Previously on Comics: Labor Day

Hello again! Today is Labor Day in North America, which makes it kind of ironic that the biggest news this week is that a sexual harasser in comics seems to finally be facing consequences.

On Thursday, writer, editor, and Comics Alliance founder Laura Hudson tweeted about how Brian Wood harassed her at a bar, as well as an apology to Tess Fowler, who had shared her story of harassment from Wood back in 2013. In 2013, nothing happened. This time, however, things were different. First, comics retailer Anyone Comics tweeted that they would no longer be carrying titles written by Wood.

The next day, Dark Horse Comics, the publisher with whom Wood has several titles, gave the following statement to the Beat:

Effective immediately, Dark Horse will not pursue any new projects with Brian Wood. Dark Horse has cancelled the upcoming series Aliens Colonial Marines: Rising Threat.

This Beat article thoroughly details Hudson and Fowler’s stories, but I, for one, am relieved that Dark Horse and the comics community responded so quickly.

This past weekend was also Dragon Con a.k.a Geek Mardi Gras, and in more horrifying harassment news, Jim Starlin posted on his Facebook page about a comics creator whose abusive partner contacted Homeland Security, which means that she gets special attention from TSA every time she travels. This time, on this trip to Dragon Con, she was held for hours while friends waited for her to be released so she could even board a plane for Atlanta, which, according to Starlin, she eventually was. This should serve as a reminder that harassment and abuse have far-reaching consequences for those who have had to endure it, outside of the emotional, physical, or financial consequences. And a reminder that people suck.

Earlier this week, the top story was Marvel pulling another political essay from one of its comics–this time Mark Waid’s essay for Marvel #1000. The Hollywood Reporter reprinted the text that had been sent out in preview issues, and it’s well-worth the read. Waid himself has been curiously quiet on the issue, especially in contrast to Art Spiegelman’s vocal disagreement that ended with his introduction to a new collection titled Marvel: 1939-1949 being reprinted in The Guardian a few weeks ago. But Waid, unlike Spiegelman, is currently still working for Marvel.

I always try to end my news round-ups with happy things, but this week seems to be lacking in that department. One story caught my eye, though–here’s a really nice NPR story about Raina Telgemeier’s work, which ties-in nicely to the fact that Niki Smith recently updated her list with literary agencies who represent comics and graphic novels. Because after all, the best way to make comics better as an industry is to get better people in the industry.

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Kate Tanski

Kate Tanski

Recovering academic. Fangirl. Geek knitter.

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