CBLDF Deputy Director Alex Cox is headed to Denver, Colorado, this weekend for the Denver Comic Con, a literary conference and convention at the Colorado Convention Center. He’s excited to see the myriad of Free Speech supporters that populate the Rocky Mountain State and its neighbors. He’ll have an array of signed graphic novels at booth 420, ready to go home with any fan of comics and Free Speech. Click through for more details!
Category: Uncategorized
Chicago Shows Huge Support At C2E2!
Last weekend the CBLDF team was at C2E2 in Chicago where we launched a huge t-shirt project with Threadless, delivered a presentation on the history of comics censorship, signed up over 30 new members, and raised more than $7,300 for our important work. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein recaps the festivities after the jump!
CONAN letterpress print, signed by Becky Cloonan and Brian Wood!
With the announcement of writer Brian Wood and artist Becky Cloonan as the new creative team on Dark Horse Comics’ Conan the Barbarian, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is excited to unveil an exclusive letterpress print, limited to an exclusive run of 100!
This print features characters from Robert E. Howard’s “Queen of the Black Coast,” the adaptation of which forms the basis of Wood and Cloonan’s first Conan arc. The print is based on the line art of an exclusive variant cover and is being used by CBLDF for this exclusive premium item through the gracious cooperation of the Robert E. Howard Estate and Dark Horse Comics.
Signed by Wood and Cloonan, these prints were hand-letterpressed by Letterpress PDX in Portland, Oregon, on heavy wet-press rag stock, and are beautifully textured. If you are a Conan fan, a fan of Wood and Cloonan, or simply want to support the CBLDF’s continuing fight for Free Expression, this print is a “must-have” item!
CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011!
CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 collects incredible contributions, including original stories by superstars J. Michael Straczynski (Superman: Earth One), Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman), J.H. Williams III (Batwoman), Steve Niles (30 days of Night), Judd Winick (Catwoman), Mark Waid (Daredevil) and Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), and Carla Speed McNeil (Finder). Look for all-new tales featuring Grendel by Matt Wagner, Cowboy Ninja Viking by AJ Lieberman and Riley Rossmo, and Elephantmen by Richard Starkings and Shaky Kane. Plus: a massive and first-ever full-color story from independent comics master Craig Thompson (Blankets)! Marvel and DC Comics have stepped up to show their support, with all-new pin-ups of Batman by Dustin Nguyen, X-Men by Greg Land, Green Lantern by Ivan Reis, and the Avengers by Greg Horn! It’s all topped off by incredible covers by John Cassaday, Matt Wagner, and a special incentive cover by Frank Quitely!
MARK TWAIN’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 1910-2010, signed by Michael Kupperman
Created by humorist and cartoonist Michael Kupperman (TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE), this mix of illustrated writing and comics follows Twain as he navigates the Twentieth Century and makes his way into the Twenty-First. His adventures are tense, scary, sexy, mischievous, and sometimes embarrassing. Twain spills the dirt on his secret love affairs with Marilyn Monroe and Mame Eisenhower, tells about his spying and private detective work, and dishes about his involvement in film, TV and advertising. The time he took LSD, the day he tried to hypnotize a donut clerk. Where he first met Einstein and how they travelled through time together. How to build your own raft and the life of a hobo. And who really killed JFK…? All this and much, much more!
This hardcover is signed by the author! Available now!
The Walking Dead Vol. 1 Days Gone Bye SC Signed by Kirkman
An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months, society has crumbled: There is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. Rick Grimes finds himself one of the few survivors in this terrifying future. A couple months ago he was a small town cop who had never fired a shot and only ever saw one dead body. Separated from his family, he must now sort through all the death and confusion to try and find his wife and son. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally begin living.
SPX 11: Jeff Alexander Memorial Auction Preview – UPDATED
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the organizers of SPX are proud to honor the memory of Jeff Alexander by launching an annual benefit auction in his name at this year’s convention. Jeff Alexander was a friend to the small press community, both as a cartoonist and an organizer of SPX and the Ignatz Awards. He passed away earlier this year.
The first annual Jeff Alexander Memorial Benefit Auction includes pieces from Jeff’s collection that he donated to the CBLDF, including original art by Charles Vess & Jeff Smith, Tony Millionaire, and Roger Langridge. The auction also includes contributions from the SPX community, including Keith Knight, Raina Telgemeier, Jeffrey Brown and many more.
Below is a full listing of items that will be available in the auction, which will happen this Saturday at 4:30 at SPX. Internet bids will be received by emailing charles.brownstein@cbldf.org by Saturday afternoon at 1 PM ET.
Listen to Charles Brownstein Talk About CBLDF
According to their website, the folks at Galactic Watercooler are “a community of friendly people who enjoy and participate in geekdom as a whole.” They love all things geeky, and in this week’s Galactic Watercooler podcast, you can listen to an interview with CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein.
Galactic Watercooler podcaster Audra discovered CBLDF during Comic-Con, so she spoke with Brownstein about CBLDF’s origin and mission. Brownstein discussed the Comics Code, CBLDF’s Canada Customs Case, and CBLDF’s work in libraries. You can listen to Brownstein’s interview and a discussion about free speech here. The interview starts around the 72:10 mark, and the discussion about free speech closes out the podcast.
Support CBLDF’s defense of free speech by making a donation or becoming a member today!
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!
Editor Bob Schreck Talks CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL with MTV Geek
Bob Schreck, Editor in Chief for the comics division of Legendary Enterntainment, took a moment to talk to Alex Zalben at MTV Geek about his experience editing CBLDF Liberty Annual 2011, which hits shelves on October 12. MTV Geek also has an exclusive sneak peak at the Grendel pages from the issue.
Schreck sums up the Liberty Annual for Zalben:
The Liberty Annual is designed to help raise money and awareness every year by bringing great creators together to tell stories about freedom of speech. Scott Dunbier started the series in 2008, my friend Jamie Rich helmed the second edition in 2009, and Larry Marder edited the third book in 2010. Every year Eric Stephenson and the good folks at Image Comics volunteer their efforts to publish the book and Richard Starkings and JG Roshell at Comicraft do the production. It’s a great team effort.
Read on for more about Schreck’s interview with Zalben.