Julie Schwartz, longtime editor at DC Comics, passed away over the weekend at the age of 88. Schwartz was one of the founding fathers of the so-called 'Silver Age of Comics' -- he revived and shaped the character of the Flash in DC Showcase #4 and set off a revival of superhero comics in the late 1950s. After the anti-comics crusades of the mid-1950s severely damaged the popular crime and horror genres, Schwartz's revival of the Flash led to similar efforts for the Green Lantern, Hawkman, and most importantly the Justice League of America. Along with advent of Marvel comics in the 1960s, Schwartz's efforts at DC helped superhero comics maintain their presence on the newsstands until the rise of the direct market in the1970s.
In addition to his work in comics, Schwartz had a lifelong interest in science fiction, something that was typical of many of the pioneering members of comic book industry. He acted as an agent for numerous science fiction authors including the young Ray Bradbury. One of the founders of science fiction fandom in the 1930s and 40s, Schwartz became a fixture at comic book conventions after his 'retirement' from DC Comics, where he profoundly influenced at least two generations of comic book creators. Schwartz in fact never really retired--he was a very personable proponent of the medium until the day he died.
