Michael Catron (born October 9, 1954)[2] is an American comic book editor and publisher. He is former publisher of Apple Comics and co-founder of Fantagraphics.
| Michael Catron | |
|---|---|
| Born | J. Michael Catron October 9, 1954 |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Publisher |
Notable works | Fantagraphics Books Apple Comics |
| Awards | Inkpot Award (2015)[1] |
| Official website | |
Biography
editCatron met Gary Groth while they were both enrolled at the University of Maryland. In 1974, Catron and Groth put on a Washington, DC-area rock and roll convention that ended in financial failure. Nonetheless, he and Groth dabbled in music publishing with the short-lived magazine Sounds Fine,[3] which they co-published until 1979. During this period, Catron also worked as a public relations assistant for Mike Gold, at the time employed by DC Comics.[4]
In 1976, Catron and Groth co-founded Fantagraphics Books, at that point located in College Park, Maryland. They took over an adzine named The Nostalgia Journal, quickly renaming it The Comics Journal.[5] Catron acted as Fantagraphics' co-publisher until 1985, also handling advertising and circulation for The Comics Journal from 1982 to 1985, when he left the company.[4]
In 1986, Catron established Apple Comics, which began as a packager for Wendy & Richard Pini's WaRP Graphics but with its own financing structure.[6]
From 2000 to 2008, Catron served as a board member for the Grand Comics Database.[7]
Catron has been the agent for the estate of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster.[8]
In early 2012, Catron relocated to Seattle and returned to Fantagraphics as editor with the publishing company he co-founded 36 years earlier.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ Inkpot Award
- ^ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ Matos, Michelangelo (September 15, 2004). "Saved by the Beagle". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.
- ^ Maheras, Russ. The Comics Journal Message Board :: View topic – The Comics Journal #32, Jan. 1977 (July 2, 2007): "... transforming it from an adzine into a magazine of news and criticism that just happened to carry advertisements."
- ^ WaRP Titles Now Under Apple Aegis," The Comics Journal #110 (August 1986), p. 17.
- ^ GCD Documentation: The Board
- ^ Kaye, Edward. "Winners of the 2011 Joe Shuster Awards Announced!" Hypergeek (June 18, 2011).
- ^ Spurgeon, Tom. "CR Newsmaker Interview: Mike Catron" The Comics Reporter (Fefruary 5, 2012).
- ^ Baehr, Mike. "Welcome back Mike Catron & Preston White!" The Comics Journal Blog (February 6, 2012).
External links
edit- "Michael Catron's Home Pager". Archived from the original on February 4, 2012.