The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has announced three new individuals to its Board of Directors. Creator Amy Chu, editor Joseph Illidge, and fandom fixture Pam Noles were all announced by the organization, Illidge and Noles begin 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.
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.
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.
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!
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Source: Graphic Policy
