Gary Carlson

Gary Scott Carlson is an American comic book writer, editor, and publisher best known for his creator-owned anthologies *Megaton* (1980s) and *Big Bang Comics*. Born in the United States, he entered the industry as a letterer before expanding into writing and editing. His career, spanning from 1983 to 2017, saw him contribute to over 60 issues across multiple publishers. For Image Comics, he wrote *Vanguard*, *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*, and *Supreme*, while at DC and Marvel he handled *Aquaman* and *Nova*, respectively. His signature work often celebrated Silver Age superhero tropes, particularly through *Big Bang Comics* and its spin-off *Knight Watchman*, which he co-created. Carlson collaborated frequently with artists like Chris Sprouse and Dave Johnson. Later in life, he remained active in independent publishing, though his output slowed after the 2000s. He is remembered as a dedicated champion of creator-owned comics and a bridge between the direct market's early days and the mainstream.