Geoff Johns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geoff Johns
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Johns in 2011
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| Born | Geoffrey Johns January 25, 1973 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | Michigan State University |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Employer | DC Entertainment |
| Notable works | Comics: JSA, The Flash, Teen Titans, Green Lantern, Infinite Crisis, 52, Action Comics, Blackest Night, Flashpoint, Justice League/Justice League of America, Shazam, Trinity War, Doomsday Clock, The Avengers, Ultimate X-Men Television: Robot Chicken, Blade: The Series, The Flash, Titans, Doom Patrol, Batwoman, Stargirl, Superman & Lois |
Geoffrey Johns (born January 25, 1973) is an American writer and producer. He is famous for his work on comic books, movies, and TV shows. He has written many popular stories for DC Comics characters like Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash, and Superman.
Some of his most well-known comic book stories include Sinestro Corps War, Blackest Night, Flashpoint, and Doomsday Clock. He also helped create many new DC characters and ideas. For example, he co-created the superhero Courtney Whitmore, also known as Stargirl, in memory of his younger sister. He also greatly expanded the world of Green Lantern, adding new concepts and characters like the Sinestro Corps and the Red Lantern Corps.
From 2010 to 2018, Johns was the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of DC Entertainment. This meant he helped guide the creative direction for all DC Comics projects. He also helped lead DC Films, which makes movies based on DC characters. He worked as a producer or writer on many DC movies, including Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Shazam!. His work has helped the DC Extended Universe become one of the highest-earning film series ever.
On TV, Johns helped create and produce popular shows like The Flash, Titans, and Stargirl. In 2018, he left his executive role at DC to start his own company, Mad Ghost Productions. This company continues to create films, TV shows, and comics based on DC characters. In 2023, he also co-founded a new comic book company called Ghost Machine with other famous writers and artists.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Geoff Johns was born on January 25, 1973, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in the suburbs of Grosse Pointe and Clarkston. As a child, he and his brother found an old box of comics in their grandmother's attic. This box was full of classic comics from the 1960s and 1970s, featuring heroes like The Flash, Superman, Green Lantern, and Batman.
Johns quickly fell in love with comics, especially The Flash. He says he owns every issue of The Flash comic book. He started buying new comics at a local shop and mostly collected DC Comics. After high school, he studied media arts, screenwriting, and film at Michigan State University. He moved to Los Angeles, California, after graduating in 1995.
Starting His Career
In Los Angeles, Geoff Johns wanted to work in movies. He called the office of famous director Richard Donner (who directed Superman: The Movie). By accident, Donner answered the phone himself, which led to Johns getting an internship. Johns started by copying scripts and soon became a production assistant for Donner, who became his mentor.
While working on Donner's 1997 movie Conspiracy Theory, Johns visited New York City. There, he met people from DC Comics, which brought back his childhood love for comics. He was invited to visit the DC Comics offices and was asked to share his ideas.
First Comic Book Work
Johns pitched an idea for a comic series called Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.. It was about a young hero named Star-Spangled Kid and her stepfather. He thought he would just write comics as a hobby. But then he met other writers working on JSA. After seeing his work, they asked him to co-write JSA in 2000. This was his real start in the comic book industry.
That same year, Johns became the regular writer for The Flash comic series. He often used parts of his hometown, Detroit, in his stories. For example, he made Keystone City, The Flash's home, into a car town like Detroit. He felt that hard-working, everyday heroes represented the spirit of Detroit.
Expanding the DC Universe
Johns became known for bringing back classic characters and adding new ideas to the DC Universe. In 2005, he brought back Hal Jordan as Green Lantern in the Green Lantern: Rebirth series. He then wrote the main Green Lantern comic book.
He also wrote the big event series Infinite Crisis (2005–2006), which was a sequel to an older, famous DC story. After that, he was one of the main writers for the weekly series 52.
Johns also worked on Superman stories, including "Last Son" with Richard Donner. He and artist Gary Frank created the "Brainiac" storyline and retold Superman's origin in Superman: Secret Origin.
One of Johns's biggest contributions was expanding the Green Lantern universe. He introduced the idea that different colors of the emotional spectrum (like rage, hope, and fear) have their own Lantern Corps. This led to the creation of groups like the Blue Lantern Corps, the Red Lantern Corps, and the Indigo Tribe.
Leading DC Entertainment
In 2010, Geoff Johns was named the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of DC Entertainment. This meant he helped guide all creative projects for DC Comics, including movies and TV shows. He said this new job would not stop him from writing comics.
In 2011, Johns wrote Flashpoint, a major event that led to The New 52. This was a big change for DC Comics, where many comic series were restarted with new stories. Johns and artist Jim Lee launched the new Justice League series. He also wrote the relaunched Aquaman and Green Lantern comics. He later worked on a new Shazam! story and the graphic novel Batman: Earth One.
In 2016, Johns was promoted to President and CCO of DC Entertainment. He continued to write comics, including Doomsday Clock, which brought together characters from Watchmen with the DC Universe. In 2018, he stepped down from his executive roles to focus on writing and producing. He started his own company, Mad Ghost Productions, to create new stories for film, TV, and comics.
New Projects and Companies
After leaving his executive role at DC, Johns continued to create. He announced new comic book series, including Geiger with artist Gary Frank. This was his first independent comic series in over ten years. In 2023, Johns and several other comic creators announced they were forming a new company called Ghost Machine. This company allows creators to own their work and benefit from their characters being developed into movies or TV shows.
Work in Film and Television
Geoff Johns has played a big role in bringing DC Comics characters to the big screen and TV.
Film Projects
He was a creative consultant for the 2011 Green Lantern movie. After some DC movies received mixed reviews, Johns was chosen to help lead DC Films in 2016. He worked as a producer on movies like Justice League (2017). He also helped write the stories for Aquaman (2018) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020).
Television Projects
Johns has written for many TV shows based on DC characters. He wrote episodes for Smallville, a show about a young Superman. He introduced the Legion of Super-Heroes and the Justice Society of America to the show.
He also helped develop and produce many popular shows for The CW network, including Arrow and The Flash. He co-developed The Flash with Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg. He also helped create and produce Titans, Doom Patrol, Batwoman, and Superman & Lois.
One of his most personal TV projects is Stargirl, which premiered in 2020. Johns created this show and the main character, Courtney Whitmore, in honor of his younger sister, Courtney, who passed away.
Personal Life
Geoff Johns' younger sister, Courtney, died in the TWA Flight 800 plane crash. He created the DC Comics superheroine Stargirl based on her. Johns also co-owns a comic book store called Earth-2 Comics in Northridge, California.
Images for kids
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Johns holding an Aquaman figure, a character he wrote for The New 52.
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Johns speaking at WonderCon in 2017 about DC Comics films.
Awards and Recognition
- 2002 Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent (for The Flash)
- 2005 Wizard Fan Award for Best Writer (for The Flash, Infinite Crisis, Green Lantern and Teen Titans)
- 2006 Wizard Fan Award for Best Writer (for Infinite Crisis)
- 2008 Project Fanboy Award for Best Writer
- 2009 Project Fanboy Award for Best Writer
- 2009 Spike TV Scream Award for Best Comic Book Writer
- 2010 Spike TV Scream Award for Best Comic Book Writer (for Blackest Night, Brightest Day, The Flash and Green Lantern)
- 2024 Ringo Award Winner for Best Series for Geiger: Ground Zero
See also
In Spanish: Geoff Johns para niños
