Robert (often just "Bob") Kanigher (1915-2002) was one of the most prolific and influential writers ever at DC Comics, in a career that spanned five decades.
He started writing in his teenage years - enough that he was able to write the book How To Make Money Writing with authority at the age of just twenty-eight. He also wrote in every medium available to the jobbing writer in the 40s, but it was in comics that he made his name.
His first (recorded) comics work was for Fox, writing the original Dan Garrett Blue Beetle, and soon after, the best-selling Captain Marvel Adventures, before joining All-American Comics, which would eventually become DC. He wrote the Justice Society, and then became the editor and writer of Wonder Woman, a title he would guide from 1946 all the way to '68. He also wrote what's often considered the first story of the Silver Age, introducing Barry Allen as the new Flash, created stalwarts like Metal Men, Black Canary and Batman villain Poison Ivy, and at one point or another, wrote probably every single DC hero.
His greatest success and lasting legacy, though, would come from DC's war comics. In '52, Kanigher (who claimed to be a veteran but according to other information had never served in the military having been rejected and classified 4-F)[1]
began editing and/or writing DC's five war comics.* He introduced perhaps the most memorable war-comics protagonists, Sgt. Frank Rock and the men of Easy Company. Not only that, he also introduced the Haunted Tank, GI Robot, The Losers, Enemy Ace, the Creature Commandos and the Unknown Soldier (mostly with frequent collaborators Russ Heath and Joe Kubert on art). He would write Frank Rock and Co. regularly till his retirement. His influence in American war comics is immeasurable, particularly in the transition from gung-ho action stories to more downbeat and philosophical stories. Even writers primarily coming from the British war comics tradition, like Garth Ennis, have written his characters and acknowledged his influence.
In his writing career, Kanigher was also notorious for his particular sarcasm answering letter columns, his tendency to show up in his own comics to mock editorial decisions and his volatile temper (though his collaborators still regard him highly). Oh, and his formula to Make Money Writing? It's write a lot.
Tropes present in Kanigher's work:
- Author Guest Spot: He did this on occasion, as noted above.
- Take That, Audience!: Kanigher was known for answering his own letter columns and often getting really sarcastic at fan nit-picking.
- Take That Me:
- The last issue of "Creature Commandos" feature Kanigher himself being shot into space alongside the Creature Commandos.
- In the backup story of Wonder Woman #158, his decision to Ret-Gone most of the Silver Age silly characters is portrayed as a murder and he's also derided as a madman for, of all things, wearing a yellow bowtie. Also, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito are depicted as bowing and saluting him while calling him "master".
- War Is Hell: The central message of his war books (though arguably it often fell into
Do Not Do This Cool Thing, because going too far into War Is Hell could get you in trouble, as EC Comics had found out.)
