Amy Chu, Joseph Illidge, and Pam Noles Join the Fight for the Rights of the Comics Community
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is honored to welcome creator Amy Chu, editor Joseph Illidge, and fandom fixture Pam Noles to the Board of Directors! Illidge and Noles will start their tenure on the CBLDF Board of Directors immediately, while Chu will join in January 2022.
Chu, Illidge, and Noles will serve alongside President Christina Merkler; Vice President Chris Powell; Secretary Dale Cendali; and members Jen King, Bob Wayne, and Gene Luen Yang to defend the rights of the comics industry and its community of creators, publishers, retailers, librarians, educators, and readers.
Amy Chu brings years of experience as a comics and television writer, as well as years of nonprofit management experience, to the mission of the Fund. She was formerly Executive Director of the community-based organization Asian American Arts Alliance, Manager of the Management Assistance Program for the United Way of New York City, served on the board of the Nonprofit Management Association, and has a certificate in nonprofit management from Columbia University. The Harvard Business School graduate has written several popular series for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Dynamite Comics and authored the young readers titles Sea Sirens and Sky Island (both with Janet Lee) from Penguin Random House. Chu is also a writer on the popular Netflix anime series DOTA: Dragon’s Blood.
“CBLDF has done crucial work defending the First Amendment rights of the comics community,” says Chu. “I’ve supported CBLDF’s work in panels and events and with contributions to its publications, and I’m excited to help shape the future of the organization!”
Joseph Illidge’s career in comic books as a groundbreaking editor, writer, mentor, and long-time industry advocate for inclusion and diversity spans almost 30 years. Starting at Milestone Media, Inc., the company behind the innovative superhero universe of the award-winning animated series Static Shock, Illidge worked as a Batman editor at DC Comics and shepherded stories with iconic diverse characters ranging from the wheelchair-user Oracle to Cassandra Cain, the first Batgirl of color. In recent years, Illidge was a Senior Editor at Lion Forge Comics, Executive Editor at Valiant Comics, and Editorial Director for independent publisher A Wave Blue World. He has worked with organizations ranging from the National Down Syndrome Society to the Harlem School of the Arts and received a citation from the New York State Assembly for exemplary community service through career achievement. Illidge is now the Executive Editor for Heavy Metal, working with creators from around the globe.
“To say it is an honor to be a member of the CBLDF Board of Directors with my esteemed colleagues is nothing short of an understatement,” declares Illidge. “The business of comic books is full of people with vast imagination, love for the power of story, and depth of heart. There is no better time to be of service, to help build a more ethical, caring, and empowering comic book industry for creators than right now.”
Many people will recognize Pam Noles as a long-time volunteer at Comic-Con International: San Diego. A fixture on one of the restricted entrances to Hall H, she has interacted with some of the biggest names in comics and media. Noles also worked in the ACLU of Southern California’s communication department for several years.
“The comics industry wouldn’t be where it is without the fans,” Noles affirms, “and CBLDF has done important work defending fans from being prosecuted for the books they like to read and collect. I’m proud to help continue that legacy – and to do more for fandom – as a member of the CBLDF Board of Directors.”
CBLDF has defended the First Amendment rights of the comics community through legal action and educational resources since 1986, and the Fund is expanding its mission to better meet the needs of creators, publishers, retailers, librarians, educators, and readers. We look forward to our new directors’ contributions to the future of the Fund!
About Amy Chu
Amy Chu is a writer for comics and TV, including the Netflix animated series DOTA: Dragon’s Blood. For DC Comics and Marvel Comics, she has written popular characters such as Wonder Woman, Poison Ivy, Deadpool, Ant-Man, Iron Man, Aero, and Sword Master. She is also known for her work on KISS, Dejah Thoris, DMC (Darryl Makes Comics), Green Hornet, Red Sonja, and Red Sonja & Vampirella Meet Betty & Veronica. For children, Amy has written the graphic novels Sea Sirens and Sky Island (A Trot & Cap’n Bill Adventure Series, Penguin Random House) and Ana and the Cosmic Race (Papercutz).
Amy teaches business and writing at the Kubert School. You can follow her on Instagram @amy_chu, Twitter @amychu, and on Facebook www.facebook.com/iwritecomics
About Joseph Illidge
Joseph Illidge is an editorial director, writer, creative architect, and public speaker. His career in publishing and media includes groundbreaking work for DC Comics, Valiant Comics, Lion Forge Comics, and celebrated boutique publishers. Illidge started his editorial career at Milestone Media, the groundbreaking publisher behind Static Shock, and he is currently the Executive Editor for Heavy Metal, the seminal illustrated magazine and brand for science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
Follow Illidge on Instagram @illmasterone, Twitter @JosephPIllidge, and Facebook www.facebook.com/joe.illidge.3
About Pam Noles
Pam Noles is a former police reporter and features columnist whose work has appeared in outlets ranging from the Los Angeles Times to Vibe Magazine. She now hustles up work as a stage manager and costume designer, and she often performs on storytelling stages, incuding BUSted, Sunday Night Sex Talks, Rant ’n Rave, the Turbine Arts Collective, and the Hollywood Fringe Festival. A graduate of the Clarion Writer’s Workshop, her fiction has appeared in anthologies from Warner Books, Dark Horse Comics, Terra Major, Pulphouse, and various APAs.
Noles lives on Twitter @BGFCentral
About Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization protecting the freedom to read comics! Our work protects readers, creators, librarians, retailers, publishers, and educators who face the threat of censorship. We monitor legislation and challenge laws that would limit the First Amendment. We create resources that promote understanding of comics and the rights our community is guaranteed. We publish news and information about censorship events as they happen. We are partners in the Kids’ Right to Read Project and Banned Books Week. Our expert legal team is available to respond to First Amendment emergencies at a moment’s notice. CBLDF is a lean organization that works hard to protect the rights on which our community depends. For more information, visit www.cbldf.org