Remembering Len Strazewski (1954–2026)
We’ve lost another important voice in the Justice Society family.
Writer and educator Len Strazewski passed away on April 27 at the age of 71, following a prolonged illness and a series of hospital stays.
For DC fans, especially those of us who spend time in the JSA corner of the universe, Strazewski’s name carries real weight. He contributed to titles like Starman, The Flash, and Justice Society of America, helping shape the post-Crisis era while honoring the legacy of DC’s Golden Age heroes.
That sense of legacy showed up clearly in his creations. Strazewski co-created Jesse Quick, the daughter of Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle, along with the second Phantom Lady, Delilah “Dee” Tyler, and Kiku Thunder, the last Badhnisian. These characters feel right at home in the JSA’s world, where history and inheritance matter as much as the present.
His work extended well beyond DC. At Impact Comics, he helped revive the MLJ heroes, co-creating and writing The Fly and contributing to The Web. At Malibu, he played a key role in building the Ultraverse, co-creating and writing titles like Prime, Prototype, and Elven. It was a career defined by range, curiosity, and a willingness to explore different corners of the medium.
But comics were only part of his story.
Strazewski spent more than two decades at Columbia College Chicago, where he became a cornerstone of the journalism program. As a professor, mentor, and administrator, he challenged students to be sharper, clearer, and more disciplined in their writing, while backing that toughness with real support and belief in their potential.
At the same time, he maintained a long career as a journalist, writing about health care, insurance, and public policy for more than 30 years, including work with the American Medical Association.
He once described himself as the “Batman of comics writers,” and it fits. He balanced two demanding careers, moving between superhero storytelling and real-world reporting with a sense of purpose in both.
On a personal note, I recently had the chance to record an episode of JSA in the ’90s with the Irredeemable Shag, where we covered Justice Society of America (1991) #3. What stood out was just how much story he could fit into a single issue. There is a density and confidence to his writing that rewards a closer read.
Strazewski’s work is part of the foundation of what we think of today as the Justice Society. His emphasis on legacy, the characters he helped create, the stories he told, and the writers and readers he influenced have had, and will continue to have, a lasting impact.
He will be missed.
