Joshua Williamson Explained

Area:Comic book writer
Notable Works:Nailbiter
Birthright
Ghosted
The Flash
Robin
Infinite Frontier
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths

Joshua Williamson is an American comic book writer. He is known for his long-lasting run on The Flash, as well as DC Comics events, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths and Knight Terrors.[1] [2] Along with The Flash he has also worked on several other DC Comic characters, such as Robin and Green Arrow. Along with his prolific work in the DC Universe, he has also written several Image Comics titles such as Nailbiter, Birthright, Ghosted and Dark Ride. Williamson has also worked within the Energon Universe, alongside writer Robert Kirkman and writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson, writing two five-issue mini-series, Duke and Cobra Commander.

Williamson is currently writing Superman and G.I. Joe.[3] [4]

Career

Beginning in 2016 as part of DC Rebirth, Joshua Williamson was writing the title of The Flash. Before the ongoing series was released The Flash: Rebirth one-shot was published in June, with the series starting the same month. Williamson continued to write the title until September of 2020, writing a total of 101 concurrent issues of The Flash with 3 annuals, ending his run on the legacy issue of #762.[5] Williamson returned in 2023 to write a short story in the 800th issue of The Flash.

During 2021, Williamson wrote the titular miniseries in the DC Infinite Frontier initiative.[6] Following Infinite Frontier, Williamson wrote a sequel series, Justice League Incarnate, alongside Denis Culver.[7] This 5 issue title followed the team Justice Incarnate, picking up from not only Infinite Frontier, but using plot-points and elements from Grant Morrison's Multiversity.

As a part of Infinite Frontier, Williamson began a new volume of Robin following Damian Wayne along with Deathstroke Inc.[8] [9] Following James Tynion IV's departure from Batman, Williamson took over on #118 joined by artist Jorge Molina. His tenure on Batman was short lived but lead to the crossover event, between the three ongoing-series Williamson worked on at the time, titled Shadow War.[10] [11]

Williamson took over the ongoing Justice League title from Brian Micheal Bendis, for one-issue with Rafa Sandoval. It was announced that issue 75 would be the final issue of the volume, with the story being titled, The Death of the Justice League. #75 was released in April 2022, on the 30th anniversary of The Death of Superman, which took place in Superman #75. Williamson stated that "We want people to understand, this is serious and this is gonna have a major impact in the DCU moving forward." And ". . . how this is the last issue of Justice League. But then three months later, there's still not gonna be a Justice League comic. It's gonna be a while, and that's gonna be a major part of what the DCU looks like after this story: There is no Justice League."[12]

In February 2022, DC announced Dark Crisis. The 7 issue event series written by Williamson with art by Daniel Sampere. Dark Crisis was a continuation and a finale to the story he was building from the start of Infinite Frontier.[13] At 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, the full title of the event was revealed to be Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, to signify how it was a direct sequel to the 1985 event, Crisis on Infinite Earths.[14]

At New York Comic Con 2022, Williamson was announced to be the new writer on the new volume of Superman, where he would be joined by artist Jamal Campbell.[15] This new run of Superman would help launch DC's new 2023 publishing initiative, Dawn of DC.[16] In October 2023, the landmark 850th issue of Superman was written by Williamson as a part of his run.[17]

Part of Dawn of DC, Williamson announced that he would be writing a Green Arrow 6 issue mini-series joined by artist Sean Izaakse in April 2023. Due to high-sales with the launch of Green Arrow, DC announced that Green Arrow would be extended to become a 12-issue max-series.[18] In December 2023, it was officially announced that Green Arrow had again been promoted to an ongoing series.[19]

In June of 2024, Joshua Williamson announced on his substack that he would be leaving both Batman & Robin and Green Arrow with issue #13 and #17/350 respectively, in order to free up his busy schedule, allowing him to write more series.[20] Later the same month it was announced, again on his substack, that Williamson and artist Tom Reilly would be working together on the G.I. Joe ongoing series set in the Energon Universe, following his work on Duke and Cobra Commander.[21]

In July 2024, Williamson along with Scott Snyder announced the new DC publishing initiative, DC All In. Together with Snyder, the both of them plotted and wrote an overarching meta-story. Unlike DC's previous publishing initiatives, like The New 52 and DC Rebirth, DC All In is meant to both honor legacy as well as the new. Creating new jumping on points both in the main DC universe, and another alternate universe, the Absolute Universe. With All In, Williamson was leaving Green Arrow with the 350th milestone issue along with the 2024 annual. Though Williamson stated that he would still be continuing Superman with new series artist Dan Mora.[22]

Bibliography

DC Comics

Image Comics

Skybound

Dark Horse Comics

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016-05-16 . Speeding Ahead: Joshua Williamson Leaps Aboard The Flash . 2022-11-25 . DC . en.
  2. Web site: 2022-07-21 . The Great Darkness has Reached Infinite Earths . 2022-11-25 . DC . en.
  3. Web site: 2022-11-18 . "Dawn of DC" Starts in January 2023 . 2022-11-25 . DC . en.
  4. Web site: 2024-06-27 . JOSHUA WILLIAMSON & TOM REILLY DEBUT NEW ENERGON UNIVERSE SERIES G.I. JOE #1 . 2024-07-21 . Skybound Entertainment . en-US.
  5. Web site: Grunenwald . Joe . 2020-09-22 . DC ROUND-UP: Josh Williamson closes out his FLASH run . 2024-07-21 . The Beat . en-US.
  6. Web site: Quaintance . Zack . 2021-07-09 . INTERVIEW: Joshua Williamson talks INFINITE FRONTIER . 2024-08-03 . The Beat . en-US.
  7. Web site: Rose . Hannah . 2022-03-09 . DC's Justice League Incarnate #5 Review Comic Review . 2024-08-03 . CBR . en.
  8. Web site: Stone . Sam . 2021-01-28 . Robin's Joshua Williamson Teases Damian Wayne's Infinite Frontier Adventures . 2024-08-03 . CBR . en.
  9. Web site: Zogbi . Emily . 2021-06-13 . DC Reveals Deathstroke Inc. Creative Team, Story Details . 2024-08-03 . CBR . en.
  10. Web site: McDonald . Joshua . 2021-08-25 . Joshua Williamson replaces James Tynion on Batman this December . 2024-08-03 . Batman News . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2021-12-09 . Batman is caught between the League of Shadows and Deathstroke in DC Comics' next event 'Shadow War' . 2024-08-03 . SYFY Official Site . en-US.
  12. Web site: Inside DC's plan to kill the Justice League . 2024-08-10 . EW.com . en.
  13. Web site: Nolan . Liam . 2022-02-09 . DC Announces Dark Crisis as Its Next DCU Event Series . 2024-08-10 . CBR . en.
  14. Web site: updated . Samantha Puc last . 2022-07-21 . Surprise! Dark Crisis's real title is Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths . 2024-08-10 . gamesradar . en.
  15. Web site: Brooke . David . 2022-10-08 . Superman gets new series by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell . 2024-08-10 . aiptcomics.com . en-us.
  16. Web site: Brooke . David . 2022-11-18 . Dawn of DC promises 20 new titles in 2023 in bold line-wide initiative • AIPT . 2024-08-10 . aiptcomics.com . en-us.
  17. Web site: Epps . Justin . 2023-07-27 . "Secrets Are Unleashed": Superman Celebrates 850th Legacy Issue with an Oversized Edition . 2024-08-10 . ScreenRant . en.
  18. Web site: Brooke . David . 2023-04-25 . 'Green Arrow' gets extended to 12-issue series, new character Troublemaker • AIPT . 2024-08-10 . aiptcomics.com . en-us.
  19. Web site: Forsberg . Taylor Blake . 2023-12-21 . "Let's Put The Rumors To Rest": Green Arrow Writer Joshua Williams Confirms Series Extension . 2024-08-10 . ScreenRant . en.
  20. Web site: Williamson . Joshua . 2024-06-17 . On leaving Batman and Robin & Green Arrow. Project updates! . 2024-07-21 . Joshua Williamson’s Super Scary Newsletter.
  21. Web site: Williamson . Joshua . 2024-06-27 . G.I. Joe is HERE! . 2024-07-21 . Joshua Williamson’s Super Scary Newsletter.
  22. Web site: DC Announces All In, New Absolute Universe From Scott Snyder and Josh Williamson . 2024-07-24 . Comics . en.