Mike Baron (born July 1, 1949) is an American

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

writer and novelist. He is the creator of ''

Badger Badgers are medium-sized short-legged omnivores in the superfamily Musteloidea. Badgers are a polyphyletic rather than a natural taxonomic grouping, being united by their squat bodies and adaptions for fossorial activity rather than by the ...

'' and the co-creator of ''

Nexus NEXUS is a joint Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection-operated Trusted Traveler and expedited border control program designed for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Members of the program can avoid waits at border ...

'' 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 The Flash is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in ''Flash Comics'' #1 (cover date, cover-dated Jan ...

''.

Biography

Mike Baron entered the comics industry with an illustrated text piece in ''Weird Trips Magazine'' #1 (March 1974) published by

Kitchen Sink Press Kitchen Sink Press was a comic book publishing company founded by Denis Kitchen in 1970. Kitchen Sink Press was a pioneering publisher of underground comics, and was also responsible for numerous republications of classic comic strips in hardcov ...

. In 1981, he published his first formal comics script with ''

'', the science fiction title he co-created with illustrator Steve Rude; the series garnered numerous honors, including

Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred ...

s 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 ''

'' in June 1987, when Wally West took on the mantle at DC Comics. Also in 1987, Baron launched and wrote the first ongoing

Punisher The Punisher (Francis "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. The Punisher ma ...

series at Marvel Comics, remaining on the title for over 5 years. During that acclaimed run, he and Klaus Janson introduced the character

Microchip An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a microchip or simply chip, is a set of electronic circuits, consisting of various electronic components (such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors) and their interconnections. These components a ...

as an ally of The Punisher in The Punisher #4 (November 1987). In 1988, Baron wrote the "

Deadman Deadman or Deadman's may refer to: * "Deadman" or "dead man", are alternative terms for a dead man's switch * "Deadman's foot" is another name for a Salamander (metallurgy), Salamander in metallurgy * "Deadman anchor" is a buried object (log, con ...

" feature in '' Action Comics Weekly'' which led to two subsequent ''Deadman'' limited series. Baron has also written numerous other mainstream characters including

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

and several

Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and Cultural impact of Star Wars, quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop cu ...

adaptations for

Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...

. 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 Pat Broderick (born November 26, 1953) is an American comics artist, known for his work on the '' Micronauts'' and '' Alpha Flight'' for Marvel Comics, and ''Legion of Super-Heroes'', '' Captain Atom'' and '' Green Lantern'' for DC Comics. Brode ...

, and ''Q-Ball'', a martial arts comic with Barry McClain Jr.

Influences

Baron has listed

Carl Barks Carl Barks (March 27, 1901 – August 25, 2000) was an American cartoonist, author, and painter. He is best known for his work in Disney comics, Disney comic books, as the writer and artist of the first Donald Duck stories and as the creator of ...

and

Philip José Farmer Philip José Farmer (January 26, 1918 – February 25, 2009) was an American author known for his science fiction and fantasy fiction, fantasy novels and short story, short stories. Obituary. Farmer is best known for two sequences of novels, t ...

as influences on his fiction writing.

Awards

Mike Baron has been nominated for Best Writer in the Kirby, Harvey, and

s. He was awarded with an

Inkpot Award The Inkpot Award is an honor bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International. It is given to professionals in the fields of comic books, comic strips, animation, science fiction, and related areas of popular culture, at Comic-Con Internati ...

in 1988, and has won multiple Eisners ("Best Single Issue" and "Best Writer/Artist Team" both with Rude) for his work on ''Nexus''.

Bibliography

Advent Comics

* ''Buddy McGill'' #1-2 (2023)

Alien Books / Valiant Comics

* ''

: Scourge'' #1-2 (2024-2025)

American Mythology Productions

* ''Florida Man'' #1-3 (2022) * ''Florida Man vs. Hogzilla'' #1-3 (2024)

Antarctic Press

* ''Thin Blue Line'' (One-Shot) (2024) * ''Private American'' #1-3 (2025)

BIG Comics

* ''Florida Man'' OGN (2021) * ''Thin Blue Line'' OGN (2022) * ''Private American'' OGN (2023) * ''Bronze Star'' OGN (2023) * ''Florida Man vs. Hogzilla'' OGN (2024) * ''

: Scourge'' OGN (2024)

Capital Comics

* ''

'' #1–4 (1983–1984) * ''

'' #1–3 (1981–1982) * ''Nexus'' vol. 2 #1–6 (1983–1984)

Dark Horse Comics

* ''Badger: Shattered Mirror'' #1–4 (1994) * ''Badger: Zen Pop Funny-Animal Version'' #1–2 (1994) * ''

Dark Horse Presents ''Dark Horse Presents'' was a comic book published by Dark Horse Comics from 1986 in comics, 1986. Their first published series, it was their flagship title until its September 2000 in comics, 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was publishe ...

'' #84 (1994) * ''Dark Horse Presents'' vol. 3 #12–14, 23–26 (2012–2013) * ''

Godzilla is a fictional monster, or ''kaiju'', that debuted in the eponymous 1954 film, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda. The character has since become an international pop culture icon, appearing in various media: 33 Japanese films p ...

vs. Barkley'' (1993) * ''Nexus'' #89–98 (1996–1997) * ''Nexus: Alien Justice'' #1–3 (1992–1993) * ''Nexus: The Origin'' #1 (1992) * ''Nexus: The Wages of Sin'' #1–4 (1995) * ''

: Dark Force Rising'' #1–6 (1997) * ''Star Wars: Heir to the Empire'' #1–6 (1995–1996) * ''Star Wars: The Last Command'' #1–6 (1997–1998) * '' X-wing Rogue Squadron: The Rebel Opposition'' #1–4 (1995) * ''Nexus: Nefarious'' OGN (2023)

DC Comics

* ''

Action Comics ''Action Comics'' is an American comic book/Comic anthology, magazine series that introduced Superman, one of the first major superhero characters. The publisher was originally known as Detective Comics Inc., which later merged into National ...

Weekly'' #601–612, 618–621, 623–626 (1988) * ''

All-Star Squadron The All-Star Squadron is a DC Comics superhero team that debuted in ''Justice League, Justice League of America'' #193 (August 1981) and was created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway. Although the team was introduced in the 1980s, its s ...

'' #43 (1985) * '' Atari Force'' #14–20 (1985) * '' Batman Annual'' #12 (1988) * '' Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'' #154–155 (2002) * ''

The Brave and the Bold ''The Brave and the Bold'' is a comic book series published by DC Comics as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983. It was followed by a reprint miniseries in 1988, two original miniseries in 1991 and 1999, and was revived as an ongoing anthology ...

'' vol. 2 #1–6 (1991–1992) * ''The Butcher'' #1–5 (1990) * ''

: Exorcism'' #1–2 (1992–1993) * ''Deadman: Love After Death'' #1–2 (1989–1990) * '' Elvira's

House of Mystery ''The House of Mystery'' is the name of several horror comics, horror, fantasy comics, fantasy, and mystery fiction, mystery comics anthology, comics anthologies published by DC Comics. It had a companion series, ''The House of Secrets (DC Comi ...

'' #8 (1986) * ''

'' vol. 2 #1–14, ''Annual'' #1 (1987–1988) * ''

Green Lantern Green Lantern is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. They fight evil with the aid of rings that grant them a variety of extraordinary powers, all of which come from imagination, fearlessness, ...

'' vol. 2 #187 (1985) * ''Green Lantern Corps Quarterly'' #6 (1993) * '' Hawk and Dove'' vol. 4 #1–5 (1997–1998) * ''

Justice League The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). Writer Gardner Fox conceived the ...

Unlimited'' #30 (2007) * '' Ms. Tree Quarterly'' #2–3 (1990–1991) * '' Question Quarterly'' #5 (1992) * '' Showcase '93'' #6–11 (1993) * '' Sonic Disruptors'' #1–7 (1987–1988) * ''

Teen Titans The Teen Titans are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, frequently in eponymous monthly series. As the group's name indicates, the members are teenage superheroes, many of whom have acted as sidekicks to DC ...

Spotlight'' #7–8 (1987)

First Comics

* ''

'' #5–70 (1985–1991) * ''Badger Bedlam'' #1 (1991) * ''Badger Goes Berserk'' #1–4 (1989) * ''The Chronicles of Corum'' #1–9 (1987–1988) * ''Crossroads'' #2, 5 (1988) * ''Hammer of God'' #1–4 (1990) * ''Hexbreaker: A Badger Graphic Novel'' (1988) * ''

'' vol. 2 #7–80 (1985–1991) * ''The Next Nexus'' #1–4 (1989) * ''

: Mad Monkey Shock 'N' Roll'' #1–5 (2025)

Malibu Comics

* ''

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...

'' #1–6 (1995–1996)

Marvel Comics

* '' Amazing High Adventure'' #3, 5 (1986) * '' Conan the Savage'' #8 (1996) * ''

Epic Illustrated ''Epic Illustrated'' was a comics anthology in magazine format published in the United States by Marvel Comics. Similar to the US-licensed comic book magazine ''Heavy Metal (magazine), Heavy Metal'', it allowed explicit content to be featured, un ...

'' #33 (1985) * ''Feud'' #1–4 (1993) * ''Heavy Hitters Annual'' #1 (1993) * '' Heroes for Hope starring the

X-Men The X-Men are a superhero team in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 (September 1963). Although initial ...

'' #1 (1985) * '' Marvel Graphic Novel: The Punisher: Intruder'' (1989) * '' The Punisher'' #1–44, 46–48, 50–62, 76, ''Annual'' #1–4 (1987–1993) * ''The Punisher: Empty Quarter'' #1 (1994) * '' The Punisher War Journal'' #16, 25–37 (1990–1991) * ''The Punisher: G-Force'' #1 (1992) * ''The Punisher: Origin of Micro Chip'' #1–2 (1993) * '' Spyke'' #1–4 (1993) * ''

Strange Tales ''Strange Tales'' is a Marvel Comics comics anthology, anthology series. The title was revived in different forms on multiple occasions. Doctor Strange and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (feature), Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. made their d ...

: Dark Corners'' #1 (1998) * ''Tales of the Marvels: Blockbuster'' #1 (1995) * '' What If...?'' #83 (1996)

Rippaverse Comics

* ''Goodyng: The Polymath'' #1 (2024)

Rude Dude Productions

* ''Nexus:Space Opera'' #1–4 (2007–2009)

Valiant Comics

* ''

Archer & Armstrong Archer & Armstrong is a superhero duo in the Valiant Comics universe. The two were originally created by writer and artist Barry Windsor-Smith and introduced in their own self-titled comic book series in 1992. After Acclaim Entertainment bought Va ...

'' #13–15, 17–25 (1993–1994) * ''

Eternal Warrior Gilad Anni-Padda, also known as the Eternal Warrior, is a superhero published by Valiant Comics and created by Jim Shooter and Don Perlin. Introduced in 1992, he was then rebooted in 1996 after Acclaim Entertainment bought Valiant Comics. He was ...

'' #25–26 (1994) * '' H.A.R.D. Corps'' #25–30 (1995) * ''

Magnus, Robot Fighter Magnus, Robot Fighter is a fictional superhero who battles rogue robots in the year 4000, appearing in comic books created by writer/artist Russ Manning in 1963.Steve Holland, ''Sci-Fi Art: A Graphic History''. Lewes: ILEX, 2009. . .pp. 102–1 ...

Yearbook'' #1 (1994) * ''Magnus Robot Fighter/Nexus'' #1–2 (1994) * '' Ninjak'' #10, ''Yearbook'' #1 (1994) * '' Shadowman'' #35–36 (1995) * ''

Turok Turok () is a fictional character who first appeared in American comic books published by Western Publishing through licensee Dell Comics. He first appeared in ''Four Color Comics'' #596 (October/November 1954). After a second ''Four Color'' app ...

, Dinosaur Hunter'' #10–12, 16, 28, ''Yearbook'' #1 (1994–1995)

References

External links

* *
Mike Baron
at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators {{DEFAULTSORT:Baron, Mike 1949 births American comics writers Marvel Comics writers Rippaverse Comics writers Eisner Award winners for Best Writer/Artist Inkpot Award winners Living people Writers from Fort Collins, Colorado Rippaverse Comics people