Steve Skeates was an American comic book writer born on January 29, 1943, who passed away on March 30, 2023. Working across a career that stretched from 1966 to 2020, he accumulated credits on 226 issues, demonstrating a durability and range that took him through superhero adventures, humor titles, and anthology horror.
Undersea Agent #3 (1963)
He is perhaps best remembered for his contributions to Aquaman and the counterculture-tinged Hawk and Dove at DC Comics, as well as his work on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and the irreverent anthology series Plop!. His catalog reveals genuine versatility — moving from undersea superheroics to the gothic mystery of The Many Ghosts of Dr. Graves, the comedy of Abbott & Costello, the mythological action of Hercules, and even the affectionate parody of Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham. That breadth suggests a writer comfortable entertaining readers across very different registers rather than one locked into a single genre.
Kid Colt Outlaw #126 (1966)
Skeates also worked under the pen names Chester P. Hazel and Warren Savin, a common practice of the era that allowed prolific writers to appear in multiple slots within the same publication. No major industry awards are documented in the available record, but his long professional span and the variety of memorable titles bearing his name mark a quiet, substantial contribution to American comics.
