John Rozum
Creator of Milestone's Xombi, writer for DC and Marvel
📍 Michigan
John Rozum’s name is synonymous with monsters—and the creative imagination needed to chronicle their hunters. His career began while he was still in college during the late 1980s, contributing one-page gag bits for Marvel, particularly for What If…?. But it was his work with Milestone Media that established him as a master of supernatural superheroics.
Xombi debuted in 1994, focusing on David Kim, an immortal Korean-American surgeon who investigates the supernatural, the occult, and the bizarre. Unlike most Milestone heroes who fought street-level crime or cosmic threats, Xombi dealt with genuine horror—ghosts, demons, and things that defied categorization. The series ran for 22 issues and developed a devoted following that Rozum still hears from today.
The critical response was extraordinary. Luminaries including Harlan Ellison, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Mike Mignola, Reggie Hudlin, and Warren Ellis all praised the series. Neil Gaiman reportedly wrote more words about Xombi than almost any other comic. The series was critically acclaimed but never achieved commercial success, cancelled after 22 issues—though it continues to generate more fan mail than anything else Rozum has written.
DC Comics revived Xombi in 2011 as part of The New 52, with Rozum returning to write the new series alongside artist Frazer Irving. The Milestone Compendiums published by DC have introduced new generations to his creation.
Rozum also created Kobalt for Milestone, another 16-issue series, and wrote the entire runs of both. His Vertigo Comics series Midnight, Mass. became the basis for an NBC TV adaptation announced in 2009.
His mainstream work includes writing for Static Shock during The New 52 (issues #1-4), numerous Scooby-Doo issues, Powerpuff Girls, and Dexter’s Laboratory for DC; Daredevil and What If…? for Marvel; and The X-Files for Topps Comics (issues #17-19, 22-41).
Beyond comics, Rozum runs The Grim Gallery, a digital museum for treasures from classic Hollywood horror films—a passion project that reflects his love of horror history. He’s also a collage artist whose work centers around cartoon characters and classic horror villains.
Living in the deep woods of Michigan, Rozum remains active in the comics community, regularly attending conventions and representing both DC Comics and the International Cryptozoology Museum.
Notable Works
- Xombi (Milestone Media, 1994-1996, 2011) - Creator and writer
- Kobalt (Milestone Media, 1994-1995) - Creator and writer
- Midnight, Mass. (Vertigo Comics) - Creator, NBC adaptation announced 2009
- Static Shock: The New 52 (DC Comics, 2011)
- Scooby-Doo (DC Comics) - Numerous issues
- The X-Files (Topps Comics, 1994-1997)
Connect
Sources: Wikipedia, johnrozum.com, CBR, Comic Vine, Scoobypedia
