Report Censorship

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

Report Censorship

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

Charles Brownstein Talks Comics Code Authority Seal

Last week, CBLDF announced it had acquired the rights to the Comics Code Authority Seal, marking the end of the censorship the seal once represented. After the announcement, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein spoke with Vaneta Rogers at Newsarama about the acquisition.

Several reports mistakenly indicated that CBLDF purchased the rights to the seal, a misconception Brownstein cleared up when Rogers asked him about the acquisition:

“As the Comic Magazine Association of America, was winding down they approached us to inquire whether we would be interested in receiving the Seal of Approval,” Brownstein told Newsarama. “Through a brief, and fairly straightforward process, they assigned us the rights to the Seal for use as part of our fundraising and education program. It was a donation from the industry’s dying self-censorship body to assist its mature First Amendment defense body.”

Keep reading…

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!

Frank Miller, Karen Berger & Babymouse Champion Free Speech In Be Counted Week 3


The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund continues its Be Counted membership drive this week, with generous incentives from legendary cartoonist Frank Miller, groundbreaking editor Karen Berger, and the unstoppable team behind Babymouse & Squish – three time Newbery Award honoree Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm!

The CBLDF needs to raise $100,000 by October 31 to pay for its urgent legal and education to work. To date, the organization has raised over $30,000 of that goal. Be Counted and becoming a member of the Fund today. Membership contributions are tax deductible and start at $25 per year. Those who can afford to join at higher levels can take advantage of some of the amazing opportunities available in this campaign. To view all of the Be Counted incentives, featuring opportunities to go backstage at Saturday Night Live, have tea with Neil Gaiman or get your work reviewed by Tom Brevoort or Dan DiDio, among many others, please visit www.cbldf.org.


Read on
to see all of this week’s incredible offerings!

Babymouse Creators Stand Up For Free Speech In New CBLDF Fundraisers!


Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm don’t just tell stories about doing the right thing, they’re also putting their ethics into action to support free expression in a new round of fundraisers benefiting the First Amendment rights organization Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Right now CBLDF is in the midst of Be Counted, a membership drive aiming to raise money to fund new education programs protecting the right to read. The Holms are aiding the organization by offering several powerful incentives, including auctioning off a walk-on role in Babymouse and one-on-one development reviews for aspiring creators!

“First Amendment rights are very important to me, personally,” says Jennifer Holm, three-time Newbery Honor author and the co-creator of the Babymouse series of graphic novels for young readers. “Children’s books and comics are among the most frequently challenged titles in libraries across the country. As Americans, we need to keep working to protect the freedom we and our children have not only to say and write what we want, but also to read what we want. The First Amendment is about all of us—authors and readers.”

Please help the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund by becoming a member today. Read on to see all the great incentives the Holms are offering!

Craig Thompson Helps CBLDF Bring in $4,700 During APE!

CBLDF landed in sunny San Francisco over the weekend to celebrate independent comics during the Alternative Press Expo. Team CBLDF spent the weekend putting exclusive signed premiums into the hands of fans, raising $4,700 to help CBLDF fight the Canada Customs Case!

The aisles were packed, as indie comics fans picked up the latest work from their favorite creators and discovered new talents. Special Guest Craig Thompson’s new graphic novel, Habibi, proved to be one of the hits of the show, with vendors around the room running out of copies the first day of the show! Thompson joined CBLDF for three signings, enthusiastically chatting with CBLDF supporters. Delighted fans walked away with gorgeous sketches in their copies of Habibi, Blankets, Carnet de Voyage, and Good-bye Chunky Rice.

CBLDF thanks Thompson for the support he showed the Fund over the course of the weekend. Thanks also go out to CBLDF volunteer Ricardo Gomez.

You’ll find CBLDF next at New York Comic-Con, October 12-16, 2011!

Be Counted At APE!

This weekend the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is exhibiting at table 239 at the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco, where Craig Thompson will be signing copies of his new graphic novel Habibi to raise money for our important legal work! In addition to Craig’s appearances, the Fund will be offering a wide array of items to thank you for your donations, including graphic novels signed by Charles Burns, Dan Clowes, Guy Davis, Moebius, and Paul Pope.

We’re also offering two CBLDF exclusives — a new tote bag by Jim Woodring, courtesy of SPX, for donors who sign up for $50 membership at APE, and Anders Nilsen’s limited edition, undistributed Big Questions: Extras And Outtakes, courtesy of Desert Island, for donors who sign up for $25 Membership at APE!

On top of our booth incentives you can also learn more about the CBLDF at our Censorship Then & Now program on Satuday at 11:30, hosted by CBLDF’s Executive Director Charles Brownstein. Brownstein will also be hosting Drawing Inspiration: The Secrets of Comics Creativity with Kate Beaton, Tom Neely, Craig Thompson, Mathew Thurber, Shannon Wheeler on Saturday at 6.

Read on for a full schedule of events including Craig Thompson’s signings for the CBLDF at APE!

The Good Fighters: Kathryn & Stuart Immonen

To meet Kathryn and Stuart Immonen is a bit like meeting a modern-day Nick and Nora Charles. Sure, they’re a bit more profane, but they have all the sharp and witty repartee of the bantering married duo that defined the Thin Man movies. (You can enjoy some of this banter on their blog.)

The Immonens have been in the comic biz for several years, working individually and together. Their work is irreverent, entertaining, and classic. Stuart is known for his distinctive art style and storytelling ability, on display in the cult hit Nextwave and most recently in the hit series Fear Itself from Marvel Comics. Kathryn is known for her fearless, honest writing, with several Marvel titles under her belt, including the beloved Patsy Walker: Hellcat, Wolverine and Jubilee, and Heralds. Together, they created Moving Pictures, a critically acclaimed web comic and graphic novel set during the Nazi occupation of Paris.

The Immonens recently donated several pieces from their personal art collection to the CBLDF as part of our Artists to the Rescue campaign. They also took a moment to answer a few questions for The Good Fighters.

CBLDF thanks the Immonens for their generous donation and support. Please help support CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work by bidding on the pieces they donated to CBLDF, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Keep reading…

CBLDF Receives Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund today announces that it has received the intellectual property rights to the Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval in an assignment from the now-defunct Comic Magazine Association of America, which administrated the Code since the 1950s.

The Comics Code Seal comes to the CBLDF during Banned Books Week, a national celebration of the freedom to read, and just a few months following a decision in the U.S. Supreme Court where Justice Scalia cited CBLDF’s brief addressing the comics industry’s history of government scrutiny and the subsequent self-regulation the Comics Code represented. Dr. Amy Nyberg, author of Seal of Approval: The History of Comics Code has prepared a short history of the Comics Code Seal and the era of censorship it represents exclusively for CBLDF that is available now in the Resources section of cbldf.org.

CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein says, “As we reflect upon the challenges facing intellectual freedom during Banned Books Week, the Comics Code Seal is a reminder that it’s possible for an entire creative field to have those rights curtailed because of government, public, and market pressures. Fortunately, today comics are no longer constrained as they were in the days of the Code, but that’s not something we can take for granted. Banned Books Week reminds us that challenges to free speech still occur, and we must always be vigilant in fighting them.” Full Story

Comics College Continues with Jared Fletcher on October 8th!

The CBLDF’s Comic College series continues with letterer and designer Jared Fletcher (X-Men, Ex Machina, Batman and Robin). Jared’s master session will focus on the creation of a memorable logo, from brainstorming to initial design to final execution. Jared’s work on the X teams’ logos was recently featured on Comics Alliance.

Comics College is a series of master sessions held at our New York City offices, featuring expert advice and insight from professionals of the industry. These sessions are opportunity for aspiring creators to learn about the craft and business of comics from experts

Tickets are available for a $40 donation.

Latest Artists To The Rescue Auctions Include FEAR ITSELF and SANDMAN Originals!

Last week, we announced the latest wave of Artists to the Rescue auctions, with gorgeous pieces by Mike Mignola — donated by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen, no less! We have more pieces from the Immonen’s personal collection up for auction this week!

First up, we have a gorgeous Sandman page by Jill Thompson! The page comes from the Brief Lives story arc, and features the Egyptian goddess Bast and Dream.

Next, we have the pencils for the cover of the first issue of the hit Marvel series Fear Itself. Drawn by Stuart Immonen, the pencils feature the Avengers and would make a great addition to any art collection!

We round out the auction with a number of original sketches and pinups from Fund supporters including Dean Haspiel, Denys Cowan, Jimmy Palmiotti, Chris Giarusso, and Steve Lieber! Show your support for the CBLDF and take home an amazing piece of art — bid now!

Keep reading for a gallery of pieces in the auction!

Be Counted Week 2 Launches With SNL Tickets, Tom Brevoort, Chris Burnham & Bleeding Cool!

This week the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund continues its Be Counted membership drive with brand new membership rewards including Saturday Night Live tickets and a meet and greet with Seth Meyers; a professional development review with Marvel SVP of Publishing Tom Brevoort; a variety of thank you’s from Batman Incorporated artist Chris Burnham, and a chance for professionals to get out of (or into) Bleeding Cool free!

Since launching the Be Counted campaign last Thursday, the CBLDF has raised over $19,000 towards its goal of raising $100,000 by October 31 for its legal and program work. If you aren’t a member of the CBLDF, now is the time to Be Counted and sign up for membership, which starts for as little as $25 a year and includes rewards like a Green Lantern membership card, and at higher levels, CBLDF tote bags, prints, and original art. Membership contributions are tax deductible and you’ll be thanked on our CBLDF Member List.

Check out all of our Be Counted member rewards, which include opportunities to meet supporters like Brian Azzarello, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Mike Mignola, Gail Simone, Jeff Smith, Frank Quitely & more! Please join the CBLDF today!

Charity Art Auction at Webcomics Con Benefits CBLDF

Webcomics Con is a brand new convention celebrating online funnies October 1-2, 2011, in Norwalk, Connecticut. One of the events at the inaugural edition of Webcomics Con is a charity auction benefiting CBLDF and Hero Initiative! If you’re attending, don’t miss the auction, which will take place from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. in the Sawmill Room of the Dolce Hotel and Resort.

CBLDF Comics College Hits the Left Coast with PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY IN COMICS

The CBLDF is proud to announce our next Comics College Master Session: Promotion and Publicity in Comics! Join author Sam Humphries (Our Love is Real, Fraggle Rock) and journalist Andy Khouri for this in-depth workshop and Q&A. Learn the secrets of promotion from both sides of the publicity equation! Humphries will be sharing lessons from the marketing of Our Love Is Real, and Khouri will be sharing insights from his experience as the Associate Editor of Comics Alliance.

This ticketed event will be held on September 27, 6:00 p.m. PDT, at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles, California (7522 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046; 323-851-7223). Tickets are available for a $50 donation.

Don’t miss this singular opportunity for aspiring creators to learn about the craft and business of comics from experts. Space is extremely limited, so get your tickets quick!

If you can’t make it to this stellar event, you can still support CBLDF by bidding on rare items in the Our Love Is Real charity auction. The auction closes soon!

It’s Banned Books Week!

This week, we celebrate the freedom to read with Banned Books Week!

CBLDF is a sponsor of this important week-long event. You can show your support by reading some of the books and comics that have been challenged in libraries around the country and by becoming a member of the Fund. You can also join the celebration by posting a video of yourself advocating for your favorite banned comic in the Virtual Read-Out.

There are any number of ways to celebrate Banned Books Week and your freedom to read! Click through to discover more about Banned Books Week.

NYC: Volunteer Recruitment Party on Sep 27!

The CBLDF Wants You! Sign up to volunteer at the CBLDF’s NYC Volunteer Recruitment Party at Jim Hanley’s Universe (4 West 33rd St.). As New York Comic-Con approaches, the CBLDF needs the help of dedicated volunteers more than ever.

If you have a talent and the desire to put it to work for a good cause, we want you on board! As a volunteer for CBLDF, you’ll have a chance to boost your resume, build teamwork and leadership skills, and meet some great people along the way. This event is an opportunity for volunteers past and present to mingle, learn about what the Fund has been up to, and how you can help. Pizza will be served.