Jan Strnad

Jan Steven Strnad, born in 1950, is an American writer whose career in comics, horror, and science fiction spans five decades. He is best known for his long-running partnership with artist Richard Corben, a collaboration that produced some of the most distinctive independent comics of the 1970s and 1980s. Strnad’s work often blends dark fantasy with a dry, literate wit, and he has written extensively for both the *Star Wars* expanded universe—chiefly for Dark Horse Comics—and for publishers including DC, Marvel, Eclipse, and Fantagraphics. Among his signature creations is the series *Dalgoda*, a whimsical space opera illustrated by his frequent collaborator; he also contributed to *Keith Laumer's Retief* and the horror anthology *Stalkers*. Strnad’s most prolific credits include *Schwermetall* (the German edition of *Heavy Metal*) and *Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron*. Active from 1969 to at least 2018, he has written over 130 issues across various titles. While he has not received major mainstream awards, his body of work—especially with Corben—remains influential among fans of mature, offbeat genre comics. Strnad continues to be respected for his versatility and his ability to craft compelling narratives in both licensed and original worlds.