Groth, Gary
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Gary Groth (born September 18, 1954) is an American
comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...
editor Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, 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, organization, a ...
,
publisher Publishing is the activities of making information, literature, music, software, and other content, physical or digital, available to the public for sale or free of charge. Traditionally, the term publishing refers to the creation and distribu ...
and
critic A critic is a person who communicates an assessment and an opinion of various forms of creative works such as Art criticism, art, Literary criticism, literature, Music journalism, music, Film criticism, cinema, Theater criticism, theater, Fas ...
. 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 r ...
'', 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 (formerly) the Erotic comics, erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed sev ...
, and founder of the Harvey Awards.


Early life

Groth is the son of a U.S. Navy contractor and was raised in
Springfield, Virginia Springfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The Springfield CDP is recognized by the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau with a population of 31,339 as of the 20 ...
, in the
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
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 pop culture conventions

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 Kat ...
and
Pauline Kael Pauline Kael (; June 19, 1919 – September 3, 2001) was an American film critic who wrote for ''The New Yorker'' from 1968 to 1991. Known for her "witty, biting, highly opinionated and sharply focused" reviews, Kael often defied the conse ...
, and gonzo journalists like Hunter S. Thompson, 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 enthusiasts of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre) for the pleas ...
(whose name referenced the Marvel Comics title ''
Fantastic Four The Fantastic Four, often abbreviated as FF, is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in '' The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover-dated November 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism i ...
''). In 1970, 1971, and 1973 he organized Metro Con, a comics convention held in the Washington, D.C. area. Later, after turning down an editorial assistant position at
Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
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, comics artist, comic book writer/artist, comics historian, Illusionist, magician, publisher and film production illustrator. His most famous comic book work was with th ...
. After dropping out of his fourth college in 1974, Groth and his financial partner Michael Catron put on a
rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and 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 African ...
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, Thompso ...
, and took over an adzine named ''The Nostalgia Journal''—quickly renaming it ''
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 r ...
''. Groth's ''Comics Journal'' applied rigorous critical standards to comic books. It disparaged formulaic
superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
books and
work for hire In copyright law, a work made for hire (work for hire or WFH) is a work whose copyright is initially owned by an entity other than the actual creator as a result of an employment relationship or, in some cases, a commission. It is an exception to t ...
publishers and favored artists like R. Crumb and
Art Spiegelman Itzhak Avraham ben Zeev Spiegelman ( ; born February 15, 1948), professionally known as Art Spiegelman, is an American cartoonist, editor, and comics advocate best known for his graphic novel ''Maus''. His work as co-editor on the comics magazin ...
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'' 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''. Early life Light grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended Cincin ...
, 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", which criticized what he saw as the unwarranted hagiographies for then-recently deceased former Marvel Comics Vice President of New Product Development, whom Groth characterized as "selling cretinous junk to impressionable children", caused controversy within the industry, including outrage by Kalish's friend and colleague, writer Peter David.David, Pete
"The Last Word"
peterdavid.net December 20, 2002
He was nominated for Best Editor in the
Eisner Awards The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred ...
in 1993.


Bibliography

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


Notes


References

* *


Further reading

* Spurgeon, Tom and Jacob Covey. ''Comics As Art: We Told You So''. Seattle, WA : Fantagraphics, 2016.


External links

* Sequential Tart
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 (magazine), Mad'' from 1952 until 1956, and writing the ...
TCJ library book) * Inkstuds
One-hour podcast interview
with Gary Groth 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, Thompso ...

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