J. Michael Straczynski Books In Order

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Publication Order of Superman: Earth One Books

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J. Michael Straczynski is an American mystery, and science fiction author, comic book writer, and filmmaker.
He is best known as the creator of “Babylon 5” the science fiction TV show that aired between 1993 and 1998 in addition to shows such as “Sense8” and “Jeremiah.”

Straczynski penned “Changeling,” the psychological drama, and was an author of “Ninja Assasin,” the 2009 martial arts thriller, and has a cameo in “World War Z,” the 2013 apocalyptic horror film.
He has been responsible for some of Marvel Comics’ best-performing movies in recent times including “Fantastic Four,” “Thor,” “Wonder Woman,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man.”

He has also written and created several original comic book series such as “Dream Police,” “Midnight Nation,” and “Rising Stars” before he wrote “Before Watchmen” for DC Comics.

Outside the comics, he has been a journalist and prolific writer across a variety of media.

He published “Becoming Superman,” the 2019 published autobiography, the nonfiction work “Becoming a Writer” in 2021, and the fiction novel “Together We Will Go” in 2021.
In 2020, he was appointed Creative Council Head for Artists, Writers and Artisans, the comics publishing company.

As a long-time user of early computer networks such as Usenet, he was the first TV producer who used to interact with fans directly on online forums such as America Online, CompuServe, and GEnie.

Straczynski was born in the New Jersey town of Paterson to manual laborer Charles Straczynski and his wife Evelyn Straczynski.

He spent his childhood and young adulthood in several states across the United States before the family settled in San Diego California.

Following his graduation from high school, he went to San Diego State University where he got his bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology.

It was while he was studying at San Diego State that he started developing his love for artistic pursuits as he wrote for The Daily Aztec the student newspaper.
It was there that he would become known as a prolific author of articles that he would come to be lovingly known as The Daily Joe.

J. Michael Straczynski first met his wife Kathryn at San Diego State and they got married in 1983 and lived together in Los Angeles until their divorce in 2001.
A few months after he divorced Kathryn he met Patricia Tallman an actor in his Babylon 5 series with whom he started a relationship.

Tallman would later on become an executive producer and CEO for J. Michael’s Studio JMS before their partnership and relationship ended in 2013.
In 1983, he wrote about his experience having a voluntary vasectomy in the Los Angeles Reader.

As for how he got his start, J. Michael Straczynski started out dabbling in spec, radio, and stage scripts while working for the Los Angeles Times as a newspaperman during the early 1980s.

He got his first gig on TV when one of his scripts got into the hands of the people behind one of the most celebrated animated series “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.”

After achieving some success in animation, he branched out into scriptwriting, as he made a makeover for “Murder She Wrote,” the amateur sleuth series whose ratings were sliding.

During this time, he also became a producer and co-produced at least 22 episodes of the show. The success and experience he got from the show were what provided the opportunity to create “Babylon 5.”
It was the latter which was a hugely immersive science fiction saga that would become his signature project. He got into film writing when he penned “The Changeling,” a Clint Eastwood film.
Since then he has been writing in every conceivable genre from adaptations of famous literary works to historical dramas, science fiction, cop shows, and anthology series.
While has since achieved almost everything he could ever hope for, he still writes every day except for Christmas, New Year’s, and his birthday.

J. Michael Straczynski’s novel “Earth One, Volume 1” introduces Clark Kent, who has just arrived in the city and is looking for a job so that he can become independent.
From several flashbacks, we learn about his crash landing on Earth from a dying planet after which he is found by Martha and Jonathan Kent who are humble midwestern farmers.
He soon realizes that he is nothing like the other kids and begins searching for his place in the world.

He is now on the brink of self-discovery but he still has the teenager in him yearning for fortune and fame, even though he still remains the Clark Kent that we love.
Nonetheless, he made a promise to his father that he would take care of his mother and his quest for fortune is a way he can fulfill this promise.

Things come to a head when the planet is involved with the Dheronias, a race of powerful beings that leads him toward self-realization.

Soon enough, there is an epic slugfest between Clark Kent and Tyrell the leader of the invading race that reveals Superman’s ingenuity balanced with power.
Balancing dialogue and solid narration it is a realistic and refreshing take on this classic story.

Michael Straczynski’s novel “Earth One, Volume 2” finds the lead at a crossroads. He had intervened in the politics of a brutal dictatorship and left world leaders on edge.
Military leaders have been looking for the best ways to deal with the powers of Superman, were he ever to turn into a significant threat.

Things change with the entry of Lex and Alexandra Luthor who happen to some of the most brilliant people on the planet.

They happen to be well-known research scientists who have discovered that red light in the right frequency will make Superman’s powers useless.

Lex can turn their knowledge into a weapon but he is ambivalent given the morality of the project, even in the face of the brazen ambition of his wife.

While all this is happening, Zod who is Superman’s uncle arrives from space. He had been sent to outer space after he led a civil war in his quest for total political control.
Now eager for revenge, he conspires with world governments while pretending to be happy to be reunited with Superman.

The UN agrees not to interfere when Zod ultimately goes after Superman but luckily for them, they have Luthor’s weapon which they put to use.
It is a hard-hitting alternative take to the origin story of Superman.

“Earth One, Volume 3” is set soon after Superman has won his battle against “Parasite” and interfered with the politics of Borada, all of which came at a great cost.
The American military and the United Nations see him as a present and clear danger that they need to neutralize.

Alexandra and Alexander Luthor show them that Superman can be beaten with red solar radiation and they are very much for the idea and pay the couple a huge sum of money.

Meanwhile, the character that had put an end to Krypton is invited and welcomed by the United Nations and various world governments who need his help to take out Kal-El.

Ultimately, everybody turns their back on Superman just at the time he is most vulnerable and has no one to trust and no place to hide. He has to face his biggest challenge yet as all the people he fought to save betray him.
In this work, Superman’s side comes into focus whether it is when he is addressing the United Nations, saving innocents, or battling Zod, he shows a new kind of maturity not seen before.