Author: Betsy Gomez

Cartoonist Arrested During Occupy Oakland Protests

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Despite wearing a press pass and being recognized by one of her arresting officers, cartoonist and journalist Susie Cagle was arrested last week, during the latest round of violence that has marred the Occupy Oakland protests. Cagle wrote about her experience on her blog:

I was detained for 15 hours and ultimately charged with the same misdemeanor as other demonstrators and NLG legal observers: PC 409, failure to leave the scene of a riot. Our arraignment dates are a month from now, and we were explicitly warned against returning to the plaza in the meantime. As I told ABC7, I feel like the OPD does, I think: confused.

Keep reading…

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Celebrate Neil Gaiman’s Birthday with a CBLDF Fundraiser!

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Perennial Fund supporter Neil Gaiman celebrates his birthday on November 10, and the ladies with the Fangirls: Comics Club and A Comic Shop are ready to party! You can join them at The Geek Easy inside A Comic Shop (114 S. Semoran Blvd, Winter Park, FL) on November 10 from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. for comics, music, games and more. Neil will be calling in so everyone can sing Happy Birthday to him! To celebrate, the organizers are also holding a raffle to raise funds for CBLDF.

For more details, visit the Facebook event page here.

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Beguiling Raises Funds for Canadian Side of Customs Case

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If you’re in Toronto, you can join The Beguiling and Steamwhistle Brewery for TORONTO DRAWS TINTIN, an exhibit featuring the work of dozens of Canadian creators. The opening party is tonight, from 7:00 – 11:00 pm at the Steamwhistle Gallery (255 Bremner Blvd) in Toronto. Several of the contributing artists will be in attendance, and the original pieces will be auctioned to benefit Canada’s Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund, one of CBLDF’s partners in the Canada Customs Case. For more info and a preview of the artwork, visit www.torontodrawstintin.com.

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Be a “Redshirt” with IDW’s Star Trek Comics Contest, Benefitting CBLDF

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CBLDF stands ready to defend retailers against censorship. Are you ready to do the same? Test your mettle with IDW Publishing’s “Be a Redshirt” contest, benefitting CBLDF!

More details in the official press release from IDW:

Are you a comics fan who loves your local comics store? Are you willing to “die” to protect your retailer? Prove it, with the Star Trek “Be A Redshirt” contest! Starting today, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), IDW Publishing and CBS Consumer Products are giving Star Trek fans a chance to “Be a Redshirt” on the cover of an upcoming Star Trek comic.

Originating in the classic Star Trek episodes and expanding to pop culture at large, a “redshirt” is a character that dies soon after being introduced. With the “Be a Redshirt” contest, the winning fan will have the honor of “dying” while heroically saving their retailer. The grand prizewinner will be featured as a “redshirt” on an upcoming cover of IDW’s new STAR TREK ongoing series, placing themselves between their local retailer and a phaser blast. The “Be a Redshirt” contest is open to any comics reader who thinks their local retailer is the best in the business.

“As redshirts are famous for always catching the phaser in Star Trek episodes, and as comic fans can be so loyal in defending their local retailer, it’s the perfect contest,” said Dirk Wood, IDW’s Director of Retailer Marketing, “And partnering with the CBLDF is perfect, because no one knows more about defending retailers than they do.” Keep reading…

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Mid-Ohio Comic Con Delivers Much Needed Support for CBLDF

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Last weekend, Laughing Ogre Comics founder Gib Bickel and volunteers Patrick Watson and Brett Montgomery took it upon themselves to represent CBLDF at Wizard World Mid-Ohio Comic Con. Together, they manned a table to raise funds and increase awareness of CBLDF and it’s important First Amendment work, all the more important in light of our current Canada Customs Case. CBLDF would like to thank Gib, Patrick, and Brett for all of their hard work! Further thanks go to the staff of Laughing Ogre Comics and Wizard World for helping to make this possible!

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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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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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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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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CONAN letterpress print, signed by Becky Cloonan and Brian Wood!

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With the announcement of writer Brian Wood and artist Becky Cloonan as the new creative team on Dark Horse Comics’ Conan the Barbarian, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is excited to unveil an exclusive letterpress print, limited to an exclusive run of 100!

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 were hand-letterpressed by Letterpress PDX in Portland, Oregon, on heavy wet-press rag stock, and are beautifully textured. 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 is a “must-have” item!

Get it now!

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CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011!

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CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 collects incredible contributions, including original stories by superstars J. Michael Straczynski (Superman: Earth One), Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman), J.H. Williams III (Batwoman), Steve Niles (30 days of Night), Judd Winick (Catwoman), Mark Waid (Daredevil) and Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), and Carla Speed McNeil (Finder). Look for all-new tales featuring Grendel by Matt Wagner, Cowboy Ninja Viking by AJ Lieberman and Riley Rossmo, and Elephantmen by Richard Starkings and Shaky Kane. Plus: a massive and first-ever full-color story from independent comics master Craig Thompson (Blankets)! Marvel and DC Comics have stepped up to show their support, with all-new pin-ups of Batman by Dustin Nguyen, X-Men by Greg Land, Green Lantern by Ivan Reis, and the Avengers by Greg Horn! It’s all topped off by incredible covers by John Cassaday, Matt Wagner, and a special incentive cover by Frank Quitely!

Get your copy today!

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