 2000 AD Prog 2145, published in August 2019.[30] In October, ComiXology announced Schultz's mini-series Forgotten Home would be exclusive to the platform's ComiXology Originals digital comic books. Forgotten Home has since gone on to be nominated for five 2020 Ringo Awards including Best Writer (Schultz), Best Inker (Marika Cresta), Best Cover Artist (Natasha Alterici), Best Letterer (Cardinal Rae), and Best Series.[31][32]

In February 2020, Schultz was announced as an editor for Mad Cave Studios.[33] In May 2021, Schultz launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund an original graphic novel titled The Deadliest Bouquet.[34] Near the end of 2021, Aftershock Comics announced a new series for 2022 titled Bylines in Blood co-written by Schultz and Van Jensen.[35] Then in December 2021, Marvel provided a free digital comic book in collaboration with Citizen titled The Power of Light written by Schultz.[36]

In May 2022, Image Comics announced that The Deadliest Bouquet would be re-released as monthly issues published by Image in August.[37] In July, Marvel released Moon Knight Black, White & Blood #3 featuring Schultz's short story "Wrong Turn" focused on Jake Lockley,[38] illustrated by artist David Lopez.[39] This issue was nominated for a 2023 Eisner Award for Best Single Issue.[40] During the 2022 New York Comic Con, Marvel revealed that Schultz would write a 5-issue miniseries, X-23: Deadly Regenesis[41][42] as well as a new miniseries called Hallows' Eve, with both comic books to release in March 2023.[43]

In April 2023, Marvel revealed that Schultz would write What If...? Dark: Moon Knight #1 with art by Edgar Salazar to be released in August of that year.[44] Then in May 2023, Marvel announced that Schultz would write Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 also coming in August 2023, with art by Julian Shaw.[45] Also in May, Schultz, along with other colleagues, received a 2023 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award nomination for their comic book Moon Knight Black, White & Blood #3 in the category of Best Single Issue/One Shot.[46] In the latter half of 2023, Mad Cave Studios released Jennie Wood and Dozerdraws' graphic novel Paper Planes under their Maverick imprint, edited by Schultz.[47][48] In the fall of 2023, Schultz was revealed to be the writer of Daredevil: Gang War as part of the larger, Amazing Spider-Man crossover event.[49] At NYCC 2023, the Todd McFarlane panel announced that Schultz would be the first woman to write a Spawn book in the history of the franchise. The new series Rat City with artist Zé Carlos would launch in Spring 2024.[50][51]

At SDCC 2024, Marvel announced that a solo ongoing series focusing on Laura will be spun out of events of NYX (vol. 2); Schultz, with artist Giada Belviso, will return to write Laura Kinney: Wolverine which is scheduled to release in December 2024.[52][53]

Bibliography

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Writing credits

References

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  1. ^ "New Spawn Spin-off RAT CITY Writer Fixes a Major Flaw in the Franchise". Screen Rant. 30 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Erica Schultz: Comics". Marvel.
  3. ^ Lucas Siegel (July 27, 2014). "SDCC 2014: Women of Marvel Panel". Newsarama.
  4. ^ Janelle Asselin (July 16, 2014). "HIRE THIS WOMAN: WRITER ERICA SCHULTZ". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "Review: Batman: Black and White #1". Comic Book Resources. 9 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Alan Moore Endorses Different Types Of Storytelling Over Enhancement". Bleeding Cool. September 7, 2015.
  7. ^ "Erica Schultz talks Comics, Collabs, and Con Craziness - Talking Comics". talkingcomicbooks.com. January 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "Erica Schultz Teaches Lettering!". Comics Experience. 20 April 2019.
  9. ^ Frank Mula (February 26, 2015). "Interview with M3 Team Erica Schultz and Vicente Alcazar". Comic Crusaders.
  10. ^ "2012 Award Winner". Burbank International Film Festival. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014.
  11. ^ "Discover Secrets in the Revenge Original Graphic Novel - News". Marvel.com.
  12. ^ Graeme McMillan (February 18, 2014). "Marvel to Publish Graphic Novel Based on ABC's 'Revenge'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ Jason Leung (June 25, 2014). "Marvel Comics First Look: "The Secret Origin of Emily Thorne"". ABC. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014.
  14. ^ Brian Truitt (February 18, 2014). "ABC's 'Revenge' soap opera spills into graphic novel". USA Today.
  15. ^ "Dynamite Announces Swords of Sorrow Event Crossover". Newsarama. February 17, 2015.
  16. ^ Dan Wickline (April 22, 2015). "Swords of Sorrow Expands With Leah Moore, Erica Schultz And Marguerite Bennett". Bleeding Cool.
  17. ^ Dan Wickline (February 26, 2015). "Erica Schultz Talks Swords of Sorrow: Masquerade / Kato". Bleeding Cool.
  18. ^ Jessica Boyd (April 20, 2015). "Interview: Swinging the Swords of Sorrow with Erica Schultz". Comicosity.
  19. ^ Tim Beedle (April 28, 2015). "Pop Art: A Look at Vertigo Quarterly: SFX #1". Vertigo Comics.
  20. ^ "DC Writers Workshop Alumni Class of 2016". DC Comics Talent Development Workshop Alumni. 13 February 2019.
  21. ^ "New Talent Showcase #1". DC Comics. 15 March 2021.
  22. ^ "7 Reasons We Need More HAWKGIRL by Erica Schultz and Sonny Liew". Comicosity. 2 December 2016.
  23. ^ "Dynamite Launches A New Charmed Comic With Erica Schultz And Maria Sanapo". Bleeding Cool. 21 December 2016.
  24. ^ "DESTINY, NY VOLUME 2 ARRIVES IN SEPTEMBER WITH NEW CREATORS ATTACHED". Geekery Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-08-04. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  25. ^ "Image's Where We Live Benefit Anthology Contributors Announced". Previews World.
  26. ^ "Action Lab Entertainment Launch Early Readers Line at Diamond Retailer Summit 2018". Bleeding Cool. 5 April 2018.
  27. ^ "Xena Vol. 2 #6". Dynamite.
  28. ^ "Marvel Comics AUGUST 2018 Solicitations". Newsarama. 29 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Kubert School Enlists Erica Schultz". Newsarama. 29 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Multiver-City One: 2000 AD Prog 2145 – Body Horror!". Multiversity Comics. 21 August 2019.
  31. ^ "ComiXology Originals Announces Forgotten Home". Multiversity Comics. 26 September 2019.
  32. ^ "THE 2020 RINGO AWARD NOMINEES HAVE BEEN REVEALED". Graphic Policy. 26 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Industry Announcement". Soda and Telepaths.
  34. ^ admin (2021-03-26). "Ringo Award Nominated Writer Erica Schultz To Launch Mini-series On Kickstarter 11 May". TRIPWIRE. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  35. ^ "PREVIEW: A mystery unfolds in Schultz, Jensen, & Aneke's BYLINES IN BLOOD #1". The Beat. 21 December 2021.
  36. ^ a b "The Power of Light". Marvel.
  37. ^ "Schultz and Borelli combine '90s nostalgia with espionage in THE DEADLIEST BOUQUET". The Beat. May 20, 2022.
  38. ^ "Moon Knight's Jake Lockley Finally Gets A Chance to Be Heroic". MSN.com. July 26, 2022.
  39. ^ "REVIEW: Marvel's Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood #3". Comic Book Resources. 21 July 2022.
  40. ^ "2023 Eisner Awards nominees announced". AIPT. 17 May 2003.
  41. ^ "NYCC 2022: Everything Announced at the 'Women of Marvel' Panel". Marvel.com. October 9, 2022.
  42. ^ Sonneville, Ryan (2023-10-06). "X-23: Deadly Regenesis review". AIPT. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  43. ^ "NYCC '22: Marvel's Next Big Thing panel teases the SUMMER OF SYMBIOTES and FALL OF X events". comicsbeat.com. October 8, 2022.
  44. ^ "Top Talents Put a Dark Twist on Classic Moments in Marvel History in 'What If? Dark'". Marvel. April 26, 2023.
  45. ^ "Breakout Spidey Villain Hallows' Eve Makes Her Next Big Move in 'Amazing Spider-Man Annual' #1". Marvel. May 3, 2023.
  46. ^ "Marvel Comics and Creators Nominated for the 2023 Eisner Awards". Marvel.com.
  47. ^ "Paper Planes – A Story of Self-Discovery". MadCaveStudios. October 25, 2022.
  48. ^ "Fanbase Press Interviews Jennie Wood and Dozerdraws on the Upcoming Release of 'Paper Planes' with Mad Cave Studios". Fanbase Press. June 24, 2023.
  49. ^ "Daredevil: Gang War Sees Elektra Joining Forces With Spider-Man (Exclusive)". comicbook.com. September 20, 2023.
  50. ^ "New Spawn Spin-off RAT CITY Writer Fixes a Major Flaw in the Franchise". Screen Rant. 30 October 2023.
  51. ^ "The All-New, Cyberpunk Spawn Faces A Dangerous Future In RAT CITY". Screen Rant. 25 January 2024.
  52. ^ Johnston, Rich (July 28, 2024). "Erica Schultz and Giada Belviso's Laura Kinney: Wolverine at SDCC". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  53. ^ "Fresh off her Deadpool & Wolverine appearance, Laura Kinney AKA Wolverine is getting a new Marvel comic". Popverse. 2024-07-28. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  54. ^ "The 2020 Ringo Award Nominees Have Been Revealed". Graphic Policy. 2020-08-26. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  55. ^ "The 2020 Ringo Award Nominees Have Been Revealed". Graphic Policy. 2020-08-26. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  56. ^ "MOON KNIGHT – Marvel Comics".
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