Tagged: Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

UPDATED: Vote In The Finals of the Mix NSFW Webcomics Tournament– Go Get A Roomie vs. Oglaf!

UPDATE 3 AM, 6/22: Holy cow, a lot of money has come in this round– $65.75 for Oglaf and $500 for Go Get A Roomie! We’ve modified the vote totals accordingly, adding 263 votes to Oglaf and 2000 to GGAR, but there’s still time for your favorite to win, either by voting, getting your friends to vote, or by buying votes with proceeds going to the CBLDF!


At long long LONG last– the Finals of the Mix May Mayhem (well, it’s not May anymore) NSFW Webcomics Tournament!

So far, we’ve raised over $650 for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and now we’re down to the final two contestants– Go Get A Roomie going head to head against Oglaf!

Here are the updated brackets… and remember, these are NSFW comics, so be careful when you click through to look and read them! (more…)

Vote In The Semi-Finals of the Mix May Mayhem NSFW Webcomics Tournament!

mixmaymayhemsquare-150x150-4994828At long last– Round 4!

Sorry it took a while, some of the donations for votes came in without saying who the money was going for, so we wanted to wait until we could come to final totals. So far, we’ve raised over $650 for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund— and we’re down to the final four contestants!

Here are the updated brackets… and remember, these are NSFW comics, so be careful when you click through to look and read them! (more…)

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Chip Kidd Is Guest of Honor at CBLDF’s Book Expo Party!

Celebrate free speech at this year’s Book Expo by raising a toast to CHIP KIDD on Tuesday, June 5th in a benefit to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!

A VIP cocktail reception starts at 7 PM. Kidd will present a behind-the-scenes look at creating this book, and all attendees will receive an extremely limited copy of BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN, with an exclusive signed and numbered bookplate, designed by Mr. Kidd. These bookplated editions are extremely limited, and will be available one time only. Hors d’Oeuvres will be served. This is a ticketed event, with limited admission available for a $50 donation to the CBLDF. Reserve your ticket here.

At 8:30 pm, an open release party and book signing will begin. Copies of BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN will be available at the venue! (No ticket needed for this portion of the evening, but a suggested donation at the door is appreciated)

The event happens at SMITHFIELD, 215 West 28th Street New York, NY 10001.

Info about BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN:

Writer: Chip Kidd, Artist: Dave Taylor

In this new, original graphic novel from superstar writer/designer Chip Kidd and artist Dave Taylor, Gotham City is undergoing one of the most expansive construction booms in its history. The most prestigious architects from across the globe have buildings in various phases of completion all over town. As chairman of the Gotham Landmarks Commission, Bruce Wayne has been a key part of this boom, which signals a golden age of architectural ingenuity for the city. And then, the explosions begin.

All manner of design-related malfunctions – faulty crane calculations, sturdy materials suddenly collapsing, software glitches, walkways giving way and more – cause casualties across the city. This bizarre string of seemingly random catastrophes threatens to bring down the whole construction industry. Fingers are pointed as Batman must somehow solve the problem and find whoever is behind it all.

This event will take place at 7 pm, June 5th, at SMITHFIELD, 215 West 28th Street New York, NY 10001

Tickets for the 7 PM Cocktail Hour Available at http://cbldf.myshopify.com/products/batman-death-by-design-release-party-and-presentation

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Vote In The Quarter-Finals of the Mix May Mayhem NSFW Webcomics Tournament!

Round 3! Your votes and your donations have narrowed the field down to the Elite Eight contestants (and you raised $323 in this round for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, so we’re up to almost $500 in two weeks) and now the competition really begins to get rough!

Here are the updated brackets… and remember, these are NSFW comics, so be careful when you click through to look and read them! (more…)

Vote In The Mix May Mayhem NSFW Webcomics Tournament Sweet 16!

UPDATE: Round 2 voting is over. Vote in Round 3 now!

Boy, I can’t wait to see what the search engines do with “NSFW Webcomics” and “Sweet 16” in the same headline…

It’s Round 2! Your votes and your donations have narrowed the field down to 16 contestants (and you raised $160 for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund) and now it’s time for to vote again. Here are the updated brackets… and remember, be careful when you click through to look at the comics! (more…)

Join the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund as a Website Contributor!

Join the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund as a Website Contributor!

Are you a journalism student looking for blogging experience? Or a fan of comics and manga with great writing skills and something to say about Free Speech? Are you an educator or librarian who’s a dedicated supporter of the First Amendment? CBLDF would like to include your voice on our website!

CBLDF is looking for contributors to add to our roster of bloggers. Each member of our website team will be asked to identify and/or generate content about relevant Free Speech issues for www.cbldf.org on a weekly or semiweekly basis under editorial guidance from the Web Editor. The Web Editor may assign specific articles for coverage, but contributors will otherwise have flexibility in choosing what they write about.

The blogging positions are voluntary. Articles will be seen by visitors to www.cbldf.org and cross-posted on CBLDF’s Facebook page, Twitter feed, and weekly newsletter, ensuring that several thousand people will see the articles. Contributors will be able to work from anywhere, set their own schedules, build writing and blogging experience, and boost their resumes. In doing so, contributors will support the important First Amendment work of CBLDF.

If you are enthusiastic about the First Amendment, a good writer, and able to take editorial direction, you’re a perfect candidate — apply today!

To apply, please send your resume and a writing sample to betsy.gomez@cbldf.org.

ABOUT THE COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics artform and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals.

Vote In Mix May Mayhem NSFW Webcomics Tournament First Round– Or Cheat For The CBLDF!

UPDATE: Round 1 voting is over. Vote in Round 2 now!

Hooray, hooray, the first of May– the Mix May Mayhem NSFW Webcomics Tournament starts today!

You nominated and voted for your favorite Not Safe For Work webcomics, and we’re taking the top 32 and putting them in a single elimination tournament where we whittle down the contestants down to one. Take a look at the brackets– and remember, they all link to NSFW comics, so be careful when clicking through…

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How To Manage A Media Attack On Your Comic Book Store

How To Manage A Media Attack On Your Comic Book Store

Wednesday Bleeding Cool ran a piece linking to a local news promo promising a titillating exposé on modern comics that will offer tips on “HOW TO K.O. THESE COMICS BEFORE THEY CORRUPT YOUR KIDS!”

These media scare stories are nothing new. They’ve been plaguing comics since the very beginning, whether it was massive public comic book burnings in the 1940s, Frederic Wertham’s attacks in the 1950s, or the retailer stings of the 1980s that led to the CBLDF being formed.

While we’ve seen this type of story arise time and again, it should never be taken lightly. Below we offer some tips on how to deal with hostile cameras if they come to your store.

  • Know Your Rights. You control the media’s access to your store, not them. While media people can shoot common spaces not maintained by your store, such as public parking lots and walkways, they cannot enter your store and shoot without permission, and they cannot block access to your store.
  • (more…)
CBLDF argues to keep “Stuck In The Middle” on Maine school library shelves

CBLDF argues to keep “Stuck In The Middle” on Maine school library shelves

201112121606 CBLDF argues to keep book on the shelves of a Maine school libraryStuck in the Middle, the Ariel Schrag edited look at middle school comedy and shame, isn’t a G-rated romp through age 13, but given its subject matter, how could it be. Instead it’s an awful painful look at the most painful ages of all, told by 17 cartoonists including Schrag, Daniel Clowes, Joe Matt and more.

It is potentially a little too rough for the Buckfield Junior-Senior High School Library in Dixfield, ME where one parent objected to the book being available, prompting a review by the school board:

Meanwhile, school board members were directed to read the pages in question, as well as the school district’s policy on challenging books.to read the pages in question, as well as the school district’s policy on challenging books.

The pages in question will remain confidential until the hearing, Ward said.

He said a committee that includes the school principal, the librarian, a classroom teacher and a community member have met to make a recommendation on whether the book should remain in the school’s library.

The board will decide whether to retain or remove the book at a January meeting.

Uproar at Tunisian trial on Persepolis showing – Yahoo! News

Uproar at Tunisian trial on Persepolis showing – Yahoo! News

Cover of "Persepolis"

This reminds me to renew my membership in the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (no, they aren’t called to defend this one, but they do great work both here and abroad):

The trial in Tunisia over the broadcasting the animated Iranian film [[[Persepolis]]] was cut short Thursday after an uproar in the courtroom. Lawyers for the two sides shouted at each other and exchanged insults inside the courtroom, prompting the judge to adjourn the trial until Jan. 23. The controversy over the film illustrates how Tunisia, the country that started the wave of uprisings that have swept through the Arab world this year, is struggling to work out the role of Islam in society after years of officially enforced secularism.The privately owned Nessma television station provoked an angry reaction last month when it broadcast a dubbed version of Iranian director Marjane Satrapi’s award-winning adaptation of her graphic novels about growing up during Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.The film, which won the jury prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, contains a scene showing a character representing God. Depictions of God are considered sacrilege in Islam.

via Uproar at Tunisian trial on Persepolis showing – Yahoo! News.