He was the man who created the comic book Silver Age almost single-handed.
He’s responsible for the Silver Age Flash, Green Lantern, Justice League of America and more of DC’s greatest characters than you can shake a dozen sticks at.
He also worked as an editor of science fiction before switching to comics.
And now the greatest comic book editor ever has died.
As the man responsible for editing The Flash, from which sprang my favorite superhero, he will be greatly missed. I am gratified that he had a long and happy life.
Schwartz’s salesmanship was superb, as evidenced by many of the most famous Silver Age covers. Schwartz would often come up with an intriguing cover and then challenge the writer to come up with a story to fit the cover. He also had a list of elements which made a cover “sell”, such as: a hero in danger, a question posed to the reader, gorillas, motorcycles, fires, the color purple, and someone crying. (All of these elements were used on the all-monkey issue of “Secret Origins” as a tribute to Schwartz.)
Julius Schwartz is the largest influence on me, personally…as I think anyone would tell if they read my story “Enigma In Outer Space” in Job Wanted. (It’s a tribute to “Mystery In Space” in more ways than just the title.)
Rest in peace, Julie, and thanks for everything.