Denys Cowan

Denys Cowan is one of the most influential figures in the history of American comics. He began his professional career in 1980 at DC Comics and is widely celebrated for his landmark run on The Question (with writer Denny O'Neil, 1987–1992), considered the definitive take on the character. In 1993, Cowan co-founded Milestone Media with Dwayne McDuffie, Derek Dingle, and Michael Davis — the first major Black-owned superhero comics publisher — introducing iconic characters including Static, Icon, Hardware, and Blood Syndicate. He later became Senior Vice President of Animation at BET, where he was instrumental in launching The Boondocks animated series. Cowan returned to active comics work in 2026 with a run on DC's Nightwing.

In 2026, the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards celebrated its most diverse nominee class in the 38-year history of the awards, with a historic number of Black creators nominated across categories. Cowan was selected as a judges' choice inductee into the 2026 Eisner Awards Hall of Fame in recognition of his landmark career including his run on The Question, co-founding Milestone Media, and his lasting influence on generations of Black comic creators.