Be Counted: How Your Membership Makes A Difference

Are you a current member of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund?  If you’ve contributed your member dues in 2012, we thank you.  If you haven’t renewed or have yet to join, we’re asking you to please Be Counted and support our vitally important work today.

The CBLDF’s program work is increasing, and we need your immediate help to continue protecting the freedom to read comics.  Today we’re asking you to Be Counted among the individuals who support our important work by becoming a member of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

CBLDF is proud to be a member supported organization. Here are just a few areas where our members’ contributions have helped us make a difference in 2012:

  • This summer, we were successful in ending an investigation involving a comics reader in Idaho who was turned into police by an intimate partner.  That partner maliciously alleged that the comics this reader owned were child pornography and obscene.  They weren’t. Our powerful legal team asserted that truth and made the case go away before it went to court. CBLDF’s expert legal team is available at a moment’s notice to respond to First Amendment emergencies like these thanks to the monetary support of our members.

 

  • Thanks to our efforts, all criminal charges were dropped in the case of Ryan Matheson, an American citizen who faced unjust criminal charges in Canada for comics on his computer.  We contributed $30,000 to Ryan’s legal fees so far, and are currently working to pay off the remaining $34,000in legal defense costs.  Earlier this month, Ryan appeared at NYCC to tell his story.  You can read his words or listen to a recording of the panel to learn how CBLDF members made a difference in his life here.

 

  • CBLDF is defending comics in libraries with greater frequency.  Last week we  sent a letter of support to Bill Ptacek, a Seattle area library director commending the library for standing up for the intellectual freedom of its patrons in the face of an attack in the media for offering manga in the library’s adult collection.  Last month we spoke out against the ban of the graphic novel SideScrollers in Connecticut, and published dozens of resources as part of our sponsorship of Banned Books Week.  Efforts to ban specific comics titles keep happening and constant vigilance is necessary to keep them accessible to the public. CBLDF members make it possible for us to do that work.

 

  • We delivered more than 25 education events to lawyers, librarians, students and individuals all over the United States.  CBLDF’s presentations are designed to raise awareness of the threats to the comics field’s First Amendment rights, and to help inform our audiences about ways to protect those rights.

 

  • We launched a new and radically improved CBLDF.org to be the Internet’s best resource for information about comics censorship.  CBLDF.org maintains a daily news blog and a rich and growing resources section, with case studies on Banned Comics, Case Files that include a growing library of original court documents, rich historical sections on Comics Censorship History, the Comics Code, and manga censorship, and much more.

Today we’re asking you to help us continue to perform this important work by becoming a CBLDF member.  For as little as $25 a year, you can be an essential part of our mission to protect comics.  We’ve prepared amazing and exclusive items to thank everyone who joins the Fund by November 2, and also have very special thank you offers from some of the industry’s greatest creative talents to show our sincere appreciation for your membership contribution.

The CBLDF’s vital work to protect the freedom to read is growing.  We can’t do it without you.  Be Counted.  Join the CBLDF Today!

BE COUNTED INCENTIVES

MEMBER ($25)

In addition to our regular membership kit, which includes a beautiful member card by Cliff Chiang, members signing up or renewing in October will receive an exclusive 5 x 7 print featuring Ben Templesmith’s take on CBLDF’s Lady Liberty!

SUPPORTER ($50)

In addition to our regular membership kit, and the above, members joining at the Supporter level will receive their choice of one of the CBLDF Exclusive Artist Edition covers of Liberty Annual 2012!

These special editions boast the artwork of Terry Dodson or Gabriel Ba with no trade dress, calling full attention to the artists’ stunning creative visions.  The Artist Edition covers of Liberty Annual 2012 are only available from the CBLDF!  Please indicate your cover choice in the memo section.

 

ADVOCATE ($100)

In addition to the regular membership kit and the Templesmith print, members signing up in October at the Advocate level will receive both Liberty Annual 2012 Artist Edition covers!

BE COUNTED INDUSTRY SUPPORTERS

In addition to all of the above thank you items, and the regular membership rewards, members who can afford to join at higher levels will have the opportunity to receive a variety of thank you premiums from creator and industry supporters, including rare items, Skype or in-person visits, personalized thank you cards, sketches, critiques, and more.  Here is the first wave of supporters offering their time and talent to thank you for supporting the CBLDF’s important work.

JASON AARON

Jason Aaron, acclaimed writer of SCALPED, WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN, and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Jason is offering a personalized thank you note to members who join at the Advocate ($125) level, and a Skype visit, a Professional Development Review, or a signed copy of one of his scripts to members who join at the Defender ($250) level

SCOTT ALLIE

Scott Allie, the recently named Editor in Chief of Dark Horse Comics thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Scott is offering a Professional Development Review to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.  Improve your craft with Scott’s master insights! Only two are available, act fast!

BRIAN AZZARELLO

Brian Azzarello, acclaimed writer of WONDER WOMAN, 100 BULLETS, and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Brian is offering a personalized thank you note to members who join at the Advocate ($125), and a Skype visit, a Professional Development Review, or a signed copy of one of his scripts to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.

BLACK PHOENIX ALCHEMY LAB

Black Phoenix is thanking CBLDF members by creating the Members Only fragrance TWO-PLY BRISTOL for members who join at the Advocate ($100) level or higher.

TWO-PLY BRISTOL

Smells like acid-free, 100% cotton 2-ply bristol paper with a touch of F lead.  Public service announcement: (There is no lead in this perfume. The ‘F Lead’ is color copy, and indicates that we’ve created an accord that gently mimics the scent of pencil lead.)

CHRIS BURNHAM

Chris Burnham, celebrated artist of BATMAN INCORPORATED, OFFICER DOWNE, and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Chris is offering a personalized thank you sketch, or a Skype visit, or a Professional Development Review to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.

MOLLY CRABAPPLE

Molly Crabapple, the artist-activist whose work tackles everything from progressive politics to sexuality and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Molly is offering a 30-minute Skype visit to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.

DAN DiDIO

Dan DiDio, the publisher of DC Comics thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Dan is offering a personalized thank you card to members who join at the Advocate ($125) level, or a Skype visit, or a Professional Development Review to members who join at the Protector ($500) level.

DAVE GIBBONS

Dave Gibbons, legendary cartoonist of WATCHMEN, GIVE ME LIBERTY, THE ORIGINALS, and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Dave is offering a personalized thank you sketch, or a Skype visit, or a Professional Development Review to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.

BRANDON GRAHAM

Brandon Graham, the creative powerhouse behind KING CITY, PROPHET, and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Brandon is offering a personalized thank you sketch or a Skype visit to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.

LARRY MARDER

Larry Marder, the creator of Beanworld and president of CBLDF thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Larry is offering a personalized sketched thank you card to members who join at the Advocate ($125) level.

TERRY MOORE

Terry Moore, beloved creator of STRANGERS IN PARADISE, ECHO, RACHEL RISING, and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Terry is offering a personalized thank you sketch or a Skype visit to members who join at the Defender ($250) level, or an extremely rare copy of the long out of print Strangers in Paradise Omnibus to a member joining at the Champion ($1,000) level.

GREG RUCKA

Greg Rucka, celebrated creator of QUEEN & COUNTRY, STUMPTOWN, and the upcoming series LAZARUS thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Greg is offering a personalized thank you note to members who join at the Advocate ($125) level, or a Skype visit, or a signed, personalized script from Stumptown or Lazarus to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.

JEFF SMITH

Jeff Smith, celebrated creator of BONE, RASL, and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Jeff is offering a signed “BE FREE TO READ” print featuring Fone Bone for members who join at the Supporter ($50) level, or a personalized thank you sketch to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.

BRIAN K. VAUGHAN

Brian K. Vaughan, creator of SAGA, Y: THE LAST MAN and more thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Brian is offering a personalized thank you note to members who join at the Advocate level ($125).

MATT WAGNER

Matt Wagner, the legendary creator of GRENDEL, MAGE, and some of the most beloved BATMAN stories of all time thanks you for becoming a member of the CBLDF during our Be Counted member drive.  Matt is offering a personalized thank you note to members who join at the Advocate ($125) level, or a personalized thank you sketch or a Skype visit to members who join at the Defender ($250) level.