Category: Features

CBLDF Joins Free Speech Groups In Protesting PayPal Censorship

by  •  • Comments Off on CBLDF Joins Free Speech Groups In Protesting PayPal Censorship

Last week, we reported on PayPal’s new policy regarding erotic content and their requirement that e-book publishers remove certain types of content — incest, pseudo-incest, rape fantasies, bestiality (including non-human fantasy characters) — or face deactivation of their accounts. In response, the American Book Sellers Foundation for Free Expression and the National Coalition Against Censorship sent PayPal a letter decrying the policy.

The list of organizations signing on to ABFFE and NCAC’s letter is growing, and CBLDF has joined the coalition against PayPal’s erotic content policy. Click through for the full text of the letter CBLDF signed.

Read more →

CBLDF Attends MangaNext

by  •  • Comments Off on CBLDF Attends MangaNext

Over the past weekend, while half of the CBLDF staff was on the West Coast on the floor at Image Expo, the other half made the arduous trek through the Lincoln Tunnel, all the way out to Northern New Jersey, to spend some time at MangaNext, one of the only completely fan-run manga shows in the country.

Find out more about this fantastic show after the jump!

Read more →

Free Speech Hero Barney Rosset Passes Away

by  •  • Comments Off on Free Speech Hero Barney Rosset Passes Away

Barney Rosset’s Grove Press published some of the best known names in modern literature: Samuel Beckett, Allen Ginsberg, Henry Miller, William Burroughs, and more. Throughout his tenure as a publisher and filmmaker, Rosset was a crusader against obscenity laws. Rosset recently passed away at the age of 90. More after the jump…

Read more →

The Good Fighters: Eric Stephenson

by  •  • Comments Off on The Good Fighters: Eric Stephenson

In many ways, Eric Stephenson has changed the face of comics publishing. Under his guidance as Publisher, Image Comics has become a juggernaut of innovative and creative comics projects, many of them critically acclaimed and instant sell-outs. Under Stephenson’s guidance, Image has become the go-to place for new ideas and new creators.

In addition to being an advocate for new creative work, Stephenson is also an advocate for free speech. His support for CBLDF is as fierce as his support of creators. Under Stephenson’s watch, Image Comics has become a corporate member, sponsored numerous parties, and published the CBLDF Liberty Annual, raising nearly $100,000 for CBLDF’s important First Amendment work.

For this edition of The Good Fighters, we took a moment to talk to Stephenson the eve of the first ever Image Expo, which takes place this weekend in Oakland, California.

Read more →

ComicsPRO Goes Big For CBLDF!

by  •  • Comments Off on ComicsPRO Goes Big For CBLDF!

Last weekend the CBLDF’s Deputy Director Alex Cox visited the ComicsPRO Meeting in Dallas where he met with the industry’s best retailers and publishing professionals. He takes you into this ultimate insiders weekend, including full highlights from the exciting ComicPRO CBLDF Benefit Auction that raised more than $8,000 for the Fund!

Full Story

Read more →

The Good Fighters: Cliff Chiang

by  •  • Comments Off on The Good Fighters: Cliff Chiang

Cliff Chiang does more than draw the best Wonder Woman around. In addition to his prodigious talent as an artist, he’s a witty and generous fellow, always ready to donate his dwindling spare time to a worthy cause. When CBLDF asked Chiang to create a new vision of Lady Liberty for our 2012 member cards, he fashioned an image as iconic as the Statue of Liberty herself.

In this installment of The Good Fighters, we sat down with Chiang for a quick chat about the impetus behind his Lady Liberty design and why he supports CBLDF.

Read more →

Membership Cards Are Go!

by  •  • Comments Off on Membership Cards Are Go!

If you joined the CBLDF as a 2012 Member, your membership kits are on their way! Our interns, volunteers, and staff are busy getting everything sorted and out the door, fulfilling Membership orders for one of our best launching drives ever!

CBLDF Deputy Director Alex Cox takes you behind the scenes at the CBLDF office and shows how our team is hard at work getting these rewards out to you, and has info on how you can be a part of it as an office volunteer!

Read more →

Banned Malaysian Cartoonist Exhibits Work in London

by  •  • Comments Off on Banned Malaysian Cartoonist Exhibits Work in London

Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque’s work is banned in his home country of Malaysia, where he is better known as political cartoonist Zunar. Because of his work, Zunar has had his office raided and his books banned, and he’s been detained by authorities on sedition charges. Zunar may ultimately have the last laugh later this month when his work goes on display in a London gallery.

Keep reading…

Read more →

CBLDF Live Auction at ComicsPRO Annual Meeting

by  •  • Comments Off on CBLDF Live Auction at ComicsPRO Annual Meeting

by Alex Cox

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is excited to announce the First Annual Retailer Auction, at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting, Friday, February 10th, at 9:00 p.m.!

Taking place in the Hilton Double Tree “Cypress Room,” the CBLDF will be auctioning a number of original art pieces form artist supporters such as Jeff Smith, Francis Manapul, David Lloyd, and more, as well as a variety of surprise items from our publishing and distributor partners! Expect surprise guest auctioneers, one-of-a-kind pieces, and exclusive, one-time-only prizes! Best of all, all proceeds go directly into the First Amendment work of the CBLDF!

Sponsored by BOOM! Studios, there will be a full bar provided, and this promises to be an easy social highlight of an already exciting weekend! All attending ComicsPRO members are invited; this is a great way to support our free speech work, and go home with some amazing artwork, and much, much more!

Read more →

Why Tucson Matters

by  •  • Comments Off on Why Tucson Matters

Last year, the state of Arizona passed HB 2281, a controversial bill that resulted in the termination of the highly praised Mexican American Studies program in the Tucson Independent School District. The program was ended despite an independent audit that advocated for its continuation.

Last week, TUSD released a list of books that would be removed from classrooms and put in indefinite storage. The banned books included contributions from a virtual who’s who of Mexican American and Native American authors and artists…

Keep reading…

Please help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work by making a donation or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Read more →