She enjoyed a long-running stint on The Simpsons comics, and has also written for television and video games.[1]
Her work has been nominated for a number of awards including the GLAAD Media Award, and she is the recipient of a 2017 San Diego Comic Con Inkpot Award.
A former hairdresser who studied theater in college,[3][4] Simone first came to public notice through Women in Refrigerators, a website founded in 1999 by comics fans in response to a scene in Green Lantern #54, in which the titular hero's girlfriend, Alexandra DeWitt, was murdered and her corpse shoved in a refrigerator for the hero to find. The site's purpose was to analyze how female characters are written so as to suffer traumatic indignities, a plot device to advance the narrative of male characters.[4] The site brought her into contact with many people working in the comics industry.
Simone worked for Marvel Comics' on Deadpool from 2003. After Deadpool was canceled and relaunched as Agent X, Simone continued as writer, but eventually left the project after a conflict with the series' editor.[6] Simone returned to write the concluding arc to Agent X after the series' initial cancellation.
Simone's Villains United limited series spin-offSecret Six followed in 2005, which led to an ongoing series in September 2008, and multiple DC crossovers prior to the September 2011 New 52 relaunch.
In 2007 Simone took over writing duties on Wonder Woman from issue #14.[9][10] To date, Simone is Wonder Woman's longest-running female writer. In 2010 she took over the writing reins on Birds of Prey.[11][12]
In 2011, Simone contributed to The Power Within, a Kickstarter-funded comic book that focuses on teen bullying.[18]
As part of DC Comics' New 52 initiative, Simone wrote a new Batgirl title starring Barbara Gordon, which debuted in 2011.[19] Simone introduced a character named Alysia Yeoh, the first transgender character written in a contemporary context in a mainstream comic book.[20]
In 2012, news outlets reported that her exclusivity deal with DC had terminated and she was leaving the Batgirl title as well as DC Comics.[21] In 2012, Simone revealed that she was fired from Batgirl by the book's new editor Brian Cunningham.[22] After fan protests, Simone returned to Batgirl as writer.[23]
In 2013, DC Comics published The Movement by Simone and artist Freddie Williams II, which Simone called "a book about power – who owns it, who uses it, who suffers from its abuse."[24] Also in 2013 Simone wrote a new ongoing Red Sonja series for Dynamite.[25]
Also in 2013, Simone was listed first on IGN's list of the "Best Tweeters in Comics" for the "enthusiasm and thoughtfulness" of her Twitter posts.[26]
Oni Press published her graphic novel Seven Days with art by Jose Luis in 2020 as part of an initiative to launch a new Catalyst Prime superhero universe.[27]
2021-presentedit
In March 2024, Simone was announced as the first solo female writer for Uncanny X-Men.[28]
She also wrote a 2010 episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold entitled "The Mask of Matches Malone!", featuring Black Canary and Huntress from "Birds of Prey".
Simone is notable for being one of the most influential women in the comic book industry.[31] Her blog "Women In Refrigerators" raised awareness of the representation of women in comics.[32] Simone believes most female comic characters are targeted at male audiences through oversexualization, and advocates for the creation of female characters that are as powerful, appealing, and commercially viable as male characters, something she strives to achieve in her own work.[31]
Eisner Award Winner: Tori Amos Comic Book Tattoo (anthology) 2009, Best Anthology (Group Award)[33]
Harvey Award Winner: Tori Amos Comic Book Tattoo (anthology) 2009, Best Anthology (Group Award)[34]
The Hypothetical Woman (with Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Klaus Janson, and Sean Phillips, collects JLA: Classified #16–21, January 2006 – May 2006, ≈134 pages,[49] softcover, January 2008, ISBN 1401216293[50])
The Circle (with Terry Dodson, collects Wonder Woman #14–19, January – June 2008, 144 pages, hardcover, November 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1932-2;[51] trade paperback, September 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2011-8[52])
Rise of the Olympian (with Aaron Lopresti, collects Wonder Woman #26–33, January – August 2009, 208 pages, November 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2513-6)[54]
Warkiller (with Aaron Lopresti, collects Wonder Woman #34–39, September 2009 – February 2010, 144 pages, May 2010, ISBN 1-4012-2779-1)[55]
Contagion (with Aaron Lopresti, Chris Batista, and Nicola Scott, collects Wonder Woman #40–44, March 2010 – July 2010, 128 pages, October 2010, ISBN 1-4012-2920-4)[56]
Secret Six #1–14, 16–36, DC Comics, September 2008 – August 2011) collected as:
Unhinged (with Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood, collects Secret Six #1–7, 144 pages, August 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2327-3)
Depths (with Nicola Scott and Carlos Rodriguez, collects Secret Six #8–14, 168 pages, April 2010, ISBN 1-4012-2599-3)
Danse Macabre (with Jim Calafiore, Peter Nguyen and Doug Hazlewood, collects Secret Six #15–18 and Suicide Squad #67, written by John Ostrander, 128 pages, October 2010, ISBN 1-4012-2904-2)
Cat's in the Cradle (with Jim Calafiore, R.B. Silva and Alexandre Palamaro, collects Secret Six #19–24, 144 pages, January 2011, ISBN 1-4012-3021-0[57])
The Reptile Brain (with Jim Calafiore and Pete Woods, collects Secret Six #25–29 and Action Comics #896, written by Paul Cornell, 144 pages, May 2011, ISBN 1-4012-3166-7[58])
The Darkest House (with Jim Calafiore, Matthew Clark and Ron Randall, collects Secret Six #30–36 and Doom Patrol #19, written by Keith Giffen, 176 pages, January 2012, ISBN 1401233627[59])
Birds of Prey vol. 2, #1–13 (DC Comics, July 2010 – August 2011) collected as:
End Run (with Ed Benes, Adriana Melo, and Alvin Lee, collects Birds of Prey #1–6, July 2010 – January 2011, 160 pages, hardcover, May 2011, ISBN 1-4012-3131-4;[60])
The Death of Oracle (with Ardian Syaf, Guillem March, Inaki Miranda, Pere Perez, Jesus Saiz, collects Birds of Prey #7–13, February – August 2011, 200 pages, hardcover, October 2011, ISBN 1-4012-3275-2[61])
Welcome to Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave #1–6 (with Horacio Dominguez, Wildstorm, September 2010 – February 2011) collected as:
Welcome To Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave (collects Welcome to Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave #1–6, 144 pages, July 2011, ISBN 1-4012-3175-6[62])
Batgirl2011 volumes 1–5, #1–34 (DC Comics, July 2012 – December 2014) collected as:
The Darkest Reflection (with Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes, collects Batgirl (The New 52) #1–6, September 2011 – February 2012, 144 pages, hardcover, July 2012, ISBN 1401238149[63])
Knightfall Descends (with Ardian Syaf and Ed Benes, collects Batgirl (The New 52) #7–13 and 0, March 2012 – October 2012, 192 pages, hardcover, February 2013, ISBN 1401238165[64])
Death of the Family (with Admira Wijayadi, Vicente Cifuentes, Mark Irwin, Johnathan Glapion, Julius Gopez, Greg Capullo, Daniel Sampere, Ed Benes, Scott Snyder, and Ray Fawkes; collects Batgirl (The New 52) #14–19 and Annual #1, Batman #17, and Young Romance #1; November 2012 – Apr 2013, 224 pages, hardcover, October 2013, ISBN 1401242596[65])
Wanted (with Derlis Santacruz, Fernando Pasarin, and Daniel Sampere; collected as Batgirl (The New 52) #20–26[66] and Batman: The Dark Knight #23.1; May 2013 – December 2013, 192 pages, hardcover, May 2014, ISBN 140124629X[67])
Deadline (with Marguerite Bennet, Jonathan Glapion, Fernando Pasarin, and Robert Gill; collects Batgirl (The New 52) #27–34 and Annual #2, January 2014 – August 2014, 256 pages, hardcover, December 2014, ISBN 1401250416[68])
Clean Room vol. 1, #1-18 (Vertigo Comics, December 2015 – June 2017)
Dynamite Entertainmentedit
Red Sonja Vol 2[69] #0–18 (Dynamite Entertainment, February 2014 – October 2014) collected as:
Queen of the Plagues (with Walter Geovani, Adriano Lucas, and Simon Bowland, collects Red Sonja Vol 2 #1–6, July 2013 – December 2013, 180 pages, softcover, February 2014, ISBN 1606904817[70])
Art of Blood and Fire (with Walter Geovani, collects Red Sonja Vol 2 #7–12 and 0, January 2014 – June 2014, 176 pages, softcover, October 2014, ISBN 978-1606905296[71])
The Forgiving of Monsters (with Walter Geovani, collects Red Sonja Vol 2 #13–18, July 2014 – May 2015, 160 pages, softcover, Unpublished, ISBN 1606906011[72])
Legends of Red Sonja volume 1, #1–5 (Dynamite Entertainment, August 2014) collected as:
Legends of Red Sonja (anthology, collects Legends of Red Sonja #1–5, November 2013 – March 2014, 152 pages, softcover, August 2014, ISBN 978-1606905258[73])
^"Crosswind #1 | Releases | Image Comics". Image Comics. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
^Turnquist, Kristi (February 25, 2014). "Gail Simone to sign copies of new 'Tomb Raider' comics series Wednesday at Things from Another World". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
^"Passing the Tiara: Who Should Play the Next Wonder Woman" Archived 2013-09-25 at the Wayback Machine. UGO.com. October 5, 2010.
^Simone, Gail. "'You'll All Be Sorry!' Archives". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 2004-12-11. Retrieved November 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Thomas, Brandon (2003). "The Gail Simone Dialogues". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2009-08-27.
^"DC Comics message boards". Archived from the original on Oct 17, 2005. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
^Brady, Matt (April 12, 2007). "Gail Simon Named New Wonder Woman Writer". Newsarama. Archived from the original on April 15, 2007.
^Brady, Matt (2007-08-14). "Simon's Wonder Woman Debut Pushed Back a Month". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2007-08-27.
^Segura, Alex (January 13, 2010). "DCU in 2010: Welcome Back the Birds of Prey". The Source. DC Comics.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
^McGuirk, Brendan (January 13, 2010). "Gail Simone Returns to 'Birds of Prey' in 2010 – EXCLUSIVE". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
^Phegley, Kiel (March 5, 2010). "Gail Simone Leaves "Wonder Woman"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^"Gail Simone on leaving Wonder Woman and returning to Birds of Prey". DC. March 5, 2010.
^Hyde, David (June 2, 2011). "The New Justice". DC Comics.
^JK Parkin (June 9, 2011). "Gail Simone confirms that Secret Six will end with issue #36". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
^Khouri, Andy (December 7, 2011). "ComicsAlliance: DC Shakeup: Gail Simone Off 'Firestorm,' Tom DeFalco on 'Legion Lost', Cornell Off 'Stormwatch'". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012.
^Pirshafiey, Nicole (May 20, 2011). "The Power Within: Anti-Bullying Comic Book Raising Funds To Spread Positive Message". GLAAD.
^Meylikhov, Matthew (June 6, 2011). "DC Confirm the Women of Gotham" Archived 2011-08-20 at the Wayback Machine. Multiversity Comics.
^Kane, Matt (April 10, 2013). "'Batgirl' Comic Introduces Transgender Character" Archived 2019-08-05 at the Wayback Machine. GLAAD.
^"Bleeding Cool: Will Gail Simone Leave Batgirl? DC Creative Changes In The Next Few Months". Bleeding Cool. 2012.
^ abMaggs, Sam (March 7, 2013). "Ladies Make Comics Too: Gail Simone". Dork Shelf.
^Meyer, Jim "Women in Comics- Gail Simone Interview". PREVIEWS.
^"SDCC 09: 2009 EISNER AWARDS Winners". Newsarama. July 25, 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
^"2009". Harvey Awards. February 27, 2014. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
^"2009 Female Comic Creator's Hall Of Fame Inductee: Gail Simone". Friends of Lulu 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
^ abWheeler, Andrew (January 19, 2012). "GLAAD Announces Nominees for Outstanding Comic Book 2011" Archived 2014-04-29 at the Wayback Machine. ComicsAlliance.
^Melrose, Kevin (July 14, 2014). "True Believers Comic Awards announce 2014 winners" Archived 2016-01-10 at the Wayback MachineComic Book Resources.
^Villains United details Archived 2008-09-13 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Of Like Minds trade details Archived 2009-02-10 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Sensei & Student trade details Archived 2009-02-23 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Between Dark & Dawn trade details Archived 2009-02-26 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^The Battle Within trade details Archived 2009-02-10 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Perfect Pitch trade details Archived 2009-02-10 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Blood and Circuits trade details Archived 2009-02-26 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Dead of Winter trade details Archived 2009-02-26 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Welcome to Tranquility Volume 1 trade details Archived 2008-08-04 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Welcome to Tranquility Volume 2 trade details Archived 2008-08-04 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Collated from DC Comics data from individual comic book page counts. The graphic novel does not have a page number count in the "Library of Congress Catalog" or "DC Comics page"
^"JLA: The Hypothetical Woman", Library of Congress Catalog. DC Comics. Accessed August 15, 2015
^The Circle hardcover details Archived 2009-02-26 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^The Circle trade details Archived 2009-09-28 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^End of the Earth hardcover details Archived February 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Rise of the Olympian trade details Archived 2009-11-06 at the Wayback Machine at DC. Note: Site incorrectly identifies this volume's contents as issues #20–27.
^Warkiller trade details Archived 2010-08-10 at the Wayback Machine at DC.
^Contagion trade details Archived 2010-12-02 at the Wayback Machine at DC.
^Cat's in the Cradle trade details Archived 2011-05-05 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^The Reptile Brain trade details Archived 2011-05-11 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^The Darkest House trade details Archived 2011-12-10 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^"BIRDS OF PREY VOL. 1: ENDRUN" Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine. DC Comics. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
^The Death of Oracle hardcover details Archived 2011-12-10 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^Welcome to Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave trade details Archived 2012-02-06 at the Wayback Machine at DC
^"BATGIRL VOL 1: THE DARKEST REFLECTION" Archived 2014-04-29 at the Wayback Machine. DC Comics. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
^"BATGIRL VOL 2: KNIGHTFALL DESCENDS" Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. DC Comics. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
^"BATGIRL VOL 3: DEATH OF THE FAMILY" Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. DC Comics. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
^DC Comics page incorrectly lists this as 19–25, but 19 is included in the previous volume 3 and 26 is included in this volume.
^"BATGIRL VOL 4: WANTED". DC Comics. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
^"BATGIRL VOL 5: DEADLINE". DC Comics. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
^Dynamite Entertainment lists this as Red Sonja Vol 2 on their website.
^"RED SONJA VOL. 1: QUEEN OF PLAGUES TPB". Dynamite Entertainment. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
^"RED SONJA TP VOL 02 ART OF BLOOD AND FIRE". Dynamite Entertainment. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
^"RED SONJA VOL 3 THE FORGIVING OF MONSTERS". Dynamite Entertainment. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
^"LEGENDS OF RED SONJA VOL. 1 TPB". Dynamite Entertainment. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
^"Marvelous Adventures of Gus Beezer: Spider-Man (2003) #1". Marvel Comics. Accessed 15 Aug 15.
^"Marvelous Adventures of Gus Beezer: Hulk". Marvel Comics. Accessed 15 Aug 15.
^"Marvelous Adventures of Gus Beezer: X-Men". Marvel Comics. Accessed 15 Aug 15.
^"Marvelous Adventures of Gus Beezer & Spider-Man (2004) #1". Marvel Comics. Accessed 15 Aug 15.
^"Domino Vol. 1: Killer Instinct (Trade Paperback)". Marvel Comics. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^"Domino Vol. 2: Soldier of Fortune". Amazon. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^"Domino: Hotshots (Trade Paperback)". Marvel Comics. Retrieved February 25, 2021.