Category: Fundraising

Craig Thompson’s HABIBI Debuts at SPX 2011 to Benefit CBLDF!


The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is proud to host Craig Thompson at this year’s Small Press Expo, and to premiere his eagerly awaited graphic novel HABIBI! Through a special arrangement with Random House, a benefit preview edition of 100 signed & numbered copies of the graphic novel will be available to donors who contribute $100 or more to the CBLDF at SPX. These copies will be available on a first-come, first served basis when the show opens on Saturday, September 10. HABIBI hits stores on September 20.

In addition to this rare preview, the CBLDF is also auctioning off lunch at SPX with Craig and #1/100 from this preview edition on eBay starting on Tuesday, August 30th, and ending on Thursday, September 8th. Bid on this exciting auction now!

Craig Thompson says, “It’s very exciting to be able to launch HABIBI at SPX in a way that gives back to the CBLDF. I got my start in small press comics, and have always been supportive of the CBLDF. Being able to help out in this way, and to appear at the show with HABIBI feels like a homecoming.”

Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, HABIBI tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, circumstance, and love. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world fueled by fear and greed.

At once contemporary and timeless, HABIBI gives us a love story of astounding resonance; a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and the magic of storytelling.

This is a rare opportunity to spend time with one of the great modern cartoonists, and receive an extremely limited edition of what is sure to be the biggest graphic novel event of 2011.

All proceeds from this auction will immediately benefit the First Amendment legal work of the CBLDF.

Join the “Demon Circle” for CBLDF

The main character of “Demon Circle,” Athis, is an apprentice wizard in the Crimson Keep, and he isn’t the brightest flame in the candelabra. So, when he and another apprentice named Belid summon a demon and then panic, trouble ensues—trouble that threatens to snowball wildly out of control. Will they and their fellow student Klaria be able to deal with the consequences before their master finds out? Will the Crimson Keep still be standing when it’s all over?

“Demon Circle” is an original novella from Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Bob Greenberger, Glenn Hauman, Aaron Rosenberg, and Howard Weinstein, the writers behind the new author-driven publishing venture Crazy 8 Press. Written live at ShoreLeave33, proceeds from the sale of “Demon Circle” benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which protects the First Amendment rights of comic book writers, artists, retailers, and fans.

The novella is available for download from ComicMix.com, which is giving a greater portion of the proceeds to CBLDF. You also can choose to make a larger donation to CBLDF when you purchase your copy.

Enjoy the comedic fantasy of “Demon Circle” and support the CBLDF by downloading your copy today!

Start Your Week with Auctions Benefiting the CBLDF

Whether CBLDF runs it or an outside party graciously donates their time and effort, online auctions are one way CBLDF raises the money it needs to defend cases such as the Canada Customs Case. Right now, you’ll be able to find a number of online auctions benefiting CBLDF.

CBLDF has a number of exclusive items up for auction right now. Read on for more!

Support CBLDF’s defense of free speech by making a donation or becoming a member today!

Submission Deadline Extended for InvestComics’ ONE AND DONE Anthology to Benefit CBLDF

Invest Comics and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund are proud to announce that the chance to submit your 1-page story for ONE AND DONE has been just been extended to September 16th!

“We’ve received some really amazing submissions for the collection. But, a large call for an extension on the submission deadline has also come our way.” says Invest Comics President Jay Katz. “Ultimately, this is about creation to benefit a worthy cause and so, if we need to extend to get even more people involved, then that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Read on for more information about ONE AND DONE.

Listen to CBLDF: Censorship Then & Now

CBLDF recently attended Baltimore Comic-Con. During the convention, Executive Director Charles Brownstein presented a riveting history of comics censorship. Internet radio website blogtalkradio was onsite to record the talk, which you can listen to here.

Support CBLDF’s defense of free speech by making a donation or becoming a member today!

Road Report: Baltimore Comic-Con

This past weekend, CBLDF staffers Charles Brownstein, Alex Cox, and Dave Grilli attended Baltimore Comic-Con at the Baltimore Convention Center. CBLDF had an array of exclusive items making their East Coast debut, including our new John Cassaday and Matt Wagner T-shirts and our two new Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab scents, La Mano del Destino and El Nuevo Puritano.

Baltimore Comic-Con is always a great show, and the CBLDF booth was surrounded by great creators, including Stan Sakai, Charles Vess, Terry Moore, and Jeff Smith. Hundreds of attendees dropped by our booth to learn about our current case work and check out our new donation premiums.

Every dollar donated at Baltimore Comic-Con goes directly to fund our current case, in which an American faces jail time for crossing the Canadian border with comics on his electronic devices. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth — we look forward to seeing you again next year! Next stop: SPX in Bethesda, MD!

More Sneak Peeks Of Liberty Annual Online

CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011 will be in stores on October 12, and you may have noticed a spate of exclusive previews online recently.

Bleeding Cool ran an exclusive of the JH Williams III pages from the issue and Rich Johnston spoke with CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein, who described why the CBLDF continues to be relevant and the importance of the Canada Customs Case

Read on for more exclusive sneak peeks of CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011!

Support CBLDF During Baltimore Comic-Con 2011

The CBLDF is excited to be attending Baltimore Comic Con! From August 20 – 21, you can find us at booth 1404 with a full array of great donation premiums and opportunities to support Free Speech! Come by and say hello, learn about our current case work, and check out some of our new exclusives!

We will have new t-shirts from John Cassaday and Matt Wagner and a new version of the hugely popular “I READ BANNED COMICS” t-shirt. Our kid’s section features great new premiums, such as signed copies of Raina Telgemeier’s Eisner-winning memoir Smile and the smash hits Babymouse and Squish by Jennifer and Matt Holm.

We will also have the two newest benefit fragrances from Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs, La Mano Del Destino and El Nuevo Puritano, as well as an accompanying print by graphic designer, writer, and artist J. Gonzo! All this, plus an assortment of signed books, donated by publishers and creators, all of whom are helping us fight for Free Expression.

A comics fan is facing jail time, and CBLDF needs your help now! Show your support for CBLDF and Free Speech by visiting us at booth 1404 during Baltimore Comic-Con, August 20-21!

Fight Censorship with Conan!

The new Conan movie hits theaters today, and you can show your support for both your favorite barbarian and CBLDF!

CBLDF is delighted to offer an array of Conan items to coincide with the release of the new movie. Up for grabs in the CBLDF online donation center are two gorgeous prints: one by Transmetropolitan and The Boys artist Darick Robertson and the other by legendary illustrator and Marvel Zombies artist Arthur Suydam!

Read on to find out about CBLDF’s Conan auctions!

Join Frank Miller in Supporting CBLDF

Legendary Cartoonist Frank Miller has been a staunch supporter of the CBLDF since the organization’s very beginning in 1986. As outspoken in his defense of free speech as he is talented at the drawing board, Miller has earned the Defender of Liberty Award in recognition of all his work on the CBLDF’s behalf, and he continues to support the Fund by providing exclusive signatures on his classic works, as well as donating books from his private collection.

Read on to find out more about exclusive Frank Miller items available only from CBLDF!