Mike Friedrich began his comics career as a fanzine contributor before, beginning at age 18, writing comics stories for both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. In the second half of the 1970s, he published Star*Reach, an independent comics anthology that included both mainstream and alternative artists. In the early 1980s, Friedrich used the same name for his comics creators agency. He was also co-founder of WonderCon, which Comic-Con International purchased in 2001. The collection includes client directories, income journals, client surveys, contracts, Star*Reach promotional swag, and more. Friedrich has received the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic-Book Writing, which recognizes underappreciated comics writers.