Mike Baron (born July 1, 1949)[1] is an American comic book writer and novelist. He is the creator of Badger and the co-creator of Nexus with Steve Rude. He is also well known as the first writer on Marvel Comics' The Punisher ongoing series, and the second volume of DC Comics' The Flash.
Biography
Mike Baron entered the comics industry with an illustrated text piece in Weird Trips Magazine #1 (March 1974) published by Kitchen Sink Press.[2] In 1981, he published his first formal comics script with Nexus, the science fiction title he co-created with illustrator Steve Rude; the series garnered numerous honors, including Eisner Awards for both creators. A prolific creator, Baron is responsible for The Badger, Ginger Fox, Spyke, Feud, and many other comic book properties. He and artist Jackson Guice relaunched The Flash in June 1987, when Wally West took on the mantle at DC Comics.[3] Also in 1987, Baron launched and wrote the first ongoing Punisher series at Marvel Comics, remaining on the title for over 5 years. During that acclaimed run, he and Klaus Janson introduced the character Microchip as an ally of The Punisher in The Punisher #4 (November 1987).[4]
In 1988, Baron wrote the "Deadman" feature in Action Comics Weekly which led to two subsequent Deadman limited series.[5] Baron has also written numerous other mainstream characters including Batman and several Star Wars adaptations for Dark Horse Comics. In 2014, Baron published Biker, his first novel, about reformed motorcycle hoodlum Josh Pratt. 'Biker' was the first in his 'Bad Road Rising' series. Liberty Island Press has since released six Josh Pratt novels, along with Baron's Disco, a story about a boy and his dog. In independent comics, Mike Baron has created Florida Man, Thin Blue Line, Private American, Bronze Star - a weird western with Pat Broderick, and Q-Ball, a martial arts comic with Barry McClain Jr.
Mike Baron has been nominated for Best Writer in the Kirby, Harvey, and Eisner Awards. He was awarded with an Inkpot Award in 1988,[8] and has won multiple Eisners ("Best Single Issue" and "Best Writer/Artist Team" both with Rude) for his work on Nexus.[9]
^Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 228. ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9. Written by Mike Baron, with art by Jackson Guice, the Flash's new adventures began with his twentieth birthday party.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^DeFalco, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1980s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 232. ISBN978-0756641238. Linus 'Microchip' Lieberman first appeared in this issue by writer Mike Baron and artist Klaus Janson.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Martin, Brian (August 2017). "Where the Action is...Weekly". Back Issue! (98). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 65–67.
^Price, Matthew (September 19, 2008). "Mike Baron talks Nexus, Badger and more". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013. I only claim a couple of antecedents. I've been greatly inspired by the science fiction work of Philip Jose Farmer. And the way a story is constructed by Carl Barks. Though you might not see that in there.
