Tag Archives: charles brownstein

Charles Brownstein is Out as Comic Book Legal Defense Board Executive Director

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The writing was on the wall and rumors swirled all throughout the day but Charles Brownstein is officially out as the Executive Director at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund “effective immediately.”

The calls for Brownstein’s removal were raised again last week after the numerous revelations of abusers and harassers in the comic industry. Brownstein’s issues stem back to 2006 and that event along with other criticisms of the organization, some justified and some not, continued through the weekend until today’s event and change in leadership. Brownstein began with the organization in 2002.

Creators in the comic industry began to speak up how they would no longer support, or weren’t supporting, the CBLDF over Brownstein’s employment.

Read the CBLDF’s statement below:

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has accepted the resignation of Charles Brownstein as Executive Director, effective immediately. 

Our organization exists to serve the comics community and the First Amendment, and we can’t do that without an open and honest discourse. We believe our organization’s management and staff should be representative of and responsive to the community they serve. As we move forward, it will be with a renewed focus on accountability and transparency. And as we plan for the future with new leadership in place, we will work with our staff and human resources experts to continue developing policies that will make us a stronger organization. 

We hear and understand the concerns of our community and recognize that this is only a first step in building greater trust and understanding regarding our mission and how it is carried out.

CBLDF Support is Pulled as Brownstein Allegations are Raised

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Last week was a very revelatory week when it came to harassment in the comic industry. Three individuals were named over the week. Further discussion of harassment within the industry was raised including the 2006 allegations against current Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Charles Brownstein.

Numerous creators took to Twitter to say they were pulling support or denounced the organization for the lack of action concerning Brownstein. In full disclosure, we have been members and supporters of the organization but are also adding our voice of no longer doing so until change comes.

Things kicked off when writer Jennifer de Guzman shared the 2006 article from Comics Journal that details the assault that occurred between Brownstein and creator Taki Soma.

Numerous creators then took took to Twitter retweeting the piece and saying they were pulling support and others saying they had already done so.

https://twitter.com/kamigarcia/status/1275140353256022023

Soma spoke up as well stating there were other victims.

Mike Scigliano, who served as CBLDF deputy director, came forward, Tweeting that he’d been harassed by Brownstein. Scigliano’s Tweet would indicate not only an issue with Brownstein but the entire board of the organization.

In 2006, in response to the event the CBLDF hired an outside firm which then made recommendations for Brownstein remain in his position. We’re told that he did indeed meet all of those requirements according to sources.

The CBLDF is an organization focused on free speech issues and has had some recent controversies including their support of graphic novel publisher/distributor Simon & Schuster after threats of boycott related to bigot Milo Yiannopoulos. There’s been a lot of chatter of an antiquated organization not up for modern times.

The organization is made up of a board of industry professionals and supported by donations and corporate sponsors and retail members.

Copyright vs. Creativity: Is Intellectual Property Reserved for the 1%?

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Filmed at NYU School of Law on September 23, this panel asks whether copyright has lost one of its principle functions: to protect authors and original ideas. In the digital age, does copyright have a purpose beyond protecting corporations from illegal copying and file sharing? The panel featured:

  • Jörg Tittel, author of the recently released Ricky Rouse Has a Gun
  • Charles Brownstein, Executive Director, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
  • Christopher Sprigman, Professor of Law, Author of The Knockoff Economy
  • Barton Beebe, John M. Desmarais Professor of Intellectual Property Law

An interesting discussion and well worth watching for anyone in the comic industry.

Around the Tubes

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It’s Thursday, did you make it to your comic shop yesterday?  Grab anything good?  While you think about what you liked this week, here’s the news you might have missed.

Around the Blogs:

CBLDF – Charles Brownstein Talks Comics Code Authority Seal – Wow, the press got something wrong.  We got it right…

The Beat – Haven Distributors announces closing down; one man stands against a monopoly – Someone will rise up to challenge Diamond.

CNN Belief Blog – Muslim superhero comics meet resistance in U.S. – Where was the coverage when the right was attacking this incessantly?

Con Coverage:

The Beat – NYCC: Tom Morello to play kickoff concert

Around the Tubes Reviews:

What Culture! – Action Comics #2

IGN – Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth TPB

ICv2 – Cage of Eden Vol. 1

IGN – Casanova: Avaritia #2

Geek Life – Code Word: Geronimo

CBR – Swamp Thing #2

MTV Geek – X-Men Schism #5

Paste Magazine – Comic Book & Graphic Novel Round-Up (10/5/11)

Complex – Review: Can “The Walking Dead” Triumph Over “Action Comics” This Week?

Around the Tubes

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Lots of articles today and there’s tons of previews and reviews throughout the day.  Enjoy all the news and here’s yesterday’s you might have missed.

Around the Blogs:

CBS News – In Archie, cancer appears, so does helping, too – It’d be great if this raised the profile for comics, but more importantly I hope it raises a lot of money for the cause.

CBLDF – It’s Banned Books Week! – I’ll be sporting my CBLDF t-shirt!

Think Progress – Should Feminists Give Up On Comics? – A good take on the DC “women” problem.

Con Coverage:

Spandexless – SPX Pulls: I Read Banned Comics Shirt

Spandexless – SPX Talks: Charles Brownstein, Executive Director, CBLDF

Spandexless – SPX Talks: Homeless Comics

Spandexless – SPX Talks: Darryl Ayo

Spandexless – SPX Talks: Domitille Collardey

Around the Tubes Reviews:

CBR – Captain America #3

Comics Alliance – Holy Terror

CBR – New Teen Titans: Games

MTV Geek – Dark Horse Advance Reviews: Fear Agent #31, Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth

CBLDFNews Frank Quitely in NYC & WonderCon! New BPAL, T-Shirt & More at WonderCon!

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Official Press Release

Frank Quitely: Coast to Coast

In early April, Frank Quitely is showing his support for the CBLDF from coast to coast! April 1-3 finds him on the West Coast for WonderCon 2011 in San Francisco, California. Come April 5, fans will have a chance to see him in New York City!

In collaboration with WonderCon, CBLDF is proud to present Frank Quitely: Coast to Coast! Quitely will be joined by esteemed artist and professor José Villarrubia for an intimate conversation about his career, his influences, his collaborations, and his future projects. This unique event happens one night only, on April 5, 2011, at Cinema Village in New York City!

For a $15 donation, you can get a ticket to attend this exclusive event. At this time, tickets are ONLY available in advance and will not be offered at the door. You can get them online through the CBLDF website, here. You can also purchase tickets at Forbidden Planet (840 Broadway, New York, 212-473-1576).

If you would like to join Quitely for drinks before the event, CBLDF is auctioning the opportunity to do so! One lucky fan will get the chance to meet Quitely one-on-one! Bid here.

Don’t miss Frank Quitely in conversation with Jose Villarrubia during Frank Quitely: Coast to Coast, taking place in New York City on April 5, 2011. Get your tickets online now!

CBLDF Offers Frank Quitely Exclusives for WonderCon

CBLDF is delighted to partner with comics wunderkind Frank Quitely for a series of exclusive prints and postcards, debuting at WonderCon, April 1 – 3, 2011, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California!

CBLDF supporters who visit the booth will find not one, but two, sets of CBLDF Signature Series postcards! Each set is a $10 donation, with one set featuring Quitely’s full-color character designs and the other set featuring some of his gorgeous figure sketches.

Quitely will be joining CBLDF for signings during WonderCon. Come by booth 323 for details.

New BPAL Scent Premieres for CBLDF At WonderCon!

CBLDF is proud to premiere the new Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab fragrance Cohen v. California at WonderCon! Based upon the landmark First Amendment case that explicitly acknowledged profanity as protected speech, Cohen v. California celebrates the notion that “one man’s vulgarity is another’s lyric.” This special premiere is accompanied by an all-new signed and numbered print by Beanworld creator Larry Marder!

This premiere edition of Cohen v. California is strictly limited to 50 pieces, and will be available at the CBLDF, booth 323, during WonderCon, April 1-3, 2011, in San Francisco, California!

Catch A Wave With The CBLDF At WonderCon

This weekend finds your battle-hardened CBLDF crew eagerly headed to sunny San Francisco, California, for WonderCon 2011! You’ll find the whole team at the Moscone Center with a booth chock full of signed premiums, as well as the exclusives listed above and an all new t-shirt!  Here’s what else we have in store for you:

SIGNINGS

Come meet superstar artist Frank Quitely at booth 323! He’ll be signing at CBLDF each day of the convention during the following times:

Friday 3:30 –  5:30 p.m.

Saturday 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  and 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

PANELS

CBLDF: After the Code
Friday, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Room 236/238

Earlier this year, the Comics Code Authority was shut down.  For more than fifty years the Code seal has served as a vivid reminder of the brutal government investigation and self-censorship that decimated the industry in the 1950s. It also stood as a standard that led to the censorship of a wide variety of comics. As the Code fades into history, the CBLDF moderates a discussion about how the Code impacted comics and the threats that remain in its absence. The panel will include Sergio Aragones, Mike Friedrich, Paul Levitz, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Marv Wolfman, and will be moderated by CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein.

Also on Friday:
Spotlight on Terry Moore
1:00-2:00
Room 236
Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up with one of the comic industry’s favorite indie creators! Charles Brownstein (CBLDF) will talk with Terry Moore about the finale of his latest series, ECHO, as well as exciting new projects slated for the coming year. This panel is always a fan favorite! Don’t miss it!

CBLDF: Live Art Jam
Saturday, 12:30  2:00 p.m.
 Room 250/262

Watch great live art made before your eyes, on the big screen and bid to win the pieces to support a great cause!  The CBLDF Live Art Jam features Tom Hodges (Star Wars), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), and Terry Moore (Echo), plus special guests.  Get an inside look at the creative act and win great art at the CBLDF Live Art Jam!

All the work the CBLDF does is possible because of supporters like you! Be sure to stop by booth 323 during WonderCon, April 1-3, 2011, to become a member, join us for a signing, pick up exclusive premiums, or just to share a few words of support!