A portrait of Gardner Fox drawn by Gil Kane (it's something of a cliché that all Gardner Fox biographies must show this image at least once!)

• First Appearance: Detective Comics #4 (June 1937)
• Occupation: Writer of comic books, short stories, novels
• Claim to fame: First professional comic book writer, originated the superhero team
• Creator of: Flash, Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Adam Strange, the Batarang, DC Multiverse, etc.
• Homages: The Green Lantern Guy Gardner and the Flash John Fox are both named for him. The Justice League episode “Legends” is dedicated to him.

Gardner Fox has due claim to be the first and possibly the greatest comic book writer ever. In a comic book career that spanned the years 1937-1969 he originated not only the Justice Society, but also the Justice League and the very concept of the DC Multiverse. He was the co-creator of the Flash, Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Adam Strange, and a string of other characters.

If Timely’s Comics [Golden Age Marvel] seemed to lay stress on the art and the artists, then DC’s books took the opposite approach. There the writer was the star who, if he so desired, always got top billing. And, in a galaxy of comic writers, Gardner Fox is one of the most brilliant.

- Jim Steranko, The Steranko History of Comics #1.