Baron, Mike 1949–

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Baron, Mike 1949–

PERSONAL:

Born 1949. Education: University of Wisconsin, B.A.

ADDRESSES:

E-mail—baron.m@attbi.com.

CAREER:

Writer, comic book creator.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Eisner awards for Nexus.

WRITINGS:

"BADGER" SERIES

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

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

Complete Badger, IDW Publishing (San Diego, CA), 2007.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

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

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

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

(With others) Madman Boogaloo, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 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.

Faro Korbit, illustrated by Mel Rubi, Autumn Press Comics, 2004.

(With others) Versus, five volumes, Steck Vaughn (Orlando, FL), 2007.

"NEXUS ARCHIVES" GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES

Nexus Archives, Volume One, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2006.

Nexus Archives, Volume Two, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2006.

Nexus Archives, Volume Three, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2006.

Nexus Archives, Volume Four, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2006.

Nexus Archives, Volume Five, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2007.

Nexus Archives, Volume Six, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2007.

"STAR WARS" GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES

(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.

OTHER

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

(With Jim Homan) The Complete Blankbook, Wordbooks and Listmats (Albuquerque, NM), 1992.

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

Iron Triangle: The Screenplay, Hollywood Comics (Encino, CA), 2004.

Writer for numerous comic book series, including Deadman, Detonator, Nexus, Lost Souls, Punisher, Robotech, Batman, and Star Wars. Cocreator of Badger, Feud, Spyke, and Nexus comic book series.

ADAPTATIONS:

The Punisher has been adapted twice as a film.

SIDELIGHTS:

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

Among Baron's most renowned characters is Nexus, a superhero raised on a distant moon who is compelled by some irresistible psychic force to hunt down and kill intergalactic mass murderers. Reviewing Nexus Archives, Volume Two, the second volume in the "Nexus" comic book series, Booklist contributor Gordon Flagg praised Baron's "wildly original" plots and witty dialogue. Of volume four, Flagg wrote admiringly of Baron's "swiftly moving and densely plotted" stories, which the critic placed within "the best space-opera tradition." Noting the series's "humor, philosophy and emotion," as well as its wide cast of interesting characters, a writer for Publishers Weekly compared the "Nexus" series to the classic comic series of the mid-twentieth century. Reviewing Nexus Archives, Volume One, a Publishers Weekly reviewer called "Nexus" a "masterwork deserving the archive treatment."

"I wanted an executioner," Baron told Pop Thought interviewer Alex Ness when asked how he came up with the Nexus character. "Death is dramatic. But I didn't want a soulless killing machine. A man conflicted—forced to carry out justice—knowing it's the right thing to do, but reluctant nonetheless. Less reluctant as the years roll by. Who he is is encompassed in dozens of issues. As creator, I don't have to explain him. He explains himself."

Baron was interviewed by Jason Brice and Park Cooper for the Silver Bullet Comics Web site 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; 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."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, December 15, 2005, Gordon Flagg, review of Nexus Archives, Volume One, p. 32; April 15, 2006, Gordon Flagg, review of Nexus Archives, Volume Two, p. 34; July 1, 2006, Gordon Flagg, review of Nexus Archives, Volume Three, p. 44; September 1, 2006, Gordon Flagg, review of Nexus Archives, Volume Four, p. 69; March 15, 2007, Gordon Flagg, review of Nexus Archives, Volume Five, p. 36; November 15, 2007, Ray Olson, review of Nexus Archives, Volume Six, p. 27.

Chronicle, October, 1995, review of Lost Souls.

Publishers Weekly, December 5, 2005, review of Nexus Archives, Volume One, p. 38; April 24, 2006, review of Nexus Archives, Volume Two, p. 45.