According to an email from his friend and long time collaborator Steve Perry sent to Multiversity Comics, Michael Reaves passed away at the age of 72 on the morning of Monday, March 20th after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Reaves was a celebrated author and TV writer, having created numerous acclaimed works. He is responsible for Star Wars novels such as Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, the MedStar duology, and the Coruscant Nights trilogy. Additionally, he created the science fiction fantasy series InterWorld alongside Neil Gaiman. Reaves was also one of the primary creators and writers for the show Gargoyles, and of course, one of the lead writers for Batman: The Animated Series.
Michael Reaves’ work on Batman: The Animated Series is part of what made it such a beloved series to this day. He’s credited with writing more episodes than anyone else aside from Paul Dini. It was his work on this show that won him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program. The highlight of his Batman writing career is arguably his work on the movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. Telling the story of Batman’s origin and how vengeance can leave scars that never truly heal, the animated film was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Animated Feature in 1994.
Reaves’ writing has entertained millions of fans for over 40 years. His influence on fantasy, science-fiction, superheroes, and animation is sure to leave a lasting legacy. From the short stories he began writing in the 70s to feature films and award winning TV shows, his works will continue to live on despite his untimely passing. He is survived by his ex-wife, Brynne Chandler, and their three children, including author Mallory Reaves.
IMAGE SOURCE: James Michael Reaves – WikiMedia – Dstager
