Gotham by Gaslight, Flash Writer Brian Augustyn Dies at 67
Brian Augustyn, a longtime comic book writer and editor probably best known for his work on the flash series in the 1990s with writer Mark Waid, has died aged 67. It was Waid who announced the death of his longtime friend and colleague today on Facebook, revealing Augustyn suffered a massive stroke over the weekend and passed away today.
Augustyn became a comic book publisher working in the independent field before getting a gig at NOW Comics. In 1987, Mike Gold was the editor of the then-upcoming, newly revamped DC action comics, which would become a weekly anthology. There was a lot of work involved in a project like this and so Gold needed two assistant editors. Gold hired Augustyn to be one of those assistants (Robert Geenberger was the other). Augustyn soon became his own solo editor at DC, taking over the flash by Barbara Kesel in 1989, among other series.
During this period, Augustyn also did some freelance writing work, her most significant work being in 1989. Gotham by Gaslight one-shot (with art by Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell). The comic, about Batman battling Jack the Ripper in 19th century Gotham City, saw a sequel, Batman: Master of the Futurein 1991 (art by Eduardo Barreto), but more importantly, it introduced the concept of what we call “Elseworlds” comics, DC comics featuring iconic DC characters in different realities and settings.
In 1991, Augustyn was in charge of launching Impact, DC’s new line of books featuring licensed versions of Archie’s superhero characters, like the Shield, the Fly, and the Comet. That’s when Augustyn first hired a former DC editor named Mark Waid to write Legend of the Shield and The Comet. Augustyn then took over the Justice League titles starting with Justice League Quarterly in late 1991, and Waid was also hired as a screenwriter for that series.
In 1992, Augustyn then chose Waid as the new writer for the flashsucceeding William Messner-Loebs (Messner-Loebs moved on to another series which Augustyn had chosen as editor, wonder woman) and the pair helped reshape the Flash during the 1990s, introducing major concepts like the Speed Force and bringing in characters like a redefined Quicksilver (now Max Mercury), Jesse Quick (who made its debut in Justice Society of America #1 in 1992 by Len Strazewski and Mike Parobeck, a series also edited by Augustyn) and a new hero, Impulse, which soon received its own series.
Augustyn also continued to write freelance, with a black condor series in 1992 featuring a new Black Condor created by Augustyn and Rags Morales.
During his time as editor, Augustyn was responsible for “discovering”, or at least giving the big shot to a number of top creators on the wide variety of comics Augustyn edited for DC (it seemed like ‘Augustyn, at one time or another, edited all non-Batman or Superman DC series), such as Waid (Impact, Justice League Quarterly and the flash), Humberto Ramos (Matt Wayne and Frank Pittarese discovered Ramos, but Augustyn had him thrown Impulse with Waid really shattered Ramos’ career), Mike Wieringo (the flash), Travis Charest (Darkstars), Mike Parobeck (Impact then Justice Society of America), Howard Porter (The Ray) and Oscar Jiménez (the flash). Of course, DC’s late and great talent scout, Neal Pozner, is also to be commended here, but it was Augutyn who ultimately hired these artists.
In 1996 Augustyn became a full-time writer, joining Waid as an official co-writer on the flash (the two had worked so closely it was as if they were co-writers before they officially became co-writers). In 1998, he launched crimson with Ramos for Image’s Cliffhanger imprint, as well as The lowin 2001. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Augustyn also co-wrote The Flash’s Life Story with Waid, as well as Justice League Year One for DC and XO Manowar for Valiant Comics. Just a few years ago he and Waid wrote the excellent Archi: 1941 series, also bringing the Elseworlds approach to Archie.
In his Facebook announcement of Augustyn’s passing, Waid added:
If you were ever a friend, colleague or fan of Brian…I ask that you send a card or note to his wife Nadine and daughters Carrie and Allie expressing your condolences and telling them what he meant for you. I think it would mean a lot to them. I realize we live in a fleeting age of emails and texting, but something tangible, something on paper, something they can cherish, would be appreciated. Send it to the following address and I’ll pass everything on, so please save it for letters and cards if you wish. Thank you.
Send to:
Mark Waid for the Augustyns
c/o Humanoids
6464 Sunset Blvd., Suite 1180
Los Angeles, California 90028
About the Author