Author: cbldf

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

by cbldf • October 4, 2011 • Comments Off

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!

by cbldf • October 4, 2011 • Comments Off

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!

Be Counted At APE!

by cbldf • September 30, 2011 • Comments Off

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!

CBLDF Receives Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval

by cbldf • September 29, 2011 • Comments Off

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!

by cbldf • September 28, 2011 • Comments Off

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.

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

by cbldf • September 27, 2011 • Comments Off

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!

NYC: Volunteer Recruitment Party on Sep 27!

by cbldf • September 22, 2011 • Comments Off

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.

Manga Is Not A Crime!

by cbldf • September 22, 2011 • Comments Off

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund are pleased to announce that the Crown has withdrawn all criminal charges in R. v. Matheson, the case previously described as the “Brandon X case,” which involved a comic book reader who faced criminal charges in Canada relating to comic books on his computer. The defendant, Ryan Matheson, a 27-year-old comic book reader, amateur artist, and computer programmer has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

The total legal costs of this case exceeded $75,000. After taking the case last summer, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund contributed $20,000 to the defense, and the Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund contributed $11,000. The CBLDF also participated in shaping the defense, including recruiting expert testimony for the trial. The organization is currently seeking funds to help pay off the $45,000 debt Matheson incurred as a result of his case, and to create new tools to prevent future cases. To make a contribution to these important efforts, please visit www.cbldf.org.

Learn more about the shocking details of this case and how you can support the CBLDF’s efforts to fight back!

CBLDF Comics College Kicks Off with Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak on September 17!

by cbldf • September 9, 2011 • Comments Off

The CBLDF is proud to announce Comics College, a series of Master Sessions held at our New York City offices, featuring expert advice and insight from professionals of the industry. These sessions will be an opportunity for aspiring creators to learn about the craft and business of comics from experts.

Our first session delves into the secrets of self-publishing with Fred Van Lente (Action Philosophers, Incredible Hercules) and Greg Pak (Incredible Hercules, Incredible Hulk)! Join us for this in-depth workshop and q&a to learn the secrets of self-publishing from two of comics’ most popular creators.

Tickets are available at our webstore for a $50 donation. This session will be held on Saturday, September 17th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at our New York office, located at 255 West 36th Street, Suite 501. Space is extremely limited, so get your tickets quick!

SPX 11: Jeff Alexander Memorial Auction Preview – UPDATED

by cbldf • September 6, 2011 • Comments Off

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the organizers of SPX are proud to honor the memory of Jeff Alexander by launching an annual benefit auction in his name at this year’s convention. Jeff Alexander was a friend to the small press community, both as a cartoonist and an organizer of SPX and the Ignatz Awards. He passed away earlier this year.

The first annual Jeff Alexander Memorial Benefit Auction includes pieces from Jeff’s collection that he donated to the CBLDF, including original art by Charles Vess & Jeff Smith, Tony Millionaire, and Roger Langridge. The auction also includes contributions from the SPX community, including Keith Knight, Raina Telgemeier, Jeffrey Brown and many more.

Below is a full listing of items that will be available in the auction, which will happen this Saturday at 4:30 at SPX. Internet bids will be received by emailing charles.brownstein@cbldf.org by Saturday afternoon at 1 PM ET.

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