Glenn Herdling (born May 2, 1964) is an American author, comics writer, and editor who has written numerous comic books, including Marvel Comics' Namor the Sub-Mariner series. He is also the author of the Piper Houdini series of young adult novels and a manualist.[5]
Early life
Herdling was born on May 2, 1964. He graduated from Bucknell University in 1986[6] and shortly thereafter began his publishing career at Marvel Comics.
Career
As assistant editor to Jim Salicrup on Marvel's flagship Spider-Man titles, he was instrumental[citation needed] in acquiring the talent that increased circulation to a record 2.5 million copies.[7][8]
Herdling was promoted to editorial director of Marvel's Custom Publishing division and when the company went public in 1991,[9] he developed[citation needed] the company's first Quarterly and Annual Reports, which were done as comic books.[10]
In 1992, Herdling created and wrote Illuminator, the first Marvel character whose powers were tied to his faith as a Christian.
[11][12]
Herdling became the regular writer on Namor, the Sub-Mariner when his editor was reassigned to the book. According to Herdling, this abrupt change of plans was the reason why the first issue of his run, number 44 (November 1993), was an out-of-continuity story whose text was taken entirely from the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner".[13] He was enthusiastic about his run on the series and later confided that, before the series was cancelled, he had been planning a follow-up story arc to "Atlantis Rising" called "Deities of the Deep" which would have pitted Namor against the Norse god Ægir.[13]
In 1996, Herdling became the Creative Director at Spiderwebart Gallery,[14][better source needed] which engaged in traditional book publishing, packaging, and design.
Herdling has since worked as a communications specialist in the healthcare and financial sectors. He has contributed to numerous published works and has written over 80 comic books.[5] In 2015, he published his first novel, Piper Houdini: Apprentice of Coney Island[17] and followed it up a year later with a sequel, Piper Houdini: Nightmare on Esopus Island.[18]
In 2016, Herdling launched a YouTube channel where he performs a variety of popular songs using manualism: the art of playing flatulent tones by squeezing air through his hands.[19]
"Fast Lane: Media Blitz" (Part 1 of 4: Spider-Man anti-drug public-service announcement inserted into Marvel Comics dated October–November 1999)
"Fast Lane: Feel the Rush" (Part 2 of 4: Spider-Man anti-drug public-service announcement inserted into Marvel Comics dated November 1999 – January 2000)
"Fast Lane: On the Edge" (Part 3 of 4: Spider-Man anti-drug public-service announcement inserted into Marvel Comics dated February–April 2000)
"Fast Lane: Back on Target" (Part 3 of 4: Spider-Man anti-drug public-service announcement inserted into Marvel Comics dated April–May 2000)
^Cowsill, Alan (2012). Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. p. 184. ISBN978-0756692360. Todd McFarlane was at the top of his game as an artist, and with Marvel's release of this new Spidey series he also got the chance to take on the writing duties. The sales of this series were underwhelming, with approx. 2.5 million copies eventually printing, including special bagged editions and a number of variant covers.
^Saffel, Steve (2007). Spider-Man the Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon. Titan Books. p. 173. ISBN978-1-84576-324-4. Marvel knew a good thing when they saw it, and the adjectiveless Spider-Man received Marvel's most aggressive launch in company history...the initial press run was 2.35 million, and 500,000 additional copies were printed to meet demand.
^Raviv, Dan (2004). Comic Wars: How Two Tycoons Battled Over the Marvel Comics Empire—And Both Lost. Broadway Books. p. 15. ISBN978-0767908306. Marvel's operations were analyzed, top to bottom, stem to stern. Departments deemed unprofitable or unpromising were shut down and workers were fired. Net income quickly doubled. By 1991, Marvel was selling shares to the public.
^ abLantz, James Heath (September 2016). "Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner: Scion of the Deep or Royal Pain?". Back Issue! (91). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 60–61.
