Author: Jeff Trexler

Graphic Novels Restored in Radnor

Three graphic novel book covers: Gender Queer, Fun Home, and Blankets

Earlier this year, a challenge filed against Gender Queer, Fun Home, and Blankets resulted in their removal from the Radnor Township School District high school library in southeast Pennsylvania. Opponents of these graphic novels also filed a police report calling…

Drama drama in Florida – and more

Another week, another challenge to Raina Telgemeier’s Drama, as a public library in Florida, following an official state book removal list, is reclassifying the book as “Adult,” not for minors. Reclassifying might sound better than an outright ban, but it’s…

Stopping ideas at the border (Tariffs pt. 4)

A poster from ICE with the text "If it crosses the U.S. border illegally, it's our job to stop it: People, money, products, ideas.

This published and then withdrawn digital poster from ICE illustrates why monitoring border policy is essential. It also highlights why understanding the publications exemption for new reciprocal tariffs is so important, as border agents have the authority to seize goods…

Imports, Tariffs, Mail, and the Comstock Act (Pt. 3)

US postal inspector police on a raid

We’ll return to where things stand with the financial aspect of comics-related tariffs in my next post, but for this I want to respond to a question we’ve received several times in recent weeks: could we see a revival of…

Why Trump’s Tariffs Should Not Apply to Graphic Novels, Manga, and Comics: The Book Ban Connection (pt. 2)

Yellow tape imprinted with the repeated word "tariff" crossing over shipping containers

In my previous post, I noted an aspect of Trump’s tariffs that has received little to no media attention: the evident exemption for books and other publications, including graphic novels, comics, and manga. Today we’ll take a more detailed look…

Reciprocal Tariffs: Comics, Merch, and Book Bans, Part I

The imposition of draconian reciprocal tariffs has justifiable generated serious concern over their potential impact on comic periodicals, graphic novels, manga, and comics-adjacent merchandise, such as apparel, cosmetics, action figures, statues, and games. What does the President’s April 2nd Executive…

Gratitude

Photo of bound volumes of Crime Suspenstories and Robert Crumb's Sketchbooks & Zap, along with the Garbage Pail Kids sticker packs. Photo taken at a WonderCon vendor booth.

Thanks to our amazing speakers and everyone who attended our @WonderCon panels, asked great questions, & expressed support! Thanks also to everyone messaging about our website & socials posts re visas, censorship news, etc. More of those to follow tomorrow…

CBLDF @ WonderCon

Join us this weekend at WonderCon for two panels on cutting-edge issues in comics culture! Saturday, March 29, at 1pm in Room 213CD: What’s Next for Comics Censorship, with the CBLDF’s Jeff Trexler, San Diego State University Lecturer Mary Stout,…

Legal update: Texas Senate Bill 20

Lock chained to fence in front of capitol building

Thanks to everyone who has sent us reports on new Texas & Alabama legislation that could have a significant chilling effect on comics, graphic novels, and manga.

Graphic novels targeted in Florida SB1692 legislation

The Florida Senate’s new version of anti-graphic-novel bill SB1692 refocuses its attack on comic images. One of the key points in the CBLDF’s successful defense against the attempt to find Gender Queer obscene in Virginia was our argument that the…