Martin Pasko, R.I.P.

Photo by Bruce Guthrie

This is one of the tough ones. Longtime comic book and TV writer Marty Pasko has died at the age of 65 and the coroner is saying "natural causes." Marty had not been in the greatest of health the last few years.

Marty broke into comic book writing in 1973 with a few sales to Warren Publishing and then he began a long, mutually-beneficial relationship writing for editor Julius Schwartz at DC Comics, primarily on Superman. But his association with Julie preceded that by any years as Marty — nicknamed "Pesky" Pasko by Schwartz — had been a letter column regular long before that. So was I and he and I shared a number of those letter pages. Thus, when we met at the New York Comic Con in 1970, it was like we were old friends. At the same time, I also met his oldest friend, Alan Brennert, with whom he was then publishing a fanzine called Fantazine. Both would go on to great, successful writing careers and would remain good friends.

Marty wrote many comics for DC (not all for Julie Schwartz) including Doctor Fate, Justice League of America, Wonder Woman, Metal Men and so many more, especially any title that featured Superman. I was especially impressed with a run he authored of The Saga of the Swamp Thing. Preceded by co-creator Len Wein's stint with the character and followed by Alan Moore's, it did not receive the attention I thought it deserved. He also wrote Star Trek, both for DC and Marvel, and occasional jobs (like E-Man for First Comics) for other publishers.

In television, Marty wrote live-actions shows like Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Fantasy Island, Simon & Simon, and Roseanne, and would gladly tell you horror stories about the last of these. His animation credits included Thundarr the Barbarian, G.I. Joe, Batman: The Animated Series, The Tick and quite a few others. He won an Emmy for his work on the Batman show.

If this obit sounds like it was written by someone who's a little stunned, there's a reason. Like I said, I knew Marty since 1970 and though I hadn't seen him much in recent years, we had spent a lot of time together once upon a time and spilled blood jointly on a few projects. I thought he was a very good writer, though I'm not sure he always believed it when I told him that…or when anyone else complimented him. I may write something more about the man when I'm a bit less stunned but I definitely consider him one of the good guys and I'm really, really sorry to not have him around anymore.