Mark Askwith

Mark Askwith is a Canadian producer, writer, interviewer (and sometime-publisher/editor), and a familiar name in the fields of science fiction and comics.

Early life

Askwith's family moved about before settling in Ottawa, Ontario, when he was six years old. Askwith's mother ran a children's bookstore called the Bookery, through which he was able to gain access to a wide range of literature. He cites this exposure to all forms of literature – in particular The Adventures of Tintin album Explorers on the Moon and a "stash of superhero comics" – as a "pivotal event" in his young life, which imbued in him considerable enjoyment of such genres and titles.

Askwith has stated that he "didn't take comics seriously", until his friend, Peter, showed him 'The Tiny Perfect Collection', bringing to his knowledge a range of different comics (by such greats as Will Eisner, Jim Steranko, Michael Kaluta, and Bernie Wrightson), during his first year at University. He graduated with a B.A. in English from Trinity College, University of Toronto.

The Silver Snail

After working at Oberon Press, and Coach House Press, between 1982 and 1987, Askwith managed one of the premiere North American comic book stores – The Silver Snail in Toronto. Situated at that time opposite the Bakka-Phoenix Science Fiction Bookstore, it provided an opportunity to soak up the comics/Sci-Fi atmosphere, and allowed Askwith to meet legendary (and local) Science Fiction and comics authors, including Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz. Ken Lashley's Legends (Draxhall Jump, 2002) Co-writer with Ken Lashley. Art by Ken Lashley, Marvin Mariano & Jason Azevedo "Joyride" in Batman: Gotham Knights #32 (DC Oct 2002) A short Batman: 'Black & White' story with M. W. Kaluta, as a backup to Devin Grayson's landmark "24/7" single issue story. Collected in Batman: Black & White 3 (May 2007) "Moebius: A Sketch" in Negative Burn Vol. 3 #1 (Desperado Publishing/Image May 2006) With Silencers artist Richard G. Taylor The Comic Eye #1 (Blind Bat, Dec 2007) "The Comic Eye is a unique collection of 50 biographical and fictional comic strips by 50 talented comic makers!" Other contributors include: Fred Hembeck • Brad W. Foster • Steve Skeates • Matt Feazell • Rob Walton • Michael T. Gilbert • Allen Freeman • Dave Sim • Rick Geary

Other

The Hugo Award-nominated novel Humans by Canadian science-fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer, published in 2003, carries this dedication: "For Mark Askwith, Master of Multiple Universes."

Askwith is thanked by Alan Moore in his and Bill Sienkiewicz's Big Numbers comic, for, in Askwith's words "read[ing] several articles about chaos theory in the mid- 80s and sav[ing] them", later to be forwarded to Mr Moore, as research for that, ultimately aborted comic series.

He is credited for coming up with the name "Taboo" for Stephen R. Bissette's horror anthology, which was until then being called "The October Project". The title Taboo supposedly played a key part in inspiring Alan Moore (with Eddie Campbell) to write the landmark Jack the Ripper graphic novel From Hell.

On October 30, 2008, Askwith interviewed Neal Stephenson at the Ryerson Theatre in Toronto. This event is part of the 'This is Not a Reading Series' of book events hosted by Toronto's Pages Book Store.