Who is Gardner Fox?

When Ralph began a new chapter in his publication history at DC Comics, he got a new writer: Gardner Fox. Fox wrote Ralph's first several stories in Detective Comics, establishing Ralph as a detective and giving him an identity outside of his power set. John Broome had initially written the character and there is hints of Ralph's detective career in his stories, but when it came time to pen those stories, Fox was the man.

Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was born on May 20, 1911 in Brooklyn, New York. About age eleven, he became an avid reader of Edgar Rice Burroughs and other writers of adventure stories that sometimes mixed science fiction and fantasy into the proceedings.

Getting a law degree from St. John's College, he was admitted to the New York Bar in 1935. Needing to supplement his income after a couple years, he began writing for National Publications and All-American Comics (which would fold into National before becoming DC Comics), his first work estimated to be in Detective Comics #4. He would go on to be the first to pen stories for Jay Garrick's Flash, Sandman and Hawkman, making him a co-creator. He would also be one of the first to write Batman stories aside from Bill Finger, introducing some of the items in the character's arsenal. He would even create Starman and wrote the first Justice Society of America story.

In addition to his work in helping lay the groundwork of DC, Fox also worked for Avon Comics, EC Comics, Magazine Enterprises and Columbia Comic Corporation, doing both the writing of comics and writing text pieces. In the 1940s, he began writing short stories for pulp magazines and novels under a variety of pseudonyms.

When the Silver Age began, Fox was writing Adam Strange stories for Julius Schwartz, and would write the new versions of the Atom and Hawkman, as well as co-create Zatanna, the daughter of largely discontinued character Zatara. He also revived the Justice Society concept as the Justice League of America. Later on when Batman was being revamped in Detective Comics, Fox would contribute in introducing the Riddler, the Scarecrow and even Barbara Gordon's Batgirl. As a tribute to him, the character Guy Gardner was named after Fox.

In 1968, Fox left DC as they refused to offer health insurance and other benefits to their older creators. He took on writing novels full time and even briefly worked for Marvel Comics, Eclipse Comics and Warren Publications.

About 1980, Fox's health required him to move into a medical center in Princeton, New Jersey. He died on December 24, 1986, survived by his wife Lynda, his two children and four grandchildren.

Fox's work would receive many awards, including four Alley Awards. His work for DC has led to him being posthumously receiving many honored titles.