The murder of George Floyd earlier this year led to a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as discussions about Black creators in media -- including the comic book industry. Now, former Valiant Entertainment executive editor Joseph Illidge has reflected on how -- despite its commitment to the movement -- the publisher currently has no Black creators on its staff.
"As a publisher proudly standing with Black people worldwide against systemic racism and proclaiming the truth of how much the lives of Black people matter, Valiant Entertainment’s lack of announcements for new stories or projects with Black writers is seemingly paradoxical," Illidge wrote on Medium.
Illidge noted that 2021 would be a "great opportunity for the publisher to embrace the courage their name exemplifies." He also discussed how Valiant stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Marvel and DC, and how the company could change its approach to projects in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shaking up the industry. This was further illustrated by Illidge pointing out specific examples of both Marvel and DC honoring their respective pledges to support the Black community. "There is no industry conceivably more nimble, more suitable, more qualified to support Black lives through action than the comic book industry, and the expectations for its leaders to usher in an era of permanent change will be high, as a result," he wrote.
Although Valiant currently has a Black hero highlighting their own title in Shadowman, the book features no Black creators -- a fact that was brought up by Illidge. Valiant also has a prominent Black hero in Livewire, who has headlined her own series in the past. The company plans to launch a number of new titles in 2021, starting with The Harbinger.
In addition to Valiant, Illidge served as an editor for DC and currently works as executive editor for Heavy Metal magazine.
Source: Medium