Jurgens, Dan 1959-

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Jurgens, Dan 1959-

PERSONAL:

Born 1959, in MN. Education: Minneapolis College of Art and Design, B.F.A.

CAREER:

Comic book writer and artist. DC Comics, New York, NY, artist and writer for comic books, beginning c. 1982. Also writer and artist for comic books published by other companies, including Marvel Comics, 1995-96; formerly worked as a graphic designer.

WRITINGS:

WITH OTHERS; COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS

Superman: Panic in the Sky, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1992.

The Death of Superman, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1993.

(And artist) Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1994.

(And layout artist) Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1995.

Superman: Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1996.

(And layout artist) Superman: Eradication! The Origin of the Eradicator, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1996.

Superman: Bizarro's World, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1996.

Superman: The Death of Clark Kent, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1997.

Superman Transformed!, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1997.

Superman: The Wedding and Beyond, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1997.

Superman: Exile, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1998.

OTHER

(With others, and artist) Superman: Time and Time Again, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1994.

(And layout artist) Superman/Aliens, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1995.

(With Art Thibert and Greg Wright) Superman, Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1999.

(And layout artist) Superman: The Doomsday Wars, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1999.

(And layout artist) Superman: Day of Doom, DC Comics (New York, NY), 2003.

Contributor of artwork to collections, including Superman: Doomsday and Beyond, by Louise Simonson, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1993; DC versus Marvel Comics, by Ron Marz and Peter David, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1996; and Heroes: The World's Greatest Super Hero Creators Honor the World's Greatest Heroes 9-11-2001, Marvel Comics (Washington, DC), 2001. Writer and occasional layout artist for numerous comic magazines, including Action Comics, Aquaman, Booster Gold, Captain America, Justice League of America, Rising Stars: Bright, Superman, Thor, Top Cow, and Warlord.

SIDELIGHTS:

An early exposure to comic books had a significant influence on Dan Jurgens's eventual career choice. In an interview with Comic Book Resources, Jurgens explained: "The first time I ever picked up a comic was shortly after the live-action Batman TV series started. I was walking home and saw some kids on a porch reading a stack of comics. I had no idea they even existed, and I remember walking over and seeing the ‘Robin Dies At Dawn’ issue of Batman and being immediately floored. What do you mean Robin is dead!? I just saw him on TV last night! That image so hooked me that I went out and started buying comics a few days later." Jurgen went on to study art at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and had the chance to show his portfolio to DC Comics artist Mike Grell at a local comic book store. Jurgens work was impressive enough to warrant a job offer, immediately launching his career as a comic book writer and artist.

Since 1982, Jurgens has contributed to many prominent comic book series, including Superman, Thor, Justice League, Spiderman, G.I. Joe, Tomb Raider, and Captain America. He drew attention in the mid-1990s for creating the much-hyped "Death of Superman" story line, garnering mixed reviews, but overall has earned a reputation as being among the industry's best comic creators.

"My basic goal as a writer," Jurgens told Silver Bullet Comic Books contributor Markisan Naso, "is pretty damn simple. When the reader finishes the book, I want him or her to want to buy the next issue. I don't mean that in the commercial sense but the editorial sense…. When all of this is said and done, I want them to think the trip was worth their time and money. I've always thought that the goal of a writer should be that, once their time on a book ends, it should be in better shape than when they started."