# Judd Winick
**Judd Winick** is an American cartoonist, comic book writer, and screenwriter who first came to national attention as a cast member of MTV's reality series *The Real World: San Francisco* and went on to write major [DC Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-comics) titles and the children's graphic novel series *Hilo*.[1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick) • [2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Background | Grew up on Long Island, reading X-Men comics, the strip *Bloom County*, and watching Looney Tunes[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/) |
| Reality TV | Cast member of MTV's *The Real World: San Francisco*; his roommate there was AIDS activist Pedro Zamora[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/) |
| Memoir | *Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned*, a graphic novel about his friendship with Zamora[1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick) |
| DC Comics work | Notable runs on *Green Lantern*, *Green Arrow*, *The Outsiders*, and *Justice League: Generation Lost*; recent DC work includes *Batwing* and *Catwoman*[1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick) |
| Green Arrow | Wrote the character for five years, his longest run on any comic to date[3](https://www.gamesradar.com/judd-winick-revisits-his-five-year-green-arrow-run/) • [4](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/judd-winick/4040-10383/) |
| Animation | Head writer on Hulu's animated series *The Awesomes*; wrote the animated feature *Batman: Under the Red Hood*[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/) • [1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick) |
| Children's comics | Creator, writer, and artist of the *Hilo* series, which he has written and drawn for more than a decade[5](https://www.welcome2geektown.com/geektown/2025/5/25/welcome-to-geektown-interviews-judd-winick-part-3-finale) |
## Reality television and Pedro and Me
Winick was an aspiring cartoonist when he was picked as one of the houseguests on MTV's *The Real World: San Francisco*.[4](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/judd-winick/4040-10383/) His roommate on the show was [Pedro Zamora](https://www.edgepedia.org/pedro-zamora), an AIDS activist, and their friendship became the subject of Winick's [graphic memoir](https://www.edgepedia.org/graphic-memoir) *Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned*, which DC describes as award-winning and critically acclaimed.[1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick) • [2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/) The book has been described as serving AIDS education and biography.[6](https://oregoncartoonproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CRB-2024.pdf)
## DC Comics career
Winick has handled most every major character in the [DC Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-universe), with notable runs on *Green Lantern*, *Green Arrow*, *The Outsiders*, and *Justice League: Generation Lost*.[1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick) He has also scripted issues of *Batman*, *Green Lantern*, *Green Arrow*, *Justice League*, and *Star Wars*.[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/) His creator-owned work includes the series *Barry Ween, Boy Genius*.[4](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/judd-winick/4040-10383/)
**Green Lantern and Green Arrow.** After writing *Green Lantern*, Winick traded those writing chores for *Green Arrow*, where he had his longest run of any comic to date, five years.[4](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/judd-winick/4040-10383/) • [3](https://www.gamesradar.com/judd-winick-revisits-his-five-year-green-arrow-run/) His *Green Lantern* run is most remembered for a two-issue story in which Terry Berg, a supporting character, was brutally beaten for being homosexual.[4](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/judd-winick/4040-10383/)
**Jason Todd and the Red Hood.** In his Batman work, Winick brought back [Jason Todd](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-todd), the second [Robin](https://www.edgepedia.org/robin-character), from the dead as the Red Hood, a decision he has discussed in interviews, and he wrote the *Red Hood: The Lost Days* miniseries and the *Batman: Under the Hood* storyline.[5](https://www.welcome2geektown.com/geektown/2025/5/25/welcome-to-geektown-interviews-judd-winick-part-3-finale) • [1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick) DC notes that he wrote the critically acclaimed animated feature *Batman: Under the Red Hood*, based on his original work in the *Batman* series.[1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick)
**The New 52.** When DC relaunched its line as the "New 52" in 2011, Winick was one of the writers leading the charge, writing the new *Catwoman* series and the debut solo title for the recently created character Batwing.[7](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/jason-serafino/interview-judd-winick) DC lists *Batwing* and *Catwoman* among his most recent work for the company.[1](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick)
## Animation and television
Winick served as head writer on the Hulu network's animated series *The Awesomes*.[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/) He also created the animated show *The Life and Times of Juniper Lee*, which he has described as mixing mythology and modern adventure, citing *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* as an influence.[5](https://www.welcome2geektown.com/geektown/2025/5/25/welcome-to-geektown-interviews-judd-winick-part-3-finale)
## Hilo and children's graphic novels
Since the 2010s Winick's main work has been *Hilo*, a middle-grade graphic novel series he both writes and draws, about a boy named DJ, his friend Gina, and a mysterious boy from the sky who cannot remember where he came from.[5](https://www.welcome2geektown.com/geektown/2025/5/25/welcome-to-geektown-interviews-judd-winick-part-3-finale) • [8](https://www.meryljaffe.com/_files/ugd/af2395_b3056ac381944fcfaf1ed530bdb08f62.pdf) The series is most appropriate for children in grades 2 to 5 and has received starred reviews from *Kirkus Reviews*, *School Library Journal*, and the *Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books*, and has appeared on the *New York Times* bestseller list.[8](https://www.meryljaffe.com/_files/ugd/af2395_b3056ac381944fcfaf1ed530bdb08f62.pdf) Publisher Random House Graphic lists the series for ages 8 to 12, with *Hilo Book 11: The Great Space Iguana* on sale February 11, 2025, *Hilo Presents: The Mighty* on sale February 3, 2026, and *Hilo: The Holiday Special* scheduled for October 6, 2026.[9](https://prhcomics.com/author/?authorid=187541)
**Hilo Presents.** In 2025 Winick announced *Hilo Presents*, a new imprint expanding beyond the *Hilo* series into new stories and worlds. Its first book, *The Mighty*, follows Miranda Luna, a 12-year-old girl in Willow City who discovers she can turn into a 10-foot furry monster, amid rising crime, increased bullying, and a mysteriously acting family.[10](https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-preview-judd-winick-talks-the-first-hilo-presnts-ogn-the-mighty/)
## Personal life
Winick lives in San Francisco with his wife, Pam Ling, their two children, and their cats, Chaka and Sleestak; he describes himself as a collector of action figures and vinyl toys.[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/)
## References
1. [Judd Winick, DC Comics talent page](https://www.dc.com/talent/judd-winick)
2. [Judd Winick, Penguin Random House author page](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/187541/judd-winick/)
3. [Judd Winick comes back a'nocking for Green Arrow, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/judd-winick-revisits-his-five-year-green-arrow-run/)
4. [Judd Winick, Comic Vine](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/judd-winick/4040-10383/)
5. [Welcome to Geektown Interviews: Judd Winick (Part 3; Finale)](https://www.welcome2geektown.com/geektown/2025/5/25/welcome-to-geektown-interviews-judd-winick-part-3-finale)
6. [Oregon Cartoon Project, Cartoonists Roundup 2024](https://oregoncartoonproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CRB-2024.pdf)
7. [Interview: Writer Judd Winick Talks "Catwoman", An African Batman, And A Bold New Direction For DC Comics, Complex (August 28, 2011)](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/jason-serafino/interview-judd-winick)
8. [Using Graphic Novels in Education: Hilo by Judd Winick, CBLDF](https://www.meryljaffe.com/_files/ugd/af2395_b3056ac381944fcfaf1ed530bdb08f62.pdf)
9. [Judd Winick, Penguin Random House Comics Retail](https://prhcomics.com/author/?authorid=187541)
10. [Interview + Cover Reveal: Judd Winick talks the first HILO PRESENTS OGN, THE MIGHTY, Comics Beat (July 16, 2025)](https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-preview-judd-winick-talks-the-first-hilo-presnts-ogn-the-mighty/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Visual arts and design › Illustration and illustrators › Comic books and characters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license