JOHN OSTRANDER: The Way I Were

John Ostrander

John Ostrander started his career as a professional writer as a playwright. His best known effort, Bloody Bess, was directed by Stuart Gordon, and starred Dennis Franz, Joe Mantegna, William J. Norris, Meshach Taylor and Joe Mantegna. He has written some of the most important influential comic books of the past 25 years, including Batman, The Spectre, Manhunter, Firestorm, Hawkman, Suicide Squad, Wasteland, X-Men, and The Punisher, as well as Star Wars comics for Dark Horse. New episodes of his creator-owned series, GrimJack, which was first published by First Comics in the 1980s, appear every week on ComicMix.

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4 Responses

  1. Elayne Riggs says:

    I think agnostic and atheist writers sometimes produce the best theologically-oriented fiction, because they can be more objective about asking "eternal questions" and seeking answers. Avowed atheist J. Michael Straczynski wrote some of the most powerful religion-tinged stuff I've ever seen in Babylon 5, for instance. Not personally believing there's One True Way that answers all questions (and there can't be because we're humans and will ALWAYS quest) is a great way to open the mind to possibilities.I like Zen Writing Master's observation. It's much more fun for me to read stories that explore questions rather than answers.Your Waller kicks ass. I have to start reading the scripts you're sending to Robin. :)

  2. J.Micek says:

    Mr. Ostrander:Thanks for sharing the theological underpinnings of your work on "The Spectre." I don't think anyone, outside of J.M. DeMatteis' work on "Dr. Fate" in the 1980s has delved as deeply into spiritual issues as you did. Reading The Spectre also prompted me to ask questions about my own Roman Catholic upbringing, and was one of several sources that brought me to a richer understanding of it.I've always wanted to thank you for that.

    • Elayne Riggs says:

      I think that when Marc DeMatteis does spirituality, it's usually with the objective of converting people to the teachings of Baba Meher. :)

  3. Samuel Keith Larkin says:

    When you wrote your did a one issue return to Specter issue 19 (4th series, 2002 and a great issue), were you more spiritually similar to yourself back in 1992 or as you are today