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Report Censorship
Report Censorship or Request Assistance

CBLDF is committed to supporting the comics community. Fill out our form to request assistance or report censorship today!

MORE
Homepage, News Blog

CSUN Student Newspaper Gets to the Heart of the Canada Customs Case

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In an editorial for California State University, Northridge’s Daily Sundial, opinion writer Braulio Campos gets to the heart of the Canada Customs Case: that drawings do not constitute child pornography. Campos spoke with fellow students about the case, and asked for their take on the case, finding support for Brandon X:

“I don’t think he should have been arrested if it was just drawings,” said 23-year-old Psychology Major Manisha Perera.

You can read the full article here.

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

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Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

Review Round Up: CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011

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Since it’s release the week of New York Comic Con, CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011 has been universally praised by reviewers, and they have plenty to say about the latest issue of CBLDF’s annual anthology!

Chris Arrant with CBR’s Robot 6 blog would gladly pick up a copy of CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011 before eating, and Robot 6’s Graeme McMillan would also include the book in his buy pile.

Keep reading for more reviews…

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

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Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

Find CBLDF at MID-OHIO COMIC CON This Weekend!

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CBLDF is hot off a huge NYCC weekend and headed to Columbus, Ohio, for Wizard World Mid-Ohio Comic Con this weekend! Held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center October 22-23, Mid-Ohio Comic Con has an exciting array of comics and media guests!

Gib Bickel, founder of Laughing Ogre Comics (recent host of one of our CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011 UNITED AGAINST CENSORSHIP signings), is carrying the standard for CBLDF, helping us raise the funds we need to defend Brandon X in the Canada Customs Case. For more information on CBLDF’s appearance at Mid-Ohio, visit Laughing Ogre at the show, at booth #211, or check out the Mid-Ohio Comic Con website here. See you at the con!

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

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Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

Artists Step Up To Be Counted With Membership Art Auctions!

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Artists are stepping up to Be Counted as CBLDF supporters with a round of auctions benefiting the organization on eBay this week. Frank Quitely, Jim Lee & Scott Williams, Cliff Chiang, Neal Adams, and other titans of comics have contributed prime pieces of original art that the CBLDF is auctioning off this week to individuals who support the Fund’s Be Counted membership drive. The CBLDF currently seeks to raise $100,000 by October 31 to support its urgent legal and education work, and has raised over $58,600 so far. Please sign up for membership today and Be Counted to help the Fund reach its goal! Read on for this week’s new auctions!

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Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF’s New Fall Incentives Are Now Online!

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With the announcement during NYCC that Becky Cloonan and Brian Wood would be taking the reins of Conan the Barbarian, CBLDF launched an exclusive letterpress Conan print. Limited to 100 copies, the print features characters from Robert E. Howard’s “Queen of the Black Coast,” which forms the basis of Wood and Cloonan’s first Conan arc. The print is based on the line art of a variant cover and is being used by CBLDF for this exclusive premium item through the gracious cooperation of the Robert E. Howard Estate and Dark Horse Comics. Only a few of the prints remain, and you can get one here!

NYCC also saw the launch of CBLDF’s Fall Comics Grab Bag, sponsored by HeroesCon! Each bag contains 10 rare comics from the silver, bronze, and modern age to support the CBLDF. Comics included somewhere in these grab bags include Avengers #57 (1st Appearance of the Vision), X-Men #46, X-Men #48, Batman #185, Luke Cage #1, Nick Fury: Agent of Shield #3, Sub-Mariner #5, and dozens more. Signed comics were contributed directly from their artists, including Amanda Conner, Garth Ennis, Neil Gaiman, Jim Lee, Frank Miller, Jill Thompson, Gail Simone, and many more! You can get your grab bag here.

The CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011 debuted last week to rave reviews. If you didn’t have a chance to pick up a copy during NYCC or your local comic shop is sold out, you can get it from CBLDF! We have the John Cassaday and Matt Wagner covers, as well as Frank Quitely’s incentive cover, available here.

CBLDF has other hot items from the NYCC convention floor are now available online, including Mark Twain’s Autobiography, 1910-2010, signed by Michael Kupperman, and Bake Sale, signed by Sara Varon!

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Read more →

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF Raises Over $12,500 at NYCC!

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Last weekend, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund raised over $12,500 at New York Comic Con!

The CBLDF booth hosted a number of creators throughout the weekend, including Francis Portela (Legion of Super-heroes) and Fernando Blanco (Marvel Zombies), Sara Varon, signing her new graphic novel Bake Sale from First Second Books, CBLDF President and Beanworld cartoonist Larry Marder, and a special appearance from Mark Twain himself (Michael Kupperman), signing his new autobiography from Fantagraphics.

Keep reading…

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Read more →

Features, Homepage, News Blog

Anime News Network Covers CBLDF’s Defending Manga Panel at NYCC

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Over the weekend, Crystalyn Hodgkins from Anime News Network wrote about the CBLDF: Defending Manga panel from NYCC. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein was joined by ALC Publishing’s Erica Friedman and about.com’s Deb Aoki for an informative panel about CBLDF’s history of defending manga — including the Jesus Castillo case, the Handley case, and the current Canada Customs Case — and why manga is frequently a target of censors. Aoki described why the latter often happens:

Aoki added that while many in the audience may be used to the manga style, people who aren’t familiar with manga would see many manga characters and think they looked like children, or younger than they really are. Brownstein also added that it is important to reach out to people to educate them about the manga style so as to help them to understand the style. Aoki also added that many of those who aren’t familiar with manga assume it’s hentai and perverted, and it’s important to educate people so they don’t have that stereotype.

You can read the full article here.

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

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Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog, Press Releases

Camilla d’Errico and Joshua Dysart Announce ‘Helmetgirls: Origins’ Guest Artists and CBLDF Benefit

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At NYCC today, Camilla d’Errico and Joshua Dysart announced the guest artists for the Helmetgirls: Origins, a series based on d’Errico’s popular artwork. Because of the success of the Kickstarter campaign for d’Errico’s Tanpopo, d’Errico and Dysart are going to run a similar campaign for Helmetgirls. They are also going to contribute a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Helmetgirls to CBLDF!

Keep reading for more details in the official press release…

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Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF Announces Exclusive CONAN Print by Becky Cloonan for NYCC!

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With the announcement today of writer Brian Wood and artist Becky Cloonan as the new creative team on Dark Horse Comics’ Conan, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is excited to unveil an exclusive letterpress print, available throughout New York Comic Con at CBLDF booth #1158.

This print features characters from Robert E. Howard’s “Queen of the Black Coast,” the adaptation of which forms the basis of Wood and Cloonan’s first Conan arc. The print is based on the line art of an exclusive variant cover and is being used by CBLDF for this exclusive premium item through the gracious cooperation of the Robert E. Howard Estate and Dark Horse Comics.

Signed by Wood and Cloonan, these prints come in a limited numbered run of 100, and they were hand-letterpressed by Letterpress PDX in Portland, Oregon. If you are a Conan fan, a fan of Wood and Cloonan, or simply want to support the CBLDF’s continuing fight for Free Expression, this print will be available throughout the weekend of NYCC, October 14-16, for a $50 donation. Visit CBLDF at booth #1158 to pick up yours!

(Conan (r) (c) 2011 Conan Properties International LLC (“CPI”). Conan, Conan the Barbarian, The Savage Sword of Conan, Hyboria, and related logos, characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of CPI. All rights reserved.)

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Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

Be Counted At NYCC – Fear Itself #1 Original Art Raffle, Signings, Programs & More!

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The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund enters the fourth week of its Be Counted membership drive at New York Comic Con, where we’re bringing you some of our best incentives to join the Fund yet!

Kicking off with a Member Appreciation Party on Thursday night, a members only raffle that will award one lucky fan with Stuart Immonen’s original pencils for the Fear Itself #1 cover, an all new grab bag sponsored by HeroesCon, a massive manga giveaway at CBLDF’s Anime Artists Alley Table, three programs, and a wide array of incredible opportunities for time with top pros at the show!

If you’re attending NYCC, please visit CBLDF’s booth #1128 and Be Counted as a member. Check out our highlights below!

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Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF’s Massive Manga Giveaway At NYCC!

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Manga is not a crime! Right now an American citizen is facing a minimum sentence of one year in a Canadian prison because customs authorities wrongly allege that horror and fantasy manga on his computer are child pornography. The CBLDF is helping him by assisting in legal strategy and by raising money to offset his legal fees, which are expected to reach $150,000.

Join the effort to defend this case by visiting the CBLDF’s table in Manga Artists Alley and signing up for membership! When you do, we’ll enter you into our Massive Manga Giveaway!

The top publishers in the manga industry, including Viz, Seven Seas, Vertical, Yen, Dark Horse, DMP, Kodansha, and ALC/Yuricon have contributed prize packages for teen and adult readers for each day of the show. Come learn about the CBLDF’s efforts to protect your freedom to read manga, and take home amazing books!

Titles include: Tenjo Tenge , Dance of the Vampire Bund, A Certain Scientific Railgun, Strawberry Panic! Complete Light Novel Collection , Lychee Light Club Chi’s Sweet Home , High School of the Dead , Yotsuba! WORKS, Rica ‘tte Kani!?, Yuri Monogatari, Volume 3,4,5,6, selections from CLAMP and much more!

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Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 in Stores Today!

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When you head to your local comic book shop for new comics today, don’t forget to include a copy of CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 in your pile of loot! All sales of the ANNUAL benefit the First Amendment work of the CBLDF, so you not only get a wonderful anthology — you also get to support one of the most important nonprofit organizations in comics!

Keep reading for more images from the annual and the latest details on the UNITED AGAINST CENSORSHIP signings!

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Read more →

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

HeroesCon Sponsors CBLDF’s Fall Comics Grab Bag!

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HeroesCon (www.heroesonline.com) is seeking to raise $10,000 for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund by sponsoring its Fall Comics Grab Bag! Debuting this weekend at New York Comic-Con, the CBLDF Fall Comics Grab Bag includes 10 comics for a $20 donation, with rare and signed comics guaranteed in every bag!

HeroesCon has contributed a vast array of rare comics from the silver, bronze, and modern age to support the Fund. Comics guaranteed to be included in the Fall Comics Grab Bag include Avengers #57 (1st Appearance of the Vision), X-Men #46, X-Men #48, Batman #185, Luke Cage #1, Nick Fury: Agent of Shield #3, Sub-Mariner #5, and dozens more. Signed comics were contributed directly from their artists, including Amanda Conner, Garth Ennis, Neil Gaiman, Jim Lee, Frank Miller, Jill Thompson, Gail Simone, and many more! Keep reading…

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Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

Kick Off NYCC with CBLDF, IDW, and Dark Horse!

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WHO: Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, IDW Publishing, and Dark Horse Publishing

WHAT: CBLDF NYCC Kick-Off Party!

WHEN: Thursday, October 13
7:00 p.m.: VIP Hour
Join quest VIPs Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman), Chris Roberson (I, Zombie), Andy MacDonald (Terminator), Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man), and more! CBLDF members who joined at the Defender level ($250) or higher are invited to join us for VIP hour!

8:00 p.m.: Open party!
Start your convention weekend with talented creators from across the comics world and fellow CBLDF members! While supplies last, there will be a gift bag at the door featuring Liberty Trading Cards, CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011, and more! Free to members, $10 suggested donation for non-members.

WHERE: Hudson Terrace, 621 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10026; (212)-315-9400; www.hudsonterracenyc.com

WHY: Start NYCC right by defending Free Speech with CBLDF!

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Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

Unite Against Censorship with CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011, Out This Week!

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CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 is out on Wednesday, and retailers around the country are sponsoring signings with some of the creators who contributed to the best issue of the ANNUAL yet! Here are the events taking place during UNITED AGAINST CENSORSHIP:

Forbidden Planet NYC
October 12, 6:30 p.m.
840 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
(212) 473-1576, www.fpnyc.com
with Thomas Chu, Kevin Sacco, Brandon Montclare, Michael Bramley, J. Gonzo, and more

Laughing Ogre Comics
October 12, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
4258 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43214
(614) 267-6473, www.laughingogrecomics.com
with Dara Naraghi

Another Dimension
October 12, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
424 B – 10th Street NW; Calgary, AB T2N 1V9, Canada
(403) 283-7078
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Another-Dimension-Comics/180997045270673
with Riley Rossmo

Infinite Monkey Comics & Games
October 13, 7:00 p.m.
65 East College Street, Suite 1, Oberlin, OH 44074
(440) 775-4263, www.infinitemonkeyonline.com
with Kazim Ali

Even if you can’t attend one of these amazing signings, you can be part of the fun by picking up a copy of CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 from your favorite local comic shop! The sales of CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 benefit CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work, including our Canada Customs Case.

CBLDF will also have signings at booth #1158 during New York Comic-Con, October 13-16! We’ll post details later this week, but rest assured we’ll have a spectacular assortment of signed exclusives!

CBLDF urgently needs to raise $100,000 for our important First Amendment work by the end of October! Be Counted and support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Read more →