Many fans are excited about the upcoming Firestorm revival, but newer fans might not get the coolness and importance of the character in the DC mythos, because he hasn’t been around all that much for a long time. But, for long-time fans, there’s a collective: “It’s about time!”
Firestorm was the joint creation of writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom, making his debut in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1, released by DC Comics in March 1978. Now, both creators are essential, but I want to focus on Conway because newer fans might not appreciate his contributions to the industry.
There’s not enough space to talk about Conway, but he was the writer who succeeded Stan Lee on Amazing Spider-Man at the age of nineteen. Once upon a time, upon going back to the Silver Age, many creators started when they were in their teens. But, think about it—you’re nineteen and writing Spider-Man. Conway had already demonstrated his storytelling chops at Marvel through standout work on titles such as Iron Man, Daredevil, and Thor, showcasing a strong talent for emotionally rich, character-driven narratives. Recognizing this potential, Marvel editor Roy Thomas tapped Conway to take the reins on The Amazing Spider-Man.
And, like often happens, (but, truthfully, the mid-1970s saw a lot of this happening) Conway jumped ship to DC. Although Conway achieved considerable success at Marvel, he frequently found himself at odds with the company’s editorial leadership, especially when it came to story direction and character choices. These creative conflicts left him feeling constrained. In later interviews, Conway referred to Marvel’s environment as a “snake pit,” prompting his decision to seek a more collaborative and supportive space at DC Comics. While he continued freelancing for both publishers, he devoted much of the late 1970s and early 1980s to establishing a strong creative foothold at DC.
Conway imagined Firestorm as the result of two vastly different individuals—teenager Ronnie Raymond and esteemed physicist Dr. Martin Stein—fusing into one nuclear-powered superhero. This split-personality setup offered a compelling blend of adolescent conflict and scientific complexity, setting Firestorm apart within DC’s roster.
Though the initial series was cut short by the DC Implosion, the character was later resurrected and rose to prominence as a member of the Justice League of America. Conway continued to expand Firestorm’s story in The Fury of Firestorm, further exploring the character’s unique dynamic and powers.
Now, that first Firestorm series wasn’t necessarily canceled because it was a bad comic. It was a weird time for DC: that Implosion meant the wholesale reduction of a lot of their comics, and there’s a lot of stuff about it. If you don’t know your comic history, which you should! Looking at what happened gives fans a better understanding of why comics and characters are the way they are today.
Conway didn’t give up on Firestorm. There were several guest appearances, and he joined the JLA with issue #179 in 1980. It helped that Conway was writing the series at the time, and he’s one of those whose contributions to JLA lore often get overlooked. Conway penned 102 of the original run’s 261 issues, along with one of its three annuals, making him the most prolific contributor to the series. His run extended through 1986, spanning the bulk of the Satellite Era, transitioning into the Detroit Era, and concluding with the series’ end following Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Conway kept Firestorm around, and The Fury of Firestorm began in June 1982, and Gerry Conway wrote the first 64 issues. By the mid-1980s, Gerry Conway had established himself as one of DC Comics’ most prolific and influential writers, with significant contributions to not only Justice League of America and The Fury of Firestorm, but also Batman, Detective Comics, and several other titles as well. Seeking new creative challenges, he transitioned into television writing, where he worked on series such as Matlock, Jake and the Fatman, and later Law & Order—a show he remained involved with for many years. This shift marked a new chapter in Conway’s storytelling career, expanding his impact beyond comics into mainstream entertainment.
The second Firestorm series would last until issue 100, which is pretty good considering how many comics don’t even make it to half that number. From there, Firestorm was still around, but DC seemed either not interested in the character or didn’t know what to do with the character.
As is often the case at DC, Firestorm’s history got muddied through retcons and reboots. It made it hard to untangle it all, but obviously, not impossible. Those Firestorm comics are still around in various formats. When done right, it was a fantastic comic book, and here’s hoping the 2026 relaunch goes fantastically great!
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