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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 Applauds Amendment to 2010 Massachusetts Law Removing Restrictions on Internet Speech

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Following a successful legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, local booksellers, and others, including the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Governor Deval Patrick yesterday signed into law an amendment to controversial 2010 legislation that imposed severe restrictions on Internet content, including discussion of topics such as literature, art, and sexual and reproductive health.

The amendment, which goes into effect immediately, is a direct response to the granting of a preliminary injunction by U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel last fall that found the law likely violated the First Amendment. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed the bill in order to address the constitutional flaws in the existing law. CBLDF joined the Harvard Book Store, Porter Square Books, the Photographic Resource Center, a licensed marriage and family therapist, trade associations, and the ACLU of Massachusetts in filing suit last July to block the law because it made providers of constitutionally protected speech on the Internet criminally liable if such material might be deemed “harmful to minors.”

“Comic book creators and retailers are pleased to see this amendment go into effect, because it protects their constitutionally protected works as they are circulated and sold online,” said Charles Brownstein, Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

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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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STRANGE TALES Party and Signing! Hosted by the CBLDF and THE BEAT!

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Saturday, April 9th (the weekend of the MoCCA festival), you are invited to a release party for Marvel’s STRANGE TALES party, co-hosted by THE BEAT, and a fundraiser for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. It will take place at THE MAD HATTER (easy walking distance from the Armory) from 7 til 9, and there will be drink specials for those attending.

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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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Win One-on-One Time With Frank Quitely in San Francisco and New York!

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Frank Quitely is an illustrator who is universally acclaimed for his unique dynamic style — a style that perfectly complemented Grant Morrison’s visionary redefinition of Superman in All-Star Superman. He also lives in Scotland, so he’s a bit hard to find around these parts! However, CBLDF has talked him into a visit Stateside, and now you have a chance to join him for lunch during WonderCon in San Francisco or for drinks in New York!

CBLDF is auctioning off two chances to meet Quitely! Two lucky fans will get the rare chance to spend time with one of the superstars of modern comics!

For West Coast fans, you can bid on a chance to join Quitely for lunch one day during WonderCon, taking place in San Francisco, April 1 – 3, 2011. Bid on lunch in San Francisco here!

East Coast fans can join Quitely for drinks on April 5, 2011, in New York City. You can find the auction for drinks in New York here.

Don’t miss your chance to meet Frank Quitely during a rare US appearance! CBLDF is delighted to offer one fan the opportunity to join Quitely for lunch in San Francisco during WonderCon, April 1-3, 2011, and the chance for a second fan to meet Quitely for drinks in New York on April 5, 2011. Bid now to meet Frank Quitely in San Francisco or New York!

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CBLDF Sweeps Through the Windy City During C2E2

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This week finds your intrepid CBLDF team headed home after a fantastic three days at C2E2 in Chicago, Illinois! We spent most of the weekend chatting with convention attendees at the CBLDF booth, talking up Free Speech and the Fund with an astoundingly attentive audience of supporters, new and old. If the weakened state of our voices is anything to go by, we probably talked to all 34,000 C2E2 attendees over the course of the weekend!

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