David Anthony Kraft (May 31, 1952 – May 19, 2021) was an American comic book writer, publisher, and critic. He was primarily known for his long-running journal of interviews and criticism, ''Comics Interview'', as well as for work for Marvel Comics in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Writing career
Before his comics career, Kraft worked as a
rock and roll journalist.
In September 1976, he became editor of ''
FOOM'' with issue #15, Marvel's self-produced
fan magazine, lasting as editor until the magazine's final issue (#22) in 1978.
Known for his offbeat approach, Kraft first made a name for himself as a comic book author with his work on
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in 19 ...
' ''
The Defenders'', particularly the 1977 "Scorpio Saga" story-arc (issues #46, 48–50). In ''The Defenders'', Kraft wrestled with large philosophical issues: the temptations of power, the Cold War and nuclear power, sibling rivalry, and growing old alone. Scorpio also listened to a record by
Edgard Varèse
Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse (; also spelled Edgar; December 22, 1883 – November 6, 1965) was a French-born composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States. Varèse's music emphasizes timbre and rhythm; he coined ...
. Kraft also merged his interests in music and comics by inserting multiple references to the band
Blue Öyster Cult into his ''Defenders'' stories specifically the "Xenogenesis: Day of the Demons" storyline, issues #58–60. Kraft combined music and comics in his scripting of the ''
Marvel Super Special'' #4 featuring
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developm ...
.
''Marvel Super Special'' #7, an adaptation of the film ''
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 26May 1967, ''Sgt. Pepper'' is regarded by musicologists as an early concept album that advanced the roles of sound composi ...
'', by Kraft and artists
George Pérez
George Pérez (; June 9, 1954 – May 6, 2022) was an American comic book artist and writer, who worked primarily as a penciller. He came to prominence in the 1970s penciling ''Fantastic Four'' and '' The Avengers'' for Marvel Comics. In the 198 ...
and
Jim Mooney was promoted on the "
Bullpen Bulletins" page in Marvel Comics cover-dated January 1979. It was
never published in the U.S. "because the book was late and the movie proved to be a commercial failure," according to a contemporaneous news account.
Kraft wrote the
Man-Wolf feature in ''
Creatures on the Loose'' and ''
Marvel Premiere'' and featured the character in ''
The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual'' #3 (1981). He wrote the entire run, except the first issue, of ''
Savage She-Hulk
She-Hulk (Jennifer "Jen" Walters) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in ''The Savage She-Hulk'' #1 (cover-dated February ...
'', which ran from 1980 to 1982. Kraft worked on such titles as ''
Captain America'' and scripted the first story drawn by
John Byrne for Marvel Comics: "Dark Asylum," published in ''
Giant-Size Dracula
''The Tomb of Dracula'' is an American horror comic book series published by Marvel Comics from April 1972 to August 1979. The 70-issue series featured a group of vampire hunters who fought Count Dracula and other supernatural menaces. On rare ...
'' #5 (June 1975).
In the early to mid-1980s Kraft wrote children's storybooks featuring Marvel characters such as
Spider-Man, the
Hulk, and the
Fantastic Four for the
Children's Press,
Marvel Books and
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest pub ...
.
During this same time he wrote the interactive game books ''Ghost Knights of Camelot'' for Avon, and ''Robot Race'' for Scholastic books. In 1983–1984, Kraft wrote ''
World's Finest Comics'' for
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...
, including that series' issue #300 (Feb. 1984). After that, Kraft did occasional comics writing, but mostly focused his energies on publishing and criticism. In 1995, Kraft worked as story-editor and scripter for the short-lived animated series ''
G.I. Joe Extreme
''G.I. Joe Extreme'' is a line of military-themed toys that was sold in retail from 1995 to 1997. The toys were produced by Kenner Products, Kenner following their acquisition by former competitor Hasbro and was intended to succeed the ''G.I. Joe ...
''. Kraft was the co-writer and editor of ''Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender'' by Onrie Kompan Productions, LLC.
Publisher, critic and literary agent
Fictioneer Books
In 1974, Kraft founded the specialty science fiction publisher Fictioneer Books. Over the years, Fictioneer published books by such authors as
A. E. van Vogt,
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906June 11, 1936) was an American writer. He wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He is well known for his character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subge ...
,
Jack London
John Griffith Chaney (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916), better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to ...
,
Otis Adelbert Kline, and
Don McGregor.
Fictioneer and its imprint Comics Interview Group published magazines including ''David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview'', the newspaper-comic-strip reprint magazine ''Comics Revue'', and trade journals such as the trade text ''100 Hot Tips from Top Comics Creators'' (1994). In early 1985 Comics Interview Group branched out into comic books by taking on Henry and Audrey Vogel's ''
Southern Knights'' (previously a self-published series). In 1986 they expanded their comics lineup with ''MICRA'' and ''Aristocratic Xtraterrestrial Time-Traveling Thieves'', and began publishing a number of ''Southern Knights'' reprints in the form of graphic novels, one-shots, and limited series. Though 1988 saw them also introduce
Julie Woodcock
Julie may refer to:
* Julie (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the name
Film and television
* ''Julie'' (1956 film), an American film noir starring Doris Day
* ''Julie'' (1975 film), a Hindi film by K. S. Sethumadhav ...
and
Brian Stelfreeze's ''CyCops'', none of their comics publications sold as well as ''Southern Knights'', and by the end of that year they had stopped publishing any other titles. In mid-1989 ''Southern Knights'' was canceled as well, and the Comics Interview imprint was again devoted solely to magazines and trade publications although they would co-publish ''Southern Knights'' No. 35 and 36 in 1992.
; Comics Interview
In 1983, Kraft founded ''David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview'', which ran for 150 issues between 1983 and 1995, and garnered
Eisner and
Eagle Award nominations. As suggested by the title, each issue of ''Comics Interview'' was filled entirely with in-depth creator interviews.
Literary agent
Since 1974, Kraft was the
literary agent for the estate of pulp author
Otis Adelbert Kline.
Influences and personal life
Kraft counted science fiction author
Leigh Brackett,
Stan Lee, and writer
E. Hoffmann Price
Edgar Hoffmann Price (July 3, 1898 – June 18, 1988) was an American writer of popular fiction (he was a self-titled "fictioneer") for the pulp magazine marketplace."Price, E. Hoffmann" in Server Lee. ''Encyclopedia of Pulp Fiction Writers''. ...
as mentors.
He lived in
Clayton, Georgia.
Kraft died from
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...
on May 19, 2021.
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Bush-Kraft and son, Bryce William Davidson Bush.
Bibliography
Books
* ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' (Junior Press, 1979)
* ''The Compleat OAK Leaves: Volume One of the Official Journal of Otis Adelbert Kline and his Works'' (editor) (Fictioneer Press, 1980)
* ''Stan Lee Presents the Incredible Hulk'' pop-up book (Marvel Comics Group, 1980)
* ''Captain America: The Secret Story of Marvel's Star-Spangled Super Hero'' (Children's Press, 1981)
* ''The Fantastic Four: The Secret Story of Marvel's Cosmic Quartet'' (Children's Press, 1981)
* ''The Incredible Hulk: The Secret Story of Marvel's Gamma-powered Goliath'' (Children's Press, 1981)
* ''Attack of the Tarantula'' (Intervisual Communications, 1982)
* ''The Dark Crystal'' (Marvel Books, 1982)
* ''Stan Lee Presents the Incredible Hulk Pop-up Book, "Trapped"'' (Marvel Comics Group, 1982)
* ''Fantastic Four vs. the Frightful Four'' coloring book (Marvel Books, 1983)
* ''Heathcliff, #1 Cat at the Show'' coloring and activity book (Marvel Books, 1983)
* ''Heathcliff at The Circus'' coloring book (Marvel Books, 1983)
* ''The Treasure of Time'' (Marvel Books, 1983)
* ''The Amazing Spider-Man: The Big Top Mystery'' (Marvel Books, 1984)
* ''The Amazing Spider-Man and Wolverine in The Crime of the Centuries'' (Marvel Books, 1984)
* ''Ghost Knights of Camelot'' (Avon Books, 1984)
* ''
Micro Adventure
Micro Adventure is the title of a series of books for young adult readers, published by Scholastic, Inc. during the 1980s. Created by Eileen Buckholtz and Ruth Glick, the YA series combined adventure stories with computer activities.
The books ...
no. 6: Robot Race'' (Scholastic, 1984)
* ''Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Captain America and Iron Man in Escape from Doom'' (Budget Books, 1986)
* ''Marvel Super Heroes Jumbo Coloring & Activity Book'' (Marvel Books, 1987)
Comic books
Atlas/Seaboard Comics
* ''
Demon Hunter'' #1 (1975)
DC Comics
* ''
Blackhawk'' #247–248 (1976)
* ''
Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth'' #44–46 (1976)
* ''
Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter'' #11–12 (1976)
* ''
Secret Society of Super Villains
Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a DC Comics title that debuted in May–June 1976. The series presented a group of DC's supervillains, mostly foes of the Justice League of America. The series was cancelled with issue #15 in July 1978 ...
'' #2–4 (1976)
* ''
Swamp Thing
The Swamp Thing is a superhero in American comic books published by DC Comics. A humanoid/plant elemental creature, created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, the Swamp Thing has had several humanoid or monster incarnations i ...
'' #24 (1976)
* ''
Tarzan
Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...
'' #254 (1976)
* ''
World's Finest Comics'' #293, 295–300, 302–307 (1983–1984)
Marvel Comics
* ''
Captain America'' #265–266, 271, 273–274 (1982)
* ''
Creatures on the Loose'' #33–37 (
Man-Wolf) (1975)
* ''
Defenders'' #44–56, 58–68, 89 (1977–1980)
* ''
Giant-Size Dracula
''The Tomb of Dracula'' is an American horror comic book series published by Marvel Comics from April 1972 to August 1979. The 70-issue series featured a group of vampire hunters who fought Count Dracula and other supernatural menaces. On rare ...
'' #4–5 (1975)
* ''Haunt of Horror'' #5 (1975)
* ''
The Hulk
The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of '' The Incredible Hulk'' (May 1962). In his comic book ...
'' #24 (1980)
* ''
Logan's Run
''Logan's Run'' is a science fiction novel by American writers William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson. Published in 1967, the novel depicts a dystopic Malthusianism future society in which both population and the consumption of resou ...
'' #2–5 (1977)
* ''
Marvel Comics Super Special
''Marvel Comics Super Special'' was a 41-issue series of one-shot comic-magazines published by Marvel Comics from 1977 to 1986. They were cover-priced $1.50 to $2.50, while regular color comics were priced 30 cents to 60 cents, Beginning with issu ...
'' #4 (''
The Beatles Story'') (1978)
* ''
Marvel Fanfare'' #4, 17 (1982–1984)
* ''
Marvel Premiere'' #45–46 (1978–1979)
* ''
Marvel Preview'' #12–14 (1977–1978)
* ''
Marvel Spotlight'' #33 (1977)
* ''Marvel Super Special'' #7 (''
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 26May 1967, ''Sgt. Pepper'' is regarded by musicologists as an early concept album that advanced the roles of sound composi ...
''); #24 (''
The Dark Crystal'') (1979–1983)
* ''
Marvel Super-Heroes'' vol. 2 #15 (1993)
* ''
Marvel Team-Up'' #109 (1981)
* ''
Marvel Two-in-One'' #41, 88–89, 94–95 (1978–1983)
* ''
Savage She-Hulk
She-Hulk (Jennifer "Jen" Walters) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in ''The Savage She-Hulk'' #1 (cover-dated February ...
'' #2–25 (1980–1982)
* ''
The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual'' #3 (1981)
* ''
Tales of the Zombie'' #8 (1974)
* ''
Tarzan
Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...
'' #12, 15–21 (1978–1979)
* ''
Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing ...
'' #253 (
Tales of Asgard
Tales may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Tales'' (album), a 1995 album by Marcus Miller
* ''Tales'' (film), a 2014 Iranian film
* ''Tales'' (TV series), an American television series
* ''Tales'' (video game), a 2016 point-and-click adventure ...
backup story) (1976)
* ''
What If...?'' #37 (1983)
Television
* ''
G.I. Joe Extreme
''G.I. Joe Extreme'' is a line of military-themed toys that was sold in retail from 1995 to 1997. The toys were produced by Kenner Products, Kenner following their acquisition by former competitor Hasbro and was intended to succeed the ''G.I. Joe ...
'' (1996-1997)
References
External links
*
David Anthony Kraftat Mike's Amazing World of Comics
at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
Alphabetical index of the first 100 issues of ''Comics Interview''.*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kraft, David Anthony
1952 births
2021 deaths
American comics writers
American magazine editors
American magazine publishers (people)
Comics critics
Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state)
Literary agents
Marvel Comics writers
People from Clayton, Georgia