Mark Russell is an American author and comic book writer, born in 1971. He is recognized for his distinctive approach to established narratives and characters across both prose and comic book formats. His work often involves reinterpreting familiar stories and figures in contemporary or unconventional ways. Russell has explored religious texts, adapting them for a modern audience, and has also applied his creative vision to well-known comic book properties, often imbuing them with humor and social commentary.

His bibliography includes "God Is Disappointed in You," a modern adaptation of the Bible illustrated by Shannon Wheeler, and "Apocrypha Now," which delves into non-canonical religious writings. In the realm of comics, Russell has penned reboots and new series featuring characters like Prez, The Flintstones, Snagglepuss, and the Wonder Twins. He has also contributed to major publishers like DC Comics and Marvel Comics, with works such as "Fantastic Four: Life Story" and "Superman: Space Age." Several of his comic series have received critical acclaim and award nominations, including Eisner and Harvey Awards.

Mark Russell has engaged with religious texts in his writing, offering modern interpretations of foundational narratives. His book "God Is Disappointed in You," published in 2013, presents a contemporary retelling of the Bible, complete with illustrations by The New Yorker cartoonist Shannon Wheeler. This work aims to make the biblical stories accessible and relevant to a modern readership through its updated language and visual style. Complementing this, Russell also authored "Apocrypha Now," a book that specifically examines and discusses non-canonical Christian and Jewish texts. This exploration into texts often excluded from mainstream religious canons suggests an interest in delving into alternative or less-explored spiritual and historical narratives.

Russell's career in comics is marked by creative reinventions of existing characters and concepts. He wrote a reboot of the "Prez" comic series, featuring a teenage U.S. president, and penned "The Flintstones" for DC Comics, a run that earned Eisner and Harvey Award nominations. His work on "Exit, Stage Left!: The Snagglepuss Chronicles" reimagined the Hanna-Barbera character as a gay Southern Gothic playwright, earning a GLAAD Award and an Eisner nomination for Russell as Best Writer. He has also contributed to DC's Wonder Comics line with "The Wonder Twins" and explored themes of faith and heroism in "Second Coming." Further expanding his comic portfolio, Russell has worked on Marvel's "Fantastic Four: Life Story," a decade-by-decade retelling, and "One-Star Squadron," a series about superheroes operating in a commercialized market. His more recent works include "Superman: Space Age," "Traveling to Mars," and "Cereal," a horror-comedy series.