Mike Baron talks about THE BADGER

First Comics News: The Badger has been around for 31 years, what has given the Badger such longevity?

Mike Baron: I don’t know, Rik. I’m just happy to be able to continue writing him. Part of Badger’s appeal is that he can be all things to all people. He is, after all, a multiple personality. Stories have been off-the-wall crazy and funny as well as deadly serious. I think more than anything it’s that off-the-wall quality. We also have a lot of fun with language.

1^st: W

hen can readers expect to see the new Badger series debut?

Mike: Looks like April now.

1^st: What brings the Badger back to first comics?

Mike: We serve at First’s pleasure. I think they know Badger is a unique and appealing character, a forerunner of Lobo and Deadpool.

1^st: What is the planed publication frequency?

Mike: It’s a five issue mini-series but I’m lobbying for a monthly ongoing series. If you’d like to see this please go to First’s Facebook page and tell them.

1^st: Does this series pick up right after the IDW stories?

Mike: No. I rebooted the character.

1^st: How is Norbert doing these days?

Mike: He’s a new man! Every fifteen minutes he’s a new man!

1^st: Norbert was a Vietnam vet, 30 years later is he still a Vietnam vet or is he now a Afghanistan veteran?

Mike: You called it, Rik! The first issue presents Badger’s origin in a new light.

1^st: Will Ham, Daisy and Mavis also be featured in the new series?

Mike: Oh yeah.

1^st: What should readers know about the Badger before picking up the first issue?

Mike: Badger is here to entertain you. You need not steep yourself in Talmud or back-issues to enjoy him.

1^st: Originally the Badger had a sense of humor, and the stories didn’t take themselves too seriously. Shattered Mirror on the other hand was much more serious. What is the tone of the new series?

Mike: We will vacillate between side-splitting hilarity and soul-shredding grief.

1^st: Will the series be available through Diamond?

Mike: Yes.

About Author

Rik Offenberger

Rik Offenberger has worked in the comic field as a retailer, distributor, reporter, public relations coordinator, writer and publisher since 1990. He owns and operates the e-mail bases Super Hero News service, and his published works in print can be seen in The Comics Buyers Guide, Comic Retailer, Borderline Magazine, and Comics International. On the internet he has worked as a writer and/or editor for Silver Bullet Comicbooks, Comic Book Resources, Newsarama and First Comics News. He was the Public Relations Coordinator at Archie Comics for a decade. He is currently the Editor-In-Chief at G-Man Comics. For TwoMorrows Publications, Rik co-wrote The MLJ Companion with Paul Castiglia and Jon B. Cooke, charting the history of Archie’s superheroes, and for Gemstone Publishing wrote chapters of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide to Lost Universes.

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