Mike Friedrich

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Mike Friedrich
Bill Finger Award
2019

Mike Friedrich (/ˈfriːdrɪk/; born March 27, 1949)[1] is an American comic book writer and publisher best known for his work at Marvel and DC Comics, and for publishing the anthology series Star*Reach, one of the first independent comics. He is also an artists' representative.

His notable works include runs as the regular writer of DC's

Justice League of America and Marvel's Iron Man
.

Biography

Early life and career

The Spectre #3 (April 1968): Friedrich's first published work. Cover art by Neal Adams.

Mike Friedrich, who is unrelated to fellow

cover-dated June 1968) as Friedrich's third published comics story.[3][4]

Friedrich used the $10-per-page payment to visit New York City the following month, after his high school graduation, and took a DC Comics tour in order to meet Schwartz in person. "That first summer," Friedrich recalled, "he worked with me on a handful of scripts, including the one that was first to be published,

ghosting for Bob Kane, in Batman #200 (March 1968).[3]

DC and Marvel Comics

Friedrich quickly began writing stories for a number of DC publications, including

penciler Jerry Grandenetti in Showcase #80 (Feb. 1969), he reintroduced the supernatural-mystery story narrator the Phantom Stranger, created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino in 1952.[3]
He wrote the 30th anniversary Batman story in Detective Comics #387 (May 1969) which was drawn by
Justice League of America from #86–99 (Dec. 1970 – June 1972); in the story "The Most Dangerous Dreams of All" in issue #89 (May 1971), he himself makes a cameo appearance and breaks the fourth wall at a time when such experimentation in the mainstream was rare. He had previously scripted "His Name Is... Kane", in House of Mystery #180 (June 1969), in which the short tale's penciler, Gil Kane, stars as an artist drawing for DC Comics and venturing into the physical House of Mystery.[3] Friedrich co-created Merlyn in Justice League of America #94 (Nov. 1971)[6] and the character was adapted into the Arrow TV series in 2012.[7]

Star*Reach #7 (Jan. 1977): Cover by Barry Windsor-Smith.

Moving to Marvel after four years, Friedrich scripted every issue of Iron Man but three from #48–81 (July 1972 – Dec. 1975).[3] In issue #55 (Feb. 1973), he co-scripted the introduction of the popular characters Thanos and Drax the Destroyer, created and co-scripted by artist Jim Starlin.[8][9]

Other work includes issues of Marvel's Captain America, Captain Marvel (where he worked with artist Jim Starlin on the latter's transition to writer on an acclaimed run of that series),[10] The Power of Warlock, "Ka-Zar" in Astonishing Tales, "Ant-Man" in Marvel Feature, and The Outlaw Kid, writing a short-lived revival of Doug Wildey's Western series from Marvel's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics.

Star*Reach

Friedrich's most notable contribution may be his 1970s anthology series

San Diego Comic-Con.[13]

Comics historian Richard J. Arndt wrote in 2006 that Star*Reach

...was an independent comic, long before anyone seriously mentioned or had even really conceived of an indy market that could challenge the major publishers. At its beginning, Star*Reach sold through the few comic shops around, as well as

Cody Starbuck and Gideon Faust characters both demonstrated what Chaykin was really capable of, long before the mainstream allowed him the same creative freedom.[14]

Friedrich closed Star*Reach as a publisher in 1979 but reopened it as a talent agency in 1982.[15] In the 2000s, Friedrich served as Chair of the National Legislative Committee for the Graphic Artists Guild, while a member of the California/Northern chapter.[16]

WonderCon

Friedrich, in partnership with Joe Field, owned and operated the

Comic-Con International in 2001.[17]

Awards

In 2019, Friedrich was awarded the

Bill Finger Award to recognize his contributions to the industry.[18]

Bibliography

Atlas/Seaboard Comics

  • Wulf the Barbarian #4 (1975)

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Skywald Publications

  • Butch Cassidy #1 (1971)
  • Nightmare #1 (1970)

Star Reach

  • Imagine #1–5 (1978–1979)
  • Parsifal #1 (1978)
  • Quack #1–6 (1976–1977)
  • Star Reach #2–5, 7–8, 10–14, 16–18 (1975–1979)
  • Within Our Reach #1 (1991)

References

  1. ^ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Text of Mike Friedrich statements at "Julie Schwartz: The Memorial Service". Challenger. No. 20. Summer 2004. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Mike Friedrich at the Grand Comics Database
  4. ISBN 978-1465424563. In this milestone issue, written by Mike Friedrich and drawn by Chic Stone, the Scarecrow devised a method of radiating fear into his foes and terrified Batman and Robin. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  5. ^ Forbeck "1960s" in Dougall, p. 101: "The main story, written by Mike Friedrich and drawn by Bob Brown, celebrated Batman's 30th anniversary by updating the first Batman story [from Detective Comics #27]."
  6. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. In November's Justice League of America #94, the League of Assassins assigned the marksman Merlyn to kill Batman, as told by scripter Mike Friedrich and artist Dick Dillin. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  7. ^ Adler, Matt (December 11, 2012). "Hollywood Justice #6: Who Is Merlyn?". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015.
  8. ^ Iron Man #55 at the Grand Comics Database
  9. ^ "Jim Starlin interview". Adelaide Comics and Books. 2003. Archived from the original on September 11, 2009.
  10. ISBN 978-0756641238. In March [1973], the first of Jim Starlin's many sagas of the Marvel heroes' wars against Thanos began. Scripted by Mike Friedrich, this tale [Captain Marvel #25] saw Captain Mar-Vell first meet...Thanos. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  11. ISBN 978-1605490519
    .
  12. ^ Burchett, Rick, and Ed. Mantels, "Whizzard Talks to Steranko", Whizzard vol. 2, #11 [issue #16] (Summer 1978; published by Marty Klug, 5730 Chatport Road, St. Louis, Missouri), p.13
  13. ^ "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
  14. ^ Arndt, Richard J. "The Star*Reach Bibliography". WebCitation archive.
  15. ^ Seidman, David (November 29, 1994). "Company Town : Blam! Comic-Book Agents Hit the Scene : Entertainment: As the funnies are adapted for film and CD-ROM, agencies such as Star-Reach are on the rise". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016.
  16. ^ "The Guild Goes to Congress" (PDF). Guild News. Graphic Artist's Guild. September–October 2002. p. 6. Retrieved January 6, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ Albert, Aaron. "Wondercon Profile", About.com, n.d. WebCitation archive.
  18. ^ "Mike Friedrich, E. Nelson Bridwell to Receive 2019 Bill Finger Award". San Diego Comic-Con International. 2019. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019.

External links

  • Mike Friedrich at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
  • Comic Book Artist Vol. 2, #2 (Summer 2003): Interview with Mike Friedrich
Preceded by Justice League of America writer
1970–1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Iron Man writer
1972–1973 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Steve Gerber
 Iron Man writer
1973–1975 		Succeeded by
Len Wein
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