Gary Groth (born September 18, 1954) is an American

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

editor Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...

publisher Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...

and

critic A critic is a person who communicates an assessment and an opinion of various forms of creative works such as art, literature, music, cinema, theater, fashion, architecture, and food. Critics may also take as their subject social or governmen ...

. He is editor-in-chief of ''

The Comics Journal ''The Comics Journal'', often abbreviated ''TCJ'', is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels. Known for its lengthy interviews with comic creators, pointed editorials and scathing re ...

'', a co-founder of

Fantagraphics Books Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and the erotic Eros Comix imprint. History Founding Fantagraphics was found ...

, and founder of the

Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are given for achievement in comic books. Named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman, the Harvey Awards were founded by Gary Groth in 1988, president of the publisher Fantagraphics, to be the successor to the Kirby Awards that were ...

Early life

Groth is the son of a

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

contractor and was raised in

Springfield, Virginia Springfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The Springfield CDP is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau with a population of 30,484 as of the 2010 census. Homes and businesses in bordering CDPs includ ...

,Jacobson, Aileen. "Serious Comics Fans," Washington Post (Aug 16, 1971), p. B2. in the

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

area.Matos, Michelangelo
"Saved by the Beagle," ''Seattle Arts'' (September 15, 2004).
/ref> He read his first comic book in a pediatrician's office.

Career

Fanzines and Marvel Comics

Inspired by film critics like

Andrew Sarris Andrew Sarris (October 31, 1928 – June 20, 2012) was an American film critic. He was a leading proponent of the auteur theory of film criticism. Early life Sarris was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Greek immigrant parents, Themis (née Katav ...

and

Pauline Kael Pauline Kael (; June 19, 1919 – September 3, 2001) was an American film critic who wrote for ''The New Yorker'' magazine from 1968 to 1991. Known for her "witty, biting, highly opinionated and sharply focused" reviews, Kael's opinions oft ...

, and gonzo journalists like

Hunter S. Thompson Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author who founded the gonzo journalism movement. He rose to prominence with the publication of '' Hell's Angels'' (1967), a book for which he s ...

, the teenage Groth published ''Fantastic Fanzine'', a comics

fanzine A fanzine (blend word, blend of ''fan (person), fan'' and ''magazine'' or ''-zine'') is a non-professional and non-official publication produced by fan (person), enthusiasts of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre) ...

(whose name referenced the Marvel Comics title ''

Fantastic Four The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...

''). For two years, in 1970 and 1971, he organized Metro Con, a

comics convention A comic book convention or comic-con is an event with a primary focus on comic books and comic book culture, in which comic book Fan (person), fans gather to meet creators, experts, and each other. Commonly, comic conventions are multi-day events ...

held in Washington, D.C. Later, after turning down an editorial assistant position at

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, 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 Co ...

in 1973, Groth worked briefly as a production and layout assistant at the movie and comics magazine ''Mediascene'', which was edited by

Jim Steranko James F. Steranko (; born November 5, 1938) is an American graphic artist, comic book writer/artist, comics historian, magician, publisher and film production illustrator. His most famous comic book work was with the 1960s superspy feature " ...

. After dropping out of his fourth college in 1974, Groth and his financial partner

Michael Catron Michael Catron (born October 9, 1954) is an American comic book editing, 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 ...

put on a

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...

convention that ended in financial failure. Nonetheless, he and Catron dabbled in music publishing with the short-lived magazine ''Sounds Fine''.

Fantagraphics

In 1976 Groth founded Fantagraphics Books, Inc. with Catron and

Kim Thompson Kim Thompson (September 25, 1956 – June 19, 2013) was an American comic book editor, translator, and publisher, best known as vice president and co-publisher of Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books. Along with co-publisher Gary Groth, Thomps ...

, and took over an adzine named ''The Nostalgia Journal''—quickly renaming it ''

''. Groth's ''Comics Journal'' applied rigorous critical standards to comic books. It disparaged formulaic

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

books and

work for hire A work made for hire (work for hire or WFH), in copyright law in the United States, is a work that is subject to copyright and is created by employees as part of their job or some limited types of works for which all parties agree in writing to the ...

publishers and favored artists like R. Crumb and

Art Spiegelman Art Spiegelman (; born Itzhak Avraham ben Zeev Spiegelman on February 15, 1948) is an American cartoonist, editor, and comics advocate best known for his graphic novel ''Maus''. His work as co-editor on the comics magazines ''Arcade (comics maga ...

and creator ownership of copyrights. It featured lengthy, freewheeling interviews with comics professionals, often conducted by Groth himself.

Controversy

Groth's first editorial in ''The Nostalgia Journal'' #27 began a lengthy feud with

Alan Light Alan Light (born August 4, 1966) is an American journalist who has been a rock critic for ''Rolling Stone'' and the editor-in-chief for ''Vibe,'' '' Spin,'' and ''Tracks''.http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2003/11/18/new_music ...

, founder, and at that time, publisher of ''The Buyer's Guide for Comics Fandom''. Groth and Light were friends before Light published Groth's final issue of ''Fantastic Fanzine;'' Light's expedient business methods met with Groth's disapproval. ''Fandom: Confidential'', Ron Frantz's history of the

WE Seal of approval program WE Seal of Approval Program (WSA) was a consumer protection/anti mail fraud program that assisted collectors of nostalgia between 1970 and 1984 who had been victimized by fraudulent advertisers in hobbyist magazines. It aided collectors of comic boo ...

(WSA), outlines Groth's confrontations with Light at conventions and via late night collect calls. Light in turn cashed a check for a ''Comics Journal'' advertisement that he refused to print. Groth acquired a copy of the WSA mailing list, and without authorization, used it to solicit subscriptions; Groth later apologized for what he claimed was a misunderstanding, and soon after broke ties with WSA. In 1983 when Light sold ''TBG'', a Groth editorial denounced Light. Light's subsequent libel suit against Groth was eventually dismissed. Groth's 1991 ''Comics Journal'' editorial "Lies We Cherish: The Canonization of

Carol Kalish Carol Kalish (February 14, 1955Kraft, David Anthony. 1984, "Sales Director Carol Kalish: Marvel's Direct Sales Manager Tells Her Side," ''Comics Interview'', vol. 1, no. 18, pp. 57-71. – September 5, 1991) was an American writer, editor, comic bo ...

", which criticized the then-recently deceased former Marvel Comics Vice President of New Product Development for "selling cretinous junk to impressionable children", caused controversy within the industry, including outrage by Kalish's friend and colleague, writer

Peter David Peter Allen David (born September 23, 1956), often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films and video games.Buxton, Marc (March 29, 2014)"From 'Future Imperfect' to '2099': Peter David's Greatest Hits" Co ...

. Groth wrote a controversial critique of

Scott McCloud Scott McCloud (born Scott McLeod; June 10, 1960) is an American cartoonist and comics theorist. He is best known for his non-fiction books about comics: ''Understanding Comics'' (1993), '' Reinventing Comics'' (2000), and ''Making Comics'' (200 ...

's '' Reinventing Comics'' in 2001.

Bibliography

* Groth, Gary, and Robert Fiore, eds. ''The New Comics: Interviews from the Pages of ''The Comics Journal. New York : Berkley, 1988. .

Notes

References

* *

External links

Sequential Tart In mathematics, a sequence is an enumerated collection of objects in which repetitions are allowed and order matters. Like a set, it contains members (also called ''elements'', or ''terms''). The number of elements (possibly infinite) is calle ...

Interview with Gary Groth
(2000) * Comics Reporter
Short Interview with Gary Groth and Kim Thompson
* Comics Reporter
Short Interview With Greg Sadowski and Gary Groth
(On Fantagraphics'

Harvey Kurtzman Harvey Kurtzman (; October 3, 1924 – February 21, 1993) was an American cartoonist and editor. His best-known work includes writing and editing the parodic comic book '' Mad'' from 1952 until 1956, and writing the ''Little Ann ...

TCJ library book) * Inkstuds
One-hour podcast interview
with Gary Groth and

Discussion of Groth's ''Fantastic Fanzine'' #10
as well a
pdf
of the entire issue
Discussion of Groth's ''Fantastic Fanzine'' #12
as well a
pdf
of the entire issue {{DEFAULTSORT:Groth, Gary 1954 births Living people American magazine editors Comics critics Fantagraphics Inkpot Award winners American magazine publishers (people) People from Springfield, Virginia Writers from Seattle 20th-century American writers 21st-century American writers Writers from Virginia Writers from Buenos Aires