Wednesday, February 6, 2002

PAUL LEVITZ NEW DC PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

Paul Levitz has been named President & Publisher, DC Comics, it was announced on Wednesday by Barry M. Meyer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros.

Levitz, who moves up from his 12-year post as Executive Vice President & Publisher, assumes the responsibilities of DC Comics' longtime President & Editor-in-Chief Jenette Kahn.

Kahn will be stepping down by the end of the year to focus on new creative pursuits, including the publishing of her first book.

Levitz, a 29-year DC Comics veteran, will not replace himself; instead he will add Kahn's responsibilities to his current duties following a transition period. In addition to overseeing all the business and editorial operations of DC Comics and MAD Magazine, Levitz will also be charged with serving as a liaison across all Warner Bros. divisions and outside third-parties to aggressively and effectively extend and exploit DC Comics' iconic characters and brands in all arenas, including feature films, television, home video, consumer products, online and specialty publishing.

"Today is a momentous day in the comic book world; the `first lady' is passing the torch to the `dean,'" said Meyer. "Jenette and Paul have been making comic book history for more than a quarter of a century. I know of no one more capable, more talented or more fitting than Paul Levitz to take over the reins from the extraordinary Jenette Kahn."

"DC Comics has been an important part of my life since I learned how to read, and even more so during the almost 30 years I've gotten to play with the greatest fantasy characters of all," said Levitz. "I'm honored that Barry Meyer selected me to replace my longtime colleague and friend, Jenette Kahn, and I look forward to building on the wonderful traditions of this very special company."

In his nearly three decades with the company, Levitz has written comic-book stories featuring the majority of the classic DC characters, including Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Superman newspaper strip. His most popular titles were scripted during his 13 years of writing The Legion of Super-Heroes, including a story entitled "The Great Darkness Saga" selected by the readers of Comic Buyers' Guide as one of The Top 12 Comic Book Stories of the 20th Century. He also supervised the brand management of Batman licensing during a record-breaking decade for DC Comics and was key in the company's acquisition of WildStorm Productions.

Levitz rose through the ranks. Prior to being Executive Vice President & Publisher, Levitz served as Executive Vice President, DC Comics from 1984-89. This post was preceded by a two-year stint as Vice President, Operations; two years as Manager, Business Affairs, and four years as Editor and Editorial Coordinator. Levitz joined DC Comics in 1973 as an assistant editor, after spending a year as a freelance writer of text features for the company.

Levitz entered the comics industry in 1971 as the editor/publisher of The Comic Reader, the first mass-circulation fanzine devoted to comics news. He published TCR for three years, winning two consecutive annual Comic Art Fan Awards for Best Fanzine. His other fan activities include editing the program books for several of Phil Seuling's legendary New York Comic Art Conventions, and he worked briefly at Sea Gate Distributors (the original distribution company created to serve the early comic shops) during its first year of existence.

One of the comic book industry's foremost experts, Levitz served on the editorial board of the first edition of "Who's Who in American Comic Books," the first major effort to document the credits of the often-anonymous creators of early comics.

Kahn, who celebrated her 26th year DC on Feb. 2. She joined DC Comics in 1976 as Publisher and five years later was promoted to President and Editor-in-Chief, a post she has held since that time.

"After more than a quarter of a century at DC Comics, we completely understand Jenette's desire for a new venue to focus her boundless energy and visionary leadership," said Meyer. "While we will deeply miss her and her extraordinary contributions, we wish her only the best."

"I feel I've accomplished almost all of the things I set out to do at DC Comics," said Kahn. "While I am eager to embark on new creative challenges, I do not leave DC without leaving behind a large part of myself. I love DC with all my heart, the values on which it stands, the medium it has pioneered, reinvented and helped transform into a legitimate art form, and, most of all, the people who are and have been members of the family. Luckily, my departure is lightened by knowing DC Comics will be in the hands of Paul Levitz, the most gifted of colleagues, and the best of allies and friends."

"We all owe Jenette an enormous debt of gratitude, not only for her accomplishments at DC Comics, but also for her myriad achievements on behalf of social action," Meyer said. "Jenette leaves a legacy of riches at Warner Bros. that goes well beyond those that can be counted on a spread sheet."

Kahn is a noted leader on issues facing women and minorities, and a respected supporter of the arts and the embodiment of the values espoused by the legendary heroes she has lead for nearly three decades. Some of her many altruistic endeavors include having utilized DC Comics superheroes to help kids in third world countries learn how to deal with deadly landmines (for which she received recognition from the Clinton White House, then-Secretary of State Madeline Albright, the United Nations and the Department of Defense), and the creation of a foundation honoring Wonder Woman's 40th anniversary, which during its existence gave grants to more than 50 women who exemplified the inspirational characteristics of Wonder Woman -- taking risks, pursuing equality and truth, striving for peace and helping other women. Further, the Reagan White House honored her for her work on drug awareness and the FBI for her contributions in the area of gun control. In 1997, in an effort to widen the accessibility and visibility of African American art, Kahn initiated and found funding for an exhibition of black film posters at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Kahn serves on the boards of Exit Art and Aaron Davis Hall, Harlem's principal Center for the Performing Arts, and the advisory councils of The W.E.B. DuBois Institute at Harvard and The Women's Research and Education Institute. She is also a founder of The Committee of 200, a nationwide forum of key women in business. An honoree of the World Design Foundation, Kahn has just completed "In Your Space," an illustrated coffee table book about the creative process that will be published by Abbeville Press this spring.

Prior to joining DC, Kahn founded a series of three magazines for young people. Her first was Kids, written and illustrated entirely by and for children. Published in the early '70s, Kids was considered a pioneer in the field of children's publishing, covering topics from drug abuse to animal protection to the environment. Her next publication was Dynamite, the best-selling children's magazine in history. Following on the success of Dynamite was Smash, which, while still aimed at the young audience, tackled more serious themes through probing articles. At 25 years of age, Kahn was able to convince design legend Milton Glaser to art direct Smash -- which she considers one of the best creative collaborations of her life.

Kahn graduated from Harvard University with honors in art history, specializing in 20th-century art, and later held a fellowship at the Museum of Modern Art in New York before entering the world of publishing.