Neil Gaiman is a popular British author who has written comics for numerous publishers. After a three-issue run in Adventure Comics, Black Orchid quickly faded into obscurity, but sporadically made guest appearances in other DC publications. She was the first superhero to debut as the cover feature of the series since Starman in 1941 she was not given an origin story and her personal life was not shown. The superhero Black Orchid, created by Sheldon Mayer and Tony Zuniga, first appeared in Adventure Comics #428 (June 1973), and was published by DC Comics. It also inspired a short-lived ongoing series published under DC's alternative imprint Vertigo from September 1993 to June 1995. Black Orchid helped bolster Gaiman's career and established many themes that became common in his later stories. Critics feel the story has held up well for one of Gaiman's earliest works. Gaiman later reworked some cut characters and concepts into a pitch for a new series, which became his critically acclaimed Sandman.ĭespite DC's concerns, Black Orchid sold well and was positively received. DC nearly canceled the series due to fears it would fail commercially, but relented after McKean finished the art. They produced the series' concept within two days and won approval from DC Comics. The two pitched several ideas for series, but were ultimately assigned Black Orchid because all other characters they wanted to work on were in use at the time. Gaiman and McKean developed the series after meeting with Jenette Kahn, Dick Giordano, and Karen Berger in early 1987. Their journey to find out who they are leads them into contact with DC Universe figures like Batman and Swamp Thing, but also into conflict with criminal mastermind Lex Luthor, who seeks them for his own interests. Black Orchid follows two girls, Flora and Suzy, who awaken in a greenhouse.

It was published by DC Comics as a three-issue limited series from December 1988 to February 1989, and was later reprinted in trade paperback form.

Black Orchid is an American comic book written by Neil Gaiman with art by Dave McKean.

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