Comic Creator Jai Nitz Accused of Predatory Behavior (Update x2)
You may not know the name but you most likely know Jai Nitz‘s creations like El Diablo, a character who appeared in the film Suicide Squad. Nitz is also now the latest comic creator to be accused of harassment.
On the site Her Campus, a University of Kansas student recounts her experience with Nitz who graduated from the school in 1998 and was a guest lecturer of the journalism class of the student.
The victim recounts how what she perceived as a mentorship turned into something more sinister. Drinks turned into sexual talk and then a forceful kiss after the victim made it clear she wasn’t interested.
Nitz attempted to use his position, a power structure inequality, to take advantage of a student. And she may not be the only one.
I’ve been told that I’m not the only one to experience this behavior from him.
A Title IX complaint was made over the behavior and the victim was informed that “the school of journalism wouldn’t be inviting Jai back.”
Nitz deleted his Twitter account earlier today as news broke (update 4/1 – he has reactivated his account but set it to private). We’ve reached out for comments from publishers. Nitz currently has a series Astro Hustle being published by Dark Horse and the series Suicide Squad: Black Files wraps up this week for DC Comics.
Update (4/1/2019): Dark Horse has responded with an updated comment to their original statement released Saturday:
Dark Horse takes all allegations seriously. We have cancelled future issues of Astro Hustle. While we were unable to prevent our distributor’s shipping of Astro Hustle #2, we are also suspending our professional ties with Jai Nitz.
Update 2: Nitz was to appear at Planet ComicCon this weekend and has left the convention and not returning. The below photo was taken 1:52pm today. The photo reads:
Sorry Folks! Jai had a family emergency & will not be back this weekend. Have a great con!
Correction: The article has been updated to make clearer Nitz’s role in the journalism class. He was originally titled the co-professor of the class when he was a guest.
When is the comic industry going to do something about Richard Pini.
If you contact us with details we’ll be happy to look into it. This is the first time to us his name has been raised.
The Elfquest guy? What were the allegations?
I have a horrible experience with this man! How can I contact you about this?
I created my first Image book with Jai. Not only is he the least ethical man I’ve ever worked with in this industry, he creeped on my wife at Atlanta Con 2002. He then followed up with a phone call trying to contact my wife after. My wife and I talked about this and decided not to do anything at the time, which I now painfully regret. I left the series and just made certain Jai was out of our lives.
If there is an investigation being done on him, I’d wish to speak to them to tell what I know about his sexual predatory behavior, but also his criminal activity as a comic book creator, as well. Please let me know who I would need to contact to follow up with this.
Thank you.
Zach Howard