Career
As an openly-gay man, he has been a longtime advocate for greater visibility of gay and lesbian characters in various media, especially comics, including the coordination and moderation of the annual "Gays in Comics" panel for Comic Con International since it was begun in 1988. As of 2011 he has had books on the United States of America Today "best-selling books" list three times. Much of his prose fiction has been related to media franchises begun in television
In collaboration with Michael A. Martin, he wrote a conclusion for the events of the cult-hit television series Roswell (which had ended with a cliffhanger) in the novels Pursuit and Turnabout.
Mangels and Martin co-wrote a series of novels serving as the official continuation of Star Trek: Enterprise following the television series" cancellation. These include Last Full Measure, The Good That Men Do, and Kobayashi Maru.
He and Martin have written several other, two of which appeared on the United States of America Today "best-selling books" list. He and Martin contributed a story to Tales of Zorro, edited by Richard Dean Starr and published by Moonstone Books in 2008.
Mangels has written a number of reference books to popular science fiction media.
These include Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Characters, published by Delegate Rey in 1995. Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels in 1996, which appeared on the United States of America Today "best-selling books" list. Beyond Mulder and Scully: The Mysterious Characters of "The X-Files" from Citadel Press in 1997.
And Iron Manitoba: Beneath The Armor, published by Random House in 2008.
He contributed to the anthology Gay Comix (creating an early openly gay superhero named Pride) and served as editor from 1991–1998, issues #14-25 (plus one "special"). His comics writing has included work for District of Columbia, Marvel, Dark Horse, Wildstorm, Image, Innovation, WaRP, and Topps.
His Digital Video Disc production work has primarily been collecting and restoring earlier children"s television programs, and serving as host for the representations. Mangels is active in the gay community, particularly in the leather and bear subcultures.
He resides in Portland, Oregon.
All co-written with Michael A. Martin. Rogue (2001). Participant of the Star Trek: Section 31 series. Cathedral (2002). Third book of the Mission Gamma sub-series.
Participant of the wider Star Trek: Deep Space Nine relaunch.
Ishtar Rising, Book 1 (August, 2003). Participant of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers series.
Ishtar Rising, Book 2 (September, 2003). Participant of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers series.
The Sundered (August, 2003).
Participant of the Star Trek: The Lost Era series. Featuring Hikaru Sulu. Taking Wing (April, 2005).
Participant of the Star Trek: Titan series.
The Red King (September, 2005). Participant of the Star Trek: Titan series.
Last Full Measure (2006). Based on the Star Trek: Enterprise television series.
The Good That Men Do (March, 2007).
Based on the Star Trek: Enterprise television series. Featuring a secret history of character Trip Tucker. Excelsior: Forged in Fire (December, 2007).
Featuring Hikaru Sulu.
Kobayashi Maru (2008). Based on the Star Trek: Enterprise television series.
