"If you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." Nietzsche
MICHAEL GALLAGHER comes from a family of renowned cartoonists. His father, John, twice won the National Cartoonists Society’s “Best Gag Cartoonist” award and his uncle, George Gately (Gallagher), created HEATHCLIFF, which is currently being carried on by Michael’s cousin, Peter. Another cousin, Joseph, is also a talented cartoonist. It’s sort of the family business.
Michael has been drawing for as long as he can remember. His earliest influences include the 50’s editions of MAD Magazine, Laurel & Hardy films, cartoons on television (POPEYE, MIGHTY MOUSE, ROCKY & BULLWINKLE, LOONEY TUNES) and DC and Marvel comic books. He earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from Rider College and embarked on a string of jobs in television, radio, theatre and other creative outlets, eventually settling down as a freelance cartoonist and comic book/humor writer.
Michael has authored (and occasionally drawn) hundreds of stories for children’s comic books, featuring such characters as THE FLINTSTONE KIDS, MADBALLS, MIGHTY MOUSE, BAT-BAT, CARE BEARS, WENDY THE WITCH, NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, HEATHCLIFF, COUNT DUCKULA, DANGER MOUSE, Warner Brothers’ LOONEY TUNES and DISNEY’s classic animated movies. Along with his long-time collaborator, Dave Manak, they created extended runs on ALF and SABRINA (The Animated Series) and are currently working on a graphic novel. Michael wrote the very first issues of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (and many more adventures later) which has gone on to become the longest-running children’s comic book in history. He’s created numerous original cartoon characters for various hospitals, commercial and charitable organizations.
Michael also wrote lots of stories for Archie Comics, including BETTY and VERONICA, over a hundred front cover gags for their various titles and the ARCHIE syndicated newspaper strip. For three years in the early 90’s, he wrote GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY for Marvel Comics. He also got to weave tales featuring such iconic super-heroes as Spider-Man, The Hulk, Impossible Man, Daredevil, Thor* and The X-Men. He then came full circle and began selling ideas to MAD Magazine. Working with some of his childhood idols and other amazing artists, Michael wrote several front covers for MAD as well as back covers, interior articles and about a dozen “Spy vs. Spy” gags. He is a proud member of MAD’s “Usual Gang of Idiots.”
Michael’s archive is housed (along with his father’s) at The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum on the campus of Ohio State University.
Michael started painting when he and his wife, Candace, moved to Jerome, Arizona in 2009. Gleaned from notebooks filled with decades of "dangerous doodles," he began putting acrylics on canvas and has maintained his glacial pace ever since. He also gets great satisfaction in creating found art pieces.
* FUN FACT: Michael wrote issue #41 of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY for Marvel Comics in 1993. On the final page is the first ever appearance of "Fat Thor," penciled by Kevin West and inked by Steve Montano. This version of the God of Thunder was subsequently featured in the 2019 film AVENGERS: ENDGAME. Just sayin'. :)