Posted in: Batman, Comics, Comics Publishers, Current News, DC Comics, Games | Tagged: ben abernathy, DSS Games, Jessica Chen
Jessica Chen Left DC Comics & Batman For DSS Games
Back in July 2023, Bleeding Cool ran the news that Batman editor Jessica Chen, was off. I was told she was leaving DC for something new.
Article Summary
- Jessica Chen has moved from editing Batman at DC to DSS Games as Editorial Director.
- She led the creation of an AAPI-led comic line and won three Eisner awards at DC.
- Chen has a decade's experience in comics, starting at Wildstorm Studios in 2010.
- Beyond her career moves, Chen also celebrated her engagement to boyfriend David.
With the Bleeding Cool scoops about Ben Abernathy leaving DC Comics as Executive Editor and Batman Group Editor, probably for Skybound Entertainment, I took the excuse to check back with Jesicca Chen. Back in July 2023, Bleeding Cool ran the news that Jessica Chen, editor on titles such as Catwoman, Batgirls, Nightwing, Detective Comics, Monkey Prince, Batman: Urban Legends, Batman, Detective Comics, Checkmate, Future State, Spirit World, The Vigil and more, was off. I was told she was leaving DC for something new – not comic book related – in gaming.
Neither DC Comics nor Jessica Chen responded when approached for comment at the time, but last week, Jessica Chen updated her Instagram, telling us what she had been up to for the year in comics and beyond. "Spearheaded the first AAPI-led line of comics We Are Legends at DC Comics featuring NEW characters of Asian descent as LEADS of their own books! {Check out Spirit World, The Vigil, & City Boy!} Moderated my first DC Comics panel at Wondercon as well as was a panelist for Asian Representation in comics for another. Shipped milestone issue Nightwing #100! Took home (3) Eisner awards at Comic Con for: Best Short Story ("Finding Batman" – DC Pride) Best Cover Artist (Nightwing – Bruno Redondo) Best Continuing Series (Nightwing) …then after 11 years at DC Comics, went out w/ a bang this summer by joining DSS Games as its new Editorial Director!! It's only been a few months, but a highlight so far is getting to attend New York Toy Fair for the first time." Oh and she also got engaged to her boyfriend, David. Congratulations both!
DSS Games was launched by Andy, Noah and Trevor Mayer on Kickstarter in 2015 for the social game Drunk Stoned or Stupid and has now expanded their games worldwide. And Jessica Chen is now their Editorial Director.
Jessica Chen began at DC Comics working as a production artist for Wildstorm Studios in 2010, before moving to DC Comics' Burbank Studios in 2011 as a Digital Production Artist before becoming an Assistant Editor in 2013, working on titles such as Smallville, The Vampire Diaries, Legends of the Dark Knight, Batman: Li'l Gotham, Astro City, Tom Strong and Wonder Woman '77, as well as full editor roles on Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes. She was promoted to Associate Editor in 2015, on titles such as Superman, Action Comics, Lois Lane, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, The Green Lantern and Event Leviathan, while performing as Full Editor on Supergirl and Metal Men. In 2019, Jessica Chen was promoted to full-time Editor and survived the post-pandemic editorial bloodbaths at DC Comics. But now she has a brand new home.