Joe
Quesada wears many creative hats, as both an acclaimed writer-artist,
and the current editor-in-chief of Marvel
Comics, the world’s largest
and most dynamic comic book publisher. In this key role at Marvel, Joe
is currently steward of such legendary characters as Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, and the
Fantastic
Four.
Quesada was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Cuban
immigrants. The “melting pot” neighborhood in which he grew up
fueled his creative spirit, as Joe was exposed to tremendous diversity
and a variety of cultures. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
illustration from the prestigious School of Visual Arts in Manhattan,
Joe entered the comics field and enjoyed successful stints as an artist
with both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. While still in his early 30s, Joe
and his friend and partner, Jimmy Palmiotti, founded their own
publishing company, Event Comics. Joe’s Event creations have already
gone on to enjoy new life in other media: Ash, a super-powered
firefighter, has been optioned by Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks SKG as
an animated feature; and Painkiller Jane has already been a Sci-Fi
Channel movie, with an ongoing TV series premiering in April 2007.
Marvel Comics came calling for Quesada once again, and the “House of
Ideas” carved out a new imprint within the company known as Marvel
Knights, for Quesada to manage and edit. The imprint revitalized several
Marvel properties, turning them into top-selling books. Quesada tapped
longtime friend and Clerks writer/director Kevin Smith to write Daredevil,
which Quesada himself drew. Daredevil became an instant top-seller, and
Marvel Knights became Marvel’s “research and development” wing,
the hottest home for experimentation and innovation in comics.
In 2000, Marvel recognized Quesada’s success at Marvel Knights by
making him the editor-in-chief for the entire Marvel line. Joe channeled
the energy of Marvel founder Stan Lee, and immediately set about
revitalizing the company in the mighty Marvel manner. Sweeping change
was the order of the day, as Quesada used his keen eye for talent to
bring in new creators to revitalize the company’s flagship properties,
with a special focus on Spider-Man and the X-Men. Quesada spearheaded
initiatives that aggressively packaged Marvel’s comics into
paperbacks, allowing for prominent placement and massive sales in the
bookstore trade. Quesada has continued to land top-line talent for
Marvel, courting such stars as award-winning TV and motion picture
writer and director Joss Whedon and acclaimed novelist Neil Gaiman.
Marvel is even adapting Stephen King’s horror epic, The Dark Tower,
into comics with the full advice and consent of King. These and other
high profile signings have solidified Quesada as the man who ushered in
the era of prominent outside authors joining the comic book field.
Even with an entire publishing company to run, Quesada keeps his
creative hand moving as well. He recently completed Daredevil: Father,
a story lovingly dedicated to his own father and featuring the
Santerians, the first comic characters based upon the Santeria religion.
Quesada is currently illustrating Spider-Man: One More Day,
written by acclaimed Sci-fi TV writer J. Michael Straczynski, which
promises to change the popular web-slinging hero forever, and will prove
to be one of the most important comic stories in decades.
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