Line #1 Creator/GerryConway


1	[[quoteright:295:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gerry_conway.jpg]]
2
3	->''"In his 40 issues on [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan1963 Amazing Spider-Man]] (#111-149), Conway did more than you'd see in a HUNDRED issues of most other comics. He introduced one of Marvel's biggest characters, ComicBook/ThePunisher, he developed ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson into one of the best supporting characters in Marvel Comics history, he introduced the world to the idea of the "[[ComicBook/TheCloneSaga Clone Saga]]" and, most notably of all, he wrote one of the single most famous Spider-Man storylines, [[ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied the Death of Gwen Stacy]], as Peter Parker loses [[ComicBook/GwenStacy his girlfriend]] to his nemesis, [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn the Green Goblin]]."''
4	-->-- '''Brian Cronin'''
5
6	Gerard Francis Conway (born September 10, 1952) is an American ComicBook writer who was especially prolific in the 1970s and '80s. He had a hand in the creation of several major characters, including ComicBook/ThePunisher, ComicBook/PowerGirl, [[ComicBook/RedHood Jason Todd]], ComicBook/{{Firestorm\|DCComics}}, and many more.
7
8	Conway began his career as one of many fans turned comics writers. He wrote his first story at [[ChildProdigy the age of 16]] for Creator/{{DC\|Comics}}'s ''House of Secrets'' before going over to Creator/{{Marvel\|Comics}}, whose revolution he had already experienced at ground zero, with many of his fan letters published in the pages. Eventually editor Creator/RoyThomas got him to work on a number of characters before Conway earned the daunting and prestigious task of writing for ComicBook/SpiderMan after Creator/StanLee stepped down. Despite having the proverbial ToughActToFollow, Conway quickly made his mark, creating characters like Hammerhead, the Punisher (introduced in a Spider-Man story), the Jackal, as well as the Spider-Mobile. Years later he returned to Spider-Man and created another popular minor villain in Tombstone.
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10	He also made the unforgettable break from Creator/StanLee's shadow as the writer of the ''ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied'' which came out when he was 19 years of age. Conway had the unique distinction of being the same age and generation as Spider-Man and his supporting cast when he started writing the comics, and he brought a new spin on the comics. This story earned Conway hate-mail, to the point that he would claim that he would be afraid of showing his face in public for ten years but in the course of time it was embraced as a landmark story. Conway would go on to contribute to a number of comics titles but no other story quite defined comics history like that one.
11
12	Conway has also written TV and film scripts.
13
14	----
15	!!Comic-Book series and storylines Conway has worked on include:
16	[[index]]
17	* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers''
18	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''
19	** ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics''
20	** ''ComicBook/Batman1940''
21	* ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}''
22	** ''ComicBook/Daredevil1964''
23	* ''ComicBook/{{Firestorm\|DCComics}}''
24	* ''ComicBook/IronMan''
25	** ''ComicBook/IronMan1968''
26	* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica''
27	** ''ComicBook/TheOtherSideOfDoomsday''
28	* ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor''
29	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan''
30	** ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan1963''
31	*** ''ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied''
32	*** ''[[ComicBook/TheCloneSaga The First Clone Saga]]''
33	** ''Parallel Lives''
34	** ''Amazing Spider-Man: Spiral'' (Issue 16.1, 17.1, 18.1, 19.1, 20.1)
35	** ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManRenewYourVows'' (Issue #1-13)
36	* ''ComicBook/Superboy1949''
37	* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}''
38	** ''ComicBook/StrangersAtTheHeartsCore''
39	* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}''
40	** ''ComicBook/Superman1939''
41	*** ''ComicBook/KryptonNoMore''
42	** ''ComicBook/SupermanVsShazam''
43	** ''ComicBook/SupermanVsTheAmazingSpiderMan''
44	* ''ComicBook/{{Swordquest}}''
45	* ''ComicBook/{{Vixen}}''
46	* ''ComicBook/WerewolfByNight''
47	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman''
48	** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942''
49	[[/index]]
50
51	!!Animated series Conway has written for:
52	[[index]]
53	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''
54	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Centurions}}''
55	* ''WesternAnimation/DinoRiders''
56	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaucers}}''
57	* ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero''
58	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends''
59	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters''
60	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries''
61	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiralZone''
62	* ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show''
63	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers''
64	[[/index]]
65
66	!!Live action series Conway has written for:
67	[[index]]
68	* ''Series/BaywatchNights''
69	* ''Series/DiagnosisMurder''
70	* ''Series/FatherDowlingMysteries''
71	* ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys''
72	* ''[[Characters/BatmanHuntress The Huntress]]''
73	* ''Series/JakeAndTheFatman''
74	* ''Series/LawAndOrder''
75	* ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent''
76	* ''Series/{{Matlock}}''
77	* ''Series/{{Monsters}}''
78	* ''Series/PacificBlue''
79	* ''Franchise/PerryMason'' (three of the {{TV Movie}}s from TheNineties)
80	* ''Series/SilkStalkings''
81	[[/index]]
82	----
83	!!Tropes associated with Gerry Conway:
84	* TheBigDamnKiss: Until Sam Raimi's ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'', Conway's run saw the most iconic kiss in Spider-Man lore, when Peter and MJ kiss each other for several panels.
85	* CreatorCouple: During TheSeventies and TheEighties, Conway and his then-wife Carla often collaborated on comic book and animation scripts.
86	* DarkerAndEdgier: He has a reputation for taking comics to a darker direction, what with being the co-creator of The Punisher and the man who killed Gwen Stacy. However, in his story, The Punisher is shown as an antagonist and not in any way justified or glorified. Likewise, Conway's run on Spider-Man actually has some of the most optimistic moments in Peter's life and most notably he developed Peter and Mary Jane into a special love story, one that Conway pointed out was more relaxing and less stressful than his relationship with Gwen.
87	* DoorClosesEnding: He used this twice with many noting that it served as bookends for his iconic run on ASM. The end of ''The Night Gwen Stacy Died'' has MJ firmly shut the door to stay with Peter with a "click" noise signifying her resolve and commitment. [[BookEnds Comes full circle]] in Conway's final issue, 149, which ends with Peter returning to his apartment to find MJ waiting for him, and this time he closes the door with a "click" [[SexyDiscretionShot as he resolves to show MJ]] [[TheirFirstTime how glad]] he is to see her, showing his commitment to MJ and that he's moved on from Gwen to his true love.
88	* DoppelgangerReplacementLoveInterest: This was his point when he wrote the so-called original clone saga. Peter pining after Gwen's death, meets Gwen's clone and his old feelings for her resurface but the returned Gwen is the Gwen as she was when she died and as Peter remembers her and not the true Gwen and his real feelings are for Mary Jane an actual flesh-and-blood woman. According to Conway the whole point was to demonstrate how unhealthy and sick grief can be and how our longing for TheLostLenore comes from rejecting reality.
89	* KilledOffForReal: Gwen Stacy. Comicbook/NormanOsborn was supposed to also be this but was eventually brought back.

Context Creator / GerryConway