Thomas Saunders

Born in 1947, Jake "Buddy" Saunders is an American author and businessman involved in both the comic book and science fiction industries. His career began in the realm of fanzines, where he co-published "Star-Studded Comics" from 1963 to 1972 with Larry Herndon and Howard Keltner. This publication featured early contributions from notable figures in the comic world and introduced original characters. Saunders also contributed artwork to "Rocket's Blast Comicollector."

Beyond his creative endeavors, Saunders established a significant business presence. He operated a mail-order service from 1961 and founded Lone Star Comics, a chain of seven comic book stores in Texas, in 1977. Following the sale of the brick-and-mortar stores in 2013, the family continues to operate the online business, mycomicshop.com. As a writer, Saunders has co-authored works such as "A Voice and Bitter Weeping" and "Time and Variance." His short story "Back to the Stone Age" received a Nebula Award nomination in 1976. More recently, he has penned novels based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' characters.

Jake Saunders entered the world of comic books through fanzines, a key element of early fandom. From 1963 to 1972, he was part of the "Texas Trio," alongside Larry Herndon and Howard Keltner, producing the fanzine "Star-Studded Comics." This publication served as a platform for emerging talent, featuring early works by prominent artists and writers. It also introduced original characters like Dr. Weird and Xal-Kor. Saunders' own contributions to the amateur fanzine scene were recognized when his cover art for the second issue of "Star-Studded Comics" earned an Alley Award in 1963. During this period, he was also a regular artistic contributor to "Rocket's Blast Comicollector," a significant publication within the comic fanzine community.

Saunders' entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond publishing into the business of selling comic books. He initiated his own mail-order service as early as 1961. In 1977, he founded Lone Star Comics, which grew into a chain of seven physical comic book stores located throughout Texas. This business venture became a significant fixture in the comic retail landscape. In 2013, the Lone Star comic book store chain was sold. However, Saunders and his family maintained their involvement in the industry by continuing to operate the online version of Lone Star Comics, accessible through the website www.mycomicshop.com.

As a writer, Jake Saunders has collaborated with other authors, notably Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley. He co-authored "A Voice and Bitter Weeping," which was later expanded into the novel "The Texas-Israeli War: 1999" with Waldrop. Another collaborative work with Waldrop and Utley is "Time and Variance." Saunders' own short story, "Back to the Stone Age," garnered a nomination for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story in 1976, marking a significant recognition of his writing talent. In recent years, his literary output includes novels that draw inspiration from the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, such as "The Martian Legion" (2014) and "Tarzan and the Cannibal King" (2017).

In more recent years, Jake Saunders has been associated with public controversy stemming from statements made through his mailing list and blog, "Buddy's Soapbox." Beginning in 2020, he shared information regarding COVID-19 that was characterized as false, continuing such communications as recently as 2023. Additionally, Saunders made unsubstantiated claims on his blog concerning the 2020 United States presidential election, alleging that it was compromised by widespread voter fraud and that the outcome was unfairly altered.