Mark Hanerfeld

Hanerfeld, a New Yorker,[6] graduated from the High School of Music & Art.[7]

Hanerfeld started out in the world of comics fandom. He took over as editor of the news fanzine The Comic Reader (TCR)[8] in 1968,[1] while also becoming Executive Secretary of the Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors (ACBFC).[6] Doing double-duty was apparently too much for Hanerfeld: by mid-1969 he was having trouble maintaining a consistent publication schedule for TCR and, despite winning a 1969 Alley Award, by early 1970 the 'zine was no longer being published. The ACBFC, meanwhile, went defunct in mid-1969.[9]

In 1968, taking advantage of his background in fandom — and his personal relationships with DC Comics leadership[10] — Hanerfeld began writing columns for The Wonderful World of Comics (WWC), a filler text feature that appeared in select DC Comics titles.[1] During the period 1968–1970, Hanerfeld wrote most of the WWC columns, which were probably inspired by Marvel's Bullpen Bulletins;[11] the WWC columns provided insight into various elements of the comics world, from creator biographies, to insider info on company sales and publishing decisions, to the world of comics fanzines and the burgeoning comic convention scene.

In 1969, DC editor Joe Orlando created the design for Abel, based on Hanerfeld:

I started out basing it on the biblical Cain and Abel but then I turned to the people that were around me. It's just a writer's trick to take people's personalities and inject them into your characters. Mark stuttered when he got nervous. He was short and heavy so Abel was short and heavy. Abel was a good counterpoint to Cain who was tall and thin.[12]

Hanerfeld and artist Bill Draut then created the first story featuring Abel, in DC Special #4 (July–Sept. 1969); Abel soon became the host of House of Secrets. During the period 1969 to 1974, Hanerfeld also wrote stories for such DC titles as The Spectre, Phantom Stranger, and Justice League of America.[1]

In the summer of 1970, Hanerfeld — on his own dime — attended the Golden State Comic-Con, where he enthusiastically promoted DC's line of titles.[10] Upon his return, he encouraged fellow East Coast comics industry figures to attend future editions of what became the San Diego Comic-Con.[10]

Hanerfeld was officially at DC in the period 1971–1973, serving as an assistant editor under DC vice president Joe Orlando.[12] In that role, he also served as the DC librarian.[1][10]

From 1974 to 1987, Hanerfeld work on promotional tie-ins for Marvel Comics, producing minicomics featuring Captain America, the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Tarzan advertising Aurora models, Pez, 7-Eleven, and bubble gum.[1]

Throughout the 1980s, he helped coordinate Marvel reprints for the company's Marvel UK line.[1] He left comics after the 1980s.

• "Mark Hanerfeld biography". Comic Book Artist. No. 7. February 2000.
• Gary Groth, ed. (March 1974). "Writers of the Comics: Metro Con 71: Denny O'Neil, Ted White, Len Wein". Word Balloons. No. 1. pp. 18–25. Panel discussion; also speaking are Mark Hanerfeld, Marv Wolfman, and Gerry Conway.