Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Comics Alliance: Why Comics Get Confiscated & How to Protect Yours

by cbldf • May 18, 2011

Laura Hudson at Comics Alliance dug into the recent seizures of comics at the Canadian Border, speaking to CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein and Tom Neely about the incidents, and sorting through “Canadian customs documentation to get the details on how this happened, the measures you can take to protect yourself and your comics when you’re crossing the border, the concerns this raises for comics fans, and a list of things that may get your comics flagged as obscene and confiscated (or worse).” It’s a terrific summary that presents a concise overview of the complex issue, and provides some excellent, plainspoken pointers about how to protect yourself and your comics. Read the full story here.

Please support the CBLDF’s coverage and defense of free speech issues like this by making a donation today!

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog, Press Releases

CBLDF Auctions Massive Molly Crabapple Original

by Betsy Gomez • May 17, 2011

Bid Now! The auction for this artistic tour de force is live now. Bids can be placed online here.

Press Release (and more photos!) available below the cut …

Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

Larry Marder’s CBLDF Liberty Cards Diary #1

by cbldf • May 17, 2011

CBLDF President Larry Marder takes you behind the scenes of the CBLDF Liberty Trading Cards with this first hand diary of his experiences putting the set together! Today he shows off how the set’s sketch cards came to be, and takes you with him as he visits Rob Liefeld & Scott McCloud to get them embellishing the cards!

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

How to Keep Customs From Seizing Your Comics

by Betsy Gomez • May 16, 2011

The crew over at Gamma Squad took a moment to touch base with CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein about the latest comic book seizures by Canada Customs and to outline some tips for protecting yourself when crossing the border. Brownstein talks about why books are seized:

“It’s always hard to say why customs agents seize the work that they do, because oftentimes the determinations made are subjective,” said Charles Brownstein, Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. “I don’t second guess the motives of customs authorities. In 2004 a customs agent in South Carolina seized a shipment of books that included a strip satirizing the Bush administration called “Richie Bush,” because the agent alleged the parody comic was ripping off the Richie Rich trademark. All kinds of content has been seized, and is at risk.”

Check out the full article here.

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF President Larry Marder on CBLDF Liberty Trading Cards

by Betsy Gomez • May 12, 2011

I’m Larry Marder, creator of Beanworld and President of the Board for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and I’m here today to talk about the CBLDF Liberty Trading Cards.

So what are these cards?

Let me tell you!

Ripped from the lurid headlines of yesteryear, the CBLDF Liberty Trading Cards relate the history — told in words and pictures — of comic book censorship in the United States of America.

Homepage, Legal, News Blog

Tom Neely & Dylan Williams Speak Out On Their Customs Seizure Experience

by cbldf • May 12, 2011

Last weekend artist Tom Neely and publisher Dylan Williams were stopped and searched by Canada Customs on their way to the Toronto Comics Art Festival. Customs officers seized copies of two items they were bringing to the festival, Black Eye, an anthology of comics Neely contributed to, and Young Lions, a graphic novel by Blaise Larmee. The CBLDF caught up with Neely & Williams over email when they returned to the United States to learn more details about their ordeal. Full Story

Please support the CBLDF’s coverage and defense of free speech issues like this by making a donation today!