Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Comics-On Tees Submissions Online, Challenge Ends Soon!

by Betsy Gomez • April 24, 2012

Threadless and CBLDF announced the Comics-On Tees vol. 6 Design Challenge at C2E2, and submissions have started rolling in! Artists are creating their vision of Neil Gaiman’s original script, The Day the Saucers Came, and the winner of the contest will have their work printed on the first of four Comics-On Tees shirts, alongside Ben Templesmith (Fell, 30 Days of Night), Brandon Graham (Prophet, King City), and John Cassaday (Captain America, Planetary).

Threadless’s community of 1.8 million members will pick the final design, and the chosen shirt will be revealed at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Submissions are open until May 4, 2012, and fans can follow the submissions here. When the four-part series is released, 25% of the proceeds will benefit CBLDF’s important First Amendment work.

Artists: the challenge ends soon, so get to work on your submissions! For more details on the contest, visit the Threadless Atrium here. For more from CBLDF about the contest, check out this article.

Headline, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF Executive Director Joins Everyday Superheroes for 37th Annual Long Island Library Conference

by Betsy Gomez • April 23, 2012

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein will join librarians, patrons, and educators from throughout Long Island for the 37th Annual Long Island Library Conference. This educational forum provides instructive programming and networking opportunities that help improve the quality of libraries in the Long Island community. This year’s theme: Everyday Superheroes at Your Library.

Brownstein will be speaking from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. about the particular concerns of graphic novels in libraries during “With Great Stories Comes Great Responsibility.” The website describes the program:

Whether you call them comics, graphic novels, or manga, books telling stories by blending words and pictures have changed the world of reading. Learn about the great power that the many categories of comics hold for your patrons and explore the responsibilities we face in helping them navigate these brave new worlds. Charles Brownstein provides an overview of the world of comics and addresses common challenge issues in a talk affirming why comics are a vital aspect of the 21^st century library environment.

Please join Brownstein and fellow library lovers for the 37th Annual Long Island Library Conference, happening May 3, 2012, at the Melville Marriot (1350 Old Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747). You can register for the conference here. Space at the conference is limited, so register soon!

Homepage, News Blog

Columbia University Posts Video from COMIC NEW YORK: A SYMPOSIUM

by Betsy Gomez • April 20, 2012

by Betsy Gomez

I don’t know about the rest of you, but as a West Coast gal, I was pretty bereft that I couldn’t attend Comic New York: A Symposium, the two-day event that brought together comics creators and academics to discuss American comics and the role New York City played in their establishment. I love New York and would have loved the chance to see CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein, CBLDF founder Denis Kitchen, and CBLDF board member Paul Levitz share their takes on comics and the city that molded them.

I got a good piece of news this week, though: The nice folks at Columbia University have uploaded videos of the programming at the symposium! Check out the videos after the jump.

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF Heads to LA for the Festival of Books!

by Betsy Gomez • April 20, 2012

CBLDF Deputy Director Alex Cox is headed to the West Coast this weekend for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, joining a cadre of authors and book lovers for the annual celebration of the printed word! If you live in the area, head over the University of Southern California campus this weekend for sunshine and literature!

Come by booth #856 to show your support for CBLDF and mingle with fellow supporters of Free Speech. CBLDF will have a vast array of signed premiums on hand for readers of all ages. We’ll have some of the world’s greatest comics, including Maus, Watchmen, Sandman, The Walking Dead, and Understanding Comics, all signed by their creators to support the fight for Free Speech! And that’s just the beginning! You’ll also be able to pick up your own “I Read Banned Comics” t-shirt and other apparel, tote bags, button sets, and more.

CBLDF is also delighted to have some amazing creators signing at booth #856. On Saturday, at 2:00 p.m, you’ll be able to get autographs from Sam Humphries, the writer behind the cult hit Our Love Is Real and Fraggle Rock and The Ultimates. On noon on Sunday, we’ll be joined by Lev Grossman, the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Magicians and The Magician King!

The weather forecasts are sunny for this weekend’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, so please join CBLDF at booth #856 this weekend to support Free Speech and celebrate books!

Features, Homepage, Legal, News Blog

CBLDF’s History of Comics Censorship Presentation, Annotated by Joe Sergi’s Cup of Geek

by cbldf • April 19, 2012

Joe Sergi, blogger for Cup of Geek went to the CBLDF presentation The History (And Future) of Comics Censorship at C2E2 last weekend and wrote an extensive recap of the panel, with additional research and annotations by the author. CBLDF is pleased to represent Sergi’s post in full as a resource for our members and supporters. Read Sergi’s post after the jump.

Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog, Uncategorized

Chicago Shows Huge Support At C2E2!

by cbldf • April 18, 2012

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!