Michael Zametkin Hobson (December 8, 1936 – November 12, 2020) was an American publisher who was an executive vice president for

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

Life and career

Hobson was born on December 8, 1936, and adopted on February 13, 1937, by a single woman,

Laura Z. Hobson Laura Zametkin Hobson (June 19, 1900 – February 28, 1986) was an American writer, best known for her novels ''Gentleman's Agreement'' (1947) and ''Consenting Adult'' (1975). Early life and career Laura Kean Zametkin was born on June 19, 1900So ...

, future author of ''

Gentleman's Agreement A gentlemen's agreement, or gentleman's agreement, is an informal and legally non-binding agreement between two or more parties. It is typically oral, but it may be written or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or th ...

'' (1947) and other novels. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

, Michael Hobson began his career at

Little, Brown and Company Little, Brown and Company is an American publishing company founded in 1837 by Charles Coffin Little and James Brown in Boston. For close to two centuries it has published fiction and nonfiction by American authors. Early lists featured Emily ...

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

, Massachusetts. After stints at ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' and as a literary agent at

William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He ...

, Hobson joined the Scholastic Publishing Company. He worked in various positions at Scholastic, ultimately as publisher of its paperback book clubs. Hobson then joined

as executive vice president. He was responsible for editorial, marketing, distribution and production of Marvel's comics, magazines and graphic novels. Hobson went on to run Marvel's international business as managing director of Marvel Europe, including its companies in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

and

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, as well as its publishing and licensing operations throughout the rest of Europe. Hobson then returned to the U.S., where he became president of

Parachute Publishing Parachute Press is a division of Parachute Publishing, a packager of book series for children and teenagers. The four women listed as the company's principals are all themselves authors of children's books (among others), and Jane Stine is marrie ...

, a packager of fiction and non-fiction book series for teens and preteens. In 2009, Hobson joined Cracked Entertainment, Inc., as senior adviser to assist in the redesign of the then 45-year-old ''

Cracked Cracked may refer to: Television * ''Cracked'' (British TV series), a 2008 British comedy-drama television series that aired on STV * ''Cracked'' (Canadian TV series), a 2013 Canadian crime drama series that aired on CBC * "Cracked", a Season 8 ( ...

'' magazine. Hobson married Ann Gould in 1965.Michael Z. Hobson to Wed Ann Gould
''The New York Times,'' November 14, 1965, p. 122. The couple had two children. Hobson died at 83 years old from heart failure.

References

1936 births 2020 deaths American publishers (people) Harvard College alumni Marvel Comics people Phillips Exeter Academy alumni {{Publish-bio-stub