France Herron facts for kids

Francis Edward Herron (born July 23, 1917 – died September 2, 1966) was an American comic book writer and editor. He worked mostly for DC Comics from the 1940s to the 1960s. He helped create famous characters like Captain Marvel Jr. and the villain Red Skull. Herron also worked on stories for popular heroes such as Green Arrow, Superman, and the Western character Tomahawk.

Early Life and Comic Beginnings

Francis Edward Herron was born in 1917 in Ohio. He grew up in West Virginia and had some Cherokee heritage.

Starting in Comics

Herron began working in comics when he was still a teenager in 1937. He wrote and edited for a company called Harry "A" Chesler that helped create comics. He worked on titles like Star Comics.

In 1939, Herron joined Fox Features Syndicate. There, he met famous comic creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Simon and Kirby later hired Herron to write for their new hero, Captain America. Herron, Simon, and Kirby together created the Red Skull in Captain America Comics #7 in 1941.

Throughout the 1940s, Herron also wrote many stories for another publisher called Quality Comics. From 1942 to 1944, he wrote the Captain Midnight comic strip for newspapers.

Working at Fawcett Comics

Herron joined Fawcett Comics in 1940. By 1942, he became the company's executive editor. He helped create many characters there:

• With artist Mac Raboy, he created Captain Marvel Jr. in Whiz Comics #25 (1941).
• With Jack Kirby, he created Mr. Scarlet in Wow Comics #1 (1940–1941).
• He also created Pinky the Whiz Kid in Wow Comics #4 (1942).

It was in a Mr. Scarlet story that the name "Gotham City" first appeared in comics. This was even before it was used in DC Comics' Batman comics. Herron wrote for many Fawcett titles, including Captain Marvel Adventures.

World War II Service

In 1942, Herron joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He wrote for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. While serving, he met artist Curt Swan, who later became a very famous Superman artist. Swan said that Herron was the one who first told him to go work for DC Comics.

Writing for DC Comics

Herron started writing for DC Comics in 1945. He first worked on Green Arrow stories in Adventure Comics. He was the main writer for Green Arrow throughout the 1950s, staying with the character until 1963.

Popular DC Heroes

Herron wrote many stories for other popular DC superheroes:

• Superman: He wrote many Superman stories throughout the 1950s.
• Challengers of the Unknown: He was the main writer for Challengers of the Unknown from 1959 to 1966.
• Batman and Robin: He wrote several Batman and Robin stories for Detective Comics and Batman in the mid-1950s and mid-1960s. He was a key writer when Batman got his "New Look."
• Tomahawk: Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Herron and artist Fred Ray worked together on DC's Tomahawk comic.
• Western Comics: In the mid-1950s, Herron wrote stories for characters like Pow Wow Smith and Nighthawk in DC's Western Comics.
• Mystery and War Comics: He also wrote for mystery comics like House of Mystery and Strange Adventures. He wrote many stories for DC's war comics too, such as Our Army at War.

Co-Created Characters at DC

Herron also helped create more characters while at DC Comics:

• With artist Dick Sprang, he co-created Firefly in Detective Comics #184 (1952).
• He also co-created the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh with Dick Sprang in Batman #113 (1958).
• Artist Lee Elias and Herron co-created the Clock King in World's Finest Comics #111 (1960).
• With artist Bruno Premiani, Herron co-created Cave Carson in The Brave and the Bold #31 (1960).

Later Career and Death

In 1966, Herron moved to Harvey Comics and worked with his old friend Joe Simon. He was the main writer for their short-lived superhero line, working on characters like Dynamite Joe.

Besides comic books, Herron also wrote newspaper comic strips for Columbia Features. From 1955, he wrote the daily strips Davy Crockett, Frontiersman and Nero Wolfe. Later, he wrote the Bat Masterson and Rip Tide strips until his death.

Francis Edward Herron passed away in September 1966.