James Tynion IV

James Tynion IV (born December 14, 1987) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his work on the Batman franchise at DC Comics.

James Tynion IV
Tynion at the 2018 Phoenix Comic Fest
Born	(1987-12-14) December 14, 1987 New York, New York
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer
Notable works	Detective Comics Batman Eternal Talon The Woods

Early life

James Tynion IV was born December 14, 1987, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended Marquette University High School. While studying creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College, Tynion met and began studying under Scott Snyder, in the nascent years of his comic book writing career. Following school, he became an intern for the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics, working under Editor Shelly Bond, among others.[1]

Career

After a few years working in advertising, Scott Snyder asked Tynion to co-write the back-up features for the New 52 relaunch of Batman, in the midst of the acclaimed "Night of the Owls" comic book storyline, starting with Batman #8. In this comic, he tied the Court of Owls mythology to Alfred Pennyworth's father, Jarvis Pennyworth, working with noted American Vampire artist, Rafael Albuquerque. Tynion went on to co-write Batman Annual #1 with Snyder, for artist Jason Fabok, which reintroduced classic Batman villain Mr. Freeze into the present day continuity. Continuing on the back-up stories in the main Batman title, Tynion launched a spin-off of the Night of the Owls storyline with the ongoing comic series, Talon, which ran for 18 issues.[2] Tynion followed up Talon with a brief stint on the title Red Hood and the Outlaws in which he re-introduced a number of members of The League of Assassins back into Batman continuity.

In 2013, Tynion paired with artist Jeremy Rock to co-create his first original comic series, The Eighth Seal, for Mark Waid's digital comic publisher Thrillbent. The series, an apocalyptic blend of political intrigue and body horror, was nominated for the 2013 Ghastly Award for Best Web Comic.[3] Tynion followed up the series with an additional horror comic for Thrillbent, The House In The Wall, co-written by Noah J. Yuenkel and drawn by Eryk Donovan.

In 2014, Tynion launched his two biggest series to date. He was named as one of the head writers of Batman Eternal, a weekly Batman comic series designed to explore the full scope and cast of Gotham City.[4] The series would bring classic Batman characters like Carmine Falcone, Hush, Vicki Vale, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain and the original Azrael, Jean-Paul Valley, into the New 52 DC continuity.[5] He also launched the original series The Woods, for BOOM! Studios, with artist Michael Dialynas, which proved to be the highest selling original series at that publisher since Mark Waid's Irredeemable, with the first issue selling out on a distributor level.[6] The series was given an unprecedented full series order, guaranteeing that it will run to its planned conclusion at issue #36.[7] He followed up The Woods with a three-issue apocalyptic horror miniseries for BOOM! Studios, titled Memetic, which paired him with artist Eryk Donovan once again[8]

In 2015, Tynion was announced as one of the co-writers of the new Constantine: The Hellblazer series alongside Ming Doyle and artist Riley Rossmo, as a part of the DCYou publishing initiative at DC Comics.[9] Tynion also was announced as the writer of the Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover with DC and IDW Publishing, the first meeting between the two franchises.[10] The series launched in December 2015 as DC Comics' sixth best selling title for the entire year.[11] He also launched two new creator owned series through Boom! Studios, UFOlogy, co-written by Noah J. Yuenkel with art by Matt Fox, and Cognetic, the spiritual sequel to Memetic with artist Eryk Donovan.[12][13]

At Wondercon in 2016, James Tynion IV was announced as the writer of the biweekly Detective Comics for DC's Rebirth initiative. The new series launched in June of that year with the classic numbering restored starting with issue #934, and featured Batman and Batwoman as co-leads.[14]

Tynion has worked on a number of additional titles for DC Comics, BOOM! Studios, Marvel Comics, IDW Publishing, and Thrillbent.

Personal life

James Tynion IV is openly bisexual.[15]

Bibliography

DC Comics

• Batman Vol. 3 #85-Ongoing (art by Guillem March, Tony S. Daniel, Jorge Jimenez, 2019-2020)
• Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1-4 (art by Steve Epting, Javier Fernandez, 2019-2020)
• The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 (art by Mikel Janín, 2020)
• Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 (art by Javier Fernandez, 2020)
• Batman: Pennyworth RIP #1 (Written with Peter J. Tomasi, Art by Eddy Barrows, 2020)
• Crimes of Passion #1 (Written with Sam Johns, Art by Gleb Melnikov, 2020)
• Justice League Dark #1-19 (art by Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Daniel Sampere, 2018-2020)
• Justice League #5, 8, 12-16, 18, 22, 25-38 (art by Doug Mahnke, Mikel Janin, Frazer Irving, Bruno Redondo, Guillem March, Steven Segovia, Jim Cheung, Francis Manapul, Javier Fernandez, 2018-2019)
• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1-6 (art by Freddie Williams II, Kevin Eastman, 2019)
• Justice League Dark Annual #1 (written with Ram V, art by Guillem March, 2019)
• Year Of The Villain #1 (art by Francis Manapul, 2019)
• The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1 (written with Scott Snyder, art by Eduardo Risso, 2019)
• Detective Comics #934-981, 1000 (art by Eddy Barrows, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, 2016-2018)
• Mysteries of Love in Space #1 (art by Jesus Merino, 2019)
• Justice League Annual #1 (written with Scott Snyder, art by Daniel Sampere, 2019)
• Justice League and Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1 (art by Howard Porter, 2018)
• Justice League Dark and Wonder Woman: The Witching Hour #1 (art by Jesus Merino, Fernando Blanco, Miguel Mendonça, 2018)
• Wonder Woman #56-57 (art by Emanuela Lupacchino, 2018)
• Wonder Woman and Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour #1 (art by Jesus Merino, 2018)
• Cursed Comics Cavalcade #1 (art by Mark Buckingham, 2018)
• The Immortal Men #1-6 (art by Jim Lee, Ryan Benjamin, Tyler Kirkham, 2018)
• Justice League: No Justice #1-4 (written with Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, art by Francis Manapul, 2018)
• DC Nation #0 (written with Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, art by Jorge Jimenez, 2018)
• Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt #1 (written with Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson and Grant Morrison, art by Doug Mahnke, Howard Porter, and Jorge Jimenez, 2018)
• Detective Comics Annual Vol. 3 #1 (art by Eddy Barrows, 2018)
• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1-6 (art by Freddie Williams II 2017-2018)
• Batman: Lost #1 (written with Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, art by Doug Mahnke, Yanick Paquette, and Jorge Jimenez, 2017)
• The Batman Who Laughs #1 (art by Riley Rossmo, 2017)
• Batman: The Devastator #1 (written with Frank Tieri, art by Tony S. Daniel, 2017)
• Batman: The Murder Machine #1 (written with Frank Tieri, art by Riccardo Federici, 2017)
• Batwoman #1-6 (written with Marguerite Bennett, Art by Steve Epting, 2017)
• Dark Days: The Casting #1 (written with Scott Snyder, art by Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, and John Romita, Jr., 2017)
• Dark Days: The Forge #1 (written with Scott Snyder, art by Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, and John Romita, Jr., 2017)
• Green Lantern/Space Ghost Annual #1 (written with Christopher Sebela, Art by Ariel Olivetti, 2017)
• The Kamandi Challenge #4 (art by Carlos D'anda, 2017)
• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1-6 (art by Freddie Williams II, 2015-2016)
• Gotham Academy #16 (art by Christian Wildgoose, 2016)
• Batman Vol. 2 #8-16, 18-25, 28, 35-39, 49, 52, 0 (art by Rafael Albuquerque, Jock, Andy Clarke, Alex Maleev, Kelley Jones, Graham Nolan, John McCrea, Sam Kieth, Dustin Nguyen, Yanick Paquette, Riley Rossmo 2012-2016)
• Batman and Robin Eternal #1-26 (written with Scott Snyder, Tim Seeley, Steve Orlando, Genevieve Valentine, Ed Brisson, Jackson Lanzing, and Collin Kelly, 2015-2016)
• Constantine: The Hellblazer #1-13 (written with Ming Doyle, art by Riley Rossmo, Vanesa Del Rey, Chris Visions, 2015-2016)
• Batman Annual Vol. 2 #4 (art by Roge Antonio, 2015)
• Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #8 (art by Noelle Stevenson, 2015)
• Batman Eternal #1-52 (written with Scott Snyder, Ray Fawkes, Tim Seeley, John Layman, and Kyle Higgins, 2014-2015)
• Batman Annual Vol. 2 #3 (art by Roge Antonio, 2014)
• Red Hood and the Outlaws #19-28, Annual #1 (art by Julius Gopez, Al Barrionuevo, Jeremy Haun, Stephen Segovia, 2013-2014)
• Vertigo Quarterly: Cyan #1 (art by Martin Morazzo, 2014)
• Talon #0-14 (art by Guillem March, Miguel Sepulveda, Szymon Kudranski, Emanuel Simeoni, 2012-2013)
• Batman and Robin Vol. 2 #23.2 "Court of Owls" (art by Jorge Lucas, 2013)
• Batman and Robin Vol. 2 #23.3 "Ra's al Ghul" (art by Jeremy Haun, 2013)
• Detective Comics Vol. 2 #12, 19, 0 (art by Szymon Kudranski, Henrik Jonnson, Mikel Janin, 2012-2013)
• Batman Annual Vol. 2 #1 (co-written by Scott Snyder, art by Jason Fabok, 2012)

Boom Studios

• Bravest Warriors: Paralyzed Horse Special (with Erica Henderson, 2014)
• Memetic #1-3 (with Eryk Donovan, 2014)
• The Woods #1-36 (with Michael Dialynas, 2014-2017)
• UFOlogy #1-6 (co-written by Noah James Yuenkel, art by Matt Fox, 2015)
• Cognetic #1-3 (with Eryk Donovan, 2015)
• The Backstagers #1-8 (with Rian Sygh, 2016-2017)
• Eugenic #1-3 (with Eryk Donovan, 2017)
• The Backstagers 2018 Valentine's Intermission (with Rian Sygh, 2018)
• The Backstagers 2018 Halloween Intermission (with Rian Sygh, 2018)
• Something Is Killing the Children #1-Ongoing (with Werther Dell'Edera, 2019)

Marvel Comics

• Death of Wolverine: Logan's Legacy #5 (with Andy Clarke, 2014)
• Amazing X-Men #13 (with Jorge Jimenez, 2014)

IDW Publishing

• In The Dark: A Horror Anthology ("Why So Sad" short, with Eryk Donovan, 2014)
• Love is Love ("Pride" short, with Molly Knox Ostertag, 2016)

Thrillbent

• The Eighth Seal (with Jeremy Rock, 2013-2014)
• The House In The Wall (co-written by Noah J. Yuenkel, art by Eryk Donovan, 2014)

Awards and Nominations

Wins

• 2017 Diamond Gem Award for Licensed TP/HC of the Year for "Batman/TMNT Vol. 1"[16]
• 2017 PRISM Award for Best Single Issue From A Mainstream Publisher for "The Backstagers #1"[17]
• 2016 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for "The Woods"[18]

Nominations

• 2017 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for "The Woods"
• 2017 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for "The Backstagers"[19]
• 2017 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for "Batwoman"[20]
• 2015 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for "Memetic"[21]

References

1. Renaud, Jeffrey. "James Tynion IV Freezes "Batman" after "Night of Owls"". Comic Book Resources.
2. Renaud, Jeffrey. "TYNION SNATCHES A "TALON" FROM "BATMAN"". Comic Book Resources.
3. "2013 Ghastly Award Nominations". Ghastly Awards.
4. Truitt, Brian. "Batman springs 'Eternal' in 2014 with new weekly series". USA Today.
5. http://www.newsarama.com/25123-batman-robin-eternal-and-robin-war-announced.html
6. Burlingame, Russ. "The Woods #1 Sells Out, Heading Back For Second Printing". Comic Book News.
7. "Boom Commits To Multi-Year Publishing Deal For James Tynion's The Woods". Bleeding Cool.
8. Reed, Patrick. "THE DEADLY POWER OF IDEAS: JAMES TYNION IV AND ERYK DONOVAN GO IN-DEPTH ON 'MEMETIC'". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 2014-10-23.
9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2016-03-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
10. http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2015/07/10/the-dark-knight-meets-the-heroes-in-a-half-shell
11. http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015.html
12. http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/tynion-yuenkel-look-to-the-sky-in-ufology
13. http://www.newsarama.com/24915-cognetic-explores-the-escalation-of-the-apocalypse-through-sci-fi-action.html
14. http://www.newsarama.com/28572-dc-rebirth-batman-family-creative-teams.html
15. http://www.gayleague.com/james-tynion-iv-wants-you-to-know-the-real-him/
16. https://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/597?articleID=206266
17. https://www.newsarama.com/35239-2017-prism-awards-winners-full-list.html
18. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7744506/glaad-media-awards-winners-list
19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2018-02-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
20. http://www.comicsbeat.com/2017-glaad-media-award-nominees-announced-10-comics-nominated/
21. http://www.eonline.com/news/616708/glaad-media-awards-2015-complete-list-of-nominations

Preceded by Peter Tomasi	Detective Comics writer 2015–2016	Succeeded by Bryan Edward Hill
Preceded by Tom King	Batman writer 2020–	Succeeded by Incumbent