Baron, Mike 1949-

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BARON, Mike 1949-

PERSONAL:

Born 1949.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Dark Horse Comics, 10956 Southeast Main St., Milwaukie, OR 97222. E-mail—baron.m@attbi.com.

CAREER:

Writer, comic book creator.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Eisner awards for Nexus.

WRITINGS:

Badger, First Publishers (Evanston/Chicago, IL), 1986.

Robotech, the Graphic Novel: Genesis (based on a plot by Carl Macek), pencilled by Neil D. Vokes, edited by Diana Schutz, Comico (Norristown, PA), 1986.

Original Nexus, illustrated by Steve Rude, Graphitti Designs (Anaheim, CA), 1986.

The World of Ginger Fox, illustrated by Mitch O'Connell, colored by Les Dorscheid, lettered by L. Lois Buhalis, edited by Diana Schutz, Comico (Norristown, PA), 1986.

Hexbreaker: A Badger Graphic Novel, illustrated by Bill Reinhold, colored by Ray Murtaugh, lettered by Willie Schubert, First Publishers (Chicago, IL), 1988.

Stan Lee Presents the Punisher in Intruder, illustrated by Bill Rienhold, colored by Linda Lessman, lettered by Willie Schubert, Marvel (New York, NY), 1989.

Dead Man: Book 1, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1990.

Next Nexus, illustrated by Steve Rude, First Comics (Chicago, IL), 1990.

(With Jim Homan) The Complete Blankbook, Word-books and Listmats (Albuquerque, NM), 1992.

(With others) The Punisher: G Force, Marvel (New York, NY), 1992.

Nexus: One, illustrated by Steve Rude, edited by Anina Bennett, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1993.

Nexus: Two, illustrated by Steve Rude, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1993.

(With Kelley Jones and Les Dorscheid) Lost Souls, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1995.

Deadmen: Lost Souls, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1995.

Bruce Lee, DC Comics (New York, NY), 1995.

Nexus: Alien Justice, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1996.

(With Timothy Zahn) Star Wars: Heir to the Empire, illustrated by Olivier Vatine and Fred Blanchard, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1996.

(With Timothy Zahn) Star Wars: Dark Force Rising, illustrated by Terry Dodson and Kevin Nowlan, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1998.

Star Wars: The Last Command, penciled by Edvin Biukovic, inked by Eric Shanower, colored by Pam Rambo and Dan Brown, separations by Digital Chameleon, lettered by Ellie DeVille, cover art by Mathieu Lauffray, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1999.

(With Jack Herman and Carl Macek) The Macross Saga, Volume 1, DC Comics (La Jolla, CA), 2003.

Witchblade: Demons (e-book), iBooks, 2003.

(With Scott Lobdell) Kiss: Men and Monsters, illustrated by Mel Rubi and Curtis Arnold, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2003.

Kiss: Unholy War, illustrated by Mel Rubi, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2004.

Writer for comic series, including Punisher, Batman, and Star Wars, and cocreator of Badger, Feud, Spyke, and Nexus. Author of stories, novels, and screenplays.

SIDELIGHTS:

Mike Baron's long career as a writer of comic book series has made him a familiar name within that genre, but Baron is also the author of stories, novels, and screenplays.

Baron was interviewed by Jason Brice and Park Cooper for Silver Bullet Comics online and asked his opinion as to how comics can be better marketed. Baron felt that comics should be placed in point-of-purchase displays in bookstores, movie theaters, and airports. As to content, he felt that it "takes care of itself." For the most part, Baron doesn't blame declining sales on content. "Mostly," he said, "I blame declining literacy. Kids don't like to read. They'd rather play video games." When asked if cost is a factor, Baron replied, "No. Apples and oranges. The reason video is killing reading is because video is a 'hot' activity that takes place in real time, while reading is a 'cool' activity that takes place at the reader's pace. Reading requires interpretation, which is a form of work."

Baron also emphasized the value of a comic as a cherished collectible and the fact that comics contain stories, "hopefully incorporating an appeal to man's better nature.…No matter how many mutants you slice and dice, I don't think video games will ever become a richly rewarding experience, at least not in terms of a moral epiphany."

The interviewers and Baron discussed the internet as a vehicle for comics, an area into which Baron has treaded, and Baron made the point that viewers still have to be able to read. "Politicians who speak about a 'digital divide' are talking feces out of both sides of their faces. Kids today don't need internet access. They need to learn how to read."