France Herron

Francis Edward Herron was an American comic book writer and editor, born on July 23, 1917, and active primarily from the 1940s until his death on September 2, 1966. He is best known for his work at DC Comics, where he co-created Captain Marvel Jr. and the Red Skull, as well as characters like Cave Carson, Nighthawk, and the duo Mr. Scarlet and Pinky the Whiz Kid. Herron spent much of his career writing for DC’s top properties, including Green Arrow, Superman, and the Western hero Tomahawk. His style was versatile, moving between superheroics, science fiction, and frontier adventure with ease. He collaborated frequently with artists such as Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, and his contributions helped shape the Golden and Silver Ages of comics. Later in life, Herron continued writing for anthology titles like *The Brave and the Bold* and *Mystery in Space*, and his work appeared in *Sheriff Classics* and *All Star Adventure Comic*. Though he never received major lifetime awards, his co-creations—particularly the Red Skull and Captain Marvel Jr.—have endured as significant figures in popular culture. Herron’s legacy lies in the lasting impact of his characters and his steady, professional hand across decades of genre storytelling.