"Take something you love,
tell people about it, bring together people who share your love, and help make
it better. Ultimately, you'll have more of whatever you love for yourself … and
for the world." – Julius Schwartz
Born in The Bronx, NY on this date in 1915, Schwartz was DC Comics' primary editor for
stories about the company's flagship superheroes Superman and Batman
and is credited with helping found the iconic comic book hero group known as
The Justice League of America.
He single-handedly helped expand
the reach and love for science fiction by organizing the first World Science
Fiction Convention in 1939 and then worked to make it a “must attend” annual
event. Inducted into the comics' industry's Jack Kirby Hall of
Fame, he also was honored by the Science Fiction Writers Association with its
lifetime contributions award.
In addition to his editing work,
Schwartz wrote the bestselling Man of Two Worlds: My Life In Science Fiction
and Comics and was a much sought-after literary agent, representing a “who’s who” of
science and comic writers, including Alfred Bester, Robert
Bloch, Ray Bradbury and H.P. Lovecraft.
Schwartz won numerous awards for
his editing, including Best Editor several times before his death in 2004. Inscribed on his tombstone is a statement reflecting what nearly every writer and editor strive to achieve: “He
met the deadline.”
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