Michael Catron
{{Short description|American comic book editor and publisher|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| alt =
| birth_name = J. Michael Catron
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|10|9}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| area =
| cartoonist =
| write =
| art =
| pencil =
| ink =
| edit =
| publish = y
| letter =
| color =
| critic = y
| alias =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| notable works = Fantagraphics Books
Apple Comics
| awards = Inkpot Award (2015)[https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot Inkpot Award]
| website = {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20120204152235/http://homepage.mac.com/mikecatron/Main/Menu64.html}}
}}
Michael Catron (born October 9, 1954){{cite news|author-link=John Jackson Miller |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |url=http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |title=Comics Industry Birthdays |work=Comics Buyer's Guide |date=June 10, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead }} is an American comic book editor and publisher. He is former publisher of Apple Comics and co-founder of Fantagraphics.
Biography
Catron 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,{{cite news | last=Matos | first=Michelangelo | url = http://www.seattleweekly.com/2004-09-15/arts/saved-by-the-beagle/ | title=Saved by the Beagle | work=Seattle Weekly | date= September 15, 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131105071757/http://www.seattleweekly.com/2004-09-15/arts/saved-by-the-beagle/ | archive-date= November 5, 2013 | url-status=live}} 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.
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.Maheras, Russ. [http://www.tcj.com/messboard/viewtopic.php?t=1340&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20 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." 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.[http://www.bailsprojects.com/%28S%28euvopi45ji5gunarjfrdourx%29%29/bio.aspx?Name=CATRON%2c+MIKE Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.]
In 1986, Catron established Apple Comics, which began as a packager for Wendy & Richard Pini's WaRP Graphics but with its own financing structure.WaRP Titles Now Under Apple Aegis," The Comics Journal #110 (August 1986), p. 17.
From 2000 to 2008, Catron served as a board member for the Grand Comics Database.[http://docs.comics.org/wiki/The_Board#Members GCD Documentation: The Board]
Catron has been the agent for the estate of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster.Kaye, Edward. [https://archive.today/20130116131912/http://www.hypergeek.ca/2011/06/winners-of-the-2011-joe-shuster-awards-announced.html "Winners of the 2011 Joe Shuster Awards Announced!"] Hypergeek (June 18, 2011).
In early 2012, Catron relocated to Seattle and returned to Fantagraphics as editor with the publishing company he co-founded 36 years earlier.Spurgeon, Tom. [http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_newsmaker_interview_mike_catron/ "CR Newsmaker Interview: Mike Catron"] The Comics Reporter (Fefruary 5, 2012).Baehr, Mike. [http://www.fantagraphics.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Welcome-back-Mike-Catron-Preston-White.html&Itemid=113 "Welcome back Mike Catron & Preston White!"] The Comics Journal Blog (February 6, 2012).
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web | url = http://homepage.mac.com/mikecatron/Main/Menu64.html | title= Michael Catron's Home Pager | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120204152235/http://homepage.mac.com/mikecatron/Main/Menu64.html | archive-date= February 4, 2012}}
{{Fantagraphics people}}
{{Inkpot Award 2010s}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Catron, Michael}}