Christian Cooper (born 1963) is an American science writer and editor, and also a comics writer and editor. He is based in New York City. In 2023, Random House published Cooper's memoir, Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World.[1]
Cooper is currently a senior biomedical editor at Health Science Communications and has become a frequent substitute co-host for the public access television news series Gay USA.[2][3] On May 16, 2022, National Geographic announced Cooper would host a show on their American TV channel called Extraordinary Birder, exploring the world of birds alongside experts in the field.[4] The show premiered on June 17, 2023.[5]
Cooper was Marvel's first openly gay writer and editor.[7] He introduced the first gay male character in Star Trek, Yoshi Mishima, in the Starfleet Academy series,[7] which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in 1999.[8] He also introduced the first openly lesbian character for Marvel, Victoria Montesi[7][9] and created and authored Queer Nation: The Online Gay Comic.[10] Cooper was also an associate editor for Alpha Flight #106 in which the character Northstar came out as gay.[7][11]
Born in 1963 to parents who were both teachers, Cooper found his interest in birds while reading a birdwatching book during a roadtrip from his Long Island childhood home to California.[14] In the 1980s, he was president of the HarvardOrnithological Club, and is currently on the Board of Directors for NYC Audubon.[15] Cooper has a long history of LGBT activism including being the co-chair of the board of directors of GLAAD in the 1980s.[16][17]
"Return of the Braineaters" (featuring Ghost Rider and Werewolf by Night, with pencils by John Stanisci and inks by Jimmy Palmiotti, in Marvel Comics Presents #107–112, Marvel Comics, 1992)
"Siege of Darkness" (featuring Ghost Rider, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #144–146, Marvel Comics, 1993–1994)
"Tower of Blood" (featuring Vengeance, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #147–148, Marvel Comics, 1994)
"The Price" (featuring Vengeance, with Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #149, Marvel Comics, 1994)
"Dangerous Games" (featuring Vengeance, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #152–153, Marvel Comics, 1994)
"Altered Spirits" (featuring Vengeance, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #156–157, Marvel Comics, 1994)
"Final Gambit" (featuring Vengeance, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #175, Marvel Comics, 1995)
