Jake Saunders (writer)

Jake "Buddy" Saunders (born 1947) is an American author and businessman, working in the fields of comic books and science fiction.

Jake Saunders
Buddy Saunders (right) in his warehouse with Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader cutout during production of the short documentary "Dallas Marvels" in 2015
Buddy Saunders (right) in his warehouse with Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader cutout during production of the short documentary "Dallas Marvels" in 2015
BornJacob Saunders
1947 (age 76–77)
Pen nameBuddy Saunders
Don Fowler
OccupationWriter and businessman
GenreScience fiction
SpouseJudy[1]
Children1[1]

Work

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Saunders started out in the world of fanzines. As part of the "Texas Trio" (with Larry Herndon and Howard Keltner),[2] Saunders published the fanzine Star-Studded Comics from 1963–1972. It featured early work by George R. R. Martin,[3] Grass Green, Jim Starlin, Roy Thomas, Sam Grainger, Alan Weiss, Dave Cockrum, Mike Vosburg, Biljo White, and Keltner,[4] among others, and featured the early appearances of Dr. Weird, Xal-Kor, Wildman and The Eye.[5] Saunders' cover for its second issue won an Alley Award in the amateur division in 1963. In addition, during this period Saunders was a regular contributor (as an artist) to the seminal comic book fanzine Rocket's Blast Comicollector (RBCC).

Saunders operated his own mail order service starting in 1961.[1] He owned and operated Lone Star Comics, a chain of seven Texas comic book stores founded in 1977.[6] With the sale of the Lone Star comic book store chain in 2013, Mr. Saunders and his family now operate the online Lone Star Comics, www.mycomicshop.com.[7]

As a writer, he co-authored A Voice and Bitter Weeping with Howard Waldrop, later expanded into the 1974 novel The Texas-Israeli War: 1999, as well as Time and Variance, with Waldrop and Steven Utley. Saunders' story "Back to the Stone Age'" was nominated for a Nebula Award for Best Short Story in 1976. Saunders' recent work includes two novels based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Martian Legion (2014) and Tarzan and the Cannibal King (2017).

In 2020, Saunders attracted controversy for sharing false information regarding COVID 19 via his mailing list, which he continued to do as recently as 2023.[8][9] Saunders also made unsupported claims on his blog, Buddy's Soapbox, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump via voter fraud.[10][11][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Melrose, Kevin. "Lone Star Comics owners sell three locations," Comic Book Resources (July 12, 2013).
  2. ^ "Welcome to BillSchelly.com!". Archived from the original on 2002-10-24. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  3. ^ "For Collectors - George R. R. Martin's Official Website". Archived from the original on 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  4. ^ "Suspended Animation Comic Reviews". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  5. ^ "Bud Plant Comic Art". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  6. ^ Chuang, Tamara (May 31, 1998). "Zoom – Arlington Comic Store Chain Takes Off; It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Lone Star Comics!". The Dallas Morning News.
  7. ^ Melrose, Kevin (September 10, 2013). "Lone Star Comics owners sell remaining brick and mortar stores". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  8. ^ Comments, Rich Johnston | Last updated | (2020-10-22). "MyComicShop Shares Coronavirus Fringe Science On Its Mailing List". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  9. ^ Comments, Rich Johnston | Last updated | (2023-11-24). "Comic Book Retailers Say The Funniest Things, Part Two". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  10. ^ buddyssoapbox (2020-12-08). "We all Should Demand a Thorough and Transparent Investigation into Voter Fraud". Buddy's Soapbox. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  11. ^ buddyssoapbox (2020-12-15). "We are on the brink of having an illegitimate president and everyone knows it". Buddy's Soapbox. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  12. ^ buddyssoapbox (2021-01-12). "75 million people voted for Donald Trump, and most believe, as Buddy does, that the election was stolen big time". Buddy's Soapbox. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
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