Mike Baron (born July 1, 1949) 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. 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. 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). In 1988, Baron wrote the "Deadman" feature in Action Comics Weekly which led to two subsequent Deadman limited series. 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.

Influences

Baron has listed Carl Barks and Philip José Farmer as influences on his fiction writing.

Awards

Mike Baron has been nominated for Best Writer in the Kirby, Harvey, and Eisner Awards. He was awarded with an Inkpot Award in 1988, and has won multiple Eisners ("Best Single Issue" and "Best Writer/Artist Team" both with Rude) for his work on Nexus.

Advent Comics

Alien Books / Valiant Comics

American Mythology Productions

Antarctic Press

BIG Comics

Capital Comics

Dark Horse Comics

DC Comics

First Comics

Malibu Comics

Marvel Comics

Rippaverse Comics

Rude Dude Productions

Valiant Comics