Jed MacKay
{{Short description|Canadian comic book writer}}
{{Infobox comics creator
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| birth_name = Jed MacKay
| birth_place = Stanley Bridge, Prince Edward Island, Canada
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| notable works = Black Cat, Taskmaster, Moon Knight, The Death of Doctor Strange, Avengers, X-Men
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Jed MacKay is a Canadian comics writer mainly known for his work at Marvel Comics, writing characters such as the Black Cat, Moon Knight, and Doctor Strange.
Career
Jed MacKay's first professional comic was an eight-page story in 2011's X-Men: To Serve and Protect #4. Four years later, he was invited to do another eight-page story in 2015's Spider-Verse #2 and then another story in 2018's Edge of Spider-Geddon #1.{{Cite web |last=Mithra |first=Kuljit |title=Jed MacKay - Interviews |url=https://www.manwithoutfear.com/daredevil-interviews/Jed-MacKay |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Daredevil: Man Without Fear}} After that, he began getting steady work, writing a five-issue Man Without Fear mini-series and a Marvel Digital Original for the Daughters of the Dragon.
In 2019, he was announced as the writer for the first Black Cat ongoing series, with artwork by Travel Foreman.{{Cite web |last=Chiu-Tabet |first=Christopher |date=2019-02-21 |title=Marvel Announces First Ongoing "Black Cat" Comic |url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/black-cat-ongoing/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Multiversity Comics |language=en}} "We're meeting Felicia fresh as she gets drawn into a big and daring new scheme, but we're also digging into some unknown history—who put her on the thief's life, the connection between the Hardy family and the Drake clan, and how that past will tumble into Felicia's future."{{Cite web |title=Jed MacKay Reminds Us That 'Cats Have Claws, But Crooks Have Crews' in 'Black Cat' #1 |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/jed-mackay-reminds-us-that-cats-have-claws-but-crooks-have-crews-in-black-cat-1 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.marvel.com}} In August 2020, it was announced that the book was going on hiatus after issue 12,{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=2020-08-05 |title=Black Cat series going on hiatus for "for a (long) bit," but will factor into King in Black event |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/black-cat-series-going-on-hiatus-for-for-a-long-bit-but-will-factor-into-king-in-black-event/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}} but it was then subsequently relaunched as part of a tie in to Marvel's "King in Black" crossover.{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=2020-09-09 |title=Marvel relaunches Black Cat ongoing just in time for 'King in Black' crossover |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/marvel-relaunches-black-cat-ongoing-just-in-time-for-king-in-black-crossover/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Erdmann |first=Kevin |date=2021-01-26 |title=King in Black Was Just Beaten in Marvel's Greatest Heist |url=https://screenrant.com/king-black-marvel-heist-black-cat/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} This book came to an end after ten issues, but MacKay continued writing the character of Black Cat in a one-shot called Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond{{Cite web |last=Bacon |first=Thomas |date=2021-10-13 |title=Spider-Man's Mary Jane & Black Cat Are Teaming Up In New Marvel One-Shot |url=https://screenrant.com/spider-man-mary-jane-black-cat-team-up/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Aguilar |first=Matthew |date=2021-10-11 |title=Marvel Reveals Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond One-Shot (Exclusive) |url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/marvel-reveals-mary-jane-black-cat-beyond-one-shot/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}} that then became a mini-series spinning out of the Spider-Man/X-Men "Dark Web" crossover.{{Cite web |last=Doran |first=Michael |date=2022-08-25 |title=Mary Jane and Black Cat team up (again) for a Dark Web tie-in series |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/mary-jane-and-black-cat-team-up-again-for-a-dark-web-tie-in-series/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Tim |date=2022-08-26 |title=Mary Jane and Black Cat Series Spins Out of Spider-Man and X-Men Crossover |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/mary-jane-black-cat-series-spider-man-x-men-crossover-dark-web/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}} In 2022, MacKay also wrote a mini-series teaming up Black Cat and Iron Man titled Iron Cat.{{Cite web |title=Jed Mackay's Acclaimed Black Cat Saga Continues With the Return of Iron Cat |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/iron-cat-jed-mackay-pere-perez-black-cat-series |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.marvel.com}}
In April 2021, MacKay and artist Alessandro Cappucio were announced as the new creative team for a relaunched Moon Knight book spinning out of Jason Aaron's Avengers "Age of Khonshu" arc.{{Cite web |title=Moon Knight's New Mission...Is Justice! |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/moon-knight-jed-mackay-alessandro-cappucio |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.marvel.com}}{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=2021-04-07 |title=Moon Knight returns to comics this summer with Black Cat writer |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/moon-knight-returns-to-comics-this-summer-with-black-cat-writer/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}} The book went on for thirty issues before ending in the death of Moon Knight.{{Cite web |title=Marvel Comics Presents: The Death of Moon Knight |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/death-of-moon-knight-28-jed-mackay-allesandro-cappuccio |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.marvel.com}}{{Cite web |last=Neely |first=Austin |date=2023-07-17 |title="The Death of Moon Knight": Moon Knight's Modern Era Is Ending Thanks to a Classic Villain |url=https://screenrant.com/death-of-moon-knight-black-spectre-last-days/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} The book was then relaunched as Vengeance of the Moon Knight, with MacKay returning to the same characters, but with a mysterious new character posing as Moon Knight.{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=2024-01-03 |title=Who is the new Moon Knight? |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/who-is-the-new-moon-knight/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bonomolo |first=Cameron |date=2023-12-18 |title=Marvel Teases the New Moon Knight, "Whoever They Might Be" |url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/marvel-new-moon-knight-comic-vengeance-of-the-moon-knight-2024/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}} In 2024, after the MacKay-written event Blood Hunt, the book was again relaunched as Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu, with a newly resurrected Moon Knight.{{Cite web |last=Gebel |first=Dustin |date=2024-06-28 |title=The Moon Always Rises in the First Look at New Series, Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu |url=https://comic-watch.com/news/the-moon-always-rises-in-the-first-look-at-new-series-moon-knight-fist-of-khonshu |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Comic Watch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ezekwe |first=Nnamdi |date=2024-07-06 |title=Moon Knight is "Back From the Beyond" in New Marvel Preview |url=https://www.cbr.com/moon-knight-marc-spector-return-marvel/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=CBR |language=en}}
In September 2021, MacKay and artist Lee Garbett were announced as the creative team for The Death of Doctor Strange.{{Cite web |title=The Marvel Universe Loses Its Sorcerer Supreme in 'Death of Doctor Strange' #1 |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/marvel-universe-loses-sorcerer-supreme-death-of-doctor-strange-1-announcement |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.marvel.com}}{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Matthew |date=2021-09-21 |title=Exclusive: 'Death of Doctor Strange' writer Jed MacKay on why it took 30 years to pull off the event's big twist |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/exclusive-death-of-doctor-strange-writer-jed-mackay-interview |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=SYFY Official Site |language=en-US}} This event then led into the ten-issue Strange, about Clea Strange taking over the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme.{{Cite web |last=Lovett |first=Jamie |date=2021-12-14 |title=Marvel Reveals New Sorcerer Supreme After Death of Doctor Strange |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/marvel-reveals-new-sorcerer-supreme-death-of-doctor-strange/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Morse |first=Ben |date=April 12, 2022 |title=Strange Days Ahead |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/jed-mackay-marcelo-ferreira-strange-clea-interview |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.marvel.com}} The book was then relaunched in 2023 with artist Pasqual Ferry as Doctor Strange, with a resurrected Strange and Clea as leads.{{Cite web |title=The Master of the Mystic Arts Returns to Reshape Your Reality in New 'Doctor Strange' Series |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/doctor-strange-returns-new-series-jed-mackay-pasqual-ferry |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.marvel.com}}{{Cite web |last=Sava |first=Oliver |date=2023-01-18 |title=Doctor Strange's next epic role: Magical Wife Guy |url=https://www.polygon.com/23559602/doctor-strange-clea-new-marvel-comic |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} Also in 2023, MacKay and artist C.F. Villa were announced as the creative team for the new Avengers relaunch.{{Cite web |last=McGuire |first=Liam |date=2023-05-18 |title=Jed MacKay And C.F. Villa Discuss What's Next For The Avengers - Exclusive Interview |url=https://www.looper.com/1289638/jed-mackay-c-f-villa-discuss-whats-next-avengers/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Looper |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title='Avengers' Launches Earth's Mightiest Heroes into a Universe-Shaking Cataclysm |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/avengers-1-jed-mackay-cf-villa-trailer-tribulation-events-cataclysm |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.marvel.com}} MacKay was then the main writer and architect of the 2024 summer crossover, Blood Hunt, with artist Pepe Larraz.{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=2024-01-24 |title=Blood Hunt writer Jed MacKay promises a "true horror show" for the "bloodiest event in Marvel Comics history" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/blood-hunt-writer-jed-mackay-promises-a-true-horror-show-for-the-bloodiest-event-in-marvel-comics-history/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=gamesradar |language=en}} Blood Hunt would get "extra gory" Red Band editions available only in comic shops.{{Cite web |last=Dominguez |first=Noah |date=2024-01-23 |title=Blood Hunt: Marvel Event Series to Get Extra-Gory 'Red Band' Editions |url=https://www.superherohype.com/comics/564286-marvel-comics-blood-hunt-red-band-edition-announcement |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=SuperHeroHype |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dandeneau |first=Jim |date=2024-05-22 |title=Blood Hunt Is Marvel's Most Brutal (and Uncensored) Vampire Comic Ever |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/marvel-blood-hunt-brutal-uncensored-vampire-comic/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US}} The end of Blood Hunt also saw the end of MacKay's Doctor Strange, as the title came to an end with 18 issues.{{Cite web |last=Corley |first=Shaun |date=2024-08-18 |title=Doctor Strange's Just-Concluded Series Was the Character's Best in 30 Years |url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-strange-just-concluded-run-best-30-years/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}
In 2021, MacKay was announced as the initial writer for Boom!'s new Magic comic, based on the Magic: The Gathering TCG.{{Cite web |last=Berlin |first=Daniel |date=2021-04-08 |title=Jed MacKay and Ig Guara on bringing 'Magic: The Gathering' from cards to comics |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2021/04/08/magic-the-gathering-comic-q-a/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Adventures in Poor Taste |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Denis |first=Ricardo Serrano |date=2021-04-06 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-jed-mackay-magic/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}
In 2024, MacKay and artist Ryan Stegman were announced as the new creative team for X-Men, one of the main books of the X-Men: From the Ashes relaunch.{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=2024-03-14 |title=Marvel's new X-Men era revealed, launching July 2024 |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2024/03/14/marvel-new-x-men-era-titles-july-2024/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Adventures in Poor Taste |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Griepp |first=Milton |title=Marvel Plans Three 'Core' X-Men Ongoings |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56491/marvel-plans-three-core-x-men-ongoings |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=ICv2 |language=en}} This will make MacKay the first person to write both the main Avengers and X-Men titles since Roy Thomas.{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=2024-04-16 |title=Meet Marvel Comics' defacto new head writer: Jed MacKay (Avengers, X-Men, and its summer event Blood Hunt) |url=https://www.thepopverse.com/a-former-junior-high-teacher-is-now-unofficially-marvel-comics-head-writer-charting-the-avengers-and-x-mens-future |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Popverse |language=en}}
Personal life
MacKay is a former junior high school teacher who grew up in Stanley Bridge, P.E.I., and now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.{{Cite web |last=Fraser |first=Sara |date=Jan 12, 2019 |title=How a P.E.I. man got a gig writing Marvel comics |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-marvel-comics-jed-mackay-1.4974651 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=CBC.ca}}
Bibliography
=Marvel Comics=
- Absolute Carnage: Weapon Plus #1
- Alpha Flight: True North #1, short story "Monsters" (2019)
- Avengers
- Avengers Mech Strike #1-5 (2021)
- Avengers vol 8 #45, backup story "Moon Knight" (2021)
- Avengers vol 9 #1-ongoing (2023–present)
- Bizarre Adventures vol 2 #1, short story "The Star-Spawned Sorcerer" (2019)
- Black Cat
- Black Cat #1-12, Annual (2019–2020)
- Black Cat vol 2 #1-10, Annual (2020–2021)
- Giant-Size Black Cat: Infinity Score #1 (2021)
- Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond #1
- Iron Cat #1-5 (2022)
- Mary Jane & Black Cat #1-5 (2022–2023)
- Blood Hunt #1-5 (2024)
- Daughters of the Dragon - Marvel Digital Original #1-3 (2018–2019)
- Doctor Strange
- Death of Doctor Strange #1-5 (2021–2022)
- Strange vol 3 #1-10 (2022–2023)
- Doctor Strange vol 6 #1-18 (2023–2024)
- Free Comic Book Day 2020: Spider-Man/Venom #1 (2020)
- Free Comic Book Day 2024: Blood Hunt/X-Men #1
- Extreme Venomverse #3, short story "Greatness and Catastrophe" (2023)
- Infinity Wars: Ghost Panther #1-2 (2018)
- Infinite Destinies
- Iron Man Annual vol 3 #1 (2021)
- Captain America Annual vol 3 #1, backup story (2021)
- Black Cat Annual vol 2 #1 (2021)
- Amazing Spider-Man Annual vol 4 #2, backup story (2021)
- Thor Annual vol 5 #1, backup story (2021)
- Guardians of the Galaxy vol 5 #1, backup story (2021)
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1 (2021)
- Avengers Annual vol 4 #1 (2021)
- Man Without Fear #1-5 (2018–2019)
- Moon Knight
- Moon Knight vol 9 #1-30, Annual (2021–2023)
- Devil's Reign: Moon Knight #1 (2022)
- Vengeance of the Moon Knight vol 2 #1-9 (2024)
- Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #0-ongoing (2024–present)
- Phases of the Moon Knight #2, short story "Knight Time in the City" (2024)
- Spider-Verse
- Spider-Verse #2, short story "With Great Power Comes No Future" (2015)
- Edge of Spider-Geddon #1 (2018)
- Spider-Geddon #0, short story "Check In" (2018)
- Superior Octopus #1 (2018)
- Vault of Spiders #1-2, stories "Prologue" and "Final Galaxy Battle!" (2018)
- Spider-Verse vol 3 #1, 3, 6 (2019–2020)
- King in Black: Spider-Man #1
- Amazing Spider-Man vol 5 #78.BEY (2021), #87, #92, #92.BEY (2022)
- Death of Doctor Strange: Spider-Man #1 (2021)
- Taskmaster vol 3 #1-5 (2021)
- Timeless vol 1 #1 (2021) and vol 2 #1 (2022)
- X-Men
- X-Men: To Serve and Protect #4, short story "Disco Highway" (2011)
- Wolverine: Black, White, & Blood #3, short story "Red Planet Blues" (2021)
- X-Men vol 6 #35, short story "From the Ashes" (2024)
- X-Men vol 7 #1-ongoing (2024–present)
=Other Companies=
==[[Boom! Studios]]==
- Magic #1-25 (2021–2023)
References
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Category:Canadian comics writers
Category:Marvel Comics writers
Category:21st-century Canadian male writers