David Anthony Kraft
Encyclopedia
David Anthony Kraft, also credited simply as David Kraft, is an American comic book
writer
, publisher, and critic
. He is primarily known for his long-running journal of interviews and criticism, Comics Interview.
journalist.
Known for his offbeat approach, Kraft first made a name for himself as a comic book author with his work on Marvel Comics
' 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. 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 also combined music and comics in his scripting of the Marvel Super Special
s #4 (featuring The Beatles
) and #25 (Rock & Rule
: the Official Adaptation of the Feature-Length Animated Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy from Nelvana!).
Kraft wrote the entire run, except the first issue, of Savage She-Hulk
, which ran from 1980–1982. He had stints on such titles as Captain America
and Creatures on the Loose. He scripted the first story drawn by John Byrne for Marvel Comics: "Dark Asylum," published in Giant-Size Dracula #5 (June 1975).
In September 1976, Kraft took over as editor of FOOM
, Marvel's self-produced fan magazine
, lasting as editor until the magazine's demise in the fall of 1978.
In the early to mid-1980s Kraft wrote children's storybooks featuring Marvel characters like Spider-Man
, the Incredible Hulk, and the Fantastic Four
for the Childrens Press, Marvel Books
and Simon & Schuster
. 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
. 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
.
Kraft is the co-writer and editor of Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender by Onrie Kompan Productions, LLC.
publisher Fictioneer Books Ltd. Over the years, Fictioneer has published books by such authors as A.E. van Vogt, Robert E. Howard
, Jack London
, Otis Adelbert Kline
, and Don McGregor
.
Fictioneer and its imprint Comics Interview Group also published comics, such as Henry Vogel and Mark Propst's Aristocratic Xtraterrestrial Time-Traveling Thieves
(1988), and Julie Woodcock and Brian Stelfreeze
's CyCops; as well as trade journals like Comics Revue, and MICRA, and the trade text 100 Hot Tips from Top Comics Creators (1994).
Comics Interview
In 1983, Kraft founded David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview, with ran for 150 issues between 1983 and 1995, and garnered Eisner
and Eagle Award
nominations. From Frank Miller
and his work on The Dark Knight Returns, to Jim Shooter
and Marvel's Secret Wars
, to Robotech
, to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
; Comics Interview covered some of the most memorable characters on and off the comic book pages during the 1980s and early 1990s. Besides its numerous, in-depth creator interviews, each issue of Comics Interview featured multiple articles, many on a particular theme, from Star Trek
to the Punisher
, from independent comics creators to major Marvel or DC superheroes. Some of Comics Interviews most popular articles were on the Golden Age and Silver Age
.
.
, Marvel Comics
legend Stan Lee
, and writer E. Hoffmann Price as mentors. He currently lives in Clayton, Georgia
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, publisher, and critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
. He is primarily known for his long-running journal of interviews and criticism, Comics Interview.
Writing career
Before his comics career, Kraft worked as a rock and rollRock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
journalist.
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
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' The Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
, 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. Kraft also merged his interests in music and comics by inserting multiple references to the band Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
into his Defenders stories (specifically the "Xenogenesis: Day of the Demons" storyline, issues #58-60).
Kraft also combined music and comics in his scripting of the Marvel Super Special
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 issue #5, the series' title in the its postal indicia was...
s #4 (featuring The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
) and #25 (Rock & Rule
Rock & Rule
Rock & Rule is a 1983 Canadian animated film from the animation studio Nelvana. It was produced and directed by the company's founders, Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert, and Clive A. Smith. The film features the voices of Greg Salata, Susan Roman, and Don Francks, with Catherine O'Hara, Chris...
: the Official Adaptation of the Feature-Length Animated Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy from Nelvana!).
Kraft wrote the entire run, except the first issue, of Savage She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
, which ran from 1980–1982. He had stints on such titles as Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
and Creatures on the Loose. He scripted the first story drawn by John Byrne for Marvel Comics: "Dark Asylum," published in Giant-Size Dracula #5 (June 1975).
In September 1976, Kraft took over as editor of FOOM
FOOM
FOOM was Marvel Comics' self-produced fan magazine of the mid-1970s, following the canceled Marvelmania and preceding Marvel Age. Running 22 quarterly issues FOOM (also written as F.O.O.M.) was Marvel Comics' self-produced fan magazine of the mid-1970s, following the canceled Marvelmania and...
, Marvel's self-produced fan magazine
Fan magazine
A fan magazine is a commercially written and published magazine intended for the amusement of fans of the popular culture subject matter which it covers. It is distinguished from a scholarly or literary magazine on the one hand, by the target audience of its contents, and from a fanzine on the...
, lasting as editor until the magazine's demise in the fall of 1978.
In the early to mid-1980s Kraft wrote children's storybooks featuring Marvel characters like Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
, the Incredible Hulk, and the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
for the Childrens Press, Marvel Books
Marvel Books
Marvel Books refers to prose books licensed by Marvel Entertainment or its division in the 1980s that published coloring books and sticker books...
and Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
. 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
World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled World's Best Comics for its first issue; issue #2 switched to the more familiar name...
for DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. 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
G.I. Joe Extreme is the name of a short-lived line of military-themed toys by Hasbro, a two-season cartoon show by Sunbow Productions, and two 4-issue comic mini-series by Dark Horse Comics. It is a sequel of sorts to the previous G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero TV series, with a one-shot pack-in...
.
Kraft is the co-writer and editor of Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender by Onrie Kompan Productions, LLC.
Fictioneer Books
In 1974, Kraft founded the specialty science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
publisher Fictioneer Books Ltd. Over the years, Fictioneer has published books by such authors as A.E. van Vogt, Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
, Jack London
Jack London
John Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...
, Otis Adelbert Kline
Otis Adelbert Kline
Otis Adelbert Kline born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was an adventure novelist and literary agent during the pulp era. Much of his work first appeared in the magazine Weird Tales. Kline was an amateur orientalist and a student of Arabic, like his friend and sometime collaborator, E...
, and Don McGregor
Don McGregor
Donald Francis McGregor is an American comic book writer best known for his work for Marvel Comics, and the author of one of the first graphic novels.-Early life and career:...
.
Fictioneer and its imprint Comics Interview Group also published comics, such as Henry Vogel and Mark Propst's Aristocratic Xtraterrestrial Time-Traveling Thieves
Aristocratic Xtraterrestrial Time-Traveling Thieves
Aristocratic Xtraterrestrial Time-Traveling Thieves, abbreviated as X-Thieves, was a comic book created by Mark Propst, Henry Vogel, and David Anthony Kraft and published by Comics Interview...
(1988), and Julie Woodcock and Brian Stelfreeze
Brian Stelfreeze
Brian Stelfreeze is an American comic book artist. Stelfreeze, an accomplished painter, penciller, inker and colorist, has worked for nearly every major American comic book publisher and is one of the original members of Atlanta's Gaijin Studios, a prominent breeding ground for some of comics' most...
's CyCops; as well as trade journals like Comics Revue, and MICRA, and the trade text 100 Hot Tips from Top Comics Creators (1994).
Comics Interview
In 1983, Kraft founded David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview, with ran for 150 issues between 1983 and 1995, and garnered Eisner
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
and Eagle Award
Eagle Award
There are several distinctions and recognitions known as the Eagle Award.*Eagle Award, the highest rank of the Zambia Scouts Association*Eagle Award, the highest award given to a civilian by the National Guard of the United States...
nominations. From Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
and his work on The Dark Knight Returns, to Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
and Marvel's Secret Wars
Secret Wars
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars is a twelve-issue comic book crossover limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Jim Shooter with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton...
, to Robotech
Robotech
Robotech is an 85-episode science fiction anime adaptation produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and first released in the United States in 1985...
, to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
; Comics Interview covered some of the most memorable characters on and off the comic book pages during the 1980s and early 1990s. Besides its numerous, in-depth creator interviews, each issue of Comics Interview featured multiple articles, many on a particular theme, from Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
to the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
, from independent comics creators to major Marvel or DC superheroes. Some of Comics Interviews most popular articles were on the Golden Age and Silver Age
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
.
Literary agent
Since 1974, Kraft has been the literary agent for the estate of pulp author Otis Adelbert KlineOtis Adelbert Kline
Otis Adelbert Kline born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was an adventure novelist and literary agent during the pulp era. Much of his work first appeared in the magazine Weird Tales. Kline was an amateur orientalist and a student of Arabic, like his friend and sometime collaborator, E...
.
Influences and personal life
Kraft counts science fiction author Leigh BrackettLeigh Brackett
Leigh Douglass Brackett was an American author, particularly of science fiction. She was also a screenwriter, known for her work on famous films such as The Big Sleep , Rio Bravo , The Long Goodbye and The Empire Strikes Back .-Life:Leigh Brackett was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California...
, Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
legend Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, and writer E. Hoffmann Price as mentors. He currently lives in Clayton, Georgia
Clayton, Georgia
Clayton is a city in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,019 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Rabun County and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.-History:...
.
External links
- New, circa 2010 Comics Interview website. Comics Interview: The Complete Collection Volume I offered for sale.
- Alphabetical index of the first 100 issues of Comics Interview.
- Ordering information for Comics Interview back issues.