Writer and director Reginald Hudlin will create a new line of original stories for AWA that will be simultaneously developed as comics, film, and television, with Hudlin writing and curating the comics and partnering with AWA to co-develop them for other media. Hudlin described the project as “original stories centered around heroes from underrepresented backgrounds” in a statement accompanying the announcement, adding, “AWA’s bold vision for storytelling and putting creators first is the future of the business and I’m looking forward to showing fans what we can create together.” The first title is slated for release in late 2023.

In addition to directing numerous films and producing the Oscar-nominated Django Unchained, Hudlin had a six-year run as writer of Black Panther (see “The Black Panther Returns”) and also wrote Marvel Knights Spider-Man (later renamed The Sensational Spider-Man) for a year. During that time he worked with Axel Alonso, then a Senior Editor (and later Editor in Chief) at Marvel and now the Chief Creative Officer for AWA. Hudlin is also a partner in Milestone Comics and penned a Static Shock graphic novel as part of DC’s relaunch of the imprint (see “Milestone Return to DC Comics Scheduled”).

Hudlin was a member of AWA’s original Creative Council, which was established shortly before the publisher launched its first titles in 2019 (see “AWA Announces First Titles”) as well as its current Creative Council, which was announced last month (see “AWA Forms Creative Council”).