(January 30, 2025) Legendary comic book writer, artist, and former Editor-in-Chief and Chief Creative Officer at Marvel Entertainment Joe Quesada has ambitious plans for his new venture, Amazing Comics. Now, at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, Quesada is teasing the upcoming slate of top-secret titles for the start-up publisher, which will feature comic books written by some of the biggest names in the entertainment and comic book industries, including:
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Derek Kolstad, the writer and creator of John Wick and Nobody;
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J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of Babylon 5, co-writer of the TV series Sence8, screenwriter of Clint Eastwood’s Changeling and the MCU Thor film;
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Steven Paul Judd, the writer on Dark Winds and Echo television shows;
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Christopher Priest, legendary writer of Black Panther and Deadpool for Marvel Comics;
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Garth Ennis, writer and co-creator of The Boys and Preacher comic books;
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Ethan Sacks, writer of Star Wars for Marvel Comics and co-writer of the acclaimed Image Comics series A Haunted Girl;
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Charles Dorfman, writer and director of Barbarians, was an Associate Producer on the Academy Award-winning The King’s Speech and producer of the Oscar-nominated The Lost Daughter.
Upcoming Amazing Comics will be illustrated by all-star artists, including Quesada himself, as well as:
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Esad Ribic, artist on Marvel’s Secret Wars, Silver Surfer: Requiem, X-Men and Thor for Marvel Comics;
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Ryan Stegman, artist on Venom, The King in Black, X-Men, Vanish, and Missionary
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Ronan Toulhoat, artist of the immensely popular European albums Daemon and Dog Head
This highly anticipated start-up publisher will be the first true international comics imprint, creating original concepts for a global market. From Quesada’s headquarters in Idaho, this one-of-a-kind venture will attract the greatest talent from across the globe to create stories of universal appeal, with Mad Cave Studios — the Miami-based comic publisher that has carved out a reputation for bold storytelling, creator-focused comics, and boundary-pushing ideas — and premier European publishing house Dupuis working in tandem to publish and distribute titles on both sides of the Atlantic.
“Amazing Comics has been living in my creative journal since 2005 — I always knew it was in my future,” said Quesada. “Having the opportunity to help rebuild Marvel and later become part of the Disney family was one of the greatest highlights of my career. It allowed me to play in almost every creative sandbox imaginable and collaborate with some of the most brilliant talents on the planet. Now, I get to take everything I’ve learned over two-plus decades at Marvel and pour it into Amazing Comics, bringing many of those incredible creators along with me. Our mission is simple: to tell great stories with stunning art and to build a true community between Amazing and our readers.”
As the Editor-in-Chief and Chief Creative Officer at Marvel Entertainment, Quesada played a pivotal role in rescuing Marvel from Chapter 11 and reshaping Marvel’s characters and narratives for modern audiences. Throughout his career, Joe has overseen and contributed to some of the most influential and acclaimed projects in comics, helping bring characters like Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Iron Man to new creative heights. With Amazing Comics, Joe continues his commitment to storytelling excellence, drawing on his decades of experience and passion for engaging fans worldwide. Prior to his tenure at Marvel, Quesada and frequent collaborator Jimmy Palmiatti ran Event Comics, publishing a diverse line of comics, including 22 Brides, Ash (optioned by DreamWorks), and Painkiller Jane, which was adapted into both a film and a Sci-Fi Channel TV series.
Amazing Comics’ inaugural title, DISCIPLE, was announced last year at Comic-Con International in San Diego by Amazing Comics, Dupuis, and Mad Cave Studios. Quesada and Dorfman will co-write the much-anticipated reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Dorfman will be making his comics debut with the series illustrated by Quesada and inker Wade von Grawbadger, with colorist Richard Isanove and letterer Joe Caramagna.
“I’m beyond excited about DISCIPLE — not just because it’s my return to self-publishing but because I get to team up with Charles on something truly special,” said Quesada. “Inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, DISCIPLE isn’t just a retelling — it’s a full-on expansion, building a world around the original story that’s packed with history, intrigue, and all the drama you’d expect, but with some wicked surprises along the way. We’re keeping all the classic Shakespearean names, but make no mistake — this story is going to take some wild, unexpected turns that’ll have readers hooked and guessing every step of the way!”
DISCIPLE will be produced by Amazing Comics, which will function as an imprint of Mad Cave Studios and premier European publishing house Dupuis in France.
“Dupuis Publishing and Média-Participations are both very proud and excited by the editorial joint venture between our group and the formidable team of Mad Cave Studios to undertake an unprecedented and historical endeavor in the graphic novel space, banding together with comic book legend Joe Quesada and his Amazing Comics team to produce innovating creative content for the worldwide audience,” said Senior Editor of Dupuis Olivier Jalabert. “Dupuis’ commitment to high-quality production and artistic excellence is a perfect match for this international endeavor.”
“Wait, Bandes Desinée meets North American comics meets Joe Quesada?! I can’t wait, and I bet it’s truly Amazing!” said Mad Cave Studios President Mark Irwin.
For more information, follow Amazing on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, TikTok, and YouTube.
About the publishers
Amazing Comics is the first true international comics imprint, creating original concepts for a global market. From Joe Quesada’s headquarters in Idaho, this one-of-a-kind venture will attract the greatest talent from across the globe to create stories of universal appeal, with Mad Cave Studios and Dupuis working in tandem to publish and distribute fascinating new titles on either side of the Atlantic. With its commitment to compelling characters and captivating artwork, Amazing Comics promises the kind of storytelling that feels like it was established in your very own imagination.
Joe Quesada is the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Amazing Comics, his independent comic company dedicated to creating bold, innovative stories for a new generation. Known for his groundbreaking work across the entertainment industry, Joe is a celebrated writer, artist, and former Editor-in-Chief and Chief Creative Officer at Marvel Entertainment, where he played a pivotal role in reshaping Marvel’s characters and narratives for modern audiences. Throughout his career, Joe has overseen and contributed to some of the most influential and acclaimed projects in comics, helping bring characters like Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Iron Man to new creative heights. With Amazing Comics, Joe continues his commitment to storytelling excellence, drawing on his decades of experience and passion for engaging fans worldwide.
Nanci Dakesian is the Chief Operating Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Amazing Comics, bringing decades of editorial leadership and creative vision to the company. Nanci began her career in 1983 at Archie Comics, where she rose to Managing Editor of the Digest Department, making it Archie’s most profitable division. In 1998, Nanci helped launch Marvel Knights, an imprint that redefined Marvel’s classic characters. She later helped launch the MAX imprint, Marvel’s first adult line, whose debut title, Alias, inspired the Netflix series Jessica Jones. Nanci has continued to build her career as an editor and producer, including work for Universal’s Heroes digital comics and the award-winning short film Fly. At Amazing Comics, she brings her rich industry experience and editorial insight to help shape the company’s creative future.
Média-Participations, the holding company that owns Dupuis, is a leading family-owned group in publishing, media, and entertainment, founded in 1986. With operations in Europe, America, and Asia, its 65 subsidiaries and 2,300 employees reach a wide audience, driving creative and editorial developments across various cultural domains: publishing, press, audiovisual, games, theme parks, platforms, and merchandise.
Since its creation in 1938, Dupuis has developed comic books and graphic novels targeting the general public and families. Among the heroes who have made and continue to make Dupuis successful are emblematic universes such as Spirou, Cédric, Les Tuniques Bleues, Largo Winch, Les Nombrils or even Boule & Bill and Le Petit Spirou. We can also cite recent successful titles such as Seuls, Louca, Dad, Animal Jack, Zombillénium and The Music Box. In recent years, Dupuis has been developing more YA and adult content, like the “Aire Libre” imprint for literary graphic novels and its sister imprint “Aire Noire” for noir and crime stories, as well as genre graphic novels within the “Repérage” imprint. In addition to its publishing activity, the company does not hesitate to develop related activities such as e-commerce, multimedia and audiovisual. From Dupuis, Stéphane Beaujean (Editorial Director) and Olivier Jalabert (Senior Editor) bring their expertise from one of Europe’s most storied publishing houses.
Mad Cave Studios provides fresh, diverse, and engaging stories across all genres and age groups, featuring characters you know, as well as new ones to discover. With an aim to foster innovation in graphic storytelling, accessibility, engagement, education, and multimedia entertainment, Mad Cave delivers a multi-genre-and-generational experience, connecting fans, families, and communities across the world. As the parent company of Papercutz, Mad Cave Comics, Nakama Press, and Maverick, Mad Cave Studios enriches the graphic storytelling landscape for readers of all ages.
About the DISCIPLE creative team:
Charles Dorfman is a British filmmaker and producer. He made his directorial debut with Barbarians, which premiered at Fantastic Fest, Sitges, and Fantasporto, winning the Audience Award. Through his company Samuel Marshall Films, he produced Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter, winner of Best Screenplay at Venice. The Disciple marks his first foray into the world of graphic storytelling, and he’s thrilled to bring his passion for storytelling to a new medium.
Wade von Grawbadger is an Eisner, Harvey, and 4-time Inkwell Award winning ink-artist well into his 3rd decade of making great comics! Known for inking such notable titles as DC’s Starman, Action Comics, Wonder Woman, and Marvel’s Amazing Spider-man, All-New X-man, and Star Wars. He counts himself fortunate enough to have worked with many of the comic industry’s most accomplished pencilers and shows no signs of stopping! Amazing Comic’s inaugural title, Disciple, marks his first collaboration with Joe Quesada, bringing his signature craftsmanship to this exciting new project.
Richard Isanove is an award-winning French artist living in mostly sunny California’s Bay Area. He entered the American comic book world as a colorist in the mid-90s, seamlessly blending traditional techniques with emerging digital artistry. In addition to his celebrated work as a colorist, Richard has made his mark as a painter, penciller, and writer on multiple best-selling titles. His impressive bibliography includes Daredevil: Father, Wolverine: Origin, Wolverine: Wrath, Marvel’s 1602, and Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. For over 25 years, Richard has been Joe Quesada’s artistic collaborator, bringing his distinct style to Joe’s most iconic projects. With Disciple, Richard joins Joe once again, lending his exceptional talent to this exciting new adventure.
Joe Caramagna has been a comic book & graphic novel writer & letterer since 2005, mostly for Marvel and Disney. He lives in NJ with his wife and kids, loves New Jersey Devils hockey and lots of donuts. Disciple represents his first collaboration with Amazing Comics, showcasing his lettering expertise in this exciting new series.
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