MIKE BARON

The following is an e-mail interview with MIKE BARON, a comic book writer whose creations BADGER and NEXUS remain two of comicdom’s faves. This interview was conducted on March 11, 1999.

JOHN DALTON: What is your earliest comic book memory?

MIKE BARON: Picking up an Uncle Scrooge comic.

JOHN DALTON: What, in your early life, best prepared you to work in comics?

MIKE BARON: Eating dirt.

JOHN DALTON: How did you get your first break in comics?

MIKE BARON: Met Steve Rude--we prepared a twelve page NEXUS story and showed it to Capital City Distribution. The rest is history.

JOHN DALTON: You debuted during the independent boom of the 80s. What has changed in the industry, for better or worse, since that time?

MIKE BARON: Collapse of the market. Collapse of the direct distribution system. Collapse of Kitchen Sink, et al. Rise of video games. Rise of post-literate society.

JOHN DALTON: NEXUS and BADGER are two of the great genre-bending books of the 80s and 90s. What are you most proud of when you look at these two titles?

MIKE BARON: The logos.

JOHN DALTON: What would you like to do in the industry that you haven't had a chance to do?

MIKE BARON: Bring back Lobo, only this time make him a wild, ass-kickin', irreverent id of a character.

JOHN DALTON: What are you working on currently that most excites you?

MIKE BARON: A rock opera.

JOHN DALTON: What advice would you give a person trying to break into comics today?

MIKE BARON: Have a fall-back plan.

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