# Roy Thomas
**Roy Thomas** (Roy William Thomas Jr.; born November 22, 1940) is an [American comic book](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-comic-book) writer and editor who became [Stan Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/stan-lee)'s first successor as editor-in-chief of [Marvel Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-comics), serving from 1972 to 1974[1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/thomas-roy-1940). Over a career that began in 1960s fan fandom, he wrote long runs of *The Avengers*, brought the pulp hero Conan the Barbarian into American comics, adapted *Star Wars* for Marvel, and championed Golden Age heroes at DC Comics[1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/thomas-roy).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | November 22, 1940, Jackson, Missouri, United States[4](https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Roy_Thomas) |
| Education | BS in education, Southeast Missouri State University, 1961, majoring in history and social science[5](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/roy-william-thomas-jr--48074.php) |
| Marvel roles | Staff writer from 1965, assistant editor c. 1966–72, editor-in-chief 1972–74[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/thomas-roy-1940) |
| Signature characters | Introduced Ultron and the Vision during his *Avengers* run[6](https://www.tcj.com/logans-run-roy-thomas-len-wein-and-curious-case-of-the-wolverine/) |
| Best-known licensed work | *Conan the Barbarian*, *The Savage Sword of Conan*, and Marvel's *Star Wars* comics[1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/thomas-roy) |
| Fandom work | Cofounder and longtime editor of the comics-history magazine *Alter Ego*, published for more than 60 years[7](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-thomas-biographical-interview-by-alex-grand/) |
| Honors | Hall of Fame induction (2022); Angoulême Best Foreign Author (1974)[1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas) |
| Output | 3,244 credited issues listed in one creator index[1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas) |
## Early life and fandom
Thomas grew up in Jackson, Missouri, near Cape Girardeau, and began reading comics before he could read words, at about age four, with DC's *All-Star Comics* becoming an early favorite because its heroes appeared together as a team[7](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-thomas-biographical-interview-by-alex-grand/). He earned a BS in education from [Southeast Missouri State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/southeast-missouri-state-university) in 1961, majoring in history and social science, and then taught school in Missouri for about four years[5](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/roy-william-thomas-jr--48074.php) • [8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/).
**Alter Ego.** In 1961, while still in college, Thomas joined the fan magazine *Alter Ego*, started by comics fan and historian Jerry Bails, which profiled superhero history and the artists behind it; by 1964 Thomas had risen from contributor to co-editor and then took the magazine over as editor and publisher[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/thomas-roy) • [7](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-thomas-biographical-interview-by-alex-grand/). This involvement in early 1960s comics fandom led directly to his professional entry: in interviews he credits the fanzines Lee had seen with opening the door at Marvel[8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/).
## DC, Marvel, and the Lee apprenticeship
Thomas's professional editorial career began at [DC Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-comics) in late June 1965 working under Superman editor Mort Weisinger, but it lasted only eight days[5](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/roy-william-thomas-jr--48074.php). In his own account, Weisinger paid him $100 a week rather than the agreed $110 and treated assistants harshly, and when Thomas announced he had accepted another job, Weisinger dismissed him on the spot, calling him a spy for Stan Lee[8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/).
At Marvel, Thomas wrote a letter to Stan Lee, who called him at his hotel and set a writer's test: filling in dialogue on four [Jack Kirby](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-kirby)-drawn pages from *Fantastic Four Annual* #2[8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/) • [9](https://www.looper.com/410555/legendary-comics-writer-roy-thomas-reveals-what-it-was-really-like-to-work-at-marvel-exclusive/). Hired as a staff writer at $110 a week, he became Lee's assistant, then assistant editor, and learned the Marvel Method, in which the artist plotted from a writer's synopsis and the writer added dialogue afterward[8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/) • [10](https://www.syfy.com/marvel-comics-roy-thomas-interview-vision). His Marvel debut was a romance story, "Whom Can I Turn To?" in the *Millie the Model* spin-off *Modeling with Millie*, for which a production snag cost him credit; his first superhero script was "My Life for Yours," featuring [Iron Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/iron-man) in *Tales of Suspense*, in January 1966[5](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/roy-william-thomas-jr--48074.php).
Lee had written and edited most of Marvel's output for roughly 24 years, and Thomas became the assistant he needed in 1965[11](https://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/article314973365.html). He was the first person other than Lee to receive a writing credit on Marvel's top-selling comic, *The Amazing Spider-Man*[10](https://www.syfy.com/marvel-comics-roy-thomas-interview-vision).
## The Avengers and Marvel's Bronze Age
Thomas took over *The Avengers* with issue #35 and wrote the title into the 1970s[8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/). His stint as writer of the series introduced Ultron and the Vision, both staples of the publishing line since then and both prominent in later film adaptations[6](https://www.tcj.com/logans-run-roy-thomas-len-wein-and-curious-case-of-the-wolverine/). With artists [Neal Adams](https://www.edgepedia.org/neal-adams), Sal Buscema, and John Buscema he created the *Kree-Skrull War* story arc[5](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/roy-william-thomas-jr--48074.php).
He brought a college background in English and history to the Marvel Method, deliberately working literary material into superhero stories. *Avengers* #56 and #58 reproduce Shelley's sonnet "Ozymandias" in full, and the story "Even an Android Can Cry" became one of the run's best-remembered moments[8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/). On *The Incredible Hulk* he used [Tom Wolfe](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-wolfe)'s "Radical Chic" as the basis for issues #142 and #147, with Wolfe's permission, and the print run of the book was doubled twice during his run with Herb Trimpe[8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/).
## Conan, Star Wars, and licensed properties
Thomas is most closely associated with bringing [Robert E. Howard](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-howard)'s pulp hero [Conan the Barbarian](https://www.edgepedia.org/conan-the-barbarian) into American comics[1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas). Marvel's *Conan the Barbarian* and *The Savage Sword of Conan* occupied him for years, and many of his stories were adaptations of Howard's prose, with key passages highlighted for the artist; he wrote the character in every decade from the 1970s onward[1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas). Marvel also pursued Tarzan and attempted *The Lord of the Rings*, which Tolkien's estate declined; [Arthur C. Clarke](https://www.edgepedia.org/arthur-c-clarke) likewise refused comic rights, while Theodore Sturgeon welcomed the adaptation of his story "It!"[8](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/).
At Marvel he also wrote the original *Star Wars* comic, beginning with the six-issue film adaptation and continuing with original adventures, later collected in *Star Wars: A Long Time Ago...*[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/thomas-roy).
## Editor-in-chief and later career
Thomas became Marvel's editor-in-chief in 1972, the first successor to Stan Lee in that job, and held it until 1974[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/thomas-roy-1940) • [1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas). He recalls his editorial task in terms of adapting the work of authors such as [Larry Niven](https://www.edgepedia.org/larry-niven) for comics[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/thomas-roy).
**Move to DC.** His first decade and a half was spent at Marvel, after which he moved to DC Comics, writing work he has described as varied in style and substance[12](https://www.twomorrows.com/media/AlterEgoCentennialPreview.pdf). At DC he is credited with introducing readers to the [Golden Age](https://www.edgepedia.org/golden-age) superheroes in that publisher's stable, including Quality Comics heroes, most notably through *All-Star Squadron*, a wartime series that organized DC's continuity for many fans[13](https://www.twomorrows.com/media/QualityCompanionPreview.pdf). He also wrote graphic novels including *The Dragonlance Saga* (1988–89), adapted from Margaret Weis's novels, and *Conan the Barbarian: The Horn of Azoth* (1990, with Gerry Conway)[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/thomas-roy-1940).
**Comics history.** In the 2000s Thomas revived *Alter Ego*, still his magazine, and compiled coffee-table books on Marvel history including *The Marvel Vault* (2007) and *Amazing Marvel Universe* (2006)[14](https://www.auvietuc.edu.vn/upload/files/PDFs/Books%20for%20English/Captain%20America%20and%20the%20Struggle%20of%20the%20Superhero_%20Critical%20Essays%20-%20PDF%20Room.pdf). He wrote *The Stan Lee Story*, published by Taschen in 2018[15](https://time.com/5452565/stan-lee-name-change-history/). His *Alter Ego* magazine is Eisner award-winning and has run for more than 60 years[7](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-thomas-biographical-interview-by-alex-grand/).
## Recognition
Thomas received a Hall of Fame induction in 2022, and his earlier honors include Angoulême's Best Foreign Author award (1974), a Roll of Honour (1980), and Favourite Comic Book Writer (1976)[1](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas).
## References
1. [Roy Thomas — comics creator, ComicBooks.com](https://comicbooks.com/creator/roy-thomas)
2. [Thomas, Roy 1940–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/thomas-roy-1940)
3. [Thomas, Roy, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/thomas-roy)
4. [Roy Thomas, Marvel Database (Fandom)](https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Roy_Thomas)
5. [Roy Thomas Biography, TheFamousPeople.com](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/roy-william-thomas-jr--48074.php)
6. [Logan's Run: Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and the curious case of the Wolverine, The Comics Journal](https://www.tcj.com/logans-run-roy-thomas-len-wein-and-curious-case-of-the-wolverine/)
7. [Roy Thomas Biographical Interview by Alex Grand, Comic Book Historians](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-thomas-biographical-interview-by-alex-grand/)
8. [Roy Thomas Marvel Age Interview by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson, Comic Book Historians](https://comicbookhistorians.com/roy-the-boy-thomas-interview-roys-marvel-age-with-alex-grand-jim-thompson/)
9. [Legendary Comics Writer Roy Thomas Reveals What It Was Really Like To Work At Marvel, Looper](https://www.looper.com/410555/legendary-comics-writer-roy-thomas-reveals-what-it-was-really-like-to-work-at-marvel-exclusive/)
10. [Comic book legend Roy Thomas on Marvel's The Vision, SYFY WIRE](https://www.syfy.com/marvel-comics-roy-thomas-interview-vision)
11. [Comics writer Roy Thomas to appear at Lexington Comic Con, Lexington Herald Leader](https://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/article314973365.html)
12. [Alter Ego Centennial Preview, TwoMorrows Publishing](https://www.twomorrows.com/media/AlterEgoCentennialPreview.pdf)
13. [ROY THOMAS on Quality Comics and All-Star Squadron, TwoMorrows Publishing](https://www.twomorrows.com/media/QualityCompanionPreview.pdf)
14. [Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero: Critical Essays (PDF)](https://www.auvietuc.edu.vn/upload/files/PDFs/Books%20for%20English/Captain%20America%20and%20the%20Struggle%20of%20the%20Superhero_%20Critical%20Essays%20-%20PDF%20Room.pdf)
15. [How Stanley Lieber Wrote His First Comics Story and Became 'Stan Lee', Time](https://time.com/5452565/stan-lee-name-change-history/)
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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: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license