“The Man Who Built Supergirl & the Marvel Family — Bill Schelly on Otto Binder”

In this 2016 conversation, acclaimed comics historian Bill Schelly takes us deep into the life and legacy of Otto Binder, one of the most influential — and too often overlooked — writers in the history of American comics and science fiction. Schelly discusses his expanded biography, Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary, and lays out why Binder’s fingerprints are all over the Golden and Silver Age. We cover:

• Binder’s prolific run on Shazam!/Captain Marvel in the 1940s
• The creation of Mary Marvel, the Marvel Family, and Mr. Tawny the Talking Tiger
• How Binder built classic villains like Mister Mind and crafted the landmark Monster Society of Evil saga
• His leap to DC Comics in the 1950s, where he co-created Supergirl, The Legion of Super-Heroes, the Bottled City of Kandor, and helped reshape the Superman mythos
• Binder’s parallel career in science fiction, and how his SF instincts informed his storytelling across both mediums
• Why his influence still resonates with modern superhero comics

This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about comics history, forgotten giants of the medium, and the creators who quietly built the universes we all take for granted. ► SUBSCRIBE for more deep-dive interviews, comic history talks, and archival creator conversations.