Link: http://www.boom-studios.net/

Effective immediately, the no longer evil Mark Waid is stepping down from the responsibility of Chief Creative Officer at BOOM! Studios. Waid will continue his run on Irredeemable and Incorruptible and his brand new break-out hit collaboration with Stan Lee, The Traveller.

Mark Waid has been an inspiration at BOOM!, during his tenure at the publisher we have seen a small time operation grow into a successful, critically acclaimed and comercially viable comic book company. I'm not saying it is completely all down to Mark but it cannot be denied that he has been the guiding light, always leading from the front with good comics and a sense of fun. Not too long ago Mark commented that he would be giving up reading superhero comics, is this the next step in the talented creator changing the direction and focus of his work? I hope not but whatever he chooses to do next, I'll be along for the ride.

Follow up:

"Mark was key in BOOM!'s transition from a promising upstart to top tier publisher," Ross Richie, the Chief Executive Officer of BOOM! Studios remarked. "Now that we've reached this stage, Mark's made it clear to me that he's ready to take on new challenges. And we wish him the best!"

"I learned a lot in my time at BOOM! about the ever-evolving job of publishing comics in the 21st century, and it’s been an invaluable experience," Waid said. "But now that BOOM! is in a strong place with its best foothold ever in the market, it’s time for me to refocus my energies on writing and on creating. And maybe take one of these ‘vacation’ things that people are always talking about.”

"Working day-to-day with a creator of Mark's caliber is an experience I'll never forget," said recently-minted Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. "Thankfully, with IRREDEEMABLE, INCORRUPTIBLE, and THE TRAVELER going strong on the stands, I still get the pleasure of working day-in-and-day-out with Mark. He's one of the greats and I wish him the best in the next chapter of his influential career."

"Mark's such a phenomenal talent, but also a phenomenally good sport." Chip Mosher, Marketing Director added. "I'd like to publicly apologize that the tagline 'Mark Waid is Evil' will follow him the rest of his days! While Mark's presence on the BOOM! team will be missed, I look forward to reading what is next on all the BOOM! books he will continue to concentrate on."