Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench

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Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 12:21:19 GMT -5 Mister Spaceman and sabongero like this

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Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 12:21:19 GMT -5

"...I've got people who know me only because of Aztec Ace, or only because of Godzilla, only because of Planet of the Apes, only because of Batman...there doesn't seem to be anyone who knows all of my work."

-- Doug Moench, 1999

Writer's Spotlight: Doug Moench

A new kind of review thread, the intent of this project is to explore the works of Doug Moench (pronounced "Mench") chronologically, from beginning to end, supplemented with biographical information about one of comicdom's most prolific writers as we go. It's my belief that exploring a writer's works as a whole will offer greater insight that will increase our appreciation and understanding of the individual stories.

So why Doug Moench?

Beyond the fact that, as many of you know, Doug is my favorite writer in all of comicdom, he was also one of the most published writers in all of comidom, touching a plethora of titles and franchises between the 1970s and 1990s. Spending as much time in comicdom working outside of the superhero genre as within, Moench's works show an awesome range in scope and genre, spanning from the most familiar of properties to the most obscure.

And, beyond even that, from Shang Chi: Master of Kung Fu, to Planet of the Apes, Werewolf by Night, Moon Knight, Deathlok, Batman, Weirdworld/Warriors of the Shadow Realm, Aztec Ace, and some of the best revered Warren horror stories of all time, Moench has made his mark repeatedly upon comicdom, writing stellar, acclaimed runs that, for whatever reason, seldom get the critical attention they deserve nowadays. I'd sincerely like to correct that.

So strap on in, pull those old black and white mags and "still only 25 cents!" fine floppies out from the storage units, and yammer along with me as we celebrate all things Doug Moench and explore his creative history together!

Biographical Info: Pre-History, and Starting at Warren

The original submissions to Warren Publishing: 1970
"Snow Job!" (from Eerie #29, September 1970)
"Plague of the Wolf" (from Vampirella #7, September 1970)
"The Creation" (from Eerie #30, November 1970)
"Fate's Cold Finger" (from Vampirella #9, January 1971)

Biographical Info: The Eight Month Gap

Freelance Writing: 1971-1973
"I am Dead, Egypt, Dead" (from Eerie #35, September 1971)
"Bad Moon on the Rise" (from Eerie #36, November 1971)
"Power of the Pen!" (from Psycho #5, November 1971)
"Dethslaker" (from Eerie #37, January 1972)
"Quavering Shadows" (from Vampirella #15, January 1972)
"Stake in the Game" (from Eerie #38, February 1972)
"Yesterday is the Day Before Tomorrow" (from Eerie #39, April 1972)
"The Midnight Slasher" (from Psycho #6, May 1972)
"The Story Behind 'Stake in the Game'" (from Eerie #40, June 1972)
"The Story Behind the Story 'Quavering Shadows'" (from Vampirella #17, June 1972)
"Death in the Shadows" (from Vampirella #17, June 1972)
"The Mask Behind the Face" (from Midwest Magazine, June 25 1972)
"Cross of Blood" (from Creepy #46, July 1972)
"Won't Get Fooled Again" (from Vampirella #18, August 1972)
"Eye Opener" (from Vampirella #20, October 1972)
"Buried Pleasure" (from Creepy #49, November 1972)
"Wedding Knells" (from Creepy #49, November 1972)

Biographical Info: Freelancing for other companies, and Moench's Confrontation with Jim Warren

"Bright Eyes!" (from Eerie #43, November 1972)
"Beauty is Only Blood Deep" (from Nightmare Annual #2, November 1972)
"Ghastly Reunion" (from Psycho #9, November 1972)
"A Plot of Dirt" (from Psycho #9, November 1972)
"Everlasting Mortality" (from Eerie #44, December 1972)
"The Thrill of the Hunt" (from Eerie #44, December 1972)
"Hand of the Discarnate" (from Eerie #44, December 1972)
"The Parade" (from Eerie #44, December 1972)
"The Proverbial Killer" (from Nightmare #10, December 1972)
"The Sum of its Parts" (from Creepy #50, January 1973)
"Ecology of Death!" (from Eerie #45, February 1973)
"Deja Vu" (from Creepy #51, March 1973)
"Bed of Roses" (from Creepy #51, March 1973)
"Hit and Run: Miss and Die!" (from Psycho #11, March 1973)
"The Message is the Medium" (from Eerie #47, April 1973)
"The Night of the Corpse Bride" (from Nightmare #12, April 1973)
"A Most Private Terror" (from Creepy #52, April 1973)
"Halve Your Cake and Eat it Two" (from Creepy #52, April 1973)
"The Creature of Loch Ness!" (from Creepy #53, May 1973)
"The Choice" (from Vampirella #24, May 1973)
"Cold Calculation" (from Vampirella #25, June 1973)
"The Slipped Mickey Click Flip" (from Creepy #54, July 1973)
"Let's All Drink to the Death of A Clown" (from Psycho #13, July 1973)
Satanna, Daughter of Satan: "Genesis of Depravity!" (from Eerie #50, August 1973)
"Special Sale: Canned Death 1/2 Off" (from House of Mystery #216, August 1973)
"Moonspawn" (from Vampirella #26, August 1973)
"Fringe Benefits" (from Vampirella #26, August 1973)
"Just A Shot Away" (from G.I. Combat, August 1973)
"Death of the 80th Victim" (from Nightmare #14, August 1973)
"The Way of All Flesh" (from Creepy #56, September 1973)
"In My Father's House" (from Creepy #56, September 1973)
"Damsel in Dragon Dress" (from Grimwit #2, September 1973)

The Freelance Backlog: 1973-1977
Biographical Info: A Plethora of Moench

"The Clash of Leviathans!" (Vampirella #28, October 1973)
"Eye Don't want to Die!" (Vampirella #28, October 1973)
"The Hope of the Future" (Creepy #57, November 1973)
"The Low Spark of High Heeled Noise!" (from Creepy #57, November 1973)
"The Red Badge of Terror" (from Creepy #57, November 1973)
"Sense of Violence" (from Creepy #57, November 1973)
"Not So Loud--I'm Blind!" (from House of Secrets #113, November 1973)
"Last Lunch for Rats!" (from Vampirella#29, November 1973)
"The Vampires are Coming, The Vampires are Coming!" (from Vampirella #29, November 1973)
"Change...into Something Comfortable" (from Creepy #58, December 1973)
"Curiosity Killed the Cat" (from Creepy #59, January 1974)
Schreck: "First Night of Terror!" (from Eerie #53, January 1974)
"Hunger of the Slaughter-Sludge Beasts!" (from Psycho #16, January 1974)
Schreck: "Bright Eyes!" (from Eerie #54, February 1974)
Schreck: "Worms in the Mind!" (from Eerie #55, March 1974)
Schreck: "No Flies on Schreck!" (from Eerie #55, March 1974)
"Luana" (from Vampirella #31, March 1974)
"How I Beat the Draft" (from Weird Trips Magazine #1, March 1974)
The Spook: "Stridespider Sponge-Rot (from Eerie #57, June 1974)
"Black and White Vacuum to Blues" (from Vampirella #24, June 1974)
The Spook: "Webtread's Powercut" (from Eerie #58, July 1974)
The Spook: "Knucklebones to Fever Twitch" (from Eerie #58, July 1974)
"The Thought and The Egg" (from Hot Stuf' #1, June 1974)
"Forgotten Flesh" (from Creepy #64, August 1974)
"Mates" (from Creepy #64, August 1974)

Supplemental Info: The Backlog Winds Down

"Desecration" (from Creepy #66, November 1974)
"Pinball Wizard" (from Creepy #66, November 1974)
"The Wisdom of Many, The Wit of One" (from House of Mystery #228, January 1975)
"The Stars My Salvation" (from Creepy #68, January 1975)
"The Curse of Castle Vlad!" (from Vampirella #39, January 1975)
"Room for One More" (from Creepy #71, May 1975)

Supplemental Info: The Creepy #72 (July 1975) Dilemma

"In Darkness It Shall End!" (from Creepy #76, January 1976)
"A Thin Dime of Pain" (from Eerie #72, February 1976)
"Ain't it Just Like the Night" (from Creepy #80, June 1976)
"Your Epitaph is Only A Birthday Card" (from House of Mystery #244, August 1976)
"Eye for Eye, Fang for Fang" (from Creepy #88, May 1977)
"Demon Child" (from House of Mystery #253, August 1977)

Supplemental Info: The Top Ten Moench Freelance Stories (1970-1977)

The Marvel Era: 1973-1983
Biographical Info: Moench at Marvel

October 1973
Dracula Lives! #3

November 1973
Chamber of Chills #7

January 1974
Tales of the Zombie #3

March 1974
Dracula Lives! v.2 #1 (#5)
Tales of the Zombie v.2 #1 (#4)

April 1974
Vampire Tales #4
Ghost Rider #5

May 1974
Dracula Lives! #6
Tales of the Zombie #5

June 1974
Monsters Unleashed #6
Vampire Tales #5

July 1974
Creatures on the Loose #30 (Moench's first mainstream comic book script)
Haunt of Horror #2
Tales of the Zombie #6

August 1974
Astonishing Tales #25
Supplemental info: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu vs. Master of Kung Fu
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #3
Vampire Tales #6
Biographical info: (FINALLY!) A Full Time Writer
Werewolf by Night #20
Monsters Unleashed #7
Planet of the Apes (magazine) #1

September 1974
Frankenstein #12
Master of Kung Fu #20
Dracula Lives #8
Haunt of Horror #3
Creatures on the Loose #31
Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #1
Marvel Premiere #17
Werewolf by Night #21
Tales of the Zombie #7
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #4

October 1974
Giant-Size Werewolf #2
Master of Kung Fu #21
Astonishing Tales #26
Giant-Size Spider-Man #2
The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Special Album Edition
Marvel Premiere #18
Werewolf By Night #22
Vampire Tales #7
Monsters Unleashed #8
Planet of The Apes (magazine #2)
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #5

November 1974
Frankenstein Monster #13
Master of Kung Fu #22
Marvel Premiere #19
Werewolf By Night #23
Dracula Lives #9
Haunt of Horrors #4

December 1974
Master of Kung Fu #23
Adventure Into Fear #25
Astonishing Tales #27

Last Edit: Feb 21, 2023 20:42:19 GMT -5 by shaxper

badwolf The Power Cosmic! Satana Worshipper Posts: 6,119	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 12:24:02 GMT -5 shaxper likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by badwolf on Feb 2, 2015 12:24:02 GMT -5 Looking forward to this! I am a big fan as well.

thwhtguardian CCF Mod Squad Posts: 10,340	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 12:30:54 GMT -5 shaxper likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by thwhtguardian on Feb 2, 2015 12:30:54 GMT -5 I love Moench, next to Mignola and Joe Kubert he's probably one of my favorite guys in all of comicdom
	A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP

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Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 13:10:44 GMT -5 profh0011 likes this

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Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 13:10:44 GMT -5

Pre-History, and Starting at Warren: 1948-1973

Pre-History

Douglas Moench was born on February 23, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois (1). He was a comic fan from the moment he knew how to read, first enjoying Uncle Scrooge (2) and soon moving on to pre-superhero Brave and the Bold, to EC, to war comics, to Batman and Superman, and finally to an obsession with Marvel, leading him to publish an amateur Marvel fanzine (3). He was known on his block for having the largest comic book collection (4). He was also a massive fan of old horror films that he caught on television rebroadcasts (3).

Moench moved out of his house to live with his girlfriend at the age of 18 and, shortly after, got a job running the teletype machine for the Chicago Sun Times (3).

Starting at Warren

Prior to this time, Moench had already established a long-running friendship with fellow comic fan Don Glut. Glut had contacted Moench after seeing a letter of his printed in a Marvel book. Both enjoyed writing (2), especially sword and sorcery stories (3). In 1970, Glut had a story of his printed by Warren publishing. Moench decided to try his hand at it as well, submitting five scripts, all of which were purchased and published (4).

Moench included stick figure breakdowns and layout with his scripts, and was upset when, in his first published story ("Snow Job!", from Eerie #29), artist Jack Sparling completely ignored these breakdowns in favor of his own interpretation of the script. (4)

Moench kept his day (or rather night) job running the teletype machine for the Chicago Sun Times and writing his stories while on the clock there (3). He initially submitted all stories he wrote to Warren, and then resubmitted any scripts that Warren rejected to Skywald and, occasionally, other publishers as well, including DC (2).

An amusing anecdote from Doug's time at the Chicago tribune:

Bhob Stewart said:

"In the early 1970s, Doug Moench worked the graveyard shift at the Chicago Sun-Times handling the teletype machines from one am to nine in the morning. As the clacketing machines churned out copy, filling the floor with teletype paper, Moench wrote his scripts for Creepy and Eerie, beginning with "Snow Job" in Creepy #29 (September 1970). Not long after dawn, he would distribute the teletype stories to the news desks and then go home to sleep.

When Moench saw Roger Ebert in the hall, he told him a piece he had written about the Warren magazines had speculative guesswork and was somewhat off the mark. Ebert said, 'Who are you?' Moench said, 'I write those stories!'" Ebert then introduced Moench to Richard Takeuchi, the editor of the Sun-Times' Sunday magazine, Midwest, and suggested to Takeuchi that he have Moench write a piece about scripting for Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella.

Moench's article, "Confessions of a Ghost Writer", appeared in the June 25, 1972 issue of Midwest..." (5)

("Confessions of a Ghost Writer" was also reprinted in Eerie #45)

Moench went on to write several more articles for the Midwest, as well as for the Chicago Sun Times itself, while also freelancing for Warren. One of these, a "stream-of-consciousness reflection on violence in the Chicago subway system," was nominated for a Chicago Newspaper Guild Award. (5)

Doug had no relationship with most of his artists at Warren and never knew who would be given his scripts. He had major anxieties about the Spanish speaking artists not understanding his scripts. His favorite artist to see do his work was Richard Corben. His least favorite was Esteban Maroto, not for the quality of the artwork, but because he struggled with following the story correctly (2).

Evidently, writing comics was not Moench's only interest. In fact, at various points, he has also written novels, short stories, newspaper feature articles, weekly newspaper comic strips, film screenplays and teleplays (6), but writing horror comics was living out a dream of sorts, even if it wasn't doing a great job of paying Doug's bills.

Sources:

(1): Miller, John Jackson. "Comic Industry Birthdays." Comic Buyer's Guide. N.p., 10 June 2005. Web. 09 June 2016.

(2): Cooke, Jon. "The Peruvian Connection: Confessions of a Horror Writer." The Warren Companion. Vol. 1. Raleigh: Twomorrows, 2001. 118-125. Print.

(3): Cooke, Jon. "Doug Moench's Memories." Comic Book Artist Collection. Vol. 3. Raleigh: Twomorrows, 2005. 22-36. Print.

(4): "Conversation with Doug Moench." Deemer, Brian. Comic Geek Speak. 16 Sept. 2005. Podcast.

(5): Stewart, Bhob. "(untitled)." POTRZEBIE. Blogspot.com, 13 May 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2015. <http://potrzebie.blogspot.com/2011/05/in-early-1970s-doug-moench-worked.html>.

(6): "Doug Moench." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 13 July 2004. Web. 2 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Moench>.

Last Edit: Jul 14, 2016 11:58:49 GMT -5 by shaxper

MDG CCF Hall of Heroes Posts: 9,924	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 13:28:28 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by MDG on Feb 2, 2015 13:28:28 GMT -5 Are you going to cover his text piece in this? (image NSFW) SPOILER: Click to show I can scan and send if you want it.

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Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 13:37:18 GMT -5

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Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 13:37:18 GMT -5

Feb 2, 2015 13:28:28 GMT -5 MDG said:

Are you going to cover his text piece in this? (image NSFW)

SPOILER: Click to show

I can scan and send if you want it.

Please do! I'd love any Moench work I can get my hands on. Tracking down the comics is easy (though expensive), but the text writing it often harder to come by.

I'd love to find his articles for Midwest. I wonder if I could obtain those through a library.

Last Edit: Feb 2, 2015 13:38:04 GMT -5 by shaxper

Crimebuster CCF Podcast Guru Making comics! Posts: 3,958	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 13:55:59 GMT -5 Pharozonk likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Crimebuster on Feb 2, 2015 13:55:59 GMT -5 Now we finally learn the true reason shaxper created these boards.
	Join THE QUEST in 2023!

Pharozonk Friendly Neighborhood Regular Nostalgia Fankwanker Posts: 2,287	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 13:59:59 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Pharozonk on Feb 2, 2015 13:59:59 GMT -5 I assume that this dark mark will not mentioned in Doug's comic bibliography?
	"Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you."

Slam_Bradley Fortress of Solitude member Posts: 14,183	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 14:39:07 GMT -5 shaxper likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Slam_Bradley on Feb 2, 2015 14:39:07 GMT -5 I've thought of doing a similar thread with John Ostrander. But I'm bad about keeping up with review threads. Looking forward this one.

Deleted Posts: 0	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 15:12:58 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2015 15:12:58 GMT -5 How is Moench pronounced?

Deleted Posts: 0	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 17:01:02 GMT -5 shaxper likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2015 17:01:02 GMT -5 Shax have you seen this site it's a bit out of date but has lots of Moench goodness.... -M
	Last Edit: Feb 2, 2015 17:43:03 GMT -5 by Deleted

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Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 17:04:34 GMT -5 shaxper likes this

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Post by MDG on Feb 2, 2015 17:04:34 GMT -5

Feb 2, 2015 15:12:58 GMT -5 @mars said:

How is Moench pronounced?

I always pronounced it like Munchhausen without the hausen, but I've also heard people say "monk".

I forgot that he did "The Big Book of the Unexplained".

badwolf The Power Cosmic! Satana Worshipper Posts: 6,119	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 17:20:39 GMT -5 shaxper likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by badwolf on Feb 2, 2015 17:20:39 GMT -5 "Mench"

shaxper CCF Site Custodian Posts: 22,870 Member is Online	Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 17:28:39 GMT -5 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 17:28:39 GMT -5 Feb 2, 2015 17:20:39 GMT -5 badwolf said: "Mench" Correct

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Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench Feb 2, 2015 19:27:00 GMT -5 thwhtguardian likes this

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Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 19:27:00 GMT -5

"Snow Job!" (from Eerie #29, September 1970)

art by Jack Sparling

my grade: B-

plot synopsis: two explorers hire a native guide to help them climb a mountain in order to prove the existence of the Yeti, they encounter Yeti tracks, hear it howling at night, and even get a picture of it from a distance, but, in the end, it turns out that there are no such things as Yeti -- only werewolves that pose as guides and lure trusting explorers out into the mountains for the kill.

Moench's first submitted script, published only six months after the Warren horror mags shifted back towards primarily printing new material instead of reprints.

The story is a simple enough one, written in the trappings of the classic Atom Age horror stories that had so prominently influenced Moench. Essentially, the story is one long setup for a savage twist ending, but that's not to say that Moench doesn't put tremendous craft into the weaving of that setup.

In fact, he's painstakingly deliberate in how he reveals information, juxtoposing discussion of the Yeti with the raising of other concerns equally likely to become the focus of the story later on: do they have enough supplies, can their guide be trusted, who are the other two mysterious guides he has brought along, what happened to the last two expeditions, what does the guide mean when he suggests he has a deep connection with the Yeti they are pursuing, and, most importantly, no indication has been given anywhere in this story that Yeti can change their form, and that's the true key to the surprise factor in that final panel.

And, in classic horror style, he's careful to leave a trail of karma when approaching the climax of the story: at a key moment, the main characters are ready to leave their guide to his own fate while in the presence of the Yeti, thus earning a fate all their own by the close.

Moench lamented in his "Confessions of a Ghost Writer!" piece written for the Midwestern that Jack Sparling did not follow his breakdowns. Moench, after all, proves numerous times in his later writing that he is a very visual writer, often using one unique visual premise with which to center a story, and a frozen mountainside might be just such a visual premise, especially since it's not a place one would expect to find werewolves. Moench might also have been visually inspired by the concept that a guide wearing a fur coat off in the distance might look remarkably similar to a Yeti or werewolf, and that's suggested by the third and fourth to last panels; it's also where Sparling begins to drop the ball:

Finally, regardless of whatever other injustice Sparling might have done to Moench's breakdowns and intended layout, there's this final panel -- the BIG moment Moench spent the entire issue building toward, which looks completely rushed. The inking drops out entirely, and the face looks almost cartoonish:

It's true that a different artist could have raised this story to an entirely different level.

In the end, though neither a brilliant, particularly memorable, nor consistently well drawn piece, "Snow Job!" does its job in providing thrills and a twist ending you weren't likely to see coming. Not a bad first outing for an amateur writer looking to get a start in the industry.

Last Edit: Feb 18, 2018 10:11:19 GMT -5 by shaxper

Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 12:21:19 GMT -5

Post by badwolf on Feb 2, 2015 12:24:02 GMT -5

Post by thwhtguardian on Feb 2, 2015 12:30:54 GMT -5

Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 13:10:44 GMT -5

Post by MDG on Feb 2, 2015 13:28:28 GMT -5

Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 13:37:18 GMT -5

Post by Crimebuster on Feb 2, 2015 13:55:59 GMT -5

Post by Pharozonk on Feb 2, 2015 13:59:59 GMT -5

Post by Slam_Bradley on Feb 2, 2015 14:39:07 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2015 15:12:58 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2015 17:01:02 GMT -5

Post by MDG on Feb 2, 2015 17:04:34 GMT -5

Post by badwolf on Feb 2, 2015 17:20:39 GMT -5

Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 17:28:39 GMT -5

Post by shaxper on Feb 2, 2015 19:27:00 GMT -5

Writer Spotlight: Doug Moench