Sam Humphries Explained

Sam Humphries (born March 16, 1977) is an American comic book writer located in London. Between 2018 and 2020, he co-hosted DC Daily on the DC Universe streaming platform.

Early life

Humphries was born in Annapolis, Maryland and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota.^[1]

Career

Humphries began his career in the early 2000s as a Consulting Editor for Gutsoon! Entertainment^{[2] [3]} and, as part of his duties to "monitor the chatter" around the American comic book industry, joined the Warren Ellis Forum where he got acquainted with several professional and aspiring comic book creators.^{[4] [5]} After the dissolution of Gutsoon!, Humphries went on to work at MySpace,^{[6] [7] [2]} where he developed several projects including the network's comics section and its most popular feature, MySpace Dark Horse Presents, the digital revival of Dark Horse's signature anthology series that had been canceled several years prior. Between 2010 and 2011, Humpries was a co-host on Meltcast, the official podcast of the comic book store Meltdown Comics.^[8]

Humphries made his debut as a writer in 2010, contributing short stories to Fraggle Rock and a CBGB-themed anthology published by Boom! Studios. In 2011, he self-published Our Love is Real,^{[2] [9]} a sci-fi sex satire that brought him to the attention of comic book publishers.^[10] The following year, he was hired by Marvel to write an adaptation of John Carter: The Gods of Mars and take over the scripting duties of after the departure of Jonathan Hickman.^{[11] [12]} During his run on The Ultimates, Humphires wrote the storyline involving Captain America becoming the President of the United States, which received nation-wide coverage in the news.^{[13] [14] [15]} In 2013, he launched the second volume of Uncanny X-Force^{[16] [17]} and wrote an Age of Ultron spin-off series, Avengers A.I..^[18] After signing an exclusive contract with Marvel,^[19] Humphries worked on Legendary Star-Lord, one of the Guardians of the Galaxy spin-off series launched in anticipation of the 2014 film,^[20] and developed the multi-title crossover storyline "The Black Vortex".^{[21] [22]} In 2016, Humphries joined DC Comics, launching Green Lanterns as part of the company's DC Rebirth initiative. In 2018, he took over Harley Quinn, staying on the title for the next two years.^{[23] [24]} That same year, it was announced Humphries would resurrect the Silver Age title Dial H for Hero for Wonder Comics, DC's "pop-up" imprint curated by Brian Michael Bendis.^[25]

Humphries' creator-owned comics include his second self-published series Sacrifice with Dalton Rose,^{[26] [27]} Jonesy with Caitlin Rose Boyle, published by Boom! Studios,^{[28] [29]} and Blackbird with Jen Bartel, published by Image.^[30]

In addition to his work in comics, Humphries was a contributing writer for several comics-oriented websites such as Artbomb,^[31] Comic Book Resources^[32] and ComicsAlliance.^[33] In 2014, he co-wrote the mobile fighting game Marvel Contest of Champions, developed by Kabam.^[34]

Personal life

Humphries has epilepsy.^{[35] [27]}

Bibliography

Early work

• Free Comic Book Day 2010

Mouse Guard Spring 1153/Fraggle Rock: "The Birthday Present" (with Jeremy Love, co-feature in one-shot, Archaia Studios, 2010)

• • Collected in Fraggle Rock Volume 1 (hc, 136 pages, 2010,)
  • Collected in Fraggle Rock Omnibus (tpb, 240 pages, Boom! Studios, 2018,)
• Our Love is Real (with Steven Sanders, one-shot — self-published in July 2011, reprinted by Image in November 2011)
• Sacrifice #1–6 (with Dalton Rose, self-published, 2011–2013) collected as Sacrifice (hc, 168 pages, Dark Horse, 2013,)
• Virginia (with Pete Toms, 8-page webcomic, Study Group Comics, 2012)
• Ahoy, Booty!

"Beach Bums" (with Sloane Leong, short segment in the zine self-published by Lainey Diamond and Emily Partridge, 2012)

Boom! Studios

• CBGB OMFUG #1: "The Helsinki Syndrome" (with Rob G., anthology, 2010) collected in CBGB OMFUG (tpb, 112 pages, 2010,)
• Fanboys vs. Zombies (with Jerry Gaylord and Bryan Turner (#7–8, 10); issues #10–12 are scripted by Shane Houghton from Humphries' plots, 2012–2013) collected as:
  • Wrecking Crew 4 Lyfe (collects #1–4, tpb, 128 pages, 2013,)
  • Appetite for Destruction (collects #5–8, tpb, 112 pages, 2013,)
  • Escape From San Diego (collects #9–12, tpb, 112 pages, 2013,)
• Higher Earth (with Francesco Biagini, Manuel Bracchi (#2–3) and Joe Eisma (#5), 2012–2013) collected as:
  • Volume 1 (collects #1–5, tpb, 128 pages, 2013,)
  • Volume 2 (collects #6–9, tpb, 112 pages, 2013,)
• Jonesy (with Caitlin Rose Boyle, Boom! Box, 2016–2017) collected as:
  • Volume 1 (collects #1–4, tpb, 112 pages, 2016,)
  • Volume 2 (collects #5–8, tpb, 112 pages, 2017,)
  • Volume 3 (collects #9–12, tpb, 112 pages, 2017,)

Marvel Comics

• John Carter: The Gods of Mars #1–5 (with Ramón K. Pérez, 2012) collected as John Carter: The Gods of Mars (tpb, 112 pages, 2012,)
• (with Luke Ross, Butch Guice (#11–12), Billy Tan (#13–15), Timothy Green II (#14), Dale Eaglesham (#18.1), Scot Eaton (#19–21) and Joe Bennett (#22–24), 2012–2013) collected as:
  • Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates by Jonathan Hickman Volume 2 (includes #10–12, hc, 144 pages, 2012, ; tpb, 2013,)
    • Issues #10–12 are scripted by Humphries from Jonathan Hickman's plots.
  • Ultimate Comics: Divided We Fall, United We Stand (includes #13–18, hc, 408 pages, 2013, ; tpb, 2013,)
  • Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates by Sam Humphries Volume 1 (collects #18.1 and 19–24, tpb, 160 pages, 2013,)
• Uncanny X-Force vol. 2 (with Ron Garney (#1–4), Adrian Alphona, Dexter Soy (#5–6, 16–17), Dalibor Talajić (#7–9, 15), Ramón K. Pérez (#10–11), Angel Unzueta (#13), Philippe Briones (#13–15) and Harvey Tolibao (#16–17), 2013–2014) collected as:
  • Let It Bleed (collects #1–6, tpb, 136 pages, 2013,)
  • Torn and Frayed (collects #7–12, tpb, 136 pages, 2013,)
  • The Great Corruption (collects #13–17, tpb, 160 pages, 2014,)
• Avengers A.I. (with André Lima Araújo and Valerio Schiti (#5–6), 2013–2014) collected as:
  • Human After All (collects #1–6, tpb, 136 pages, 2013,)
  • 12,000 A.D. (collects #7–12, tpb, 136 pages, 2014,)
• Guardians of the Galaxy

• • Legendary Star-Lord (with Paco Medina, Freddie Williams II (#4, 7–8) and Andrea Sorrentino (#12), 2014–2015) collected as:
    • Face It, I Rule (collects #1–5, tpb, 112 pages, 2015,)
    • Rise of the Black Vortex (collects #6–12, tpb, 160 pages, 2015,)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men: The Black Vortex (hc, 312 pages, 2015, ; tpb, 2016,) includes:
    • Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men: The Black Vortex Alpha (with Ed McGuiness and Kris Anka, one-shot, 2015)
    • Guardians Team-Up #3: "The Black Vortex, Chapter Six" (with Mike Mayhew, 2015)
    • Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men: The Black Vortex Omega (with Ed McGuiness and Javier Garrón, one-shot, 2015)
  • Secret Wars

Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde #1–3 (with Alti Firmansyah, 2015) collected as Secret Wars — Battleworld: Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde (tpb, 128 pages, 2015,)

• • Star-Lord vol. 2 (with Javier Garrón and Will Robson (#8), 2016) collected as:
    • First Fly (collects #1–5, tpb, 112 pages, 2016,)
    • Out of Orbit (collects #6–8, tpb, 128 pages, 2016,)
• The Avengers vol. 5 #34.2: "Big City" (with Bengal, 2015) collected in Avengers World: The Complete Collection (tpb, 528 pages, 2019,)
• Secret Wars

Planet Hulk #1–5 (with Marc Laming, 2015) collected as Secret Wars — Warzones: Planet Hulk (tpb, 120 pages, 2016,)

• Weirdworld #1–6 (with Mike del Mundo, 2016) collected as Weirdworld: Where Lost Things Go (tpb, 136 pages, 2016,)

DC Comics

• Green Lanterns (with Robson Rocha, Eduardo Pansica, Will Conrad + Jack Herbert (#6), Ronan Cliquet, Ed Benes (#8), Miguel Mendonça (#15), Neil Edwards (#16), Carlo Barberi (#24 and 30) and Scott Godlewski (#32), 2016–2017) collected as:
  • Rage Planet (collects #1–6, tpb, 168 pages, 2017,)
    • Includes the Green Lanterns: Rebirth one-shot (co-written by Humphries and Geoff Johns, art by Ethan Van Sciver and Ed Benes, 2016)
  • The Phantom Lantern (collects #7–14, tpb, 192 pages, 2017,)
  • Polarity (collects #15–21, tpb, 168 pages, 2017,)
  • The First Ring (collects #22–26, tpb, 128 pages, 2017,)
  • Out of Time (collects #27–32, tpb, 144 pages, 2018,)
• Legion of Super-Heroes/Bugs Bunny Special (with Tom Grummett, 2017) collected in DC Meets Looney Tunes (tpb, 248 pages, 2018,)
• Manhunter Special

"The Demon and the Infernal Prisons" (with Steve Rude, co-feature, 2017) collected in Jack Kirby 100th Celebration Collection (tpb, 192 pages, 2018,)

• Batman: The Dawnbreaker (with Ethan Van Sciver, one-shot, 2017) collected in Dark Nights: Metal — Dark Knights Rising (hc, 216 pages, 2018, ; tpb, 2019,)
• Nightwing vol. 3 #35–41 (with Bernard Chang, Jamal Campbell (#37, 39, 41), Klaus Janson (#37) and Phil Jimenez (#39), 2018) collected as Nightwing: The Untouchable (tpb, 216 pages, 2018,)
• Harley Quinn

• • Harley Quinn vol. 3 (with John Timms, Alisson Borges (#48–49), Sami Basri, Lucas Werneck (#53–54), Otto Schmidt (#61–63) and Abel (#72), 2018–2020) collected as:
    • Harley vs. Apokolips (includes #45–49, tpb, 168 pages, 2018,)
    • Harley Destroys the Universe (collects #50–54, tpb, 160 pages, 2019,)
    • The Trials of Harley Quinn (collects #55 and 57–63, tpb, 208 pages, 2019,)
    • The Final Trial (includes #64–68, tpb, 168 pages, 2020,)
    • Hollywood or Die (collects #70–75, tpb, 176 pages, 2021,)
  • Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red #15: "Happy Thanksquinning" (with Stephen Byrne, digital anthology, 2020) collected in Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red (tpb, 232 pages, 2021,)
• Dial H for Hero (with Joe Quinones, Arist Deyn (#3) and Paulina Ganucheau (#8), Wonder Comics, 2019–2020) collected as:
  • Enter the Heroverse (collects #1–6, tpb, 160 pages, 2019,)
  • New Heroes of Metropolis (collects #7–12, tpb, 160 pages, 2020,)
• Dark Nights: Death Metal — Infinite Hour Exxxtreme

"Chapter Three" (with Denys Cowan, co-feature in one-shot, 2021) collected in Dark Nights: Death Metal — The Multiverse Who Laughs (tpb, 208 pages, 2021,)

Other publishers

• Think of a City page 21 (with Mingjue Helen Chen, Internet art project, 2014)
• Image

• • Citizen Jack #1–6 (with Tommy Patterson, 2015–2016) collected as Citizen Jack (tpb, 168 pages, 2016,)
  • Blackbird #1–6 (with Jen Bartel, 2018–2019) collected as Blackbird: The Great Beast (tpb, 168 pages, 2019,)
• Attack on Titan Anthology

"Playtime on Titan" (with Damion Scott, anthology graphic novel, 256 pages, Kodansha, 2016,)

• Goliath Girls #1–5 (with Alti Firmansyah, self-published digitally via Comixology under the Shadow Valley label, 2018–2019)
  • The series was released simultaneously in English and Japanese (as ゴリアテ・ガールズ — translated by Youhei-Penguin)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Frederick . Melo . An all-American hero on the phone: Minneapolis-bred Sam Humphries is latest to ‘Dial H for HERO’ for DC Comics . Twin Cities . July 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200731063853/https://www.twincities.com/2020/07/26/dc-comics-minneapolis-sam-humphries-latest-to-dial-h-for-hero/ . July 31, 2020 . live .
2. Web site: Alex . Zalben . Interview: Sam Humphries on His SciFi Comic 'Our Love Is Real' . . July 10, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111009000850/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/10/07/interview-sam-humphries-on-his-scifi-comic-our-love-is-real/ . October 9, 2011 . dead .
3. Web site: Interview with Coamix Chairman Nobu Horie . . July 13, 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020718132607/http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/1619.html . July 18, 2002 . live .
4. Web site: Joshua . Rivera . An Oral History of the Warren Ellis Forum . . December 5, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181222125424/https://imagecomics.com/features/an-oral-history-of-the-warren-ellis-forum-part-i . December 22, 2018 . dead .
5. Web site: Sam Humphries Talks About His Provocative Sci-Fi Comic, 'Our Love Is Real' . . July 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003084907/https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/sam-humphries-talks-about-his-provocative-sci-fi-c/1100-143308/ . October 3, 2021 . live .
6. Web site: Heidi . MacDonald . MySpace Comic Books relaunches . . March 27, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080412062231/http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/03/27/myspace-comic-books-relaunches/ . April 12, 2008 . dead .
7. Web site: Sam Humphries Out at MySpace . . February 9, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090210234551/http://icv2.com/articles/news/14260.html . February 10, 2009 . live .
8. Web site: Meltcast 31: Joshua Dysart, welcome aboard Sam "the Hammer" Humphries, plus Marz "the Devil" and the Scared Fools stop in . Coolsville Comics . June 3, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101026161044/http://coolsvillecomics.com/?p=345 . October 26, 2010 . dead .
9. Web site: Albert . Ching . Bizarre Love Quadrangle: Warped One-Shot OUR LOVE IS REAL . . July 13, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120514053336/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/our-love-is-real-sam-humphries-110713.html . May 14, 2012 . dead .
10. Web site: Chris . Arrant . Conversing on Comics with Sam Humphries . . September 28, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120930235744/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/09/conversing-on-comics-with-sam-humphries . September 30, 2012 . dead .
11. Web site: Josh . Flanagan . Sam Humphries Joins Jonathan Hickman on THE ULTIMATES #10 . iFanboy . February 16, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120217235124/http://ifanboy.com/articles/sam-humphries-joins-jonathan-hickman-on-ultimates-10/ . February 17, 2012 . live .
12. Web site: Albert . Ching . Indie Writer Explores New Worlds with JOHN CARTER, ULTIMATES . . March 9, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120315073415/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/sam-humphries-john-carter-ultimates.html . March 15, 2012 . dead .
13. Web site: Brian . Truitt . Captain America heeds call to be 'Ultimate' president . . September 19, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120919013356/http://www.usatoday.com/life/story/2012/09/18/captain-america-heeds-call-to-be-ultimate-president/57799596/1 . September 19, 2012 . dead .
14. Web site: Michael . Cavna . Marvel elects our next president: Captain America . . September 18, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120919094258/http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/marvel-has-our-next-president-captain-america/2012/09/17/279a6bd0-00fa-11e2-b260-32f4a8db9b7e_story.html . September 19, 2012 . live .
15. Web site: Matt . Moore . Captain America gets new job title: US president . . September 18, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120924054825/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-09-18/captain-america-gets-new-job-title-us-president . September 24, 2012 . dead .
16. Web site: Chris . Sims . 'I'm Gonna Write It Like I Stole It' -- Sam Humphries On Taking Over 'Uncanny X-Force' [Interview] ]. . September 17, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120920232140/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/09/17/im-gonna-write-it-like-i-stole-it-sam-humphries-on-taking/ . September 20, 2012 . live .
17. Web site: Chris . Sims . Artist Kris Anka & Writer Sam Humphries On 'Uncanny X-Force' Fashions [Interview + Exclusive Art] ]. . October 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011225754/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/10/10/uncanny-x-force-costume-design-kris-anka-sam-humphries-marvel-now-interview/ . October 11, 2012 . live .
18. Web site: Albert . Ching . The Future is Now in Vision-Focused AVENGERS A.I. . . April 8, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130411082857/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/avengers-ai-sam-humphries.html . April 11, 2013 . dead .
19. Web site: Tony . Guerrero . Marvel Announces Exclusive Agreement with Sam Humphries . . May 5, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141010004043/http://www.comicvine.com/articles/marvel-announces-exclusive-agreement-with-sam-humphries/1100-148679 . October 10, 2014 . live .
20. Web site: Chris . Sims . Interview: Sam Humphries On ‘Legendary Star-Lord’ And The Weird History Of Marvel’s Next Movie Star . . June 6, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140606220039/http://comicsalliance.com/sam-humphries-star-lord-legendary-marvel-comics-interview-paco-medina-guardians-galaxy/ . June 6, 2014 . live .
21. Web site: Kiel . Phegley . Bendis & Humphries Explore Marvel's "Black Vortex" Event . . January 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150109051930/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=58321 . January 9, 2015 . dead .
22. Web site: Brett . White . X-POSITION: Sam Humphries Charts A Course Through "The Black Vortex" . . February 4, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150204023036/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=59007 . February 4, 2015 . dead .
23. Web site: First Look: Sam Humphries Takes on Harley Quinn . . July 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191010073016/https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/07/02/first-look-sam-humphries-takes-on-harley-quinn . October 10, 2019 . live .
24. Web site: Rich . Johnston . Sam Humphries Not Allowed to Talk Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy Does Anyway . . May 19, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200523140257/https://bleedingcool.com/comics/sam-humphries-talk-harley-quinn-poison-ivy/ . May 23, 2020 . live .
25. Web site: Steve . Morris . NYCC ’18: Bendis Announces "Wonder Comics" Imprint with Wonder Twins, Dial H, Naomi and Young Justice . . October 4, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181005064208/http://www.comicsbeat.com/nycc-18-bendis-announces-wonder-comics-imprint-with-wonder-twins-dial-h-naomi-and-young-justice/ . October 5, 2018 . live .
26. Web site: Albert . Ching . Sam Humphries Repeats Self-Published Success with SACRIFICE . . January 12, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120114004937/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/sam-humphries-sacrifice-interview-120111.html . January 14, 2012 . dead .
27. Web site: Patrick . Reed . Self-Publishing, Collected Editions, Epilepsy And Aztecs: Sam Humphries Talks 'Sacrifice' . . August 28, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130828200520/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2013/08/28/sam-humphries-sacrifice-interview/ . August 28, 2013 . dead .
28. Web site: Tracy . Brown . Teen cupid Jonesy is having the worst day ever in this exclusive comic preview . . December 15, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151216161812/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-jonesy-exclusive-preview-20151215-story.html . December 16, 2015 . live .
29. Web site: Alex . Abad-Santos . Jonesy, a wonderful comic about a ferret-loving girl, is Boom! Studio's next big hit . . April 27, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160428111008/http://www.vox.com/2016/4/27/11436474/jonesy-exclusive-ongoing-series . April 28, 2016 . live .
30. Web site: Tracy . Brown . See Exclusive 'Blackbird' Art from Sam Humphries and Jen Bartel's Comic Series Set in L.A. . . September 5, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180905182422/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-blackbird-20180905-story.html . September 5, 2018 . live .
31. Web site: Who We Are And Why We Do It . Artbomb . https://web.archive.org/web/20040604090026/http://www.artbomb.net/aboutus.jsp . June 4, 2004 . dead .
32. Web site: Sam Humphries Latest Articles . . https://web.archive.org/web/20170620093356/http://www.cbr.com/author/sam_humphries/ . June 20, 2017 . live .
33. Web site: Sam . Humphries . Generation TOKYOPOP: The Revolution Will be Translated . . April 20, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110424124817/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/04/20/tokyopop-retrospective . April 24, 2011 . live .
34. Web site: Jessica . Fisher . Sam Humphries and Cuz Parry Talk About Their Upcoming Marvel Fighting Game, Contest of Champions . 148Apps . October 27, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141028214219/http://www.148apps.com/news/interview-contest-champions-team-nycc/ . October 28, 2014 . live .
35. Web site: Tim . O'Shea . Sam Humphries on ‘Sacrifice’ . . August 19, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130825103154/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/08/talking-comics-with-tim-sam-humphries-on-sacrifice/ . August 25, 2013 . dead .