Category: Fundraising

The Good Fighters: Angela Moeny

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Angela Moeny claims to have the best jobs — paid and unpaid — and when you talk to her, you can do nothing but believe her claim. She’s as enthusiastic a librarian and educator as anyone could find. A staunch youth advocate, you can find her working as an elementary school librarian, spending her summers with a youth theatre ensemble, and running events such as book fairs. Moeny recently joined the ranks of CBLDF volunteers, and we’re delighted to have her aboard!

Also a professional photographer, writer, compulsive doodler, urban chicken farmer, comics junkie, and more, Moeny recently took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to CBLDF in this installment of The Good Fighters.

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Wired Talks Transmetropolitan Art Book

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This May will see the release of the Transmetropolitan art book, which celebrates the visionary dystopian comic series by Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson. Funded entirely by a Kickstarter donation drive, proceeds from the sale of the book benefit CBLDF and The Hero Initiative.

Wired.com has an exclusive preview of artwork from the book. They touched base with CBLDF about the project:

“Transmetropolitan is one of those rare works that functions as a compelling genre story, perceptive science fiction and cutting social satire all at the same time,” said Charles Brownstein, executive director of Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, in an e-mail to Wired.com. “The series uses edgy, and sometimes taboo, topics to address the changes that are happening to our society, and that’s what expressive speech is supposed to do. Transmet does it exceedingly well.”

Wired.com also spoke with Ellis, Robertson, and Brian Pulido of The Hero Initiative about the project. You can catch the full article and exclusive images here.

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A Con Grows In Stumptown

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Last Friday comics creators and fans converged on a rain streaked Portland night to kick off the 2011 Stumptown Comics Festival. A growing showcase for handcrafted comics and art, Stumptown behaves less like a traditional comic book convention, and more like a pageant honoring the distinctive creative culture of Portland, Oregon. For three days, the city’s various institutions, including comic shops and galleries host comics focused parties while artists show their wares on the festival’s curated exhibit hall. The CBLDF was there to participate in the festivities.

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Jeffrey Brown’s Inspiring Membership Cards

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As any past and present member knows, CBLDF membership has its benefits, including a number of incentives and premiums.

We have a membership level for everyone, and each membership level has its own incentives. Everyone gets a membership card — this year’s features Green Lantern — but if you sign up for the CBLDF Defender Membership at a $250 donation, you will also get a hand-drawn membership card! You can choose a card by celebrated comics artists Jeffrey Brown, Matt Wagner, Eric Powell, Cliff Chiang, or Dean Haspiel.

Brown just sent us a slew of eye-catching, full-color cards! We’re inspired both by these gorgeous cards and by the time Brown donated to make the cards for us, and we hope this inspires you to become a defender of Free Speech for the comics community. Become a member now!

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CBLDF Stumps for Free Speech at Stumptown Comics Fest

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CBLDF jets back to the West Coast this weekend for Stumptown Comics Fest 2011, April 16-17 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon!

Like CBLDF, Stumptown is no stranger to volunteerism — it was started in 2004 by a group of dedicated volunteers who wanted to produce a comics show that focused on creators. Since, Stumptown has grown enormously in size and accolades, and this year looks to be the biggest show yet, chock full of spectacular comics guests! You’ll be able to find CBLDF at booth 308 throughout the show.

To get Stumptown off to a roaring start, the convention and sponsor Dark Horse Comics have assembled an all-star cast of creators to take part in an exclusive dinner auction, the proceeds of which benefit CBLDF! Where else could you join Matt Wagner (Grendel, Mage, Green Hornet, Sandman Mystery Theater), Eric Powell (The Goon), Brandon Graham (King City), Steve Lieber (Underground, Whiteout), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), and more for a bite to eat?! The auction is on now, and you have until 10:00 a.m. PDT on Thursday to bid on one of ten seats at dinner, which takes place Friday, April 15, at BridgePort BrewPub in Portland’s historic Pearl District. Winners also get sketches from each of the creators and a free weekend pass to Stumptown. Bid now!

On Saturday, April 16, you can get to know CBLDF President and Beanworld creator Larry Marder during The Leguminous Life of Larry Marder panel in Room A105 from 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. The lowdown from Stumptown’s schedule:

Beans have been part of Marder’s life since the day he was born. This rich visual presentation covers the entire history of his peculiar fantasy dimension, including discussion about Marder’s many influences. This is your opportunity to discover why Beanworld has captivated readers from grade school to grad school since its first publication as a series of comic books in the 1980s. Now Beanworld is at Dark Horse Comics entertaining an entire new generation of fans. Get a glimpse into Marder’s next original Beanworld graphic novel “Something More!” And what exactly is “Beanworld 3.5” anyway?

We’ll see you at Stumptown Comics Fest in Portand, Oregon, this weekend, April 16-17. Look for us at booth #308! Don’t forget to bid generously on the chance to dine with Stumptown’s finest guests — the auction ends soon!

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CBLDF Has a Wonderful Time at WonderCon 2011

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Hey, hey, hey, everyone! It’s your intrepid Web Editor here with a quick report about WonderCon.

What’s to say about WonderCon 2011?! WOW! What a year! WonderCon keeps on growing, topping all previous years with a jam-packed exhibit hall and programming schedule. CBLDF was kept plenty busy slinging free speech, putting hot signed premiums in fans’ hands, and signing up new members!

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Catch A Wave With CBLDF At WonderCon

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This weekend finds your battle-hardened CBLDF crew eagerly headed to sunny San Francisco, California, for WonderCon 2011! You’ll find the whole team at the Moscone Center with a booth chock full of signed premiums, a new Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab fragrance, a new t-shirt, and Frank Quitely exclusives! Read on for all of our exciting plans!

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New BPAL Scent Premieres for CBLDF At WonderCon!

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CBLDF is proud to premiere the new Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab fragrance Cohen v. California at WonderCon! Based upon the landmark First Amendment case that explicitly acknowledged profanity as protected speech, Cohen v. California celebrates the notion that “one man’s vulgarity is another’s lyric.” This special premiere is accompanied by an all-new signed and numbered print by Beanworld creator Larry Marder!

This premiere edition of Cohen v. California is strictly limited to 50 pieces, and will be available at the CBLDF, booth 323, during WonderCon, April 1-3, 2011, in San Francisco, California!

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CBLDF Offers Frank Quitely Exclusives for WonderCon

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CBLDF is delighted to partner with comics wunderkind Frank Quitely for a series of exclusive prints and postcards, debuting at WonderCon, April 1 – 3, 2011, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California!

Quitely is best known for his work on All-Star Superman, Batman and Robin, We3, and The Authority. The Scotland-residing artist rarely visits the United States, and CBLDF is honored to work with Quitely on exclusives to benefit CBLDF’s First Amendment work.

When fans of Quitely’s kinetic artwork visit CBLDF at booth 323 during WonderCon, they will be able to get a stunning print, designed by Quitely exclusively to benefit CBLDF! An unlimited, full-color edition is available for a $20 donation to CBLDF. A signed and numbered black and white facsimile edition of the original art is available for a $50 donation and is limited to just 50 pieces.

CBLDF supporters who visit the booth will find not one, but two, sets of CBLDF Signature Series postcards! Each set is a $10 donation, with one set featuring Quitely’s full-color character designs and the other set featuring some of his gorgeous figure sketches.

Quitely will be joining CBLDF for signings during WonderCon. Come by booth 323 for details.

If you don’t have lunch plans during WonderCon, you could win a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Quitely one-on-one. Bid here!

Don’t miss your chance to pick up exclusive prints and postcards, designed by Frank Quitely to benefit CBLDF. Visit booth 323 during WonderCon, April 1-3, 2011 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco!

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