NYC – The Spirit of Innovation Panel

Press Release:

John Cassaday, Michael Cho, Charles Kochman, and Paul Pope, consider the dynamic life, legacy and influence of Will Eisner at Society of Illustrators in New York City on the panel, The Spirit of Innovation: The Enduring Influence of Will Eisner’s The Spirit. Commemorating the 75th anniversary of The Spirit during Will Eisner Week, this panel is a collaboration between the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Comic-Con International. The event starts on Wednesday March 7th at 7:00 PM at the Society of Illustrators, located at 128 East 63rd Street at Lexington Ave, in New York City. Admission is $10 for CBLDF, Comic-Con International 2014 attendees (bring your badge), and Society of Illustrators Members, $15 for non-members, and $7 for students and seniors with valid ID.

Will Eisner’s The Spirit
In 1940, Will Eisner wasn’t the only 23-year-old innovating the early comics medium, but he was arguably the most audacious. With war on the horizon, he left the security and success of his work as creative director of the Eisner & Iger packaging studio to create The Spirit, a newspaper comic book supplement that allowed him a wide berth of creative freedom, the ability to speak to an adult audience, and the opportunity to own his own work. 75 years later, The Spirit remains a vital, influential, and engaging work of comics. Join contemporary practitioners for a lively discussion of Will Eisner’s first masterwork and its effect on modern comics.

This panel is a new endeavor that continues the ongoing education collaboration between Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Comic-Con International, who are co-producing the program. “Events of this sort highlight comics’ vital contribution to culture,” says CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. “Honoring the medium’s history while encouraging its future are central educational goals for both organizations. It’s an honor to launch this next phase in our partnership with an event that celebrates the vision and contributions of Will Eisner and those he inspired.”

Tickets for this event are available now from the Society of Illustrators online at here…

About Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization protecting the freedom to read comics! Our work protects readers, creators, librarians, retailers, publishers, & educators who face the threat of censorship. We monitor legislation & challenge laws that would limit the First Amendment. We create resources that promote understanding of comics & the rights our community is guaranteed. Every day we publish news & information about censorship events as they happen. We are partners in the Kids’ Right to Read Project & Banned Books Week. Our expert legal team is available at a moment’s notice to respond to First Amendment emergencies. CBLDF is a lean organization that works hard to protect the rights that our community depends on. For more information, visit www.cbldf.org

About Comic-Con International
Comic-Con International (CCI) is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular artforms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. In addition to its San Diego convention each summer (the world’s largest comics convention of its kind), CCI organizes WonderCon Anaheim each spring. www.comic-con.org

About Society of Illustrators
The Society’s mission is to promote the art of illustration, to appreciate its history and evolving nature through exhibitions, lectures and education, and to contribute the service of its members to the welfare of the community at large. Founded in 1901, the Society has had a distinguished yet lively history as an active participant in the ever-changing field of illustration. The vitality of the organization depends on attracting qualified artists and others to join us in this mission. For more information, please visit www.societyillustrators.org

Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street, New York, NY 10065

NYC – The New York Four Signing

Writer Brian Wood appears in conversation with Alex Cox, deputy director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, at WORD to present The New York Four on Wednesday, November 5th at 7:00pm.

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Word Bookstore
126 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222-2002

NYC – CBLDF Annual 2014 Signing

JHU Comic Books hosts a great signing for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund 2014 Annual and Yi Soon Shin, featuring seven amazing writers and artists on Wednesday, October 8th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM! 

Derek Charm (artist, Powerpuff Girls, Super Secret Crisis War)

Amy Chu (writer, DC Comics/Vertigo/Sensation Comics, Girls Night Out)

Ryan and Luke Dunlavey (Action Philosophers, G.I. Joe)

Robin Furth (writer/illustrator, Dark Tower and more)

Onrie Kompan (Yi SOON SHIN)

Janet K. Lee (artist Return of the Dapper Men, Lost Vegas)

RSVP on Facebook!

JHU Comic Books MANHATTAN
32 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016
(212) 268-7088

Valiant and CBLDF Team Up for Gilbert Hernandez Harbinger #25 SDCC 2014 Liberty Variant

Press Release:

VALIANT and CBLDF Team Up for Exclusive GILBERT HERNANDEZ HARBINGER #25 SDCC Liberty Variant

Valiant is proud to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) with the HARBINGER #25 SDCC Liberty Variant, a limited edition release of July’s 48-page anniversary spectacular that features a brand new cover by Harvey Award-winning cartoonist and industry icon Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets, Marble Season, Sloth)! Debuting this July exclusively at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, the HARBINGER #25 SDCC Liberty Variant will be limited to 750 copies and feature Hernandez’s first-ever rendition of the Harbinger Renegades, Valiant’s best-selling teenage superteam.

In addition to a new cover by Hernandez on behalf of CBDLF, the 48-page HARBINGER #25 milestone issue also features contributions from a star-studded roster of comics talents, including a lead story by the founding creative team of Joshua Dysart (Harbinger Wars) and Khari Evans (Archer & Armstrong), and new stories and artwork from Vivek J. Tiwary (The Fifth Beatle), Lewis LaRosa (Punisher MAX), Dan Goldman (Red Light Properties), Clayton Henry (Archer & Armstrong),Justin Jordan (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode), Rafer Roberts (Carpool Buddies of Doom),Lucy Knisley (Relish: My Life in the Kitchen), and Barry Kitson (Empire).

“It is an enormous honor for both Valiant and myself to work with the legendary Gilbert Hernandez for one of the most vital causes in our medium today, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund,” said Valiant Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons. “Gilbert’s cover is an amazing addition to HARBINGER #25’s already stellar line-up, and one that adds even more resonance to our celebration of one of the most beloved teams in the Valiant line.”

To celebrate this milestone collaboration, CBLDF will host a group signing at Comic-Con International on Saturday, July 26, during which Hernandez will sign copies of the HARBINGER #25 SDCC Liberty Variant alongside New York Times best-selling writer Joshua Dysart, New York Times best-selling writer and Eisner nominee Vivek J. Tiwary, and acclaimed cartoonist Lucy Knisley. The signing will begin at 12:00 P.M. PT sharp at CBLDF booth #1920 inside the San Diego Convention Center.

Hernandez’s HARBINGER #25 SDCC Liberty Variant will be available exclusively at the CBLDF’s booth (#1920) inside the San Diego Convention Center and via the CBLDF website (cbldf.org). All proceeds will directly benefit the First Amendment legal and education work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, an organization that works to protect the freedom to read.

Valiant Entertainment has been a supporter of CBLDF since 2012, and a Corporate Member of the Fund since 2013. This marks the second variant cover Valiant has created as a Comic-Con International exclusive for the fund.

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

About 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 art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals. www.cbldf.org

About Valiant Entertainment
Valiant is a leading character-based entertainment company with a library of over 1,750 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Shadowman, Eternal Warrior, and many more. Established in 1989, Valiant has sold over 80 million comic books, and today its characters continue to be forged in publishing, licensing, film, video games, and beyond. Since its summer 2012 relaunch, Valiant has returned to the fore as one of the most highly regarded publishers in comics, winning a 2012 Diamond Gem Award for Comic Book Publisher of the Year.

Panel Schedule for BIG WOW! ComicFest 2014

Press Release:

Big Wow Comic Fest’s 2014 Programs & Panels schedule will be jam packed with Artist Demonstrations, Cosplay Instruction and fun, Creator Interviews and Presentations, and so many more exciting opportunities to interact with today’s most talented creators! Also, don’t forget the Live Art, Superman Museum Show, Kid’s Corner and so much more going on at the show.

SATURDAY MAY 17, 2014

Famous Monsters Film Fest Day One (Program)
10:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Schedule to be posted soon.

Getting Started with Copic Pens (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Want to buy some Copic pens but are intimidated by the sheer number of colors? Have some and don’t know what to do with them? A Certified Copic Designer will give a bare-bones introduction, explain how the color system works, how to find discount prices and hints on how to start building up your studio collection. Note: This is NOT a certification class or hands-on workshop and is best suited for people with absolutely no experience with Copics. – Room D

Top Cow (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Meet with Matt Hawkins, President and C.O.O of Top Cow Productions and writer of Aphrodite IX, Think Tank, and other highly acclaimed series, for a discussion on the future of Top Cow as well as what’s on all of your minds: how to break into comics! With information on Top Cow’s annual Talent Hunt, the tricks of the trade, and just what it takes to make your pitch pop, this is one panel you won’t want to miss. – Room A

Working with Greg Rucka… (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Guest artists Michael Lark and Justin Greenwood will discuss their takes on working with writer Greg Rucka, and he with them. Michael Lark has worked with Greg on multiple occasions including Gotham Central, Punisher and their creator owned Image title Lazarus. Justin Greenwood is currently working with Greg on Stumptown. Hear from both an artist’s and writer’s perspective as to when they know there is a good creative match on a project and why. These creators will discuss their projects and the creative process. Moderated by David Brothers, Editor of Lazarus & Content Manager for Image Comics – Room B
Attending Guests: Justin Greenwood, Michael Lark, Greg Rucka

Collecting Batman! (Panel)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Holy Grails, Batman! Celebrate the Dark Knight’s 75th anniversary and Big Wow! Comicfest’s exclusive Batman Museum with Bill Morrison and a panel of Batman collectors! Panelists will discuss their Caped Crusader Collections, swap stories about great finds, lament the items that got away, compare notes about where they draw the line, and reveal their most sought-after, yet-to-be-collected bat-baubles! – Room B
Attending Guests: Bill Morrison

Remembering the Ackermansion (Panel)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Filmmakers Tom Wyrsch and Strephon Taylor (Remembering Playland at the Beach”, Sutros: The Palace at Lands End”) will present highlights from their brand new feature length film, “Uncle Forry’s Ackermansions” The film is a vast tour of Forrest J Ackerman’s, now gone, Los Angeles mansion-museum starting with the original Ackermansion and ending with the Acker-mini-mansion. Archival footage with hundreds photographs make up a fascinating video tour. Joining the panel will be Tom Khamis (LASFS Historian), Audience Q&A inlcuded. – Room D
Attending Guests: Strephon Taylor, Tom Wyrsch

Cultural Diversity in Comics (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Positives and negative strides towards Cultural Diversity in the comics genre and film. Have there been enough strides not only in the books and films but behind the scenes? What can be done to make it better for everyone or is it fine where it is at? – Room D
Attending Guests: Kevin Bernard Grevioux, Damion Poitier, David Williams

Punchdrunk Mustache! (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Join nine current and former Lucasfilm Animation Artists as they discuss the creation of the art book Punchdrunk Mustache, published last summer to great acclaim by Design Studio Press. Featuring stories and concepts created by Star Wars: The Force Unleashed artists Amy Beth Christenson, Chris Voy and Jeff Sangalli, as well as artists who contributed to Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Detours, Punchdrunk Mustache is a visual thrill ride! Spend time with theses talented artists. – Room C
Attending Guests: John-Paul Balmet, Will Nichols, Sean Pando, Amy Beth Christenson Smith, Chris Voy, Nate Watson

The Art of Kaiju & Master of Monster (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Kaiju expert, FM guest editor, and author of the newly reprinted Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monster, August Ragone will be joined by Hugo Award-winning and FM cover artist Bob Eggleton to talk about how Japanese monsters have shaped Wester pop culture, influenced their personal and professional lives, and why character like Godzilla and Ultraman continue to be worldwide sensations. – Room B
Attending Guests: Bob Eggleton, August Ragone

 

Comics University (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
“Comics University”, a discussion co-moderated by panelists Ed Luce (Professor in the Comics MFA Program at California College of the Arts and creator of Wuvable Oaf Comics) and Maia Kobabe (CCA Comics MFA student and creator of “The Thief’s Tale” comics). Ed and Maia, along with both undergraduate and Comics MFA grads, will discuss how comics fit into the diverse undergraduate program at CCA, the myriad of professional reasons one might pursue a Master’s Degree in comics. – Room D

Doug Sneyd – 50 Years of Playboy (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Doug has worked for Playboy magazine since the early 1964, many remember lovely scantily (and even non-) clad “Sneyd” girls and the one-line jokes he did thru the years. Though many may not know the man behind all the great art and humour. Come hear Doug talk about his career drawing for Playboy. – Room C
Attending Guests: Doug Sneyd

Japan’s Heroes and Monsters (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
August Ragone and his Kaiju crew will be hosting FM’s panel that will feature Kenpachiro Satsuma (Godzilla, ’84-’95), Bin Furuya (Ultraman), and Daisuke Ban (Kikaida, Inazuman). Each actor will tell their stories of how they came to embody these incredible roles, as well as take questions from the audience. – Room A
Attending Guests: Daisuke Ban, Satoshi Furuya, August Ragone, Kenpachiro Satsuma

Madefire (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Charlie Adlard, Liam Sharp, Ben Wolstenholme and the good folk of Madefire host a talk and Q & A about opportunities for old and new creators in the digital realm, and how comics and motion books can be good for each other. A must for anybody interested in new ways of getting their work seen! – Room B
Attending Guests: Charlie Adlard, Daniel Presedo, Liam Sharp

Dan Brereton Portfolio Review (Panel)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
It isn’t your impressive artwork alone that will land you a job or the position you’re seeking, but the presentation of your artwork in your portfolio. Veteran illustrator and painter Dan Brereton will be on hand to discuss your artwork in a friendly and constructive group critique, as well as the presentation of your work. All age, skill and experience levels are welcome. – Room D
Attending Guests: Dan Brereton

CBLDF Comic Code (Panel)
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
60 years ago, comics were put on trial in a nationally televised Senate subcommittee hearing that had shattering repercussions for this great American art form. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund presents the shocking history of moral panic that led to this historic hearing and the birth of the Comics Code Authority, which regulated the medium’s content for more than 50 years. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein tells the tale at this CBLDF presentation. – Room D

BigWOW ComicFest Art Auction (Panel)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
This will be your opportunity to bid on and win pieces of original collectible art, hand drawn, by numerous guests who are attending the show. All of the art will be on display in the exhibitor hall, museum gallery, throughout the day Saturday and will be available to be bid on in a blind auction format.

Come to the live auction portion of the event to bid on various pieces of art created specifically for the auction by the likes of Frank Cho, Michael Lark, Alfonso Azpiri, Frank Cirocco, Rich Koslowski and some published pieces contributed by Charlie Adlard, Justin Greenwood and many others! A number of the convention’s guests will be on-hand to mingle at this social event and to encourage fans to bid high on their works of art! – Room B

There will be a cash bar setup in the auction room for those interested. This should be a lively and entertaining event for all. Both cash and credit cards will be accepted for your art auction purchases.

Creature Features Live! (Panel)
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Back by popular demand is Creature Features Live! Hosted by John Stanley and Lord Blood-Rah. Presented just as Creature Features was back in the early eighties, but on stage rather than on television. Opening dialog, feature length movie “Night of the Living Dead” a Creature Features classic, TV commercials, guest interviews, special announcements, and Living Dead in the audience. – Room A
Attending Guests: Lord Blood-Rah, John Stanley

SUNDAY MAY 18, 2014

Famous Monsters Film Fest Day Two (Program)
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Schedule to be posted soon.

CreaturesCon 3 (Panel)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join the CreaturesCon gang, John Stanley (Creature Features 1971 to 1984), Ernie Fosselius (Hardware Wars), Lord Blood-Rah (Movie Host), Tom Wyrsch (Writer / Director) and Strephon Taylor (November Fire) for an information-packed journey through Creature Features, TV Horror Hosting, classic Sci-Fi and Horror films, Bob Wilkins and much more. The panel will share personal memories, show rare video clips and review Creature Features favorite films. Audience Q&A included. – Room B
Attending Guests: Lord Blood-Rah, Ernie Fosselius, John Stanley, Strephon Taylor, Tom Wyrsch
Drawing The Walking Dead (Panel)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Artist, Charlie Adlard, and inker Stefano Gaudiano discuss what it is like to create the images behind the hugely successful comic and tv series The Walking Dead. Charlie will explain how his art style has evolved during his tenure on the book and how having an inker allows him to work differently now. Stefano, being the newest addition to the team, shares his experiences of inking Charlie and how this project differs from his vast number of other previous collaborations. They’ll discuss the controversial “All Out War” storyline and how working on a near bi-weekly schedule for a year affected how they worked. Moderated by Mark Hay, owner of Splash Page Comic Art, art dealer for Charlie & Stefano – Room A
Attending Guests: Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano
Drawing Who (Panel)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Josh Adams (DOCTOR WHO, EUREKA, WAREHOUSE 13, GARDEN OF STEVEN) and Blair Shedd (DOCTOR WHO, LEGENDS OF OZ, GHOSTBUSTERS, THE RAPTOR) have both had the honor of being chosen to draw official Doctor Who comics for IDW Publishing. Josh and Blair will talk about how they got the job (and other behind the scenes stories), meeting Doctor Who cast and crew, chat about Who-fandom in general, and do a Q and A if the audience wishes. – Room C
Attending Guests: Josh Adams, Blair Shedd

 

Figure Drawing with Frank Cho (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Free figure drawing class open to public, headed by Marvel Comics artist, Frank Cho. Cosplayer, Ivy Doomkitty, will model for this drawing class. All the audience members are encoraged to draw along
with Frank Cho, who will critique the drawings by the audience members at the end of class. – Room A
Attending Guests: Frank Cho, Ivy Doomkitty
Jack Kirby Museum (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Jack Kirby is the creator or co-creator of The X-Men, Hulk Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Captain America, The Avengers, Darkseid, Mister Miracle and hundreds more. He was probably the most prolific comics artist ever and almost every artist is inspired by him. Artists will discuss which comics led them to follow Jack, what panels they have learned from, and how hard it is to make that Kirby Krackle look right. – Room C
Attending Guests: Mark Badger, Bruce Simon
Native Americans in Comics (Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Ever since Native American people began drawing on rock walls, they’ve been part of the comic book universe. However, stereotypes persist due to the lack of Native artists or writers employed by the mainstream comics industry. Now, these artists have taken initiative and formed The Indigenous Narratives Collective and INC Comics. INC’s Arigon Starr (“Super Indian”) and Lee Francis IV (“Pueblo Jones”) will discuss the state of Native American comics. Moderated by UC Santa Cruz’s writer/poet/playwright Dr. Carolyn Dunn. – Room D
Attending Guests: Arigon Starr
Marvel Masterpiece Theatre (Panel)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
MARVEL MASTERPIECE THEATER ! presents a dramatic table read of the 1968 Marvel Comics classic tale unfolded in AVENGERS 59 & 60, “The Wedding of Yellowjacket & Wasp”, by Roy Thomas and John Buscema. Both issues feature a number of cameos from the Marvel universe of the late Sixties, fun pop culture references of the day, amazing superhero action and sizzling dialogue ! Pages of Big John Buscema’s fantastic art and storytelling will follow on the screen as our cast reads the text. – Room B
Attending Guests: Mark Badger, Dan Brereton, Damion Poitier, Liam Sharp, Jane Wiedlin
Collecting Comic Art (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Have you ever wanted something from your favorite comic book? Brian Peck and fellow collectors guide you through the world of collecting comic art – from what it all means, to where to find the art. Discussing a wide range of topics from History of how this hobby started to grow and what use to happen to all the art in the old days? How computers have changed the look of (or non-existance of in some cases) original art? How the internet has changed and expanded the art hobby? How ebay has altered the collectors market? How the auction houses have impacted the hobby? Comparison of values between cover/splashes/interiors? Conservation and preservation? – Room D

 

Japan’s Heroes and Monsters (Panel)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
August Ragone and his Kaiju crew will be hosting FM’s panel that will feature Kenpachiro Satsuma (Godzilla, ’84-’95), Bin Furuya (Ultraman), and Daisuke Ban (Kikaida, Inazuman). Each actor will tell their stories of how they came to embody these incredible roles, as well as take questions from the audience. – Room C
Attending Guests: Daisuke Ban, Satoshi Furuya, August Ragone, Kenpachiro Satsuma
CBLDF Auction (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Top creators Terry Moore, along with some guests to be announced will create live art before your eyes. The only rule is that it would have been forbidden by the Comics Code! Join the CBLDF and these great creators as they talk censorship and make once-in-a-lifetime art! Get a chance to watch live art made before your eyes, learn about censorship, and bid to win the pieces made here to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. – Room B
Attending Guests: Terry Moore
Comics And Comics (Panel)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Geeks Assemble! “Comics and Comics” is all-fanboy stand-up comedy, presented by the nerdiest comedians in the multiverse. From comic books to video games, from anime to Dr. Who, from Star Wars to Star Trek, from Dungeons and Dragons to that one episode of Thundarr the Barbarian where the evil wizards have this race to determine who gets the Helmet of Power, you can rest assured that all geek bases will be covered! – Room C

The Batman Chronicles: Special Screening & Discussion (Panel)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
A three part short film following a young Bruce Wayne as he struggles with a corrupt justice department & faces off against a maniacal new menace hell bent on taking over Gotham. All three parts of the film will be shown, followed by a Q&A with Actor, Producer & Editor Anthony Misiano. – Room C
Attending Guests: Anthony Misiano
The Science and Fiction of Alternate Realities (Panel)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
The idea that there may be universes other than our own has long been a staple of fantasy and science fiction. Now physicists are telling us that there may be some truth in this idea. How much is fact and how much is fiction? Are there other universe? If there are, how similar are they to our own? Do universes “split,” and if so, how? Would it be possible to travel between them. What are some of the ways these ideas have been explored in fiction — and what avenues are still ripe. – Room D

Big Wow! ComicFest – The Original Artist Friendly Convention – returns to San Jose May 17th & 18th, 2014, bringing two great days of Comic Book, Anime/Manga, Art, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming and Cosplay FUN! Many of the country’s best vendors of all things cool and collectible will tempt your wallets with the perfect gifts for Geek, Fans and True Collectors, everywhere! Big Wow! ComicFest is the only major comics event in the San Francisco Bay Area this year.

Be sure to follow us on both Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on all our upcoming announcements!

 

MA – Will Eisner Week 2014

Denis Kitchen and Paul Hornschemeier appear at the Cambridge Public Library on Thursday March 6th from 6:00 till 8:00 pm!

Press Release:

At the invitation of Stephen Weiner, director of the Maynard Public Library in Maynard, MA, the Million Year Picnic comic shop will participate in Will Eisner Week as the Boston metro-area representative of the event. To honor Eisner’s birthday, there will be a Q&A session between Paul Hornschemeier (creator of Mother, Come Home; The Three Paradoxes; the New York Times Best Seller Life with Mr. Dangerous, as well as the short story collections Let Us Be Perfectly Clear and All and Sundry) and Denis Kitchen (a cartoonist in the “underground comix” movement, he founded Kitchen Sink Press (1969-99) as well as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), and co-authored three scholarly works on comics creators) on the anniversary of Will Eisner’s Birthday, Thursday, March 6th, 2014, 7pm at the Cambridge Public Library.

From www.willeisner.com, “Will Eisner Week is an annual celebration honoring the legacy of Will Eisner and promoting sequential art, graphic novel literacy, and free speech.” Will Eisner Week features a series of events to be held early March 2014 in more than a dozen cities around the country to honor the work and career of the great comics innovator Will Eisner (1917-2005), the comics medium, and the graphic novel format.

About the Speakers:

Denis Kitchen, a cartoonist in the “underground comix” movement, founded Kitchen Sink Press (1969-99), a pioneering house that published early comics and graphic novels by R. Crumb, Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Al Capp, Scott McCloud, Alan Moore, Art Spiegelman, Charles Burns, Mark Schultz, Howard Cruse and countless others. In 1986 Kitchen founded the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit First Amendment organization, and chaired it for its first eighteen years. He’s co-authored three books: The Art of Harvey Kurtzman (Abrams, 2009) with Paul Buhle; Underground Classics (Abrams, 2009) with James Danky; and Al Capp: A Life to the Contrary (Bloomsbury, 2013) with Michael Schumacher. A monograph, The Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen, was published in 2010. He curates art exhibits in America and abroad featuring comics artists like Eisner, Kurtzman, Crumb and the underground genre. In 2013 he revived Kitchen Sink Books as an imprint of Dark Horse Books with partner John Lind.

Paul Hornschemeier is the author of the graphic novels Mother, Come Home, The Three Paradoxes, the New York Times Best Seller Life with Mr. Dangerous, as well as the short story collections Let Us Be Perfectly Clear and All and Sundry. His prose and comics – which have been translated into multiple languages and garnered international awards – have appeared in publications ranging from Life Magazine to The Wall Street Journal. He has taught art and creative writing for The University of Chicago and lectured internationally. His animation appears on IFC’s “Comedy Bang! Bang!” He lives and works in Boston, Massachusetts.

RSVP on Facebook!

Cambridge Public Library
449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

ReedPOP is CBLDF’s Newest Corporate Member

Press Release:

ReedPOP Protects the Freedom of Fandom As CBLDF’s Newest Corporate Member!

February 18, 2014 — The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) is pleased to announce that ReedPOP, the people who bring you pop culture’s greatest fan conventions including New York Comic Con (NYCC), C2E2, PAX, and Star Wars Celebration, among others, is joining CBLDF as a Corporate Member! ReedPOP stands beside Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Boom! Studios, ComiXology, Dark Horse, DC Entertainment, DCBS.com, Diamond Comic Distributors, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Random House, Valiant, and TFAW.com as corporate supporters of CBLDF’s important work.

ReedPOP Global Senior Vice President Lance Fensterman says, “We at ReedPOP have proudly supported the CBLDF’s important work protecting the freedom to read since we started hosting conventions. Their work ensures that the fans, creators, dealers, and publishers who gather at our events are free to explore the full universe of storytelling possibilities comics offer. We’re glad to take this step in providing a more meaningful level of support for their important work.”

CBLDF provides legal and educational resources that protect the freedom to read comics. The organization is a partner in Banned Books Week, the Kids’ Right to Read Project, Free Comic Book Day, and other national institutions highlighting intellectual freedom and literacy. The CBLDF’s work extends from courtrooms to classrooms to conventions, with important lectures and programs about current and historical censorship. This year, CBLDF will be exhibiting ReedPOP’s signature comics events C2E2 in Chicago on April 25 – 27 and New York Comic Con from October 9- 12 with booth displays, programming and exclusive merchandise to thank the creators and attendees who support their work. To learn more about their work, or to read their daily news blog, please visit www.cbldf.org

About ReedPOP
ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions, which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Prime, East and Australia, Star Wars Celebration, and the UFC Fan Expo. In 2013 ReedPOP (has) added Star Wars Celebration Europe and PAX Australia to its rapidly expanding portfolio of international events. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific (including Australia).

About 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 art form 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.

NYC – Tuki Launch Party

Cartoonist Jeff Smith launches his new title TUKI at the Society of Illustrators on Sunday November 10th with special guests Patrick McDonnell, Paul Pope, Liza Donnelly, Michael Maslin, and Larry Marder! Get tickets at the link!

Press Release:

On November 10, legendary cartoonists Patrick McDonnell, Paul Pope, Liza Donnelly, Michael Maslin, and Larry Marder will attend a brunch hosted by Bone creator Jeff Smith at the Society of Illustrators in New York City to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Kids’ Right to Read program! This benefit brunch will boast a live performance by Smith, who will unveil his new series Tuki Save The Humans, as well as a silent auction and a private viewing of the Society’s current exhibits. Tickets to this event are partially tax-deductible, and available at www.cbldf.org

CBLDF is a non-profit organization that protects the freedom to read, create, and distribute comics by performing legal aid, education, and advocacy activities. Smith recently joined the Fund’s Board of Directors and will host this lively afternoon event, where attendees will also enjoy brunch with the most outstanding authors in contemporary graphic fiction and an auction of original art by today’s finest cartoonists.

Doors will open at 11:00 a.m., followed by viewing of the exhibits and silent auction. Smith’s performance will begin at 12:00 p.m., to be followed by brunch and viewing time in the Society’s galleries.

There are two levels of admission to this special event:

General Admission Tickets are available for a $100 donation to CBLDF and includes admission to the exhibits, brunch and a souvenir print signed by Jeff Smith. $40 of this contribution is tax-deductible.

Dine With Jeff Smith VIP Admission Tickets are available for a $250 donation to CBLDF. This includes dining with Jeff Smith and also includes admission to the exhibits, brunch, and a souvenir print signed by Smith. $190 of this contribution is tax-deductible.

Donors will enjoy three of the Society’s exhibits: The Original Art, a juried exhibit showcasing the original art from the year’s best children’s books; Battling Boy, a selection of original pages from Paul Pope’s extraordinary new graphic novel, and The Collection of Michael Maslin and Liza Donnelly, New Yorker cartoonists whose collection includes works by cartoon luminaries from the magazine’s past, such as James Thurber, Gluyas Williams, and Helen Hokinson, and its present, including Jack Ziegler, Roz Chast, Bob Mankoff, Mick Stevens, Drew Dernavich, Zachary Kanin, Barbara Smaller. Donnelly, Maslin, and Pope will all be on hand at the brunch to discuss their exhibits with attendees.

Your admission to brunch supports CBLDF’s important work protecting Kids’ Right to Read. CBLDF is a leader in opposing censorship and in support of a parent’s right to choose what content is suitable for his or her children. The Fund helps to keep books on shelves and empowers students to speak up for their rights. In the past year, CBLDF has helped protect dozens of books, from Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis to Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl. CBLDF’s publications Raising A Reader and Using Graphic Novels in Education are vital tools in helping the next generation of teachers, librarians, and parents use comics to promote literacy. The Fund’s efforts to fight censorship in courtrooms and classrooms are essential to protecting the future of comics. This brunch will advance that important work by raising money to support 2014 Kids’ Right to Read efforts.

About Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith (born February 27, 1960) is an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the self-published comic book series BONE. Smith solidified the ’90s’ Self-Publishing Movement when he joined other self-publishers and launched a new era of independent comics publishing, a movement that captured nearly 20% of the growing comics book market. In 1993, Smith breathed new life into the Graphic Novel format with The Complete BONE Adventures Volume One: Out From Boneville, which sold an unprecedented 50,000 copies in its first year. BONE won numerous American awards including 10 Eisner Awards and 11 Harveys, as well as European awards from Italy, Germany, and the French Alph Art.

In 2005, BONE was chosen to launch the first graphic novel series for children from a major publishing house, Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Books. There have been exhibitions of his work, and in 2009 Smith was the subject of an Emmy Award winning documentary called The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, BONE, and the Changing Face of Comics. Later works include critically acclaimed SHAZAM: The Monster Society of Evil, and Little Mouse Gets Ready, a comic for emerging readers that received a Geisel Honor in 2009. In 2013, Smith guest edited The Best American Comics anthology, and released his second major work, RASL, a dark, hard-boiled sci-fi story that focuses on an art thief who hops through dimensional barriers, hiding out on various parallel worlds.

About Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form 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. http://www.cbldf.org

About the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators, founded in 1901, is the oldest nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the art and appreciation of illustration in America. Prominent Society members have been Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell, among others. The Museum of American Illustration was established by the Society in 1981 and is located in the Society’s vintage 1875 carriage house building in mid-town Manhattan. The Museum is open to the public Tuesday, 10 am-8 pm; Wednesday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm; and Saturday, 12-4 pm. General Admission is $10/$5 students/seniors, and Admission is free of charge on Tuesday from 5-8pm. To learn more about visiting the Museum and the Society click here.

About the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
The museum’s purpose has been the collection, preservation, study, education, and display of comic and cartoon art. Every genre of the art is represented: animation, anime, cartoons, comic books, comic strips, gag cartoons, humorous illustration, illustration, political illustration, editorial cartoons, caricature, graphic novels, sports cartoons, and computer-generated art. It is the mission of the museum to promote the understanding and appreciation of comic and cartoon art as well as to detail and discuss the artistic, cultural, and historical impact of what is the world’s most popular art form.

Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street, New York, NY 10065

OR – CBLDF Fundraiser Event

Press Release:

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has fought for the First Amendment Rights of the comics community since 1986. Now here’s your chance to join the fight for free speech at our CBLDF Liberty Annual 2013 signing and membership drive October 9 at the Portland TFAW.

Meet CBLDF Liberty Annual 2013 contributors Jeremy Atkins (Charles de Ghoul), Ron Chan (Plants vs. Zombies), Emi Lenox (EmiTown), Michelle Madsen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Dave Stewart (Hellboy), and Paul Tobin (Bandette), and learn how you can join the CBLDF for as little as $25! Complimentary food and beer (for those 21+ with valid ID) provided.

Everyone has a story to tell, but what happens when a story gets taken away from its creator? The CBLDF Liberty Annual 2013 looks at the creative costs of censorship, either through outside interference, or through more private forms. All proceeds from this book benefit the important First Amendment work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, who’ve been fighting censorship in comics for over 25 years!

Special bonus: Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics, attendees at this event only who sign up for CBLDF membership at the $50-$249 level will receive a Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 1 Limited Edition hardcover, while supplies last. Attendees who sign up for CBLDF membership at the $250 or greater level will receive a Give Me Liberty hardcover, signed by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons, also while supplies last. These bonuses are in addition to the CBLDF’s generous incentive rewards for membership.

“It is easy to take our First Amendment Rights for granted. Yet, historic and present day events alike underscore how important it is that everyone does their part to protect the First Amendment Rights of the comics community, and of Americans as a whole,” said TFAW Vice President and CBLDF Board Member Andrew McIntire. “This is why we have supported the CBLDF for years, furthered our commitment as a corporate member, and why we are asking our friends in Portland to come out and join us in supporting the important work of the CBLDF by becoming members.”

Published by Image Comics and edited by Dark Horse Editor-in-Chief Scott Allie, the CBLDF Liberty Annual 2013 contains 48 pages of all-new stories and also features the talents of Richard Corben (Creepy), Tim Seeley (Revival), Art Baltazar and Franco (Itty Bitty Hellboy), and more. Pick up your copy at the Portland TFAW October 9 for just $4.99, get it signed by some of Portland’s hottest creators, and learn about the benefits of membership in the CBLDF.

RSVP on Facebook!

Things From Another World
2916 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232

TFAW Partners with the CBLDF for Their SDCC 2013 Auction

Press Release:

TFAW Supports CBLDF’s Annual SDCC Auction

For the fifth year in a row, Things From Another World (TFAW.com) is proud to partner with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund for their annual CBLDF Auction at San Diego Comic-Con! With the help of creators including Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Tim Seeley (Revival), and more (see below), the comic book retailer has been able to help raise more than $100,000 to help support the First Amendment rights of the comics community.

As in years past, TFAW is asking professional comic book artists* to create original sketches to donate to the CBLDF auction at San Diego Comic-Con. Artists can choose to sketch their own creator-owned characters, or up to ten artists may sketch DC Comics’ proprietary characters and up to seven artists can create sketches featuring Marvel’s Mighty heroes! (NOTE: Artists wishing to sketch DC and Marvel characters will need to contact TFAW in advance so that they can limit the number of submissions. Also, these pieces are subject to publisher approval.)

– See more at: http://cbldf.org/2013/06/tfaw-supports-cbldfs-annual-sdcc-auction/#sthash.EcZSzORj.0WOjXv2N.dpuf

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