This week, Melinda Beasi at Manga Bookshelf took some time to examine how Apple handles adult content in their iOS App Store. Beasi opened her article by recalling past concerns over how Apple has handled LGBTQ content, rejecting mild sexual LGBTQ content while allowing similar heterosexual content, seemingly without reservation. Apple has since embraced LGBTQ publishers, but Beasi’s article indicates that LGBTQ material may still be singled out by Apple, affecting manga publishers in particular.
CBLDF is committed to supporting the comics community. Fill out our form to request assistance or report censorship today!
CBLDF is committed to supporting the comics community. Fill out our form to request assistance or report censorship today!
PayPal Threatens Deactivation of Publishers’ Accounts Over Erotic Content
Starting February 18, PayPal began contacting independent e-book publishers about new policies regarding erotic content. PayPal told publishers that they cannot sell erotic material that depicts incest, pseudo-incest, rape fantasies, bestiality (including non-human fantasy characters), and BDSM. Selling these materials will result in the deactivation of the publishers’ PayPal accounts. As a result of PayPal’s new policy, many publishers are taking down erotic work.
More after the jump…
Image Expo Was A Shining Success For CBLDF!
Last weekend, the CBLDF was in Oakland, CA, exhibiting at Image Expo, a celebration of creator-owned comics commemorating the 20th anniversary of Image Comics. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein and CBLDF.org editor Betsy Gomez were there representing the Fund and got to meet a lot of our members and supporters, who generously contributed more than $4,000 to our important legal work over the course of the weekend. Brownstein takes you through the Image Expo experience after the jump!
One Million Moms Targets Toys “R” Us Over LIFE WITH ARCHIE #16
One Million Moms — a division of the American Family Association, a conservative non-profit organization that “promotes traditional family values” — recently made news over their boycott of retailer JC Penney over hiring lesbian TV host Ellen DeGeneres as a spokesperson. They are in the news again with recent reports that they will be boycotting Toys “R” Us over the display and sale of Life with Archie #16, which features the marriage of openly gay character Kevin Keller.
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!
Latest Round of Ultimate Comics’ Muppet Auctions Include Sketches from Christian Slade, Roger Langridge, and More!
We announced Ultimate Comics’ The Muppet Show #1 sketch variant cover auctions just last week, and an all-new new round of nine covers just went up!
Click through for a sneak peek or head over to Ultimate Comics’ eBay page to view all of the covers and bid on your favorite sketch! Proceeds from the auction benefit CBLDF’s important work in defense of the First Amendment!
Image Expo Bound!
This weekend, the CBLDF will be exhibiting at Image Expo, a celebration of creator owned comics honoring the 20th Anniversary of Image Comics, in downtown Oakland, California.
The CBLDF will have all kinds of thank yous for our supporters including a free CBLDF exclusive edition of Glory #23, and a welcome party on Friday that’s free for members.
After the jump, CBLDF’s Executive Director Charles Brownstein walks you through all the great things the Fund has planned at the show!
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…
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.
Image Comics, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and iFanboy present the Image Expo Welcome Party
Experience Creativity with comics’ greatest creators at the Image Expo Welcome Party sponsored by Image Comics and iFanboy to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! The party is free for CBLDF members and kicks off at 8 PM on February 24, 2012 at The Uptown in Oakland, California. This party jump starts a weekend of celebrating independent comics and free speech at the Image Expo, taking place at the Oakland Convention Center. Proceeds from the Image Expo Welcome Party will benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, who will have a gift bag for members and donors!
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!
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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.
Ultimate Comics Gives Back to CBLDF with Muppet Show Auction!
Did you ever want to see what Frank Cho, Eric Powell, or David Mack would do with an assignment to draw the Muppets? North Carolina retailer Ultimate Comics made it happen! They are proud to announce that it will be auctioning two dozen of its store exclusiveThe Muppet Show #1 variant covers, hand sketched by some of the greatest talent in the comics industry, with all proceeds going to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!
The auctions start today! Keep reading for more details and an auction preview!
CBLDF Founder Denis Kitchen Talks Underground Comix and Free Speech at St. Mary’s College
CBLDF founder Denis Kitchen recently shared his love for underground comics and his experience as an editor and defender of Free Speech during a presentation at St. Mary’s College in Maryland. The Point News, St. Mary’s student newspaper, covered the presentation, getting takes from students who saw the lecture. More…
Belgian Court Keeps TINTIN IN THE CONGO on Shelves
After a recent ruling by a Belgian court, Hergé’s controversial second book in the Tintin series, Tintin in the Congo, remains on shelves. The book faced charges that it broke several of Belgium’s laws against racism and incited racial hatred, but the court ruled that the book, which was serialized from 1930 to 1931 and collected in 1946 with significant revisions, was a product of its time and did not intend to incite racial hatred.