John Ostrander

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John Ostrander (born April 20, 1949<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) is an American writer of comic books, including Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy.

He co-created the Oracle persona for Barbara Gordon and created the second and modern version of the antihero/supervillain team the Suicide Squad, of which the films Suicide Squad (2016) and The Suicide Squad (2021) are based on.

Career

Ostrander studied theology with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but now describes himself as an agnostic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Originally an actor in the Organic Theater Company in Chicago, Ostrander moved into writing comics in 1983.<ref name="GCD">Template:Gcdb</ref> His first published works were stories about the character "Sargon, Mistress of War", and appeared in the First Comics series Warp!, based on a series of plays by that same Chicago theater company. He and Timothy Truman co-created the character Grimjack, who originally appeared in a backup story in the First Comics title, Starslayer, before receiving his own title. Just prior to entering the comics industry, Ostrander had a supporting character named for him in The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl series. His friend, writer Paul Kupperberg, incorporated him into the Supergirl storyline in 1982.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Ostrander made his DC Comics debut by plotting the miniseries Legends, which was scripted by Len Wein and penciled by John Byrne.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A new version of the Suicide Squad was introduced in Legends, including the team's leader, Amanda Waller.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The character has been substantially adapted into animated and live-action media and is portrayed by Viola Davis in the 2016 film Suicide Squad and the 2021 film The Suicide Squad. Following Legends, Ostrander and artist Luke McDonnell launched the Suicide Squad into their own title in 1987 and developed several characters for the series.<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 228: "Writer John Ostrander gave the new Suicide Squad its own series, having brought the team to life in 1986's Legends miniseries...With the team's own title, Ostrander was helped by artist Luke McDonnell."</ref><ref name=DigitalSpy>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that same year, he and actor/writer Del Close created the Wasteland series with a rotating roster of artists.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> He and Close had previously worked together on Munden's Bar backup stories in Grimjack.<ref name=Fiffe>Fiffe, Michel. "WASTELAND: The John Ostrander Interview," Factual Opinion (March 6, 2012).</ref>

From 1987 until her death from breast cancer in 1997, Ostrander frequently co-wrote with his wife Kim Yale including on the Manhunter series.<ref name="GCD" /> It was while working together on Suicide Squad that they recast Barbara Gordon, the former Batgirl, into the information and computer specialist Oracle.<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 239: "Barbara [Gordon] set herself as an information guru...Called Oracle, Barbara was recruited by the Suicide Squad in the pages of issue #23 of the Squad's comic, written by John Ostrander and Kim Yale, and pencilled by Luke McDonnell."</ref>

Ostrander has been a frequent collaborator with artist Tom Mandrake. They have worked together on Grimjack, Firestorm, The Spectre, and Martian Manhunter.<ref name="John/Tom">Template:Cite web</ref> Ostrander's in-depth explorations of morality were used in his work writing The Spectre,<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 255: "The crime fighter from beyond the grave, the Spectre, was back in a new series by writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake."</ref> a DC Comics series about the manifestation of the wrath of God. His focus on the character's human aspect, a dead police detective from the 1930s named Jim Corrigan, and his exploration of moral and theological themes. In issue #54 (June 1997), the creative team introduced the character Michael Holt as a new version of Mister Terrific.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 279: "The Spectre ongoing series was nearing its end, but that didn't stop writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake from pooling their creative forces to create one of the DCU's newest shining stars...An inspired and reborn [Michael] Holt then picked up the mantle of Mr. Terrific."</ref> Following the end of The Spectre series, they moved onto a Martian Manhunter series.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 285: "The fan-favorite team of writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake, fresh off their lengthy run on The Spectre, were ready to take on another caped powerhouse with Martian Manhunter.</ref> In December 2006, a story-arc titled "Grotesk" by Ostrander and Mandrake appeared in Batman issues 659–662.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1990, Ostrander launched an ongoing Hawkworld series which followed Timothy Truman's limited series of the same name.<ref name="GCD" /> In 1993, the title was cancelled and relaunched as Hawkman with art by Jan Duursema.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 260: "Chicago had a guardian angel with armored wings in Hawkman's latest adventures by writer John Ostrander and artist Jan Duursema."</ref>

At Marvel Comics, Ostrander has worked on X-Men, Bishop, Quicksilver, Heroes for Hire and the Punisher, as well as the Western mini-series Blaze of Glory: The Last Ride of the Western Heroes.<ref>Watson, Polly, "Makin' History With John Ostrander", Published in The Marvel Comics July 1998 Catalogue, Dated July 1998</ref>

He has written the Elfquest character Jink for WaRP Graphics, Hotspur for Eclipse Comics; Lady Death for Chaos! Comics; Magnus, Robot Fighter, Rai and the Future Force and Eternal Warrior for Valiant Comics. He was one of the main writers on Star Wars: Republic for Dark Horse Comics, and his story arcs include "Twilight", "Darkness", and "The Clone Wars" stories. He is the writer of Star Wars: Legacy.<ref name="GCD" /> An unreleased Doctor Who audio drama titled "Deadman's Hand" was written by Ostrander for Big Finish Productions. As announced, the story was to feature the Seventh Doctor,<ref name="DWM 341">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Ace and Hex in the American wild west.<ref name="DWM 341" /><ref name="DWM 343">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Ostrander contributed to the Silver Age Sentinels short story anthologies from Guardians of Order.<ref name="designers">Template:Cite book</ref> He was nominated for the Comics Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Writer in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. In 2010, he co-wrote Secret Six issues 14–18 with writer Gail Simone.<ref name=DigitalSpy/> Ostrander maintains an online presence on the World Famous Comics Network<ref>The Official John Ostrander Message Board Template:Webarchive</ref> and writes a weekly column on the ComicMix site.<ref>John Ostrander's weekly column on ComicMix</ref> Ostrander made a cameo appearance as Dr. Fitzgibbon in the 2021 film The Suicide Squad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Ostrander suffers from glaucoma. To help cover the costs incurred by his treatment for it, a benefit auction was organized for the 2009 Chicago Comic Con.<ref name=DigitalSpy/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bibliography

Dark Horse Comics

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DC Comics

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First Comics

Image Comics

Marvel Comics

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Valiant Comics

References

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