Podcasts about Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

When you love comics, you become comics. Denis Kitchen began as a self-published underground cartoonist in 1969, but he quickly sprang into other roles, all serving the medium that first called to him. A year later, he launched Kitchen Sink Press, which would house numerous pioneers from the industry (R. Crumb, Howard Cruse, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, etc). His role as publisher would eventually force him into the position of defender, fighting for the rights of his artists and creating the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Now, Denis Kitchen's career is the topic of a new documentary, Oddly Compelling: The Denis Kitchen Story, which is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter. The film gathers an astonishing array of talent to praise Denis Kitchen and offer context to a life that has shaped all comic readers, whether they know it or not. In this week's podcast, we sit down with Denis Kitchen for a long chat about making comics and serving comics. The artist is an icon, but a humble one. He kindly accepts adulation while dismissing it in the same breath. We discuss how comics are "just pictures on paper," but simple images can have a world-altering effect. If you want to fall deeper in love with the art form, this episode is for you. Please find the Kickstarter for Oddly Compelling: The Denis Kitchen Story here. Follow Denis Kitchen on Instagram and visit his website. This Week's Sponsor We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Join Comic Book Club in Person CBCC's Comic Shop Road Trip Patreon Exclusive: Saga of the Swamp Thing Book Club Support Your Local Comic Shop Free Patreon Series Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Don't forget to grab your tickets for our June 29th Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of James Gunn's THE SUICIDE SQUAD, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

On this episode, We're With the Banned, our miniseries on banned and challenged graphic novels, takes on the most banned book of the past several years – Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe, published by Lion Forge Comics/Oni Press! We discuss some fairly personal topics and fumble a bit (although not as much as we may have feared) with the author's preferred pronouns (e, em, and eir) as we discuss Kobabe's account of eir struggles with gender dysphoria and other issues on the road to identifying as nonbinary. It's an important work, especially in our current cultural moment. But is that enough to guarantee entry into that bastion of One Direction fandom known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       The Spivak pronouns ·       A brief discussion of Barbarian ·       Bad news from the future ·       How did we end up talking about typing class? ·       Curt's review of Thunderbolts* ·       Gamemasters: The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Galmes Join us in two weeks as We're With the Banned continues with a discussion of Daniel Clowes' Ice Haven! Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky! And as always, thanks for listening!

The last time I had Joe Illidge on the show, I couldn't believe the secret he kept from us. He's writing The Shadow Cabinet! But now, just a week ahead of release, Joe is free to tell all. Well, all he can tell us without spoiling the first issue. Listen to hear why EVERY MOMENT MATTERED, and just what this new series means for the Dakota Universe.Back Graphic Samurai: The Art of Denys Cowan on Kickstarter here.About Joseph P. Illidge:Joseph started his editorial career at Milestone Media, Inc., the influential comic book publisher profiled in the MAX documentary “Milestone Generations”His groundbreaking editorial runs on the Batman line of comic books for DC Comics and Lion Forge's “Catalyst Prime” superhero imprint featured in The Hollywood Reporter  reflect Joseph's expertise in curating inclusive hero fiction.Profiled as one of the “Best Editors” in comics, Joseph was featured in the History Channel documentary series, “Superheroes Decoded”, discussing popular heroes from Superman to The Black Panther.Joseph is a member of the Board of Directors for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and the recipient of a Citation from the New York State Assembly for exemplary community service through career achievement. For More from Comics Are Dope:Get This Week in Comics, our weekly e-mail newsletter: http://thisweekincomics.comSubscribe on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@comicsaredopeJoin our online Discussion Communities:Facebook - http://bjkicks.link/communityDiscord - http://bjkicks.link/discord

In the latest episode, The Fanbase Weekly co-hosts welcome special guest Stephanie Cooke (writer - The Racc Pack, Pillow Talk) to discuss the latest geek news stories of the week, including the new path forward for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, why so many established film franchises are finding their way to the small screen, and whether the Joker sequel is actually a musical.

André chats with an absolute legend in comics!Paul Levitz is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics from 2002–2009, he has worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles. Along with publisher Jenette Kahn and managing editor Dick Giordano, Levitz was responsible for hiring many of the writers and artists, who contributed to the 1980s revitalization of the company's line of comic book heroes!Paul discusses his time in the comic industry, his appreciation for the classic characters and his work with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.Support the Show.

Joseph P. Illidge is a name that rings bells in my circle of comics fandom. Over 31 years, he has helped usher in stories featuring many of my favorite characters of all time. Static. Hardware. Nightwing. He paired Greg Rucka with Shawn Martinbrough for one of the most acclaimed Detective Comics runs, and even oversaw the No Man's Land event in the Batman office. What else would you expect from someone who learned under the direct tutelage of the late Dwayne McDuffie? Today, Joe joins the show to talk about his career, the importance of supporting Independent Black Comics, and his involvement in the crowdfunded project Epiphany Engine, arguably the biggest Black Comics crossover of all time. About Joseph P. Illidge:Joseph started his editorial career at Milestone Media, Inc., the influential comic book publisher profiled in the MAX documentary “Milestone Generations”His groundbreaking editorial runs on the Batman line of comic books for DC Comics and Lion Forge's “Catalyst Prime” superhero imprint featured in The Hollywood Reporter  reflect Joseph's expertise in curating inclusive hero fiction.Profiled as one of the “Best Editors” in comics, Joseph was featured in the History Channel documentary series, “Superheroes Decoded”, discussing popular heroes from Superman to The Black Panther.Joseph is a member of the Board of Directors for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and the recipient of a Citation from the New York State Assembly for exemplary community service through career achievement. About Epiphany Engine:EPIPHANY ENGINE is a 192-page, original graphic novel composed by some of the best, most talented African American Creators in the Comic Book Industry. Dubbed "The Dream Team", these creators represent Black Excellence in every aspect of the game.  Basically, this is a vision powered by creative excellence. The story centers around the McKali family, a family of brilliant scientists, whose latest experiments to better mankind by unlocking the secrets of the universe are met with horrifying results. As an experiment brings forth a mysterious being, a cosmic-level threat named Abzylom, who wants to collapse this reality and mold a new universe while destroying the family in the process. While trying to stop Abzylom, tragedy strikes the family and they are separated from one another and scattered across the multiverse. Unfortunately, they must also deal with the consequences that their failed experiment has gone astray, accidentally disrupting the fabric of the multiverse and placing creation itself at risk.  The family must save not only themselves but existence as we know it as well.  Consequently, the rupture has brought great beings of power to action. With the odds stacked against them, the brave McKali family has to not only escape from the clutches of their cosmic foe but also build an army of heroes from across the multiverse to defeat Abzylom, as well as find each other and heal from their family's loss.This is only the beginning of the thrilling adventure that awaits you in the pages of the EPIPHANY ENGINE Graphic Novel! For More from Comics Are Dope:Get This Week in Comics, our weekly e-mail newsletter: http://thisweekincomics.comSubscribe on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@comicsaredopeJoin our online Discussion Communities:Facebook - http://bjkicks.link/communityDiscord - http://bjkicks.link/discord

It's Spooky Season, y'all! This month the Always YA panel classifies themselves as Spooky, Scary, or Slasher. We all share some YA book picks to read during October, and Susan shares some interesting info about the history horror comics. Listen if you dare! Instagram: @alwaysyapod Email: alwaysyapod@gmail.com Media mentioned in this episode: The Sandman streaming on Netflix, based on the graphic novels by Neil Gaiman. Prey (2022) streaming on Hulu. Kingdom streaming on Netflix. All of Us Are Dead streaming on Netflix. Cobra Kai streaming on Netflix. Hocus Pocus 2 streaming on Disney+. Into the Sublime by Kate A. Boorman Grady Hendrix's My Best Friend's Exorcism streaming on Amazon Prime on September 30th. Sonia Saraiya. The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai, and the Odd Legacy of Mr. Miyagi. Vanity Fair, July 3, 2019. Dade Hayes. ‘Cobra Kai' KOs ‘Bridgerton' On Nielsen Streaming List; ‘Soul' Enters Limbo State. Deadline, February 8, 2021. Problematic Fave podcast on Spotify. Darren Mooney. The Karate Kid Movies Explore Hollywood's Complicated Martial Arts History. The Escapist, January 1, 2021. Haiyang Yang and Kuangjie Zhang, The Psychology Behind Why We Love (or Hate) Horror. Harvard Business Review, October 26, 2021. Merphy Napier's Youtube video How Reading Fiction Affects Your Brain explains the benefit of reading Stephen King's Pet Sematary in helping her process grief. Mike Duran, ordained minister and author of Christian Horror: On the Compatibility of a Biblical Worldview and the Horror Genre, blog post “Is Beowulf the First “Religious Horror” Story Ever Written?” published July 28, 2015. “The Top 10 Most Watched Shows During Quarantine.” Daily Infographic, September 5, 2021. My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones. Beowulf, translated by Maria Dahvana Headley. Something Is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV, Deluxe hardcover edition book one (collects comic #1-15). The Ten-Cent Plague by David Hajdu. Fredric Wertham. What Parents Don't Know About Comic Books. Ladies Home Journal, November 1953. Joe Sergi. 1948: The Year Comics Met Their Match. Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. June 8, 2012. “How America Almost Destroyed The Comic Book Industry”. CNBC, YouTube, July 17, 2021. Provides a brief overview of the censorship of horror comics. The documentary Comic Book Confidential includes footage from the testimony of Bill Gaines, founder of EC Comics and later Mad Magazine, at the 1954 Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. You can watch some clips from the hearings on YouTube. Kelly McEvers, These 'Paperbacks From Hell' Reflect The Real-Life Angst Of The 1970s. NPR, October 26, 2017. Home to Stay!: The Complete Ray Bradbury EC Stories by Ray Bradbury, Fantagraphics Books, 2022.

On this Project Censored Show, host Mickey Huff dedicates the hour to Banned Books Week 2022 (Sept. 18-24). Now in its 40th year, Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating and promoting the freedom to read, and resisting efforts to ban books from library shelves, especially in school settings. Mickey's four guests bring a variety of perspectives to the program, but are united in their opposition to censorship and staunch advocacy of the freedom to read. Project Censored is a longtime co-sponsor of the Banned Books Week Coalition. Notes: -Betsy Gomez is coordinator for the Banned Books Week Coalition. -Cameron Samuels is a recent high school graduate and activist from the Katy Independent School District near Houston, Texas. Cameron was named the Youth Honorary Chair of Banned Books Week (the first time the title has been awarded) for actively opposing book banning in the District as a student there. -Jordan Smith is the digital editor at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. -Nico Perrino is Executive Vice-President at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, formerly known as the Foundation for Individual Rights In Education, an organization specializing in protecting academic freedom. Image by Pretty Sleepy Art from Pixabay

Tonight we're chatting with Erica Friedman, author of By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga. It's been called “the untold story of lesbian love in Japanese anime and comics.”About the AuthorErica Friedman is the founder of Yuricon community, and was the first publisher of Yuri manga in English, with ALC Publishing. She holds a Masters Degree in Library Science and a B.A. in Comparative Literature, and is a full-time researcher for a Fortune 100 company. She has lectured at dozens of conventions and presented at film festivals, notably the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. She has participated in an academic lecture series at MIT, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Harvard University, Kanagawa University, and others. She has edited manga for JManga, Seven Seas and Udon Entertainment, most recently Riyoko Ikeda's epic historical classic, The Rose of Versailles. Erica has written about Yuri for Japanese literary journal Eureka, Animerica magazine, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Dark Horse, and contributed to Forbes, Slate, Huffington Post, Hooded Utilitarian, The Mary Sue, Anime Herald, and Anime News Network online. She has written news and event reports, interviews Yuri creators and reviews Yuri anime, manga and related media on her blog Okazu since 2002 and is the author of By Your Side: The First 100 Year of Yuri Anime and Manga, coming out in June 2022 from Journey Press.

Tonight we're chatting with Erica Friedman, author of By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga. It's been called “the untold story of lesbian love in Japanese anime and comics.”About the AuthorErica Friedman is the founder of Yuricon community, and was the first publisher of Yuri manga in English, with ALC Publishing. She holds a Masters Degree in Library Science and a B.A. in Comparative Literature, and is a full-time researcher for a Fortune 100 company. She has lectured at dozens of conventions and presented at film festivals, notably the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. She has participated in an academic lecture series at MIT, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Harvard University, Kanagawa University, and others. She has edited manga for JManga, Seven Seas and Udon Entertainment, most recently Riyoko Ikeda's epic historical classic, The Rose of Versailles. Erica has written about Yuri for Japanese literary journal Eureka, Animerica magazine, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Dark Horse, and contributed to Forbes, Slate, Huffington Post, Hooded Utilitarian, The Mary Sue, Anime Herald, and Anime News Network online. She has written news and event reports, interviews Yuri creators and reviews Yuri anime, manga and related media on her blog Okazu since 2002 and is the author of By Your Side: The First 100 Year of Yuri Anime and Manga, coming out in June 2022 from Journey Press.

As the founder of Kitchen Sink Press, Denis Kitchen published some of the most important independent and underground comics of the last 50 years, including Bizarre Sex, Gay Comix, Omaha the Cat Dancer, Will Eisner's Quarterly, The Crow, and From Hell. He has also been a lifelong defender of the First Amendment rights of comics retailers, creators, and readers, and is the founder of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, of which Marvel by the Month is a member. We hope you'll consider becoming one as well at cbldf.org.For an additional 40 minutes of this episode, including nearly half an hour of additional conversation with Denis Kitchen, plus our CBLDF-themed recommendations, support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $4/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content, with more than 40 extended and exclusive episodes — and more being added every week. Stories Covered In Detail This Episode:"-- And Now, The Goblin!" - Amazing Spider-Man #96, written by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane and John Romita, ©1971 Marvel Comics"In the Grip of the Goblin!" - Amazing Spider-Man #97, written by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia, and John Romita, ©1971 Marvel Comics"The Goblin's Last Gasp!" - Amazing Spider-Man #98, written by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia, ©1971 Marvel Comics "Marvel by the Month" theme v. 3.0 by Robb Milne, sung by Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.Visit us on internet at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Instagram at @marvelbythemonthand Twitter at @MarvelBTM, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information.

This week Henry and Colin are joined by writer and comics critic Jeet Heer and Jeff Trexler, Interim Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, to discuss the broader context for the censorship of graphic novels in schools. Jumping off from the recent censorship of Art Spiegelman's Maus by a TN school board, we review the long history and reasoning of censorship, policing, gatekeeping of comics – from early newspaper strips, to the first magazine books sold to kids in drug stores, the Senate investigation and self-censorship code of the 50s, and on to the Underground comics movement for adults and the independent comics of the 80s. Recently, we've seen the same concerns arise anew as equal protection laws have brought things that were once considered private into the public sphere, and the pandemic brought the classroom and its educational use of graphic novels into the home. We point out the changes that have led teachers and librarians to “switch sides” in this argument and become proponents of comics as literature, and talk about the role comics can play in engaging readers of all ages, as well as helping to express the full diversity of American culture. We end with some thoughts about how individuals can respond to the challenges comics are once again coming under and support their role in this dialogue.A full transcript of this episode will be available soon!Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:Jeet Heer, columns in The Nation, The New Republicbooks: Arguing Comics, A Comic Studies Reader, The Superhero Reader, In Love with ArtJeff Trexler, Interim Director, Comic Book Legal Defense FundMcMinn, TN Education board censorship of Maus; Jeet's writing immediately afterLeander, TX school district banning of graphic novel versions of The Handmaid's Tale & The LotteryEarly newspaper comics: Katzenjammer Kids, Mutt & JeffComics for older youth:Duck Comics, Carl BarksCrime Does Not Pay, Charles BiroEC Horror comics, William GainesFor more about the history of horror comics, see Episode 74: Horror, Social Change, andExperimentation with Michael Monello and Qiana WhittedFrederic Wertham and Moral Panic around Horror and Crime ComicsFrederick Wertham speechThe Comics CodeUnderground Comics and the origins of the CBLDF:Friendly Franks comics shopDennis Kitchen, comics publisherZap Comix, Robert CrumbRaw, Art Spiegelman & Françoise MoulyFilm, Comic Book ConfidentialIndependent comics of the 80s aimed at adults:WatchmenThe Dark KnightThe new wave of graphic novels aimed at youth again:Bone, Jeff SmithTOON Books, Françoise MoulyMangaBooks By Raina TelgemeierOther critically-acclaimed yet controversial graphic novels:Gender Queer, Maia KobabePersepolis, Marjane SatrapiFun Home, Alison BechdelEarly proponent of comics for children Josette FrankAnd today: Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table of the American Library AssociationHenry's book Comics and StuffShare your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com.Music:“In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet  https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmetSpaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeatsCreative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumentalFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceshipMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

About The EpisodeRecently, the McMinn County school board in Tennessee decided to ban the classroom use of the graphic novel Maus, which depicts a firsthand account of the Holocaust via anthropomorphic animals. The decision was met with criticism across the United States and has been the subject of extensive news coverage, as well as social media mentions. It has also led to a surge of the book back to the top of numerous best-seller lists and even selling out on Amazon. In this episode of The Captioned Life Podcast, Sean and Kevin talk with educator Jill Gerber, and the Coalition Coordinator for Banned Books Week at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Betsy Gomez, to discuss the controversy and its impact on teachers, students, parents, and beyond. This is a timely conversation about the relevance of graphic novels as educational literature and the alarming trend of banning non-traditional texts from school libraries and curricula.About The GuestsJill Gerber is an award-winning K-12 educator of twenty years and a longtime advocate of graphic literature in the curriculum to reach all learners. In addition to presenting workshops on the integration of comics in the classroom, she cowrites about innovative viewpoints on comics and KidLit in education on the blog, Perceptive Gaze. She teaches at Rowland Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah.Betsy Gomez is the Banned Books Week Coalition coordinator and former editorial director for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending the First Amendment rights of the comics community. Gomez manages resources, programming, and editorial content for bannedbooksweek.org and advises CBLDF on educational and free expression matters. Gomez is the editor of CBLDF's book about the women who changed free expression in comics, CBLDF Presents: She Changed Comics. With an extensive background in educational publishing, Gomez has worked as a content developer and editor for several companies, including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Pearson Education, among others. Gomez's work combines her love of comics with her passion for education and the right to read.LinksJill's Twitter, @GerberJillJill's website, Perceptive GazeComic Book Legal Defense Fund websiteComic Book Legal Defense Fund Case Study: MausNewsweek article, “Pulitzer-Winning Graphic Novel ‘Maus' Banned by Tennessee School Board for Language, Nudity”Meeting Minutes - McMinn County School Board, January 10th, 2022The Captioned Life Podcast website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebellion! Crime! Juvenile delinquency! On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, producer Chris Maltby explores the rise of comic books in the early 20th century and the moral panic, book burnings, and censorship that followed. Show notes: “The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare And How It Changed America” by David Hajdu “The Mind of the Censor and the Eye of the Beholder” by Bob Corn-Revere “A National Disgrace” by Sterling North “Puddles of Blood,” Time Magazine, 1948 Comic Book Legal Defense Fund www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org

Lawyer, ethics advisor and comics nerd Jeff Trexler joins the show to talk about his new role as Interim Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. We get into his plans to help rebuild the CBLDF's reputation and ethics code after the sexual harassment scandal of its previous director, his experiences helping people pursue their harassment claims and launching antiharassment campaigns in the fashion world, how the Fund's role has changed over the decades, and why he's comfortable with that interim title. We also get into his obsessions with comics and design, the broad meaning of First Amendment law (and why R Sikoryak's recent Constitution Illustrated should be required reading), how to learn from ethics disasters, how nonprofits can grow and how they can become sclerotic, his childhood McLuhan-inspired interpretation of the theme to the Batman TV show, how our mutual friend Tom Spurgeon was the hub of the comics industry, and what it's been like to live without him. Follow Jeff on Twitter • More info at our site • Support The Virtual Memories Show via Patreon or Paypal

Thanks for checking out the show - make sure to subscribe, and to leave ratings and reviews! Want to contribute to the show? You can donate anytime at http://paypal.me/mattsager Or become a patron, and get perks at my Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/mattsager Come visit the show's Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/mattsagerpodcast - to stay up to date as the podcast continues to grow. You can also follow me on: Twitter: @mattsager Instagram: @realmattsager Check out my website: http://www.mattsagervoiceover.com Comic creators are finally being called on years of grotesque harassment and abuse - but why has it taken years, and why were social media campaigns required to protect women in the workplace? It's a problem that has been going on for decades, and Dark Horse Comics even had one of the worst perpetrators, Scott Allie, in power as Editor-in-Chief before there was any kind of a reckoning, This calls for top-to-bottom regime replacement, to make workplaces safe. There's no excuse for this. And that's just one of many stories, which span across publishers and all the way to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Also, yesterday we lost another comics legend: RIP legendary inker Joe Sinnott, best known as the embellisher of Jack Kirby's pencil work. And, Doom Patrol is back with season 2! Check it out now on DC Universe or HBO Max. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mattsager/support

On episode 193 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Brian Pulido, founder, and publisher of Coffin Comics. Coffin Comics, the outlaw independent comics label that publishes the "Coffinverse" line of graphic novels including Lady Death, La Muerta, Hellwitch, and other heavy metal-inspired supernatural comic books and merchandise. In the ’90s, Pulido was the publisher of Chaos! Comics where he created and wrote the Chaos! Universe, including Evil Ernie, Purgatori, and others. Additionally, he has published or written A Nightmare on Elm St., Chucky, Friday The 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Megadeth, Insane Clown Posse, WWE, and many more. He is on The Hero Initiative’s fundraising board, has received the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Defender of Liberty Award and Comic-Con International’s Inkpot Award for contributions to the comic arts. Pulido has read Marvel’s Captain America monthly without fail since July 1974. He resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Francisca and dogs Ember and Max. For more info, visit: www.LadyDeathUniverse.com

On episode 193 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Brian Pulido, founder, and publisher of Coffin Comics. Coffin Comics, the outlaw independent comics label that publishes the "Coffinverse" line of graphic novels including Lady Death, La Muerta, Hellwitch, and other heavy metal-inspired supernatural comic books and merchandise. In the ’90s, Pulido was the publisher of Chaos! Comics where he created and wrote the Chaos! Universe, including Evil Ernie, Purgatori, and others. Additionally, he has published or written A Nightmare on Elm St., Chucky, Friday The 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Megadeth, Insane Clown Posse, WWE, and many more. He is on The Hero Initiative’s fundraising board, has received the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Defender of Liberty Award and Comic-Con International’s Inkpot Award for contributions to the comic arts. Pulido has read Marvel’s Captain America monthly without fail since July 1974. He resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Francisca and dogs Ember and Max. For more info, visit: www.LadyDeathUniverse.com

Christina Merkler, co-owner of Discount Comic Book Services and Lunar Distribution, and the President of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, joins the roundtable to discuss the rocky landscape of comic book distribution. Last month DC Comics announced the game-changing decision to discontinue it's decades-long exclusive deal with Diamond Comics Distribution, and ship new comics with two other distributors, Lunar Distribution and UCS. Christina joins the crew to break down the logistics and give us an update from her unique perspective. DCBS: https://www.dcbservice.com ________________ To listen to the audio version of the show, visit www.AroundComics.com, or subscribe on Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, or wherever awesome podcasts are found. To support the show visit http://www.ko-fi.com/aroundcomics, or http://www.aroundcomics.com/shop/ --------------------- --------------------- Send us stuff: Around Comics, PO Box 6114, Villa Park, IL 60181 --------------------- Buy AC Gear: http://www.aroundcomics.com/shop --------------------- Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroundcomics Twitter: https://twitter.com/AroundComics Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AroundComics... Website: http://www.aroundcomics.com Support: http://www.ko-fi.com/AroundComics Email: info@aroundcomics.com Chris' contact info: http://www.twitter.com/cneseman https://www.instagram.com/nesemancrea... https://www.facebook.com/christopher.... Sal's contact info: http://www.twitter.com/BrionSalazar https://www.instagram.com/brionsalazar https://www.facebook.com/brionsalazar Tom's contact info: https://twitter.com/tomkaters https://www.instagram.com/tomkaters https://www.facebook.com/tomkaters

This week we take a look at Mike Diana, an underground cartoonist who was the first, and so far only, person to be convicted of artistic obscenity in the United States of America.   RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): https://www.rainn.org Mike Diana official site: http://mikedianacomix.com Kryst the Conqueror: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIWdqZPeeo4&t=3s The CBLDF article about the passing of Jack Chick: http://cbldf.org/2016/10/chick-tracts-comics-in-the-service-of-censorship/ The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund: http://cbldf.org Suzy Morbid/Mike Diana interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09TWJhCjo2I&t=494s Mother Jones article by Sean Henry on the Mike Diana trial: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/1994/11/comic-threat/ Totally Fucking Gay: https://totallyfuckinggay.com Boiled Angels: The Trial of Mike Diana https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7401070/     Don't forget to subscribe. Follow me on Twitter: @RonnieUrsenbach Facebook: @BannedMediaPodcast Instagram: @BannedMediaPodcast or send e-mail to BannedMediaPodcast@gmail.com

Happy early Thanksgiving! We gorged ourselves prematurely on turkey and soy-based turkey substitute and fell asleep before we could record this week's episode. So here's a fill-in where we talk about the absurd self-censorship of the Comics Code Authority. If there's one thing we're grateful for (other than all of you!), it's the fact that the Comics Code no longer exists. Shout-out to the passionate defenders of the First Amendment at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund - if you are making plans for end-of-year giving, throw them a few tax-deductible bucks and/or buy some of their cool merch. Reading list: every Marvel Comic from 1954 to 2001. Plus, The Ten-Cent Plague by David Hadju and Seal of Approval: The History of the Comics Code by Dr. Amy Kiste Nyberg. "Marvel by the Month" theme by Robb Milne, sung by Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne. Visit us on internet at marvelbythemonth.com.

THE NEWS:James Tynion is taking over Batman with #86 through #100Marvel solicitations revealed!DC’s Birds of Prey Cancelled, Re-solicited as Mature TitleDC ends Co-Op Advertising ProgramArchie Comics buys Comic Book Legal Defense Fund membershipTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEK:DaveAbsolute Carnage #3 (W: Donny Cates, A: Ryan Stegman)Lex Luthor Year of the Villain (W: Jason Latour, A: Bryan Hitch)Hitch’s art gives this an event feel while the story is fun in ways only comics can achieve thanks to Latour’s imaginative ideas.ForrestHouse of X #5 (W: Jonathan Hickman, A: Pepe Larraz)Absolute Carnage #3 (W: Donny Cates, A: Ryan Stegman)Scary, subversive and surprisingly silly this is the strongest Marvel event in years.TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK:Dave: The White Trees #2 (W: Chip Zdarsky, A: Kris Anka)Forrest: The Plot #1 (W: Michael Moreci, Tim Daniel, A: Josh Hixson) JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.:Dave: Powers of X #5 (Mike Huddleston)Forrest: New Mutants: War Children #1 (Bill Sienkiewicz)Segment: JOKER/HARLEY Interview - Kami Garcia - ARTISTS MIKE MAYHEW AND MICO SUAYAN October 9th - Joker/Harley: CRIMINAL SANITYFirst off, I got a glimpse at the first issue and it’s stunning. The art is of course, but also the depiction of Harley Quinn. She isn’t silly or offbeat, but deadly serious about her work. What went into writing Harley in this way?This series is largely about serial killers and about the why what in what they do, I’m curious, why are we so fascinated with the most evil of people?When profiling a character like Joker do you tend to think of serial killers, say someone like Ted Bundy, and combine them, or do you develop it in a different way?Harley takes on different roles we’ve never seen for her, like being a professor. What went into building on Harley and what we’ve seen before?When writing a crime series as this do you ever have to get into the headspace of a killer? I ponder whether a ritualistic murder might be 100% getting in the head of a killer, or maybe if it was researched?I can’t help but make connections between Joker/Harley and The X-Files Origins: Agent of Chaos since both delve into the early days of a character. Here it’s Harley of course, but with the novel, it was Fox Mulder.Can you talk a bit about splitting the art between Mayew and Suayan?Off topic top shelf: Kami Garcia talks Mindhunters and cooking. 

I'm chatting with Denis Kitchen about founding The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which provides legal protection for the First Amendment Rights of the comics medium. In the span of his remarkable career, Denis published many 1970s underground comics creators, like R. Crumb & Art Spiegelman, through his Kitchen Sink Press. Here's a 1989 Larry King interview with Denis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftjQc8_wB84. For more info: http://cbldf.org/

In this episode, we speak with cartoonist/writer/editor/designer RONALD WIMBERLY about his career and current work, including the new magazine LAAB, his webcomic/essay LIGHTEN UP, and his upcoming book SUNSET PARK. We discuss his inspirations, his thoughts on politics, art, and activism, and a dozen other fascinating tangents from one of the sharpest minds in comics.  TOPICS INCLUDE: Gekiga, Kreigstein, Zipatone, and BAD BRAINS.  The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak with legendary publisher RON TURNER, starting with his early days as an activist, through the creation of foundational publishing house LAST GASP, the heyday of the Underground Comix movement, and a myriad of other topics from an amazing life. TOPICS INCLUDE: Amputation, Activism, Air Pirates, Ecology, and R. Crumb The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

Today our podcast connects with Chris Staros, publisher and editor of Top Shelf Productions, former president of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and author of Yearbook Stories, 1976–1978 (Top Shelf). Producer: Jon-Barrett Ingels and Kevin Staniec Manager: Sarah Becker Host: Jon-Barrett Ingels Guest: Christ Staros Photo: Jenni Girtman

In this episode, we speak with cartoonist.writer/editor SINA GRACE about his career and current work, including NOTHING LASTS FOREVER from Image Comics, and Marvel Comics' ICEMAN. We discuss his start in the industry, the various roles he has filled over the years, his creative process, and his approach to adult content. TOPICS INCLUDE: LONGSHOT, CHVRCHES, gentrification, and Jeffrey Brown  The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org NOTE: This episode contains language you will not hear on a prime-time network sitcom, and frank discussions of sex and sexuality.

In this episode, we speak with cartoonist R SIKORYAK about his latest book, THE UNQUOTABLE TRUMP, from Drawn & Quarterly. We discuss his career, his thoughts on activism, the variety of places he's been published, and the wide world of literature and comics he has managed to mush together, recontextualizing both in the process. TOPICS INCLUDE: Hostess Twinkies, X-Ray Specs, Picasso, and RAW. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak with cartoonist JEFFREY BROWN about his work, and the changes (and lack of changes) in his art and his interests over the years. We discuss as many aspects of his career as we could fit into 45 minutes, with is really just the tip of the iceberg. Brown is an enormously prolific artist, with a wide library including Clumsy, Unlikely, AEIOU (Any Easy Intimacy), Every Girl is the End of the World For Me, Little Things, Funny Misshapen Body, A Matter Of Life, Bighead, I Am Going To Be Small, Cat Getting Out Of A Bag, Kids Are Weird, and the series Incredible Change-bots. His career took a Lucas-y turn recently, with the immensely popular Darth Vader and Son, Vader's Little Princess, Goodnight, Darth Vader, Darth Vader and Friends, and three volumes in the Jedi Academy series. His current series is the wonderful Lucy and Andy Neanderthal. TOPICS INCLUDE: Autobiography, Bad Reviews, the Transformers, and being comics-typecast. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org    

When the Rooskies are on the rampage at Lake Placid, there's only one man with a twisted wrister that can save Team USA from defeat: JT MARSH. Things are bad on Venus, but they're even worse in space!?! HOW CAN THAT BE? In this episode: Harry Potter, why Draconis rules, and more!  Also, there's nothing after the end music this week. It'll be back next time. If you have a minute, please consider Len Wein who wrote this episode and passed away last week. Per his fan page on Facebook, if you'd like to make a donation, he was associated with the following charities: "People have been asking about flowers or charities in honor of Len. Flowers are generally not sent for Jewish funerals, I understand. Instead, consider making a donation to Chase Masterson's Pop Culture Hero Coalition, dedicated to ending bullying using superhero stories for inspiration (Len has been involved with the organization from the beginning), Janis Ian's The Pearl Foundation, giving women an opportunity to return to school (Janis has been a dear friend of ours for years and the organization has given almost $1 million in scholarships), the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue (Ginger & Dexter are alumni), or the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund." - https://www.facebook.com/Len-Wein-Fan-Page-119173621458957/ Music Credits: Intro/Outro:  Eric Calderone Advertiser: Two Five Films:  https://www.twofivefilms.com Two Loopy Ladies: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoLoopyLadies

In this episode, we speak with editor, publisher, writer, and translator ANNE ISHII about her current venture MASSIVE GOODS, and the world of gay manga. We discuss cultural differences with regards to erotica, gender politics, and pornography, niche subcultures, and take a diversion into our mutual love of the greatest Death Metal manga ever made. TOPICS INCLUDE: Yaoi/BL, Osamu Tezuka, Detroit Metal City FULL DISCLOSURE, this episode contains frank conversations about sex, sexuality, BDSM, sexual violence in literature, and pornography. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak with writer MATTHEW ROSENBERG (We Can Never Go Hom, 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank, Rocket Raccoon , Kingpin, 12 Reasons To Die) about his work, and the influence on his career of personal politics and activism. We discuss the early days of BLACK MASK STUDIOS, interacting with an angry audience, and maintaining nuance in politically divisive times. TOPICS INCLUDE: Raymond Chandler, OCCUPY COMICS, The NY Mets The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

July 20, 2017 - In the first of the 2017 batch of exclusive interviews I am conducting at San Diego Comic-Con International, I chatted with a Comic Book Legal Defense Fund spokesperson named Jarrod about the CBLDF's mission and how they fundraise to support their wonderful cause.

In this episode, we speak with cartoonist and journalist SARAH GLIDDEN (ROLLING BLACKOUTS, HOW TO UNDERSTAND ISRAEL IN 60 DAYS OR LESS) about her work, and the evolution thereof. We discuss the process of becoming a journalist, and the role and responsibilities of reporters in the world. TOPICS INCLUDE: Birthright Trips, German Book Reviewers, Art School, Activism, Jill Stein The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak with cartoonist ED LUCE (WUVABLE OAF) about coming to comics from fine arts, educating a new generation, and life in the OAF-O-VERSE. We discuss his early inspirations, and how he has managed to find broad appeal with what was once considering niche content... TOPICS INCLUDE: Johnny Ryan, Shepard Fairey, Full Frontal Nudity, and Paper Dolls. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak with cartoonist GILBERT HERNANDEZ (LOVE & ROCKETS, BLUBBER) about his career, his work, and his early inspirations. We discuss reactions to his work and controversies therein, and his personal views on mature content in comics and elsewhere. TOPICS INCLUDE: HEAVY METAL, Steve Ditko, Katy Perry, Grindhouse cinema, CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org   ADDENDUM: Two corrections. Mr. Hernandez would like to clarify that Ditko wasn't offered $200 a page at Charlton, but $20 a page to do whatever he wanted. He also mistated Katy Perry, rather than Brittany Spears.

In this episode, we speak with cartoonist and writer KATIE SKELLY (NURSE NURSE, OPERATION MARGARINE, MY PRETTY VAMPIRE) about two classic European comic creators; Guido Crepax and Milo Manara. Katie discusses the craft, context, and legacy of these two masters of erotica (and more). TOPICS INCLUDE: Jeff Koons, Fellini, Frank King, Bondage (Full disclosure, explicit content discussed at length.)    The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

Interview with Ada Palmer, author of Too Like The Lightning Mentioned by Ada: * Jacques the Fatalist, by Denis Diderot * Candide, by Voltaire * the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund   Mentioned by me: * Consent of the Surveilled, at RibbonFarm * the /r/rational recommendation, Ozy’s review, my review The second volume… Continue reading

On tonight's show, we hook you up with news from VIZ Media and Funimation from this past weekend at San Diego Comic-Con International! New blu-ray releases, Shin Godzilla, Tubi TV partnership! Viz joins the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure joins Adult Swim's Toonami! Plus season two of Netflix's Voltron: Legendary Defender! Also, Hideki Anno apologizes for Neon Genesis Evangelion and Judas Priest joins up with BABYMETAL! On the Open Forum Topic, we ask you what anime series you want to see on Toonami that hasn't been shown. And in Strange News From Japan, a man is arrested for a false report of a lion, a foul smelling liquid in Tokyo Underground, below frozen Kit-Kats, and Pokemon dildos? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/animejamsession/support

In this episode of Weekend Lighting, Jacob Flax will discuss Crunchyroll adding 2 series of Re:Zero Anime Shorts, T.M. Revolution stars as himself on B-Project: Kodo Ambitious, a new teaser video for BLAME!, Momokuri premiering on Anime Network Online, and Viz Media join Comic Book Legal Defense Fund as Corporate Member.

Welcome to Episode 41 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Charles Brownstein, Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. “It’s important to be able to disagree and offend…Its more important to have the opportunity to be wrong or to have the opportunity to be offended than to go through life where nothing challenges or nothing has a rough edge. “ Free speech and censorship are the topics of today’s episode. Charle has been the Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) since 2002. Charles gives us some background on how and when he became interested in both comics and free-speech issues, beginning in childhood with movies like Pump up the Volume and Batman (1989). Charles discusses growing up in the 90’s, and interviewing artists such as Frank Miller, Alan Moore, and Will Eisner for a magazine he published in high school. Most of this interview focuses on the problem of censorship, and how First Amendment rights are at risk as a result of print-media protests. We’ll discuss a number of historic free-speech cases from the last 20 years, and Charles will talk about the importance of protecting speech rights regardless of how a piece of art makes someone feel. Charles covers vulgarity in comic books, school library books of “sensitive nature,” and why Manga is not child pornography. Lastly, we discuss the “chilling effect” or the psychological impact censoring acts have on artists and art culture, and the importance of protecting free speech at all costs. Links and notable mentions from today’s episode: Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) Lenny Bruce ACLU Director remembers Burt Joseph CBLDF article covering Zap Comix lawsuit A Short History of Comics Censorship This One Summer Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes. The Credits Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi. The illustration accompanying these show notes is by Whit Harris. The theme music for this episode was provided by Le Chateau. The track name is “Bury You.” Go buy it on Soundcloud! This episode and these show notes © 2016 David Lizerbram

In this episode, we speak with author CHUCK PALAHNIUK (FIGHT CLUB, FIGHT CLUB 2, CHOKE), who has just completed writing FIGHT CLUB 2, as a graphic novel, with artist Cameron Stewart. TOPICS: Kolchak the Night Stalker, EC Comics, radiation poisoning, and more! The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

It's Free Comic Book Day 2016, and to celebrate the event Derek is back at Collected Comics and Games in Plano, TX, to talk with customers and shop employees about the various offerings for this year. Some of the standout FCBD titles from those gathered around the discussion table are Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom (Arcana), We Can Never Go Home/Young Terrorists (Black Mask Studios), ROM (IDW Publishing), One-Punch Man/My Hero Academia(VIZ Media), Oddly Normal (Image Comics), Civil War II (Marvel Comics), The Phantom (Hermes Press), and Serenity/Hellboy/Aliens (Dark Horse Comics). Artist and friend-of-the-show Andy Hirsch joins the conversation for a while and talks about some of his favorites, including Science Comics (First Second) and Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics). He also shares some behind-the-scenes information about his work on the miniseries The Baker Street Peculiars and his new book, Varmints, coming out this fall from First Second. And Derek also highlights some of his favorite FCBD selections from this year, including March (Top Shelf),   Mooncop/A Tom Gauld Sampler (Drawn and Quarterly), Hilda/Akissi/Fantasy Sports (Nobrow Press), and the great collections from BOOM! Studios, United Plankton Pictures (AKA, Spongebob), Z2 Comics, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. There's a lot packed into this on-location episode, so get past the ambient noise of the crowds and jump into the fun comics talk offered here!

In this episode, CBLDF Editorial director BETSY GOMEZ talks with artist BRIAN STELFREEZE (BLACK PANTHER, DAY MEN), hot off the launch of the what is likely the year's biggest release, the new BLACK PANTHER series from Marvel Comics with author Ta-Nehisi Coates. TOPICS: Blaxploitation, self-censorship, costume design, and more! The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we are LIVE from Charm City! CBLDF Deputy Director Alex Cox talks with Vivek Tiwary (THE FIFTH BEATLE), Ron Marz (WITCHBLADE, GREEN LANTERN, SILVER SURFER), and Dirk Wood (IDW PUBLISHING) in a thrilling conversation! TOPICS: KISS, Mutant Turtles who are Teenage Ninjas, Diversity and Representation, Comic Book Rockstars, Marriage Equality, PINK FLOYD, and a STAR WARS ring-tone! The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

The Comics Alternative is happy to feature a brand new monthly series, this one devoted to comics and graphic novels for young readers. The cohosts for this show are Gwen Tarbox and Andy Wolverton. Longtime listeners of the podcast will know that Andy is an old hand at cohosting duties, filling in for Andy Kunka occasionally and, up until recently, being the cohost on the monthly webcomics series. (In fact, Andy left the webcomics show so that he could pursue this new idea.) Gwen is a professor of children's and young adult narrative, especially as it applies to comics. This is her first time cohosting a podcast, and everyone at The Comics Alternative is excited about having her on the team. Now, every month Gwen and Andy will look at two recent comics written for a young audience, one for teenage or young adult readers and another title devoted to younger children. For their inaugural episode of Two PhDs Talking About Comics for Young Readers, discuss recent developments in comics for children and teenagers, and they reference Raising a Reader! How Comics and Graphic Novels Can Help Your Kids Love To Read! This resource, written by Dr. Meryl Jaffe and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier and Matthew Holm, provides parents and educators with advice on how to share comics with children. (A shorter version of this text is available on the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's website.) Gwen and Andy also talk about connecting kids with comics, beginning with an exploration of recommended comics lists put out by the Eisner Awards committee and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). For the last few years, the Eisner Awards have included categories for early readers, kids, and teens, and YALSA, a part of the American Library Association, publishes lists of recommended graphic novels for middle grade and high school readers. During the review section of the program, Andy and Gwen discuss Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCool and Emily Carroll (Candlewick Press). Both are impressed by the depiction of Masha, a young woman who comes to terms with changes in her family life and learns to stand up for herself by matching wits with Baba Yaga, a character who walks off of the pages of Slavic folklore and into Masha's life. Gwen and Andy discuss the text's effective use of flashbacks and embedded narratives, and praise Carroll's use of color to evoke mood and to signal shifts between past and present. Next, they talk about the semi-autobiographical graphic novel Sunny Side Up (Graphix), written by Jennifer Holm and with art by Matthew Holm, the sister/brother team behind such popular children's comics series as Babymouse and Squish. Noting that Sunny Side Up contains much to interest both adult and child readers, they focus on the way that the Holms capture many features of life in the 1970s while telling a story with contemporary relevance about the impact of substance abuse on a close-knit family. Although the text deals with serious subject matter, the Holms employ a gentle humor and a relatable child protagonist who, like Masha in Baba Yaga's Assistant, learns to confront her fears and to turn a summer long visit with her grandfather into a journey of discovery. Parents will enjoy the many references to 1970s popular culture, and kids will learn about the transformative power of comics in the lives of Sunny and her friend Buzz. All in all, both Gwen and Andy bring their rich experiences -- she as an instructor and he as a librarian -- into their analyses, and this first show is just a small taste of many insights and recommendations to come. This is a must-listen podcast series for every teacher, librarian, parent, and reader of comics intended for younger audiences.

In this episode, CBLDF Editorial Director Betsy Gomez speaks to cartoonist Raina Telegemeier (DRAMA, SMILE, SISTERS) and CBLDF Deputy Director Alex Cox talks with ARCHIE COMICS Senior VP of Publicity and Marketing, Alex Segura. TOPICS: Kevin Keller, Libraries, PREDATOR, Wally West, Film Noir, Orthodontary. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein speaks to Image Comics Publisher (and author of NOWHERE MEN, and THEY'RE NOT LIKE US) Eric Stephenson. The writing process, influences, views on censorship and free expression, and Eric's personal history ion the comics industry are all discussed. TOPICS: being offended, being offensive, bawdy humor, satire, the Beatles, breastfeeding, and more! The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we come to you from Seattle, Washington, with a live recording from Emerald City Comic Con! Our panel includes Josh Fialkov (ELK'S RUN, PUNKS, THE BUNKER, ULTIMATE FF), Ed Luce (WUVABLE OAF), and IDW Publishing's VP of Marketing, Dirk Wood. We discuss: Libraries, Chest Hair, The Kroll Show, Gengoroh Tagame, PALESTINE, and much more! The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak to author and CBLDF Advisory Board Co-Chair (as well as CBLDF Board of Directors Alumni) NEIL GAIMAN. Neil is one of the most popular authors working today, a ground-breaking graphic novelist, a humanitarian deeply involved in multiple charitable projects, and a winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker awards, as well as the Newbery and Carnegie medals. He has been a tireless voice for free expression over the years, and is one of the most passionate voices in the literary world when it comes to fighting censorship. We discuss: Charlie Hebdo, British Censorship, Libraries, Icky Speech, and much more! The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. Books (and other items) signed by Mr. Gaiman can be found at http://cbldf.myshopify.com/collections/neil-gaiman, available to support the work of the CBLDF. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak to Brian Heater; journalist, podcaster, comic critic, and all-around Big Thinker when it comes to comics, comic art, and the comic industry. Check out Brian's regular podcast, RIYL,  at http://riylcast.tumblr.com/ We discuss: THE SCULPTOR, Roz Chast, CHARLIE HEBDO, tablets, Raina Telgemeier, comics journalism, and much more. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

n this episode, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein talks to former CBLDF Executive Director Susan Alston about the early days of the Fund. We discuss: Mike Diana, Paul Mavrides, social media, the Supreme Court, and much more. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

Fantasy writer Neil Gaiman has a long affiliation with cartoonists, and illustrators, and a history of fighting for them, partly because he spent 12 years on the board of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Here he speaks to Index on Censorship for an upcoming feature in their magazine. “A nice easy place for freedom of speech to be eroded is comics because comics are a natural target whenever an election comes up.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein presents the History of the Comics Code Authority before a live audience at Wondercon 2014, in Anaheim California. He discusses: Tarzan, Fellini, Johnny Craig, Speedy's drug use, Wolfmans, Phil Sueling, Elfquests, and more! The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

Denis Kitchen, Al Capp: A Life to the Contrary In 1969, cartoonist, writer, and alternative publishing pioneer, Denis Kitchen founded Kitchen Sink Press, an innovative house that, until it folded in 1999, published early and new graphic works by some of the most recognized artists in the underground “comix” vanguard. Kitchen founded and for eighteen years chaired the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting first amendment rights in the comics industry. Kitchen co-authored The Art of Harvey Kurtzman with Paul Buhle, and Underground Classics with James Danky. In addition, Kitchen has written dozens of essays, introductions and annotations for books with numerous publishers including Abrams, W. W. Norton, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Kitchen Sink Press, and Kitchen Sink Books.

Paul Levitz is a comic fan (The Comic Reader), editor (Batman, among many titles), writer (Legion of Super-Heroes, including two NY Times Best Sellers), executive (30 years at DC, ending as President & Publisher), historian (75 Years of DC Comics: The Art Of Modern Myth-Making (Taschen, 2010)) and educator (including the American Graphic Novel at Columbia). He won two consecutive annual Comic Art Fan Awards for Best Fanzine, received Comic-con International’s Inkpot Award, the prestigious Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, and the Comics Industry Appreciation Award from ComicsPro. His Taschen book won the Eisner Award, the Eagle Award and Munich’s Peng Pris, and is being released in revised form as five volumes in 2013. He is currently working on a book on Will Eisner and the birth of the graphic novel for Abrams Comic Arts. Levitz also serves on the board of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. His visit was a conversation with CMS/W faculty member and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz.

Denis Kitchen, Al Capp: A Life to the Contrary In 1969, cartoonist, writer, and alternative publishing pioneer, Denis Kitchen founded Kitchen Sink Press, an innovative house that, until it folded in 1999, published early and new graphic works by some of the most recognized artists in the underground “comix” vanguard. Kitchen founded and for eighteen years chaired the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting first amendment rights in the comics industry. Kitchen co-authored The Art of Harvey Kurtzman with Paul Buhle, and Underground Classics with James Danky. In addition, Kitchen has written dozens of essays, introductions and annotations for books with numerous publishers including Abrams, W. W. Norton, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Kitchen Sink Press, and Kitchen Sink Books.

In this SPOOKY episode, we speak to Scott Allie, Editor-In-Chief of Dark Horse Comics, and Cartoonist and Horror Expert Jeff Zornow, who is currently illustrating GODZILLA: RULERS OF EARTH for IDW Publishing. Both of these gentlemen are big fans of horror as a genre, and horror comics, and we spend some time with them talking about what has traditionally been one of the most controversial and challenged genres in comics. We discuss: EC Comics, Uzumaki, EXORCIST rip-offs, Paul Naschy, SALEM'S LOT, Joe Orlando, and more. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein travels to Great Britain, and visits Page 45 in Nottingham, and the Cartoon Museum. We discuss: Constantine, "Spitting Image", censorship in British schools, Hunt Emerson, and much more. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

It's National Banned Books Week and this time out I take a quick look at censorship, challenged and banned books, challenged and banned comics, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and why and how censorship of this sort still exists. Show notes and pictures are available at http://popcultureaffidavit.com, which is also where you can see regular weekly blog entries about the randomness that is pop culture. Feedback can be addressed to popcultureaffidavit@gmail.com

It’s National Banned Books Week and this time out I take a quick look at censorship, challenged and banned books, challenged and banned comics, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and why and how censorship of this sort still exists. Show notes and pictures are available at http://popcultureaffidavit.com, which is [...]

It's National Banned Books Week and this time out I take a quick look at censorship, challenged and banned books, challenged and banned comics, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and why and how censorship of this sort still exists. Show notes and pictures are available at http://popcultureaffidavit.com, which is also where you can see regular weekly blog entries about the randomness that is pop culture. Feedback can be addressed to popcultureaffidavit@gmail.com

In this episode, we present a live panel from New York Comic Con 2013, featuring a "Who's Who" in All-Ages Graphic Novels. The panel is a roundtable on using Comics in the Classroom, and we hear from (among others) author and educator Meryl Jaffe, author Jenni Holm, cartoonist Matt Holm, cartoonist Eric Wight, cartoonist Larry Marder, and more. They discuss: comics as an education tool, recommended reading for kids, and more. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak to Ross Richie, Founder and CEO of BOOM! Studios. Over the past few years, Ross has overseen BOOM! as it has grown into one of the most vibrant and diverse publishers in the market, and has turned what began as a handful of anthology books into a creative collective that publishes a variety of genres, including titles produced by ARCHAIA, BOOMBox, KaBOOM!, and more. We discuss: The Fourth World, Hollywood, Keith Giffen, the Austin Renaissance, Pacific Comics, and more. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

In this episode, we speak to CBLDF Board Member and Author JENNI HOLM (BABYMOUSE, SQUISH). Jenni is a one of the most important proponents of Graphic Novels for kids working today, and her books are wildly popular among humans of all ages. We discuss: Five Card Nancy, Petri Dishes, Bloom County, Sergei Eisenstein, New York real estate, and more. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

Writer and Producer Vivek Tiwary walks us through the creation of THE FIFTH BEATLE, and discusses how the life and times of Brian Epstein resonate with Free Expression struggles today. We discuss The Beatles, Colonel Tom Parker, Oscar Wilde Laws, Alanis Morrisette, and the underrated films of Peyton Reed. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

Interviews with Howard Cruse, Fiona Staples, and Robert Williams, from the floor of the 2014 Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art Festival! The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

Author Fred Van Lente (Action Philosophers, Conan, Amazing Spider-Man, Archer & Armstrong) discusses Fredric Wertham, Juvenile Delinquency, and the birth of the Comics Code Authority. The CBLDF Podcast is part of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's ongoing education program, made possible in part with a donation from The Gaiman Foundation, and member support. More information can be found at cbldf.org

Alex in Manhattan, NY: Alex works for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in New York City, but grew up 45 minutes away from Jason near Winchester, Tennessee. JasonSimsIsCallingYou.Tumblr.com Subscribe to the podcast: RSS or iTunes

It's the first Acmecast without Jermaine or Stephen, but Griffin, Riley, Michael and Jody proudly carry on the porch, even when they're up to their necks in anthology books! Show Notes: Check out the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund website to find out what their organization is all about and make a donation if you feel so inclined. Comics at the Table! - CBLDF Liberty Annual #5, Joe Kubert Presents #1, Ghosts #1, Bedlam #1, Aquaman #13, Swamp Thing Annual #1, AvX Consequences #4 and Wolverine & the X-Men #19!

Jermaine, Stephen and Jay avoid disaster multiple times on the production end of things to bring you the latest on Acme in-store signings, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's mission, last minute tips for HeroesCon 2012 and reviews of all of the Comics at the Table! Show Notes: Kelly Sue.com. Matt Fraction.com. Heroes Online.com. Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.org. "CBLDF, other organizations defend Alan Moore's Neonomicon" at Robot 6. Jody's back on the case! Comics at the Table - Before Watchmen Comedian #1, Saga #4, Reed Gunther #10, Wonder Woman #10, Chew #27 2nd Helping Edition, Avengers vs. X-Men #6, New Avengers #27, Secret Avengers #28, Uncanny X-Men #14, Ghostbusters #10 and Baltimore Dr. Leskovar's Remedy #1!

Episode 163: In a very special episode, we are joined by David Baron and Allen Passalaqua as they tell us about some major plans for San Diego Comic Con and unveil a surprise.  We also chat about 1of1printing.com, Batman Confidential 29, Trinity 52, Vigilante 6, comics to film, their work as colorists, and we even give some love to Kid Colt. Show Notes: 0:00 Show opening, heroinitiative.org,  DCBService.com, Instocktrades.com, our ongoing contest (Ragingcontest@gmail.com), show voicemail line 1-440-388-4434 or drnorge on Skype,and more. 4:33 David Baron and Allen Passalaqua 1:36:41 Show closing Raging Reel : returns next week We’ll be back in a week with our next episode.  Check Ragingbullets.com and the forum for regular updates. Don’t forget to submit your own content for the web site and the show. We love your participation. 1of1printing http://1of1printing.com Allen Passalaqua http://angryf.blogspot.com/ http://www.angryf.com David Baron wanted us to link to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund on his behalf. http://www.cbldf.org/

Episode 151: We finish the second of a two part interview with colorist David Baron from Green Arrow/Black Canary, Vigilante, Superman Beyond 3-d and much more. We chat about recent news coming out of the Wonder and Mega Cons and chat casually about Superman 685, Supergirl 38, Action Comics 874 and JSA 24. We also have more conversations from the NYCC. Show Notes: 0:00 Show opening, heroinitiative.org,  DCBService.com, Instocktrades.com, our ongoing contest (Ragingcontest@gmail.com), show voicemail line 1-440-388-4434 or drnorge on Skype,and more. 11:13 Interview with colorist David Baron part 2 of 2 1:09:06 Recent news coming out of the Wonder and Mega Cons and chat casually about Superman 685, Supergirl 38, Action Comics 874 and JSA 24 1:53:08 Conclusion to David Baron’s chat where we discuss our love for the medium and how fans can help promote what they love and we discuss a little more GA/BC. 2:43:33 Show closing 2:48:05 Blooper Reel : A bonus segment: Chat with Indigo Fire from NYCC We’ll be back in next week with our next episode.  Check Ragingbullets.com and the forum for regular updates. Don’t forget to submit your own content for the web site and the show. We love your participation. David Baron wanted us to link to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund on his behalf. http://www.cbldf.org/ Allen Passalaqua http://www.angryf.com

Episode 150 Part 2: We kick off the first of a two part interview with colorist David Baron from Green Arrow/Black Canary, Vigilante, Superman Beyond 3-d and much more. We talk about how he broke into comics and how coloring has evolved since his early days at Wildstorm. We also have more conversations from the NYCC. Show Notes: 0:00 Show opening, heroinitiative.org,  DCBService.com, Instocktrades.com, our ongoing contest (Ragingcontest@gmail.com), show voicemail line 1-440-388-4434 or drnorge on Skype,and more. 3:45 Interview with colorist David Baron part 1 of 2 1:51:00 Conversation with new listener Howard at the NYCC 2:09:44 Conversation with Joseph at the NYCC 2:15:33 Conversation with Leroy at the NYCC 2:40:16 Show closing 2:42:17 Blooper Reel : A bonus segment: Weapon Brown interview from NYCC We’ll be back in a few days with our next episode.  Check Ragingbullets.com and the forum for regular updates. Don’t forget to submit your own content for the web site and the show. We love your participation. David Baron wanted us to link to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund on his behalf. http://www.cbldf.org/ Comic Tube http://comictubepodcast.blogspot.com/ Weapon Brown http://www.whatisdeepfried.com/

Reviews: Battlefields: Dear Billy #1, The Wind Raider #1, Final Crisis #7 Tony Lee arrives from the UK and invades the CNI studios with audience in tow. Jimmy talks the Superbowl while Joe prefers the commercials. Tony is just lost but is welcomed with a special song in his honor. It's possibly our longest show ever, but full of Tony Lee goodness. News includes a Texan Zombie scare, UK wants to ban comics, Watchmen Black Freighter DVD, a new Chicago con and more! Tony discusses his recently completed mini-series Doctor Who: The Forgotten and other works including Harker, Midnight Kiss and Robin Hood. New York Comic-Con is around the corner and we chat about our confirmed guests and planned events in the Podcast Arena. Once again, CNI will be doing a charity raffle and this year it will benefit The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!Tickets are $1 or 6 for $5. Come buy your tickets each day and they will be good for each raffle.

Reviews: Locke & Key: Head Games #1, Amazing Spider-Man #583 (Kind of...), Battlestar Galactica (Latest episode) On this historic day, the guys record their 175th inaugural episode. Jimmy chats about his trip to his hometown of Jacksonville with tales of cougars, Jesus ties and old friends. News includes the resolution of the Watchmen film dispute, Diamond Distributors new deal, Veronica Mars movie, free The Uniques comic and more. Lance Fensterman, show manager for the upcoming New York Comic-Con, joins us to discuss some of the exciting events and guests he's got for the show. Also, check out the special deal from Audible over on the left! New York Comic-Con is around the corner and we chat about our confirmed guests and planned events in the Podcast Arena. Once again, CNI will be doing a charity raffle and this year it will benefit The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!

Reviews: Faces of Evil: Solomon Grundy One-Shot, Punisher #1, Black Lightning: Year One #1 The awesomely talented Danielle Corsetto (Girls With Slingshots webcomic) joins us in studio on a break from her mini-signing tour! We catch up with Danielle to see what she's been up to since our last chat back at Heroes Con in June. Jimmy falls in love with his new iPhone and looks forward to his quick jaunt to his hometown in Florida. Joe expresses his joy over the big Wall-E win at the Golden Globes. News includes Pushing Daisies unaired episodes, Juan Valdez suing Mother Goose, Bill Willingham's desire to return to wholesome comics, Elfman on Terminator: Salvation, DC Comics movies on hold and more.  New York Comic-Con is around the corner and we chat about our confirmed guests and planned events in the Podcast Arena. Once again, CNI will be doing a charity raffle and this year it will benefit The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!

In observance of Banned Books Week 2018, Mickey speaks with three guests, all involved in different facets of defending Americans' right to read. Betsy Gomez is coordinator of Banned Books Week, Charles Brownstein is executive director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and Abena Hutchful leads the Youth Free Expression Program at the National Coalition Against Censorship. Web sites mentioned on this week's show:www.bannedbooksweek.orgwww.cbldf.org www.ncac.org