Jim Simon (comics writer)

Jim Simon is an American comics writer, editor, and historian known for his contributions to both original comic book storytelling and the preservation of comics history. He has collaborated with major publishers including Marvel Comics, Titan Books, and Abrams ComicArts. He has been covered in comics-focused publications such as First Comics News, which highlighted his writing and historical contributions to the medium^[1] and Print Magazine, which covered his role in The Art of the Simon and Kirby Studio.^[2]

Simon earned a bachelor's degree in literature from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and studied copywriting at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.^[3][4] He is the son of comic book creator Joe Simon and worked in his father's studio.^[2]

Simon wrote The Comic Book Makers with Joe Simon, a nonfiction book documenting the early history of the American comic book industry. The book has been cited in peer-reviewed academic studies^[5][6][7] and referenced in widely read historical studies of comics, including Gerard Jones's Men of Tomorrow and David Hajdu's The Ten-Cent Plague.^[8][9][10]

In The Art of the Simon and Kirby Studio (Abrams ComicArts), he wrote about the studio's operations and creative output.^[2] He also wrote for The Simon and Kirby Superheroes (Titan Books), documenting the duo's work during the 1940s and 1950s.^[11]

In collaboration with Steven Brower, Simon co-authored Astounding, Mysterious, Weird & True: The Pulp Art of Comic Book Artists, examining the pulp magazine work of early comic book artists.^[12]

Simon has created and scripted original comic book characters.^[13] ShieldMaster debuted in Comic Book Marketplace in 1998^[14], and later appeared in Strange, Futura, and Étranges Aventures^[15] published by Organic Comix. ^[16] Spyder-Fly also featured in Strange and Étranges Aventures. In 2011, Organic Comix published Simon's graphic novel ShieldMaster: L'envol du phoenix.^[16]

In 2024, Simon launched the independent imprint Simon Studios, publishing a new ShieldMaster series, featuring contributions from Tom Morgan and Bob Layton, with an introduction by Alan Moore.^[17] In early 2025, the titles KillShott and In Pursuit of Dead-Bolt were released, both written and created by him.^[1]

Simon wrote The Classic Wild West Action Team introduction for The Kid Cowboys of Boys' Ranch (Marvel Comics).^[18] He contributed to Crazy Magazine (Marvel), Sick, National Crumb, and Something Else.^[19]

During the 1970s, he served as editor for Sick, National Crumb, and Something Else.^[20] Under a pseudonym, he authored The Monster Channel (Avon Books), a novel released as part of the Spinetinglers series in 1997 (later reissued under his real name). He is also the author of the novel The Far Away.^[21]

Simon assisted in the development and writing of the science fiction concept Jove: U.N. Born, which was also developed as a film treatment.^[22]

Simon has been credited with early development input on various comic book titles such as Brother Power the Geek, Prez, The Outsiders, and The Sandman, which were developed at Joe Simon's studio and published by DC Comics.^[23][24]

Simon was featured in the 2016 ABC documentary Marvel's Captain America: 75 Heroic Years.^[25] He was invited to speak at San Diego Comic-Con International and has appeared as a panelist at events including Apple Comic Con^[26] and New York Comic Con.^[27] He was interviewed by David Garland on WNYCs public radio, discussing The Comic Book Makers and the importance of preserving comic book history.^[28]

• The Comic Book Makers. Crestwood/II Publications. ISBN 978-0962685804 ; Vanguard Productions, 2nd ed. ISBN 978-1887591331.
• The Art of the Simon and Kirby Studio. Abrams ComicArts. ISBN 978-1419711602.
• Astounding, Mysterious, Weird & True: The Pulp Art of Comic Book Artists. SB Studio Books. ISBN 978-1087867502.

• “The 1940s: War and Peace” and “The 1950s: Fighting Americans.” Titan Books. ISBN 978-1848563650.

• The Monster Channel (as part of the Spinetinglers series). Avon Books
• The Far Away. Crestwood/II.

• "I Remember Weird Mysteries." Alter Ego, May 2004.
• "Jim Simon Looks Back." The Intelligent Collector, Winter 2013.
• "A Q&A With Jim Simon." Captain America Anniversary Magazine, June 2016.
• "Interview with Jim Simon." WNYC Radio, 1991.
• "Marvel's Captain America: 75 Heroic Years." ABC Television, 2016.
• “The Legacy of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby." Panelist. Big Apple Comic Con, March 11, 2017.

• Jim Simon at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Jim Simon at IMDB
• Jim Simon at Grand Comics Database
• Jim Simon at Comic Vine