# Brad Meltzer
**Brad Meltzer** is an American novelist, comic book writer, and television host known for bestselling political thrillers, the [DC Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-comics) miniseries *Identity Crisis*, the children's book series *Ordinary People Change the World*, and his work with the [Image Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/image-comics) imprint Ghost Machine. The Emmy-nominated Meltzer, a #1 New York Times bestselling author and Eisner Award winner, belongs to the small group of writers whose books have reached the bestseller list in five separate categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Advice, Children's Books, and Graphic Books.[1](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/42372/brad-meltzer/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Thrillers | Author of *The Tenth Justice*, *Dead Even*, *The First Counsel*, *The Millionaires*, *The Zero Game*, and other thrillers including *The Lightning Rod*[2](https://www.dc.com/talent/brad-meltzer) • [3](https://ghostmachinepro.com/creators/brad-meltzer/) |
| Breakout comic | *Identity Crisis*, a seven-issue DC miniseries illustrated by Rags Morales; his first comic work was *Green Arrow: The Archer's Quest*[2](https://www.dc.com/talent/brad-meltzer) • [4](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/identity-crisis/) |
| Justice League run | Best-selling *Justice League of America* run with artist Ed Benes[2](https://www.dc.com/talent/brad-meltzer) |
| Awards | Eisner Award winner for his comic book work; Emmy-nominated; named by *The Hollywood Reporter* to its list of the 25 Most Powerful Authors[1](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/42372/brad-meltzer/) |
| Children's work | *Ordinary People Change the World* series, the inspiration for the PBS KIDS show *Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum*[1](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/42372/brad-meltzer/) |
| Television | Host of *Brad Meltzer's Decoded* on the History Channel; his show *Brad Meltzer's Lost History* helped find the missing 9/11 flag[1](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/42372/brad-meltzer/) |
| Recent comics | Ghost Machine creator at Image Comics (one-shot, January 24, 2024); co-writer of the 2026 Marvel/DC crossover *Spider-Man/Superman* with Geoff Johns[3](https://ghostmachinepro.com/creators/brad-meltzer/) • [5](https://bazingacomics.cl/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PRH-CATALOG-FEB2026.pdf) |
## Thrillers and nonfiction
Meltzer built his prose career on thrillers. His published novels include *The Tenth Justice*, *Dead Even*, *The First Counsel*, *The Millionaires*, and *The Zero Game*, followed by later titles such as *The Book of Fate* and *The Lightning Rod*, which his publishers describe as one of thirteen thrillers.[2](https://www.dc.com/talent/brad-meltzer) • [3](https://ghostmachinepro.com/creators/brad-meltzer/) The thriller *The Viper* was scheduled for publication on January 6, 2026.[6](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/brad-meltzer/)
His nonfiction includes history written with Josh Mensch, such as *The Nazi Conspiracy* and *The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy*, the latter appearing on numerous bestseller lists after its January 2025 publication.[6](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/brad-meltzer/) • [7](https://aiptcomics.com/2025/02/24/ghost-machine-first-ghost-hyde-street/)
## Comics: Green Arrow, Identity Crisis, and the Justice League
Meltzer entered comics as a lifelong fan; he has recalled that the first book he ever read was a comic, and that an issue of *Justice League of America* #150 involving the villain the Key left a lasting impression.[8](https://www.gamesradar.com/brad-meltzer-comics/) His first professional comic work was *Green Arrow: The Archer's Quest*, but his breakout came with *Identity Crisis*, illustrated by Rags Morales.[2](https://www.dc.com/talent/brad-meltzer)
**Identity Crisis (2004).** The seven-issue miniseries opens with the murder of Sue Dibny, wife of the [Elongated Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/elongated-man) (Ralph Dibny), and follows the [Justice League](https://www.edgepedia.org/justice-league) as the investigation exposes secrets kept within the team.[4](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/identity-crisis/) Publishers Weekly's review said the story made familiar heroes more morally ambiguous and called the book "a genuine comics landmark"; DC's marketing for the Absolute edition quotes the same phrase alongside a New York Times note on Meltzer's skills as a thriller novelist.[9](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781401206888) • [10](https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/identity-crisis-2004/absolute-identity-crisis) The series has been described as influential in steering mainstream comics toward more mature themes and as a lead-in to the major DC storyline *Infinite Crisis*.[4](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/identity-crisis/) The book has remained in print long enough to receive an Absolute edition and a 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition from DC.[10](https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/identity-crisis-2004/absolute-identity-crisis) • [2](https://www.dc.com/talent/brad-meltzer)
**Justice League of America (2006).** After *Identity Crisis*, Meltzer told then-DC vice president Dan DiDio that he was done writing comics and needed to return to novels; he was persuaded back for a *Justice League of America* run drawn by Ed Benes, whom Meltzer personally selected as the primary interior artist.[11](https://www.gamesradar.com/brad-meltzer-relives-his-justice-league-of-america-run/) As with *Green Arrow* and *Identity Crisis*, Meltzer described a manifesto for the run of paying tribute in a way that acknowledged both the vastness of the [DC Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-universe) and the interpersonal connections making up its mythos.[11](https://www.gamesradar.com/brad-meltzer-relives-his-justice-league-of-america-run/) Columbia Magazine credits the best-selling run with his Eisner Award.[12](https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/brad-meltzer-bestselling-author-shares-his-secret-mega-success) His other DC credits listed by the publisher include *Superman/Batman* #26 and *Detective Comics* #27.[2](https://www.dc.com/talent/brad-meltzer)
## Children's books and television
The Ordinary People Change the World series of picture-book biographies, with titles such as *I Am Ruth Bader Ginsburg* illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos, became the inspiration for the PBS KIDS animated show *Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum*.[1](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/42372/brad-meltzer/) • [6](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/brad-meltzer/) On television, Meltzer hosted *Brad Meltzer's Decoded* on the [History Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/history-channel), and his follow-up show *Brad Meltzer's Lost History* is credited with helping find the missing 9/11 flag.[1](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/42372/brad-meltzer/)
## Ghost Machine and recent work
In January 2024, Meltzer appeared among the writers and artists of *Ghost Machine* #1, a one-shot published by Image Comics on January 24, 2024, alongside [Geoff Johns](https://www.edgepedia.org/geoff-johns), Jason Fabok, Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, Lamont Magee, Francis Manapul, and other creators.[3](https://ghostmachinepro.com/creators/brad-meltzer/) In February 2025, the imprint announced *First Ghost*, a thriller by Meltzer, Geoff Johns, and artist Gene Ha for later that year; Meltzer said he and Johns had been planning the project for years.[7](https://aiptcomics.com/2025/02/24/ghost-machine-first-ghost-hyde-street/) Ghost Machine's companion *Official Guidebook* limited series ran five issues from April through August 2026, followed by a collected edition in November 2026.[13](https://imagecomics.com/creators/brad-meltzer)
In 2026, Meltzer returned to superhero work on *Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman* #1, scripted with Geoff Johns and illustrated by Pepe Larraz and Gary Frank, a crossover that brought the heroes of Marvel and DC Comics together for the first time in decades.[5](https://bazingacomics.cl/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PRH-CATALOG-FEB2026.pdf) • [14](https://prhcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026_May_PRH-Panels-Catalog.pdf)
## Reception
Response to Meltzer's comics work centers on *Identity Crisis*, which Publishers Weekly called "a genuine comics landmark" and which has been credited with reshaping the tone of mainstream comics toward more mature themes and complex narratives.[9](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781401206888) • [4](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/identity-crisis/) Across formats, his career is defined by range: bestselling thrillers, historical nonfiction, Eisner-winning comics, children's books, and television, spanning five bestseller-list categories.[1](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/42372/brad-meltzer/)
## References
1. [Brad Meltzer, Penguin Random House author page](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/42372/brad-meltzer/)
2. [Brad Meltzer, DC Comics talent page](https://www.dc.com/talent/brad-meltzer)
3. [Brad Meltzer, Ghost Machine creator page](https://ghostmachinepro.com/creators/brad-meltzer/)
4. [Identity Crisis, EBSCO Research Starters](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/identity-crisis/)
5. [PRH Panels Catalog, February 2026](https://bazingacomics.cl/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PRH-CATALOG-FEB2026.pdf)
6. [Books by Brad Meltzer, Kirkus Reviews](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/brad-meltzer/)
7. [New Ghost Machine titles announced by Brad Meltzer, Geoff Johns, and Gene Ha, AIPT (February 24, 2025)](https://aiptcomics.com/2025/02/24/ghost-machine-first-ghost-hyde-street/)
8. [The secret comic book origin of Brad Meltzer, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/brad-meltzer-comics/)
9. [Identity Crisis review, Publishers Weekly](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781401206888)
10. [Absolute Identity Crisis, DC Comics](https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/identity-crisis-2004/absolute-identity-crisis)
11. [Brad Meltzer relives his Justice League of America run, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/brad-meltzer-relives-his-justice-league-of-america-run/)
12. [Brad Meltzer, Bestselling Author, Shares His Secret to Mega-Success, Columbia Magazine](https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/brad-meltzer-bestselling-author-shares-his-secret-mega-success)
13. [Brad Meltzer, Image Comics creator page](https://imagecomics.com/creators/brad-meltzer)
14. [PRH Panels Catalog, May 2026](https://prhcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026_May_PRH-Panels-Catalog.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Literature and written works › Writers and literary biographies › Children's, comics, and media-genre writers › Comics and graphic-novel writers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license