View source for Shirrel Rhoades

{{Unreliable sources|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| image         = File:Shirrel rhoades.jpg
| caption       = Shirrel Rhoades in 2012
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1942|5|19}}
| birth_place   = [[North Wilkesboro, North Carolina]], U.S.
| nationality   = [[United States|American]]
| area          = Writer, publisher, professor, filmmaker, [[comics scholar]], [[comics historian]]
| notable works = [[Marvel Comics]], [[Reader's Digest]], ''[[Cricket (magazine)|Cricket]]'', ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'', ''[[Ladies Home Journal]]'', ''Opportunity Magazine'', ''Magazines: A Complete Guide to the Industry'', ''Comics Books: How the Industry Works'', ''A Complete History of American Comic Books''
| awards        = [[Associated Press]]
}}

'''Shirrel Rhoades''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|ɜr|əl|_|ˈ|r|oʊ|d|z}} {{respell|SHUR|əl|_|ROHDZ}}; born May 19, 1942) is an American [[writer]], [[publishing|publisher]], professor, [[filmmaking|filmmaker]], and the former executive vice president of [[Marvel Entertainment]].

== Early life==
Shirrel Rhoades was born in rural [[Wilkes County, North Carolina]]. His father owned a furniture store where his mother helped out. He has a brother, Bill, and a sister, Dawn, both younger by ten and thirteen years.

Rhoades was raised in [[Mulberry, Wilkes County, North Carolina|Mulberry, North Carolina]], and attended [[Wilkes Central High School]]. He was voted Most Versatile and was a member of the yearbook staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.journalpatriot.com/opinion/who-achieved-after-leaving/article_4c7eddd6-ab03-11e4-a7d5-db1a3f8d6920.html|title=3 who achieved after leaving|work=journalpatriot|date=2 February 2015 |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

After graduating in 1960, he attended [[Wake Forest University]] on the George Foster Hankins Scholarship, before transferring to [[Stetson University]], where he received his BA in Fine Arts in 1964.<ref name="drgnetwork.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.drgnetwork.com/pages/about_us/executive_biography.html?bio_id=16|title=DRG - Shirrel Rhoades Executive Profile|work=drgnetwork.com|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> He also holds graduate credits in children's literature from [[Chapman University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drgnetwork.com/pages/about_us/executive_biography.html?bio|title=DRG - Executive Profiles|work=drgnetwork.com|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

== Early writing ==
After college, Rhoades started out as a layout artist with The [[Florida Times-Union]]. He quickly became the Sunday Magazine's assistant editor and chief feature writer, as well as the newspaper's film and theater critic. There he won Associated Press and Florida Press Association awards for feature writing.

== Magazines and comics ==
In 1968, Rhoades became the executive editor of Etienne Dupuch Jr. Publications, the Nassau-based publisher of ''The Bahamas Handbook'' and other travel and educational titles. In 1972, he returned to the States to launch ''Directions'' (a travel magazine for the [[Great Smoky Mountains]] region) and created an annual book series and quarterly travel publication about the [[Cayman Islands]].

In 1973, he joined Open Court Publishing in Illinois to launch ''Cricket'', a literary magazine for children. In charge of Open Court's Magazine Division, he launched a British edition called ''Cricket & Company'' and oversaw London-based ''Encounter Magazine''.

In 1976, Rhoades became associate publisher of ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'' during the editorship of Lewis Lapham. Three years later, he was recruited to Charter Publishing as vice president of consumer marketing for ''[[Ladies' Home Journal]]'', ''[[Redbook]]'', and ''[[Sport (US magazine)|Sport]]''.

After an interim assignment with American Heritage, Rhoades joined Scholastic in 1983 to launch ''Family Computing'' magazine. As vice president and group publisher, he simultaneously oversaw Scholastic's Consumer and Professional Magazines divisions.

In 1988, he purchased his own periodical, ''Opportunity Magazine''. Later he would launch a sister publication, ''Income Plu$'', both aimed at small business entrepreneurs. Through a separate company he published a number of newsletters, including Woman's Day Helpful Hints.

In 1996, Rhoades became executive vice president of [[Marvel Entertainment]], succeeding [[Stan Lee]] as publisher of [[Marvel Comics]]. He left Marvel three years later following the "Comic Wars." Joining [[Reader's Digest]] as vice president of New Business Development, he went on to launch a new book division for RDA.<ref name="drgnetwork.com"/><ref name="drgnetwork.com1">{{cite web|url=http://www.drgnetwork.com/drg_news/newsrelease_detail.html?release_id=193|title=DRG - DRG News Releases|work=drgnetwork.com|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

During the early 2000s he served on a consulting basis as editorial director and fiction editor for ''The Saturday Evening Post''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/author/srhoades|title=Shirrel Rhoades - at The Saturday Evening Post|author=The Saturday Evening Post Society|work=saturdayeveningpost.com|date=22 October 2009 |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

In 2013 Rhoades, along with attorney Albert L. Kelley, founded Absolutely Amazing eBooks, a virtual publishing company that specializes in ebooks and POD paperbacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutelyamazingebooks.com/aboutus.html|title=Absolutely Amazing eBooks About Us|work=absolutelyamazingebooks.com|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> In 2015 they also acquired New Pulp Press, an award-winning publishing house known for its crime fiction and noir mysteries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newpulppress.com/aboutus.html|title=Untitled Document|work=newpulppress.com|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

== Consulting ==
For a number of years Rhoades has acted as consultant and advisor to dozens of companies, domestic and international. His clients have included Microsoft, Warner Bros., Time Inc., DC Comics, Mad Magazine, Disney Publishing, Hilton International, Discovery Channel, Canadian Living, Annie's, Strategic Fulfillment Group (SFG), Grey Advertising, J Walter Thompson Direct, Times-Mirror, Highlights for Children, Merk-Medco, Twinlab, Bronson Laboratories, Age Wave Communications, Guideposts, New York, Poets & Writers, Prudential OA, Johnson and Johnson, and Honduras-based OPSA.<ref name="drgnetwork.com"/><ref name="drgnetwork.com1"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SHCWDSjWju4C|title=Magazines|isbn=9780820476179|access-date=19 June 2015|last1=Sumner|first1=David E.|last2=Rhoades|first2=Shirrel|year=2006|publisher=Peter Lang }}</ref>

He has helped develop strategic plans for such media companies as America Online (AOL), The Saturday Evening Post Society, U.S. Kids, Cowles Media, Mad Magazine, Carus Publishing, and DRG Publishing. He co-authored a worldwide fulfillment strategy for Microsoft.

== Awards and associations ==
Shirrel Rhoades was honored by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication as Professional of the Year 2014.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Key West Man Receives AEJMC 2014 Professional of the Year Award | url=http://www.absolutelyamazingebooks.com/images/authors/AEJMCAward.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619162453/http://www.absolutelyamazingebooks.com/images/authors/AEJMCAward.pdf | archive-date=2015-06-19}}</ref>
In 2012 Stetson University honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stetson.edu/administration/alumni/award-winners/distinguished-alumni-award.php/|title=Distinguished Alumni Award|work=stetson.edu|access-date=28 September 2022}}</ref>
He has chaired the Consumer Marketing Committee of the Magazine Publishers of America and was a member of MPA's Finance Committee.
He was nominated for the Direct Marketing Association Hall of Fame in 1997, as well as the Circulation Hall of Fame in 1998. He was inducted into FMA Hall of Fame in 2012; and is a member of the Circulation Survivors Hall of Fame.

He has served on the board of directors of American Family Publishers, XYZ, and other organizations (see Museums below).<ref name="drgnetwork.com"/> Also he has been on the advisory board of the New York Academy of Sciences, Home Business Institute, Nancy's Secret Garden, Key West Film Institute, etc.

== Author ==
Shirrel Rhoades is the author/editor/publisher of numerous books. His college textbooks include ''Magazines: A Complete Guide to the Industry'' (with David E. Sumner), ''Comic Books: How the Industry Works'', and ''A Complete History of American Comic Books'' (a textbook on the [[history of American comics]]). He has written a number of bestselling books, many under pen names. These include mysteries, spy novels, science fiction, travel, and children's books.

Rhoades has penned hundreds of magazine articles and thousands of reviews. He is known for his entertainment and travel articles (''Saturday Evening Post'', ''Good Old Days'', ''Looking Back'', ''Solares Hill'', ''Sunday Magazine'', Tropic Cinema blog, etc.).

== Film critic ==
In addition to his stint as a film critic for the Florida Times-Union in the 1960s, Shirrel Rhoades currently serves as the film critic for the Cooke Communications newspaper chain (Key West Citizen, The Daily Reflector, and the Rocky Mount Telegram, among others). His syndicated column is called Front Row at the Movies.<ref>https://mbasic.facebook.com/notes/tropic-cinema/front-row-at-the-movies-by-shirel-rhoades/10150247071397387/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> His Top Ten movie lists remain popular with readers. He is a former correspondent for Amusement Business; his movie star profiles were a long-standing feature in Good Old Days magazine; and he has appeared as a regular co-host of Art Waves’ “Film on Friday” radio program on KONK AM. He serves as on-air Film Critic for Channel 19, WEYW.

== Filmmaker ==
At Marvel Entertainment he was involved in planning and producing movies based on Marvel superheroes. He provided publishing support for films (Blade, Daredevil, etc.), approved the rough cut for Men In Black, and was involved in planning later Marvel films like Spider-Man and Iron Man.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://konknet.com/konk-life/stories/2014-08-24-4|title=French Fanboys' movie about Marvel features Shirrel Rhoades|work=KONK Life|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6495532/|title=Shirrel Rhoades|work=IMDb|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

In Key West, he produced a series of Official Fantasy Fest DVDs (starring Traci Bingham, Joanna Krupa, Melissa Wolf, etc.). He acted as consulting producer on such films as Key West: City of Color, Veritas, Resurrection Mary, Year of the Donkey, and My New Life, among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1924028/|title=Shirrel Rhoades|work=IMDb|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> His production company Gee Whiz Entertainment hold the rights for numerous film projects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethiopiancrown.org/press.htm#Prince|title=The Crown Council of Ethiopia|author=WebitectPRO!|work=ethiopiancrown.org|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

== Museums and history ==
A two-time president of Key West Art & Historical Society, he, along with staff, oversaw three museums—Key West Museum of Art & History, Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters, and Fort East Martello.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kwahs.org/kwahs/board/|title=Key West Art & Historical Society - Board|work=kwahs.org|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> He has been a lecturer in the KWAHS Distinguished Speaker Series,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kwahs.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-shirrel-rhoades-film-making-in-key-west/|title=Key West Art & Historical Society - Distinguished Speaker Series – Shirrel Rhoades – Film Making in Key West|work=kwahs.org|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> and a guest presenter at Keys History & Discovery Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keysdiscovery.com/who-we-are.html|title=Who We Are|work=Florida Keys History Discovery Center|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> For a number of years he wrote a history column for the Florida Times-Union and has written a number of history-based articles.

== Philanthropy ==
Rhoades continues to donate major photographic collections to colleges, universities, and museums such as Savannah College of Art & Design, Monterey Peninsula College, Ball State University, Florida Keys Community College, Key West Film Society, and Key West Art & Historical Society, among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scadmoa.org/art/exhibitions/shirrel-rhoades-photographs|title=The Master Eye: 19th- and 20th-century Photographs from the Rhoades Collection|work=SCAD Museum of Art|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Minutes | url=http://www.mpc.edu/Home/ShowDocument?id=74 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619004337/http://www.mpc.edu/Home/ShowDocument?id=74 | archive-date=2015-06-19}}</ref><ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/shirrel-rhoades/4/875/131 {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}</ref>

Also he has donated magazine and comic book collections to Savannah College of Art & Design,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scad.libguides.com/specialcollections/spcseqa|title=Sequential Art - Special Collections at the Jen Library, SCAD-Savannah - Research Guides at Savannah College of Art and Design|work=libguides.com|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> as well as a significant fossil collection to the Darien Nature Center in Connecticut.

== Professor and lecturer ==
As an adjunct associate professor, Rhoades taught for 17 years in New York University's Center for Publishing, acting as senior faculty member for the Publishing Diploma and master's degree programs.<ref name="drgnetwork.com"/> In addition to being a Professor in Residence at Ball State University, he has lectured at Columbia University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Florida, University of Texas, Baruch, Radcliff Publishing Procedures, FKCC, Monterey Peninsula College, St. Leo's, and Savannah College of Art & Design. He also served as associate chair of the Magazine Publishers of America's Education Committee.

During his publishing career, Rhoades was a frequent speaker at industry functions sponsored by MPA, Folio, FIPP, DMA, FMA, SIPA, Monroe County Law Enforcement, and Women in the Motion Picture Industry.<ref name="drgnetwork.com"/><ref name="drgnetwork.com1"/>
For several years he acted as moderator and seminar leader for Strategic Fulfillment Group's Partner Roundtables.<ref name="drgnetwork.com1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topcreditcardprocessorsratings.com/profile/strategic-fulfillment-group/|title=Strategic Fulfillment Group - topcreditcardprocessors|work=topcreditcardprocessors|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=1924028|name=Shirrel Rhoades}}
*[http://www.ethiopiancrown.org/video.htm ''Selassie: In Search of My Grandfather's Roots''] (Film Trailer)
*[https://archive.today/20130130174622/http://www.onemodelplace.com/member.cfm?P_ID=184904 RTEdwards Photography]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhoades, Shirrel}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American publishers (people)]]
[[Category:21st-century American publishers (people)]]
[[Category:Filmmakers from North Carolina]]
[[Category:American male writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Marvel Entertainment people]]
[[Category:People from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Stetson University alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Comics historians]]
[[Category:Comics scholars]]