This Above All: To Thine Own Self Be True

Welcome To Amazing Comics

On May 31, 2022, after twenty-two years, I wrote a statement announcing my exit from Marvel, which I closed with the following:

My family and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without your love and support, we wouldn’t have been able to go on this crazy adventure, and I hope you join us on our next one.

I promise you, it’s going to be AMAZING!

While it was cryptic at the time, I wanted to tell you exactly what I was going to do next.

And here we are.

While the news is hot off the press, and I’m about to do my first Amazing Comics signing at the Mad Cave Studios booth #2806 from 3:00-4:00 PM, the idea for Amazing Comics has been brewing in my head for quite some time. It almost saw the light of day in 2005, but that’s a story for another time. While it didn’t manifest itself then, I never let go of the idea because I knew it was destined to be my future.

If you don’t believe me, I’ve been leaving clues everywhere over the last two-plus years.

Those of you I’ve met at conventions who wanted your books dedicated may have noticed that I closed each with, “You’re Amazing!” Since its launch, I’ve been signing off on this very newsletter in the same way. But the most important thing I’ve been doing over the past two post-Marvel years is diligently seeking the best and most innovative way to launch Amazing while searching for the right partners who share my vision for the future of graphic storytelling. I’m thrilled to have found these partners in Mad Cave Studios and Dupuis, who have come together to create something truly unique.

I want to give a big hug to everyone at MCS, especially Mark London and Mark Irwin, and a kiss on each cheek to Stephane Beaujean, Olivier Jalabert, and the team at Dupuis. Thank you for providing me with this opportunity and being an integral part of an initiative I've dreamed about for a long time. I couldn't think of a better group of cohorts to share this journey with.

And here's something that never occurred to me: As we worked out our partnership structure, Stephane revealed that our collaboration would make Amazing the first truly international comic imprint. Not too much pressure, but it’s times like these that I'm reminded of Billie Jean King's wonderful quote, “Pressure is a privilege.” It’s also an honor and responsibility that I take seriously.

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You Are Amazing!

As a kid, I cut my teeth on Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's era of Marvel comics. Stan's editorials made me, and everyone reading Marvel at that time, feel that we were part of a family and members of an exclusive club. Our cards, letters, and hard-earned cash (thanks, Pop!) were helping shape the stories they were creating. All the legendary creators that lined the "Hallowed Halls" listened and figured out how to give us what we craved but in the most unexpected ways.

These fond memories are the inspiration behind our slogan--"Est. In Your Imagination”--because you will be integral to what we create at Amazing Comics. We all have comic publishers and universes we love, and I hope Amazing gets added to your list. In fact, the doors are wide open. Come on in and make us your home.

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Idaho Joe

Admittedly, I've never had Stan's mutant power, the ability in 500 words or less to make a reader feel like he was talking directly to you and no one else. But I have the internet, and over the years, I've prided myself on staying in touch, making myself available, and being as transparent with you as humanly possible. I must confess, however, that I've been keeping a secret from you over these last few years. But I had a good reason: an idea for a silly online ad campaign I knew I would one day launch finally came to fruition two weeks ago. Yeah, I play the long game. If you're unfamiliar with what I’m talking about, you can find the ten teaser videos here.

After you’ve seen the first ten, here’s the one we showed at the panel that revealed all.

Yes, this lifelong New Yorker made Idaho his permanent home in 2020. And despite it being the only state in America with a made-up name, I've found my muse within the ribbon of mountains outside my window that greets me every morning. As difficult as it was to keep that information in my back pocket for four years for a simple marketing gag, it feels great to finally say, “Greetings from the wilds of Idaho.”

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Quarto I

For those of you who were at the Mad Cave 10th Anniversary panel at SDCC or at the signing afterward, I hope you enjoy Amazing Comics’s “Quarto I” preview of our upcoming inaugural title, “Disciple,” enough to try out the entire first issue when it's released. But in the meantime, stop by our website (it’s still under construction) or stay tuned to this newsletter for the latest news and updates because my back pocket is stuffed with so much that's yet to be revealed.

“Now, good morrow to our waking spirits!” 

You’re Amazing!

JQ