Len Wein, Legendary Comics Writer and Editor, Dies at 69 

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Len Wein, the award-winning writer and editor, perhaps best known for co-creating Swamp Thing for DC Comics and Wolverine for Marvel Comics, along with editing Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ 

, passed away Sunday, according to multiple industry reports including word of the news

from fellow comics veteran Paul Kupperberg. He was 69 years old.

Wein got his start in comics in 1968 working on DC’s 

#18. His first Marvel work came in 

#71 in 1970. From there, he continued writing anthology stories for both publishers, along with guest-spots on such titles as 

Together with Bernie Wrightson, they created the supernatural superhero Swamp Thing in 1971’s 

#92. Swamp Thing would go on to star in various ongoing and miniseries that continue to this day. Wein also contributed to the Man-Thing mythos over at Marvel by introducing the concept of “Whoever Knows Fear Burns at the Man-Thing’s Touch.”

RELATED: Wein’s “Swamp Thing” Homecoming Blurs the Lines Between Man, Monster & Hero

During Wein’s tenure at Marvel, he teamed with artists John Romita Sr. and Herb Trimpe to create Wolverine in 

#180. In 1975, Wolverine would appear as a member of a revamped X-Men team in 

#1, penned by Wein and illustrated by Dave Cockrum. The new lineup that included classic characters like Storm, Nightcrawler, and Colossus would become mainstays across multiple X-Men lineups and volumes.

Wein returned to DC in the late 1970s as a writer and editor, where as the former he created 

supporting cast member Lucius Fox, and contributed to a rare DC/Marvel crossover in 

#27. His work as an editor included runs on 

Word of Wein’s passing began to spread across social media, with writer Brian Michael Bendis thanking the creator for his work on the X-Men and Swamp Thing. “Len Wein, co-creator of WOLVERINE and SWAMP THING & more responsible for the x-men you love than he gets credit for. Thank you.”

Len Wein, co-creator of WOLVERINE and SWAMP THING & more responsible for the x-men you love than he gets credit for. Thank you. #RIP

— BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (@BRIANMBENDIS) September 10, 2017

#15, which shows Commissioner Jim Gordon using Wein’s Marvel nickname.

A shoutout to Len from Batman 15, using his Marvel nickname. Words by me. Art by the @MitchGerads. pic.twitter.com/wSMlGHvh0k

Legendary creator Neil Gaiman posted a thread of messages to his longtime friend.

I just learned that my friend and writing inspiration @LenWein passed away this morning. My love and condolences to his wife, @mcvalada.

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) September 10, 2017

Len Wein. He wrote Swamp Thing, Phantom Stranger, & my favourite Batman stories. He showed 12 year old me that comics could be literature.

Len Wein was the editor who brought the British creators to DC. He was one of the nicest people I\'ve met, in 30 years in comics.

Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards’ Hall of Fame in 2008. CBR sends its condolences to Wein’s friends, family and loved ones at this time.

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