James Michael Reaves (September 14, 1950 – March 20, 2023) was an American writer, known for his contributions as a script writer and story editor to a number of 1980s and 1990s animated television series, including Gargoyles and Batman: The Animated Series. He also wrote media tie-in novels, children's books, and original fiction, and was one of four credited screenwriters for the animated feature Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. His work was often done collaboratively, notably with his then-wife Brynne Stephens (for numerous TV episodes in the 1980s and 1990s), and with Steve Perry, Neil Gaiman, Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, and his daughter Mallory Reaves for various novels. Reaves won a 1993 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program for his work on Batman: The Animated Series.

Reaves had Parkinson's disease, and for a time maintained a blog concerning his experiences dealing with the disease and its effects, which included difficulty typing and loss of coherent speech.https://michaelreaveswriter.blogspot.com/ In 2013, Reaves raised $85,000 in a Kickstarter campaign to fund the filming of a feature-length script he had written called Blood Kiss, with the picture set to star Neil Gaiman in his acting debut. Despite exceeding the stated fundraising goal, the film was never made.

Reaves died in Los Angeles on March 20, 2023, at the age of 72.

Bibliography

Novels Year Title Co-author(s) Series Notes1978I, AlienYoung adult novel1979Dragonworld Byron Preiss1984Hellstar Steve Perry1984Sword of the Samurai Steve Perry Time Machine Book 3 of the multi-author young adult series1984The Shattered World The Shattered World1987Dome Steve Perry1988The Burning Realm The Shattered World1989The Omega Cage Steve Perry1991Street Magic 1995Night Hunter 1998Thong the Barbarian Meets the Cycle Sluts Of Saturn Steve Perry1998Voodoo Child 2001Hell On Earth The Trine2001Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter Star Wars2004MedStar I: Battle Surgeons Steve PerryStar Wars2004MedStar II: Jedi Healer Steve PerryStar Wars2006Mr. Twilight Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff The Trine2007Batman: Fear Itself Steven-Elliot Altman 2007Death Star Steve PerryStar Wars2007InterWorld Neil GaimanInterWorldYoung adult novel2008Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight Star Wars2008Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows Star Wars2009Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff Star WarsInitial copies show only Reaves as author; this was later corrected.2011Shadow Games Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff Star Wars2013The Silver Dream Neil Gaiman and Mallory ReavesInterWorldYoung adult novel2013The Last Jedi Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff Star Wars2015Eternity's Wheel Neil Gaiman and Mallory ReavesInterWorldYoung adult novel

Short fiction Collections Darkworld Detective (1981) The Night People (2005) StoriesShort stories unless otherwise noted. TitleYearFirst publishedReprinted/collectedNotesThe sound of something dying1976Shadetree1977Werewind1981Novelette

Anthologies editor Shadows Over Baker Street (2003) (co-editor and contributor) ——————— Bibliography notes

Screenwriting

Animated television Series head writer credits are denoted in bold The New Archie and Sabrina Hour (1977) Space Sentinels (1977) Web Woman (1978) The New Shmoo (1979) Blackstar (1981) The Smurfs (1981) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983) The Biskitts (1983) Pole Position (1984) Mighty Orbots (1984) Dungeons & Dragons (1984–1985) Challenge of the GoBots (1985) Star Wars: Droids (1985) Ewoks (1986) Potato Head Kids (1986) Teen Wolf (1986) The Centurions (1986) The Transformers (1986) My Little Pony (1986–1987) The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1987, 1990) Bionic Six (1987) Jem (1987) Spiral Zone (1987) Starcom: The U.S. Space Force (1987) Superman (1988) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1988–1990) The New Adventures of He-Man (1990) Tiny Toon Adventures (1990) Fox's Peter Pan & the Pirates (1990–1991) Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995) Bobby's World (1992) Conan and the Young Warriors (1994) Phantom 2040 (1994–1995) Gargoyles (1994–1996) Invasion America (1998) Beast Machines: Transformers (1999–2000) Spider-Man Unlimited (1999–2001) Godzilla: The Series (2000) Max Steel (2000) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002–2003)

Live-action television The Secrets of Isis – one episode (1975) Shazam! – one episode (1976) Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince – one episode (1983) The Twilight Zone – two episodes produced, and two stories (1986–89) Star Trek: The Next Generation – one episode (1987) Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future – two episodes produced, three episodes, and one story (1987–1988) Monsters – four episodes (1988–1990) Swamp Thing – one episode (1990) The Flash – one episode (1990) Father Dowling Mysteries – three episodes (1990–1991) Young Hercules – one episode (1999) Sliders – one episode (1999) Star Trek: New Voyages – one episode (2007)

Film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) Full Eclipse (1993) Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)

References

External links