Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on May 25, 2016 11:11:51 GMT -6
www.comicsbeat.com/solson-publisher-gary-brodsky-passes-away/
Solson Publisher Gary Brodsky passes away
Gary Brodsky—reverend, self-proclaimed “Alpha Male Master” and publisher of 1980s independent comics company Solson Publications—died of a heart attack on May 9, 2016. He was 59-years-old.
Brodsky was a pioneer during the black-and-white independent comics boom in the mid-1980s. In 1986, Reagan’s Raiders #1 outsold Marvel’s G.I. Joe at a 3-to-1 ratio at the comic-book store I ran. That book, featuring late-President Ronald Reagan as a Captain America-inspired, machine-gun-toting superhero, brought many non-comics people into the specialty shops. They bought multiple copies. It was incredible.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Brodsky formed Solson Publications in 1985—its name derived as homage to Brodsky’s late father, Sol Brodsky, a longtime artist, production manager and executive at Marvel who passed away the previous year.
Teaming with longtime artist Rich Buckler, Brodsky created a successful How to Draw… series that included everything from aliens to erotica to superheroes. How to Publish Comics, released in pre-internet days when there were multiple comic-book distributors, was an unexpected hit. “I threw it together in a day or two. Later I learned how much it inspired artists and entrepreneurs to create their own companies,” Brodsky said in a 1992 interview. “I’m still waiting for royalty checks from these publishers.
Go figure. (laughs)“
Solson Publications was the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles licensee. He once told me sales of the company’s How To Draw Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Martial Arts Training Manual and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teach Karate were enough to finance several more titles. He was ahead of the curve in knowing how successful the TMNT franchise would become.
Brodsky also published a title named Solson’s Christmas Special: Samurai Santa which included the first published work of legendary artist and current DC Comics co-president, Jim Lee. Other published titles include The Three Stooges, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. (Agents) and Rock Heads.
Brodsky spent his last few years living in Westport, CT self-promoting his controversial beliefs and experiences via his website, www.garybrodsky.com, in audio/visual media and e-publications including, The Alpha Way to Meet Women, Secrets of Being a Gigilo, and The Art of Getting Rich.
Gary was a shameless self-promoter—crazy, quirky and an unsung hero of the comic-book industry. Some people didn’t like him. Many people adored him. Gary was truly one in a million.
He leaves behind his wife, Lana, and two children, Dmitriy and Louis.
A memorial for Brodsky will be held this Saturday.
Solson Publisher Gary Brodsky passes away
Gary Brodsky—reverend, self-proclaimed “Alpha Male Master” and publisher of 1980s independent comics company Solson Publications—died of a heart attack on May 9, 2016. He was 59-years-old.
Brodsky was a pioneer during the black-and-white independent comics boom in the mid-1980s. In 1986, Reagan’s Raiders #1 outsold Marvel’s G.I. Joe at a 3-to-1 ratio at the comic-book store I ran. That book, featuring late-President Ronald Reagan as a Captain America-inspired, machine-gun-toting superhero, brought many non-comics people into the specialty shops. They bought multiple copies. It was incredible.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Brodsky formed Solson Publications in 1985—its name derived as homage to Brodsky’s late father, Sol Brodsky, a longtime artist, production manager and executive at Marvel who passed away the previous year.
Teaming with longtime artist Rich Buckler, Brodsky created a successful How to Draw… series that included everything from aliens to erotica to superheroes. How to Publish Comics, released in pre-internet days when there were multiple comic-book distributors, was an unexpected hit. “I threw it together in a day or two. Later I learned how much it inspired artists and entrepreneurs to create their own companies,” Brodsky said in a 1992 interview. “I’m still waiting for royalty checks from these publishers.
Go figure. (laughs)“
Solson Publications was the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles licensee. He once told me sales of the company’s How To Draw Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Martial Arts Training Manual and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teach Karate were enough to finance several more titles. He was ahead of the curve in knowing how successful the TMNT franchise would become.
Brodsky also published a title named Solson’s Christmas Special: Samurai Santa which included the first published work of legendary artist and current DC Comics co-president, Jim Lee. Other published titles include The Three Stooges, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. (Agents) and Rock Heads.
Brodsky spent his last few years living in Westport, CT self-promoting his controversial beliefs and experiences via his website, www.garybrodsky.com, in audio/visual media and e-publications including, The Alpha Way to Meet Women, Secrets of Being a Gigilo, and The Art of Getting Rich.
Gary was a shameless self-promoter—crazy, quirky and an unsung hero of the comic-book industry. Some people didn’t like him. Many people adored him. Gary was truly one in a million.
He leaves behind his wife, Lana, and two children, Dmitriy and Louis.
A memorial for Brodsky will be held this Saturday.