201006021106.jpgJoe Quesada, whose been serving up his Cup o’ Joe as Marvel Publishing’s E-i-C- and CCO for a decade, has taken a larger role at Marvel Entertainment as Chief Creative Officer where he’ll work alongside Alan Fine to provide creative input on Marvel’s continuing expansion into all media.

Although Quesada has said in the past that the job of editor in chief “comes with a shelf life,” his success at guiding Marvel’s iconic characters through the digital era and into acquisition by Disney has led him to an even more important role at the company. PR below:

Marvel Entertainment, LLC announced today that it has promoted Joe Quesada to Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment. In this new role, Mr. Quesada will work alongside Alan Fine, Executive Vice President, Office of the President and Chairman of Marvel Studios’ Creative Committee, to ensure that all portrayals of Marvel’s characters and storytelling remain true to the essence of Marvel’s rich history. Additionally, Mr. Quesada will provide creative oversight of all areas of Marvel’s business including theatrical, television, publishing, animation and games, while also actively participating in all story and script development for Marvel’s films and animation. Prior to this promotion, Mr. Quesada held the role of Chief Creative Officer & Editor-In-Chief, Marvel Animation & Publishing and oversaw the creative aspects of Marvel Comics and Marvel Animation. The announcement was made today by Mr. Fine, to whom Mr. Quesada will report.

Mr. Fine stated, “I am excited to have Joe join me as Marvel Entertainment enters the next chapter in our history. Joe has already played an instrumental role as Editor-in-Chief in changing the face of the comic book industry with bold new ventures and an unprecedented penetration of the mainstream consciousness. His love and passion for Marvel, along with his experience guiding publishing for the last decade, will be invaluable as we bring our characters to life in new media.”

“I am honored to take this new position at Marvel Entertainment and work with Alan to bring the rich history of Marvel to a brand new audience” said Mr. Quesada. “Together with the incredible talent here at Marvel, in all our divisions, I look forward to making Marvel an even bigger part of the entertainment industry and showing why we’ve been an industry leader for over 70 years.”

Mr. Quesada will also continue to serve as Editor-In-Chief, Marvel Publishing, where over the past decade he has helped usher in bold new imprints such as Marvel Knights, the Ultimate Universe and Marvel MAX. During his tenure, Marvel received acclaim for its Heroes special to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001; the groundbreaking Death of Captain America storyline; and President Obama’s historic team up with Spider-Man. Mr. Quesada is also one of the industry’s most popular artists, providing cover and interior art to blockbusters such as Amazing Spider-Man, Daredevil, Invincible Iron Man and more.

1 COMMENT

  1. Interesting move – I would guess that someone below him is going to serve as Editor-in-chief in everything but name ? (unless they are going to double the hours in the day).

  2. It seems that they are just expanding his role as CCO.

    As for his editorial duties, I’m sure he has a good staff to run most things, including Tom Brevoort, Marvel’s Executive Editor. Also, he might do less creating in comics, instead directing that energy and talent towards Marvel Studios.

    Avi Arad is still a producer for Marvel Studios, although he now has his own company. Joe Quesada follows in his footsteps, becoming the new Keeper of the Flame.

  3. For some, his name will forever be linked with OMD and nothing will ever change that.

    For me, this means we won’t be seeing new Panekiller Jane material for a while. Damnit!

  4. I don’t see anything to be snarky about. He was already Marvel’s CCO, and the fact that he’s continuing as Marvel’s E-i-C means that added demands on his time probably won’t be substantial.

    The change gives him greater status within the Disney corporate hierarchy.

    SRS

  5. I’m happy for the man. I disagree with what he did ending the Spider-Marriage but mostly I’m a fan of what he’s done with the MU. Then again I LOVE Bendis too so I’m already on the other side of the Internet haters.

    ;-)

  6. hopefully this will lead to someone running the editorial end of things who takes America’s most prominent comic book publisher into some new directions rather than someone who simply throws a new coat of paint on almost 60 year old ideas and concepts.

    marvel has so much visibility and they’ve managed to maintain that with out really doing anything too much “new” since lee, kirby, and ditko were there.

    i understand not wanting to rock the boat, but it’s pretty silly that the most they’ve deviated from their 50+ year old model was reprint some foreign comics in the 80s.

  7. The 80s were an interesting time for comics, yet Marvel continues to experiment.

    Currently: Soleil, an interesting hybrid of manga and European science fiction
    Marvel Illustrated, high quality adaptations of classic and modern novels
    Icon, a creator imprint
    Marvel Adventures, Ultimate Comics, Marvel Noir… retelling classic heroes in new accessible stories
    A worldwide talent search, as well as an influx of indy creator
    On the media side… lots of movies, most of them profitable
    Lots of cartoons
    Lots of mainstream merchandising, placing the heroes front and center in the imaginations of today’s children

    On the 616 side…
    Civil War to Siege (time will tell)
    One More Day/Brand New Day
    Bringing the Star Comics characters into the Marvel Universe (via X-Babies)
    The wicked madcap fun of Deadpool
    Creator-anchored writing on Hulk and Thor and Daredevil and Iron Man and Captain America and Iron Fist and Runaways and Astonishing X-Men which result in coherent and epic storylines which drive graphic novel sales and inspire movies
    Fun mini-series and one-shots like Pet Avengers, Models, Inc., Mini Marvels
    Special issues for the U.S. military, sold only at base PXs

    Oh… and don’t forget those digital comics! Yeah, it’s not perfect, but it’s there.
    And whatta website! Exclusive content, free comics, lots of reference, message boards…
    And their kid’s site is just as good!

    So yeah… I think Marvel’s doing a pretty darn good job. (I am a recovering Marvel Zombie from the 80s… I purchase fewer than ten Marvel comics a month. I am not a Marvel otaku.)