Joanna Martine Woolfolk

William "Bill" Woolfolk (1917-2003) was a highly prolific American writer whose career spanned comic books, television, and novels. Despite selling over six million books and having eight selections with the Book of the Month Club, he remained relatively unknown in literary circles, humorously attributing this to his wide-ranging output. He began his career in advertising and magazine writing before transitioning to television, where he served as story editor and chief scriptwriter for "The Defenders," earning Emmy nominations for two of his scripts.

Woolfolk's work in comic books during the Golden Age was particularly significant. He wrote for numerous popular characters, including Captain Marvel, Superman, and Batman, and was reportedly one of the highest-paid writers in the field at the time. He even co-founded his own comic book company, O.W. Comics, though it faced difficulties due to paper rationing. Later in his career, he also ventured into magazine publishing and wrote several novels, many of which were romans à clef based on the lives of celebrities. He also co-authored non-fiction books with his wife and daughter.

William Woolfolk established himself as a significant figure in the Golden Age of comic books. He wrote for a multitude of publishers, including Fawcett Comics, where he contributed to Captain Marvel stories, and DC Comics, where he penned tales for Superman and Batman. His work also extended to Quality Comics and Timely Comics, the precursor to Marvel. Woolfolk was known for his prolific output and commanded high pay, earning $300 a week at a time when that was ten times the average salary. He is credited with creating Captain Marvel's memorable catchphrase, "Holy Moley!" He even co-founded O.W. Comics with John Gerard Oxton, Sr., producing titles like "Mad Hatter" and "Animal Fables," though the company ultimately folded due to industry challenges.

Woolfolk transitioned his writing talents to television, notably serving as story editor and chief scriptwriter for the acclaimed courtroom drama "The Defenders." Two of his scripts for the series, "A Book for Burning" and "All the Silent Voices," received Emmy nominations. He also contributed to the crime drama "Arrest and Trial." As a novelist, Woolfolk penned over a dozen books, including "My Name is Morgan" and "The Beautiful Couple." Many of his novels were romans à clef, drawing inspiration from the lives of celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies. He also wrote television tie-in novels for the "Batman" series and collaborated with his wife and daughter on non-fiction works.

“Writing during the so-called Golden Age of comics, I soon became the best paid and most sought-after writer (there was little competition) in the field. I wrote for all the characters now so nostalgically remembered: Captain Marvel, Superman, Batman, Captain Midnight, Blackhawk, Plastic Man and many others. This work paid so well, was so easy to do, and so much fun, that my versatility might have come to an end forever. But the Golden Age passed, and I moved on.”

“No literary monuments have ever been erected that proclaim: 'He was versatile'. No one looks forward to a new book by William Woolfolk because no one, including the author, knows what it will be.”

“A daughter is a father’s link to immortality. She is what he has contributed to the world.”