Encyclopedia of Women in Comics

Jang, Enrica

American writer, editor, novelist, screenwriter, and comic book publisher

Jang is the founder & Editor-In-Chief of her own publishing company Red Stylo Media (2008). She is also the writer and creator of Azteca (RSM's first series), Angel with a Bullet, The Star Thief, The Treehouse of Montresor and editor of the annual Red Stylo Presents series of anthologies (which began in 2011).

In 2012, Red Stylo Media's creator-owned imprint editing service, Red Stylo Press, launched. They also provide packaging and publishing cooperative for fellow independent publishers to gain exposure for new and ongoing series. As of 2014, the Press carries and promotes seven comics series.

In 2016, Red Style Medis's first hardcover anthology, THE 27 CLUB, co-published with Action Lab Entertainment, was nominated in The Harvey Awards category for Best Anthology.

Jang is also the Director of the Edgar allen Poe House & Museum in Baltimore, MD. If you would like to know more about Jang and her company, please follow the link here https://redstylo.com/ to their website.

Johnson, Ariell R. (1983 - )

American business owner and accountant

Johnson is the first African-American to own a comic store on the east coast of the United States.

Johnson opened Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse in Kensington, Philadelphia in 2015. At the time of the store opening, there were only 5 comic stores in the country owned by African-Americans. Johnson emphasizes that "all are welcome" in her store, citing her own experiences shopping as a comic fan driving her to open Amalgam in the first place: "You feel scrutinized being the only person that looks like you."

The East Coast Black Age of Comics (ECBACC) closed out its 2016 convention in Amalgam Comics. In 2017, Johnson received a grant from the Knight Foundation to add programming space to the store where she could offer classes and other resources to assist aspiring comic book creators.

Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse closed its storefront in October 2022 due to the loss of business from the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson is hopeful to reopen a physical store in the future, citing the closure and re-opening of St. Mark's Comics in New York City as inspiration.

Johnston, Lynn (1947 - )

Canadian cartoonist and author

Johnston is best known for her newspaper comic strip For Better or For Worse. She was the first woman and first Canadian to win the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award.

In 1978, the Johnstons and their two children relocated to Lynn Lake, Manitoba. She was asked by Universal Press Syndicate if she was interested in doing a comic strip. She sent twenty copies of a strip called The Johnstons, based on her family "since we were the only people I knew I could draw over and over again with some consistency." Much to her surprise, the syndicate approved of the initial strips and offered her a twenty-year contract. After a six-month "work-up" period, the strip first appeared in newspapers throughout Canada under the title For Better or For Worse. The strip has been carried by about 2000 newspapers in Canada, the U.S. and 20 other countries.

Jones, Joëlle (1980)

American comic book artist and writer

Jones is best known for her work on Lady Killer, a series published in 2015–2017 by Dark Horse Comics, for her cover work on various Marvel Comics series, and for her work writing and illustrating DC Comics series including Batman and Catwoman. In April 2023, Jones became one of the founding members of the comic book company DSTLRY.

On March 30, 2017, DC announced that her artwork would be used as the basis for a new series of statues in their Cover Girls line, making her the first female designer of the line. The first four statues were released in 2018, depicting the characters Harley Quinn, Batgirl, Supergirl, and Mera. Subsequent statues were released of Catwoman, Black Canary, Wonder Woman, and Huntress.

In July 2017, DC announced that Jones would draw both the covers and interior art for the DC Rebirth version of Batman, starting with issue #33, making her the first female artist to draw covers and interior pages on more than two consecutive Batman-centric issues in the character's history.

In April 2018, DC announced that Jones would write and draw a new Catwoman series. The first issue was released on July 4, 2018, the same day as Batman #50, which depicted Batman and Catwoman's wedding. The issue also featured the first appearance of the villain Raina Creel, the First Lady of Villa Hermosa. Jones is the regular writer on the series, and also drew the first six issues.

In 2021, following the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal, Jones created the character of Yara Flor / Wonder Girl who was featured in the Future State event before making her appearance in the DC Universe proper in Wonder Girl #1 in 2021.

Jones, Natosha F.

American comic book writer and publisher

Along with Llyod S. Jones III, founded Midnight Comics, Atlanta's first and largest black, family owned, indie comic and manga company.

Some of the company's titles have been The Grey, Sol, Tales from Midnight, Admani, and The Unbeloved Chapters.

To learn more about The Jones' comic book company and their mission, please follow this link at https://www.midnightcomics.org.