24 Facts About Otto Binder

Otto Oscar Binder was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books.

Otto Binder is best known as the co-creator of Supergirl and for his many scripts for Captain Marvel Adventures and other stories involving the entire superhero Marvel Family.

Otto Binder was prolific in the comic book field and is credited with writing over 4,400 stories across a variety of publishers under his own name, as well as more than 160 stories under the pen-name Eando Binder.

In late December 1935, Otto Binder began working for Otis Adelbert Kline as a literary agent in charge of Kline's New York City office most prominently marketing the stories of Robert E Howard, although insufficient business during this Great Depression era forced Kline to close his company after a year and a half.

Concurrent with his agent work, Otto Binder was writing for Mort Weisinger, editor of Thrilling Wonder Stories, and Ray Palmer, editor of Amazing, for the latter of whom he created the Adam Link series.

Otto Binder entered comics in 1939 on the heels of his artist brother, Jack, who moved to New York to work at the studio of Harry "A" Chesler, one of that era's "packagers" who provided outsourced content for publishers entering the new medium of comic books.

Otto Binder soon wrote for the spin-off features starring Captain Marvel, Jr.

Otto Binder wrote for numerous other Fawcett features, as well as many two-page text fillers that were required in comics in order to be eligible for magazine postal rates.

Otto Binder left Fawcett when the company shut down its comic book division in 1953, but found no shortage of work.

For Quality Comics, Otto Binder co-created Kid Eternity, and wrote Blackhawk, Doll Man, Uncle Sam and Black Condor stories.

At Gold Key Comics, Otto Binder co-created Mighty Samson and other characters.

In 1948, Otto Binder began working for DC Comics, then known as National Periodical Publications, swiftly creating Merry, Girl of 1,000 Gimmicks, in the feature "Star-Spangled Kid", whose place Merry soon took in Star-Spangled Comics.

Otto Binder then moved on to his best-known DC work, the Superman group of titles, including launching the Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen series in 1954.

Otto Binder was featured in a story in the first issue of Shazam, DC Comics' 1970s revival of the original Captain Marvel.

Otto Binder was a proponent of the ancient astronauts theory, and a believer in extraterrestrial life.

Otto Binder's theory is that human beings are "homo hybrid", an "interstellar crossbreed".

Otto Binder first discussed this hypothesis in his 1968 book Flying Saucers Are Watching Us.

Otto Binder wrote Mankind Child of the Stars with Max Flindt in 1974, discussing the concept of "astroevolution".

Otto Binder wrote extensively about UFOs in magazines, including articles detailing the experiences of claimed UFO contactee Ted Owens.

Otto Binder became editor of Space World magazine, a move that ended in bankruptcy in the early 1960s.

Otto Binder had a breakdown, and Otto started drinking, and eventually he dropped dead of a heart attack.

In 1973, Otto Binder worked for Vincent Fago's Pendulum Press, adapting classic science-fiction stories into comic book format, including Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and The Mysterious Island.

Otto Binder was posthumously inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in 2004.

Otto Binder was the posthumous recipient of the Bill Finger Award in 2010.