Joseph Illidge

Joseph Phillip Illidge is a Brooklyn-born comic book editor, writer, publishing executive, IP strategist, public speaker, and educator whose career spans more than three decades at the highest levels of the comics industry. He attended the High School of Art and Design in New York City and studied at the School of Visual Arts before beginning his professional career. Illidge started as an intern at Milestone Media, Inc. in April 1993 — the same month the groundbreaking Black-owned publisher launched — and was offered a part-time position within three months, beginning a full-time editorial career that would define the industry. At DC Comics he became the first Black man to serve as editor of the Batman line of comic books, overseeing the landmark year-long event Batman: No Man's Land and shepherding the introduction of significant characters including Cassandra Cain/Batgirl and Crispus Allen — a Black detective who later appeared on the Fox television series Gotham. He was also involved in the development of the animated television series Static Shock and Batman Beyond. Illidge subsequently served as Executive Editor at Valiant Entertainment, Senior Editorial Manager at Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group (overseeing the Catalyst Prime superhero imprint, covered by The Hollywood Reporter), Executive Editor at Heavy Metal magazine, and comics editor at Archaia Entertainment. As a writer his credits include MPLS Sound (Humanoids), Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet, Xerø (optioned by 50 Cent's G-Unit Productions for development as a film franchise), work for Scout Comics, Comics AHOY!, HarperCollins, and FairSquare Graphics. In February 2026, Illidge co-wrote New History of the DC Universe: The Dakota Incident #1 — a 40-page one-shot published by DC Comics, released February 25, 2026 to celebrate Black History Month. Spinning out of Mark Waid's New History of the DC Universe, the issue integrates the Milestone Universe into the main DC continuity, uncovering an untold chapter in which a murder in Dakota City triggers an all-out war between the heroes of Dakota and the U.S. government under President Lex Luthor. Co-written with Stephanie Williams, Morgan Hampton, and Nikolas Draper-Ivey, with art by Carlo Pagulayan, Valentine De Landro, Edwin Galmon, Fico Ossio, and Stephen Segovia, Illidge wrote the first of the issue's four chapters and assembled the creative team. The first printing sold through at distribution shortly after release, with copies reaching prices topping $25 on eBay. The issue reached the top of Bleeding Cool's Top Ten Hottest Comics of the week and its Top Ten Bestseller List. DC Comics announced a second printing with a new variant cover by Dan Mora, in stores April 22, 2026. He co-founded Verge Entertainment, an IP development company with clients including DC Comics and Marvel Comics, and in 2025 launched Illuminous, LLC — a story and strategy studio focused on developing original IP for film, animation, and interactive media, whose debut project was the Xerø film franchise deal with 50 Cent's G-Unit Productions. Illidge is a member of the Board of Directors of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), a recipient of the Inkpot Award for achievement in the comic arts, and has received a Citation from the New York State Assembly for exemplary community service through career achievement. He has been featured in the History Channel documentary series Superheroes Decoded. He is represented for literary works by Fuse Literary and Fuse Partner Gordon Warnock, and lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Lulu Friesdat.

In 2026, the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards celebrated its most diverse nominee class in the 38-year history of the awards, with a historic number of Black creators nominated across categories. Illidge received an Eisner nomination for Best Anthology as a contributing writer on Noir Is the New Black Season 2 (FairSquare Graphics). His story in the anthology, The Winterfields, was illustrated by ChrisCross and colored by Andrew Dalhouse.