Michael Hobson
Encyclopedia
Michael Hobson is the former publisher of both Marvel Comics
and Scholastic Books.
, he began his career at Little Brown in Boston
, Massachusetts. After stints at Publishers Weekly
and as a literary agent at William Morris
, Hobson joined Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company. He spent over thirteen years in various positions at Scholastic, the majority of that time as publisher of its paperback book clubs, where he was responsible for all aspects of the business, including acquisitions, editorial, marketing and distribution.
Hobson then joined Marvel Comics
as publisher — a post that he held for over fifteen years. During that time, he was directly responsible for all editorial, marketing, distribution and production of Marvel's comics, magazines and graphic novels. Following his tenure as publisher, Hobson went on to run Marvel's international business as managing director of Marvel Europe, including its companies in the United Kingdom
and Italy
, as well as its publishing and licensing operations throughout the rest of Europe. Hobson then returned to the U.S., where he became president of Parachute Publishing
, a major packager of fiction and non-fiction book series for teens and preteens, most notably R. L. Stine
's immensely popular Fear Street
and Goosebumps
series and the popular series of books featuring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
.
In 2005, he was named a Senior Advisor to Cracked, a national humor magazine.
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...
and Scholastic Books.
Career
Hobson spent his almost fifty-year career working in almost every area of publishing. A graduate of Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, he began his career at Little Brown in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts. After stints at Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
and as a literary agent at William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, Hobson joined Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company. He spent over thirteen years in various positions at Scholastic, the majority of that time as publisher of its paperback book clubs, where he was responsible for all aspects of the business, including acquisitions, editorial, marketing and distribution.
Hobson then joined 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...
as publisher — a post that he held for over fifteen years. During that time, he was directly responsible for all editorial, marketing, distribution and production of Marvel's comics, magazines and graphic novels. Following his tenure as publisher, Hobson went on to run Marvel's international business as managing director of Marvel Europe, including its companies in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, as well as its publishing and licensing operations throughout the rest of Europe. Hobson then returned to the U.S., where he became president of Parachute Publishing
Parachute Publishing
Parachute Press is a division of Parachute Publishing, a packager of book series for children and teenagers. The four women listed as the company's principals are all themselves authors of children's books , and Jane Stine is married to R. L. Stine. The press first gained notice with the 1989...
, a major packager of fiction and non-fiction book series for teens and preteens, most notably R. L. Stine
R. L. Stine
Robert Lawrence Stine , known as R. L. Stine, and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American writer. Stine, who is called the "Stephen King of children's literature," is the author of hundreds of horror fiction novels, including the books in the Fear Street, Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, and The...
's immensely popular Fear Street
Fear Street
Fear Street is a teenage horror fiction series written by American author R. L. Stine, starting in 1989. In 1995, a series of books inspired by the Fear Street series, called Ghosts of Fear Street, was created for younger readers, and were more like the Goosebumps books in that they featured...
and Goosebumps
Goosebumps
Goosebumps is a series of children's horror fiction novels written by American author R. L. Stine and first published by Scholastic Publishing. It is a collection of stories that feature semi-homogenous plot structures, with fictional children being involved in scary situations...
series and the popular series of books featuring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen are American actresses and entrepreneurs.Both have appeared in television and films since infancy. Since then, they have continued their celebrity through numerous television programs, films, interviews, as well as commercial endorsements...
.
In 2005, he was named a Senior Advisor to Cracked, a national humor magazine.