J. M. DeMatteis
A comic book writer who masterfully explored spirituality and psychological depth in mainstream superhero stories.
Born 1953 (age 73)·American writer·Birthday: December 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
J.M. DeMatteis has spent decades writing the inner lives of gods and monsters, bringing a rare philosophical and psychological weight to the pages of comic books. While he could craft slam-bang action, his signature works are characterized by a deep dive into character and soul. His groundbreaking run on 'The Spectre' reimagined the vengeance spirit as a vehicle for theological exploration. He then achieved widespread acclaim with 'Kraven's Last Hunt,' a dark, psychological Spider-Man story that pushed the boundaries of what a superhero narrative could be. Perhaps his most enduring creation is 'Justice League International,' which he co-wrote, injecting a beloved era of humor and humanity into DC's premier team. Later, his work on characters like Moonshadow and his creator-owned 'Brooklyn Dreams' showcased his ability to tell profoundly personal, metaphysical tales outside the capes-and-cowls mainstream.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
J. was born in 1953, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When J. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1953
#1 Movie
Peter Pan
Best Picture
From Here to Eternity
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
J.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1953Born
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1958Started school
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1966Became a teenager
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1969Could drive
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1971Could vote
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Turned 21
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1983Turned 30
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 40
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 50
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 60
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 70
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 73 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote the seminal Spider-Man story 'Kraven's Last Hunt,' a dark psychological epic still hailed as one of the character's best.
- Co-writer of the popular and humorous 'Justice League International' series in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Author of a critically acclaimed run on 'The Spectre' that explored themes of guilt, redemption, and divinity.
- Created the metaphysical series 'Moonshadow' with artist Jon J Muth.
Did You Know?
He is a practicing Buddhist, and his spiritual beliefs often influence his writing themes.
Before comics, he worked as a rock music journalist.
He wrote numerous episodes of the 1990s 'Spider-Man' animated television series.
His creator-owned graphic novel 'Brooklyn Dreams' is considered a highly autobiographical work.
“The best stories come from a place of personal truth, even if you're writing about a man who can crawl on walls.”
