John Ostrander: A Dark Glittering Intelligence

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. Emily S. Whitten says:

    I really need to watch this show. It’s getting great reviews from many people I trust, and also just looks really cool. Thanks for the write-up/opinion on it.

    Also, you are so right about our dark side. I got so addicted to Dexter, and marveled at how I was rooting for a serial killer not to get caught, all the while still rooting for him. Hah.

  2. mike weber says:

    I guess i need to add this to the DVR list.

    One thing – i agree with most of what you say about the type of character, but i would not put Heath Ledger’s Joker on it; except for one or two minor bits (mostly the disappearing trick and “I kill the bus driver”), i didn’t find him that interesting, nor what i expect the Joker to be.

  3. George Haberberger says:

    I think Rorschach falls into that anti-hero category also. He became the most popular character from Watchmen which seemed to surprise even Alan Moore. Intrinsic to Rorschach’s character is his attitude of “Never compromise, even in the face of Armageddon.” That is his version of: “They need to know who/what they are, accept it, and don’t whine.”

    And I agree about James Spader. The Reddington character could become his signature role.

  1. October 27, 2013

    […] and that makes him a fascinating character,” wrote my pal and fellow columnist John Ostrander here on ComicMix yesterday, discussing James Spader’s work as the protagonist (antagonist?) on NBC’s […]