Scott Beatty

Scott Beatty is an American author, comic book writer, and superhero historian actively published since the late 1990s. He is an alumnus of Juniata College (B.A. English/Creative Writing) and Iowa State University (M.A. English/Creative Writing).^[1]

Scott Beatty (also credited as Scott M. Beatty, Scott Matthew Beatty, and Scotty Beatty) has authored hundreds of adventures for many of comics' most iconic characters, including Batman and Robin tales for DC Comics, as well as The Phantom, Buck Rogers, and Sherlock Holmes for Dynamite Entertainment.

Beatty has also contributed comic book stories to Antarctic Press, Crossgen Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, and Marvel Entertainment.

Beatty co-wrote the acclaimed Robin: Year One, Batgirl: Year One, Nightwing: Year One, and Joker: Last Laugh miniseries for DC. Beatty's and Dixon's Batgirl: Year One—the middle arc of their Batman "Sidekick Trifecta" at DC—was named Best Miniseries of 2003 by Wizard: The Comics Magazine. In 2009, Batgirl Year One was adapted into a nine-episode motion comic featuring Kate Higgins as Barbara Gordon. It was later made available as a DVD with the motion comic of The Batman Adventures: Mad Love featuring Harley Quinn, as well as on YouTube and streaming platforms. On its 20th anniversary, DC Comics published a softcover collection of Batgirl: Year One on September 26, 2023.

Beatty's "Regnum Defende"—a two-part *Year One* styled origin of Batman's valet Alfred Pennyworth as an agent of the British Secret Service—was one of the stories which inspired DC Entertainment's Pennyworth streaming television series that lasted three seasons beginning on Hulu and concluding its run on HBO Max.

In addition to his comics work, Beatty has authored more than a dozen encyclopedic books about superheroes including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Catwoman, the Justice League, and the Avengers. Beatty's *Ultimate Guides* for UK publisher Dorling Kindersley in the early 2000s defined the standard for all genre character and movie guidebooks to follow. Beatty's The Batman Handbook, a literal how-to guide on how to be the Dark Knight, was a top-selling title for Quirk Books.

Outside of comic books, Beatty has written G.I. Joe and Transformers animation for Hasbro, Inc.

Before he became a full-time freelance writer, Beatty launched ToyFare magazine as its founding Editor for Wizard Entertainment, publisher of Wizard: The Comics Magazine and other best-selling pop culture magazines, and guided it through its first two years of publication.

Beatty's novels have included prose adaptations of his own Sherlock Holmes: Year One (Dynamite), in addition to the young readers hardcover Batman: Scarecrow's Panic Plot (DC/Capstone) and Tron Uprising: The Junior Novel (Disney).

More recently, Beatty's Loot Crate exclusive Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down graphic novel was the top selling comic book of 2017 with nearly a half-million copies shipped to LC subscribers.

In his role as superhero and pop culture scholar, Beatty has appeared on E! Entertainment Television and Prism Films documentaries, and is a frequent guest on comic book, graphic novel, and superhero podcasts. He is frequently called upon to write introductions and essays for superhero books and collected editions. Beatty wrote the forewords for DC Comics' The Brave and the Bold – The Bronze Age Omnibus Volume 3 and Batman in the Silver Age Omnibus Volume 1.

DC Comics released Beatty's Nightwing: Year One - The 20th Anniversary Edition slipcase hardcover on August 6, 2024.

On September 3, 2024, DC published Beatty's Robin: Year One, Batgirl: Year One, and Nightwing: Year One in The Batman Family Year One Box Set, collecting all three popular graphic novels in a single set for the first time.

March 11, 2025 saw DC Comics collect two of Beatty's Green Arrow stories (from Green Arrow vol. 3 #22 and #33) in the Green Arrow: Archer's Quest Omnibus Volume 1 hardcover. Both were commissioned as fill-in issues during writer/director Kevin Smith's run on the title and are being reprinted for the first time.

Beatty is married to English professor and fellow author Jennifer Myskowski.

Beatty's animation writing credits include the following webisodes first aired on Hasbro internet sites, including "The Hub":

• G.I. Joe: Operations H.I.S.S. Episodes 1-9 (Kunoichi/Steelehouse – 2010)
• G.I. Joe: Operations H.I.S.S. Spotlight Episodes 1-4 (Kunoichi/Steelehouse – 2010 – Duke & Ripcord, Scarlett, Zartan, and The Baroness)
• Transformers: Cyber Missions Episodes 1-13 (TG Studios – 2010)

Beatty's writing credits include a variety of superhero encyclopedias, children's books, and young adult offerings:

• Batman: Scarecrow's Panic Plot (2015)
• Batman: Le Terrible Projet de L'épouvantail (French Edition 2016)

• The DC Comics Action Figure Archive (w/ photographs by Marc Witz)

• Tron Uprising: The Junior Novel

• Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Co-Author – 2012)
• Avengers: The Essential Guide (April 2018 Loot Crate Exclusive Special Edition / Co-Author)
• Batman: The Animated Series Guide
• Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight (2001)
• Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight – Updated Edition (2005)
• Batman Begins: The Visual Guide
• Batman Beyond: The Animated Series Guide
• Catwoman: The Visual Guide to the Feline Fatale
• The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe (Co-Author – 2004)
• The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe – Updated and Expanded (2008)
• The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe – All-New Edition (2016)
• The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe – New Edition (2021)
• The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe (2022)
• DC Comics Universe Guide (2014)
• JLA: The Ultimate Guide to the Justice League of America
• Superman: The Animated Series Guide
• Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel (2002)
• Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel – Updated Edition (2006)
• Wonder Woman: The Ultimate Guide to the Amazon Princess

• Avengers: Die Grossten Superhelden Aller Zeiten (German Edition)
• Avengers: Le Guide Ultime (French Edition)
• Batman: Die Welt Des Dunklen Ritters (German Edition)
• JLA: Die Gerechtigkeitsliga (HuGerman Edition)

• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: Year One
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: Year One / Year Two Two-Pack (w/ Brandon Jerwa)

• Incredibuilds – Marvel's Captain America: Civil War – Iron Man Signature Series Book and Model Set
• Marvel Comics: Mini Book of Heroes
• Marvel Comics: Mini Book of Villains

• Marvel Comics: Les Heros (Huginn & Muginn – French Edition)
• Marvel Comics: Les Villains (Huginn & Muginn – French Edition)

• The Batman Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual
• The Batman Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual - バットマンハンドブック (Japanese Edition – 2005)
• The Superman Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Saving the Day

Beatty's writing credits include hundreds of stories from the following publishers:

Beatty's writing credits for Antarctic Press include the following:

• UNPrepped #1-5 (Creator-owned 5-issue miniseries with Chuck Dixon)

Beatty's writing credits for Crossgeneration Comics include the following:

• Ruse #10-26

• Edge #7-12 (Crossgen Compendia Series – Collects Ruse #10-16)
• Ruse – Volume Two: The Silent Partner Trade Paperback
• Vector #13 (Crossgen Compendia Series – Collects Ruse)

Crossgen Comics Deutschland (German Language Reprints)

• Ruse #4-9 (Reprints Ruse #10-26)

Beatty's writing credits for Dark Horse Comics include the following:

• Star Wars Tales #13

• Star Wars Tales Volume 4 (Collects Star Wars Tales #13 – "Puzzle Peace")

Beatty's solo and collaborate writing credits for DC Comics and its Wildstorm imprint include the following:

• Amazing Adventures of the JLA
• Aquaman Secret Files & Origins #1
• Batgirl: Year One #1-9
• Batman 80-Page Giant #2
• Batman Begins: The Official Comics Adaptation
• Batman Secret Files & Origins #1
• Batman Villains Secret Files & Origins #1
• Batman: Day of Judgment #1
• Batman: Gotham City Secret Files & Origins #1
• Batman: Gotham Knights #33-49
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Special #1
• Batman: No Man's Land Secret Files & Origins #1
• The Batman Chronicles #16-17, 20
• The Batman Strikes! #27, 32
• Beware the Batman #3
• Birds of Prey Secret Files & Origins #1
• Cartoon Network Action Pack! #54, 56–57, 61
• Countdown to Final Crisis #37-32, 30–28, 25-2
• Day of Judgment Secret Files & Origins #1
• DC Comics Presents: Harley Quinn #1
• DC Comics Presents: Young Justice #2
• DC Nation FCBD Super Sampler 2013: Beware the Batman / Teen Titans Go!
• DC Nation Super Spectacular #2
• DCU Holiday Bash III
• DCU Villains Secret Files & Origins #1
• Detective Comics #806-807 (Alfred Pennyworth "Regnum Defende" Back-Up Feature Parts One and Two)
• Energy & Safety Adventures: Superman and Friends
• The Flash Secret Files & Origins #1
• Gen13 #21-32
• Golden Age Secret Files & Origins #1
• Green Arrow #22, 33
• Green Lantern 80-Page Giant #3
• Green Lantern Secret Files & Origins #1-3
• Green Lantern: Circle of Fire – Green Lantern / Power Girl #1
• Guide to the DC Universe 2000 Secret Files & Origins #1
• Guide to the DC Universe 2001–2002 Secret Files & Origins #1
• JLA #59 (Joker: Last Laugh crossover)
• JLA Secret Files & Origins #2-3
• JLA/JSA Secret Files & Origins #1
• Joker: Last Laugh #1-6
• Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files & Origins #1
• JSA Classified #19-20
• JSA Secret Files & Origins #1
• Justice League: Unstoppable Forces #1 (General Mills Cereal Pack-In – Over 4 million copies sold!)
• Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #3, 9
• Nightwing #101-106 (Nightwing: Year One story arc)
• Nightwing Secret Files & Origins #1
• New Gods Secret Files & Origins #1
• Number of the Beast #1-8
• Robin #88-91
• Robin: Year One #1-4
• Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #5, 19, 22, 130 (Reprints "Paranoidal Activity" from SCWAY #19)
• Secret Files and Origins Guide to the DC Universe 2000 #1
• Sins of Youth Secret Files & Origins #1
• The Silver Age Secret Files & Origins #1
• Snakes on a Plane #1-2 (Official Movie Adaptation – Ghost-Written with Chuck Dixon)
• Son of Vulcan #1-6
• Superboy #77 (with Karl Kesel)
• Superman 80-Page Giant #2
• Superman Secret Files & Origins #1-2
• Superman / Batman Secret Files & Origins #1
• Superman: Our Worlds at War Secret Files & Origins #1
• Superman: Metropolis Secret Files & Origins #1
• Titans Secret Files & Origins #1
• Wildstorm: Revelations #1-6 (with Christos Gage)
• Young Justice in No Man's Land Special #1
• Young Justice Secret Files & Origins #1
• Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files & Origins #1

• Aquaman: Tempest Trade Paperback (Collects Aquaman: Secret Files #1 Tempest Interview & Profile)
• Batgirl: A Celebration of 50 Years Hardcover (Collects Batgirl: Year One #4 – "Cave Dwellers")
• Batgirl: Year One Trade Paperback
• Batgirl: Year One – The Deluxe Edition Hardcover
• Batgirl / Robin: Year One Trade Paperback (Collects both Robin: Year One and Batgirl: Year One)
• Batman Allies: Alfred Pennyworth Trade Paperback
• Batman Begins: The Movie & Other Tales of the Dark Knight Trade Paperback
• The Batman Family Year One – The Deluxe Edition Box Set (Includes exclusive Nightwing: Year One TPB)
• Batman Versus Bane Trade Paperback
• Batman: Joker's Last Laugh Trade Paperback
• Batman: No Man's Land Volume 1 Trade Paperback
• Batman: No Man's Land Volume 2 Trade Paperback
• Batman: No Man's Land Volume 3 Trade Paperback
• Batman: No Man's Land Omnibus Volume 1 Hardcover
• Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told – Volume Two Trade Paperback
• Batman in the Silver Age Omnibus Volume 1 Hardcover (Foreword)
• Ben 10 Classics Volume 4: Beauty and the Ben Trade Paperback
• Ben 10 Classics Volume 5: Powerless Trade Paperback
• Beware the Batman Volume 1 Trade Paperback
• The Brave and the Bold – The Bronze Age Omnibus Volume 3 Hardcover (Foreword)
• Cartoon Network 2-in-1: Ben 10 Ultimate Alien / Generator Rex Trade Paperback
• Day of Judgment Trade Paperback
• DC Universe: Origins Trade Paperback
• The Flash by Mark Waid: Book Seven Trade Paperback
• Gen13: World's End Trade Paperback
• Graphic Ink: The DC Comics Art of Ivan Reis
• Green Lantern: Circle of Fire Trade Paperback
• Green Lantern: Circle of Fire Trade Paperback (2021 Edition)
• Harley Quinn's Greatest Hits Trade Paperback
• JLA Volume Five Trade Paperback (2014)
• JLA Volume Nine: Terror Incognita Trade Paperback (2002)
• The Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century: Tomorrow's Heroes Trade Paperback
• Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics Trade Paperback
• Nightwing: A Darker Shade of Justice Trade Paperback
• Nightwing: Year One Trade Paperback
• Nightwing: Year One – The Deluxe Edition Hardcover
• Nightwing: Year One – The 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Hardcover (2024)
• Number of the Beast Trade Paperback
• Orion by Walter Simonson Book One Trade Paperback
• Orion Omnibus by Walter Simonson Hardcover
• Robin, The Boy Wonder: A Celebration of 75 Years Hardcover (Collects Nightwing #101 – "Only Robins Have Wings")
• Robin: The Teen Wonder Trade Paperback
• Robin: Year One Trade Paperback
• Robin: Year One Trade Paperback (2nd Edition)
• Robin: Year One – The Deluxe Edition Hardcover
• Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Trade Paperback
• Superman/Batman Omnibus Volume 1 Trade Paperback
• Superman vs. Darkseid Trade Paperback
• Wildstorm: Revelations Trade Paperback
• Young Justice Volume Two Trade Paperback
• Young Justice Volume Three Trade Paperback

• Batman: Niemandsland – Band 2 (Panini – German)
• Batman: Niemandsland – Band 3 (Panini – German)
• Batgirl: Year One (Eaglemoss – UK English)
• Batgirl: Annee Un - Parte 1 (Eaglemoss – French)
• Batgirl: Annee Un – Parte 2 (Eaglemoss – French)
• Batgirl: Annee Un (Urban Comics – French)
• Batgirl: Ano Um (Eaglemoss – Portuguese)
• Batgirl: Ano Um (Norma Editorial – Portuguese)
• Batgirl: Ano Uno (Eaglemoss – Spanish)
• Batgirl: Ano Uno (ECC – Spanish)
• Batgirl: Ano Uno Pocket Book (ECC – Spanish – Digest-Sized Edition)
• Batgirl: Ano Uno (Norma Editorial – Spanish)
• Batgirl: Ano Uno (Planeta De Agostini – Spanish)
• Batgirl: Anno Uno (Eaglemoss – Italian)
• Batgirl: Anno Uno (Panini – Italian)
• Batgirl: Anno Uno (Planeta De Agostini – Italian)
• Batgirl: Das Erste Jahr (Eaglemoss – German)
• Batgirl: Elso Uvad (Eaglemoss – Hungarian)
• Batgirl: Rok Jedna (Eaglemoss – Czechoslovak)
• Batgirl: Rok Pierwszy (Eaglemoss – Polish)
• Gen13: World's End – 5 (Norma Editorial – Spanish)
• Gen13: World's End – 6 (Norma Editorial – Spanish)
• Joker: Last Laugh (Titan – UK English)
• Joker: Last Laugh (ShoPro – Japanese)
• Joker: Les Derniers Jours D'un Clown (Urban Comics – French)
• Joker: L'Ultima Risata (Planeta De Agostini – Italian)
• Joker: Quien Rie El Ultimo Volumes 1-2 (ECC – Spanish)
• Joker: Quien Rie El Ultimo DC Coleccion Heroes y Villanos (ECC – Spanish)
• Joker: Wer Zuletz Lacht (Panini – German)
• Nightwing: Year One (Eaglemoss – UK English)
• Nightwing: Ano Uno (Eaglemoss – Spanish)
• Nightwing: Ano Uno (ECC – Spanish)
• Nightwing: Ano Uno (Planeta De Agostini- Spanish)
• Nightwing: Anno Uno (Eaglemoss – Italian)
• Nightwing: Anno Uno (DC Library – Panini Direct – Italian)
• Nightwing: Asa Noturna Ano Um (Eaglemoss – Portuguese)
• Nightwing: Das Erste Jahr (Eaglemoss – German)
• Number of the Beast (Norma Editorial – Spanish)
• Robin: Year One (Eaglemoss – UK English)
• Robin: Year One (ShoPro – Japanese)
• Robin: Year One (Titan – UK English)
• Robin: Annee Un (Eaglemoss – French)
• Robin: Annee Un (Urban Comics – French)
• Robin: Ano Um (Eaglemoss – Portuguese)
• Robin: Ano Uno (Eaglemoss – Spanish)
• Robin: Ano Uno (ECC – Spanish)
• Robin: Anno Uno (Panini – Italian)
• Robin: Anno Uno (Planeta De Agostini – Italian)
• Robin: Az Elso Ev (Eaglemoss – Hungarian)
• Robin: Das Erste Jahr (Eaglemoss – German)
• Robin: Rok Jedna (Eaglemoss – Czechoslovak)
• Robin: Rok Pierwszy (Eaglemoss – Polish)
• Wildstorm: Apocalisse (Magic Press Comics – Italian)
• Wildstorm: Revelations (Norma Editorial – Spanish)

Beatty's writing credits for Dynamite Entertainment include the following:

• Bionic Man Annual #1
• Buck Rogers #0-12
• The Last Phantom #1-12
• The Last Phantom Annual #1
• Merciless: The Rise of Ming #1-4
• Red Sonja Annual #4
• The Shadow Special #1
• Sherlock Holmes: Year One #1-6

• Buck Rogers: Volume One – Future Shock Hardcover
• Buck Rogers: Volume One – Future Shock Trade Paperback
• Buck Rogers: Volume Two – From the Earth to the Moon Trade Paperback
• The Last Phantom: Volume One – Ghost Walk Trade Paperback
• The Last Phantom: Volume Two – Jungle Rules Trade Paperback
• Merciless: The Rise of Ming Trade Paperback
• Red Sonja: Travels Volume Two Trade Paperback
• Sherlock Holmes: Year One Trade Paperback
• Sherlock Holmes Omnibus Volume One Trade Paperback

• Buck Rogers: Volume One – Shock Futuro Trade Paperback (Planeta DeAgostini – Italian)
• O Ultimo Fantasma: O Jornada Do Espirito Trade Paperback (Mythos Books – Brazil/Portuguese)
• O Ultimo Fantasma: A Lei Da Selva Trade Paperback (Mythos Books – Brazil/Portuguese)
• Sherlock Holmes: Ano Um Trade Paperback (Pixel – Brazil/Portuguese)
• Sherlock Holmes: Les Origines Volumes 1-2 (Soleil U.S. Comics – French)

Beatty's writing credits for IDW Entertainment include the following:

• G.I. Joe: Origins #13-14
• Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down (2017 Loot Crate Exclusive Graphic Novel)
• Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down #1-3 (Miniseries Reprint of 2017 Loot Crate Exclusive Graphic Novel)

• G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection Volume 2 Hardcover (Collects G.I. Joe Origins #13-14)
• G.I. Joe: Origins Omnibus Volume 2 Trade Paperback (Collects G.I. Joe Origins #13-14)
• G.I. Joe: Origins Volume 3 Trade Paperback (Collects G.I. Joe Origins #13-14)
• Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down Digest-Sized Edition (Reprint of 2017 Loot Crate Exclusive Graphic Novel)

Beatty's writing credits for Marvel Entertainment include the following:

• Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Menace Revealed #2 Trade Paperback

Databases

Articles and interviews

• DIALOGUE TO FOLLOW... Author & Comic Book Writer Scott Beatty's Blog!
• BATGIRL WEEK: "Young Heroes in Love" by Scott Beatty – 13th Dimension
• Scott Beatty on "Six Stories That Changed How I Read (and Write) Comics" – CBR.com
• "Star Wars Toys Were Everything – But Hardly the One Thing" by Scott Beatty – 13th Dimension
• Scott Beatty Talks Ming's "Merciless" New Series – MTV.com
• The Last Phantom Interview with Scott Beatty – The Chronicle Chamber
• Comics Historian and Writer Scott Beatty Discusses the Future of the Industry – Fanboy Nation
• Bat Therapy Podcast - Nightwing: Year One w/ Guest Co-Author Scott Beatty