 | |
| Formation | 1986; 40 years ago (1986) |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Protect theFirst Amendment rights ofcomics creators, publishers, and retailers |
| Headquarters | New York,NY,United States |
Interim Executive Director | Jeff Trexler[1] |
| Website | www.cbldf.org |
TheComic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) is an Americannon-profit organization formed in 1986 to protect theFirst Amendment rights ofcomics creators, publishers, and retailers covering legal expenses. Charles Brownstein served as the organization's executive director from 2002[2] until his resignation in 2020.[3]
The CBLDF is supported by many big names of the industry; over the years, its board of directors has includedLarry Marder,Ted Adams,Reginald Hudlin,Gene Luen Yang,Chris Staros,Peter David,Neil Gaiman,Paul Levitz,Milton Griepp,Steve Geppi, and many other industry figures.Fund Comics,More Fund Comics, andEven More Fund Comics are compilations of short work by famous artists sold to support the CBLDF. Additionally,Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab offers a line of perfumes whose profits go directly to the CBLDF.[4] Popular artists such as comedianBill Hader,[5] cartoonistJeff Smith,[6] and comic book artistFrank Miller[7] have expressed support for it.
The CBLDF is a sponsor ofBanned Books Week, and also works with libraries, helping to keep graphic novels on their shelves. In the past they have partnered with such organizations as the Kids Right to Read Project, theAmerican Library Association, and the Office of Intellectual Freedom as part of this mission.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund began as a means to pay for the legal defense of Friendly Frank's comic shop manager Michael Correa, who was arrested in 1986 on charges of distributing obscenity.[8][9] The comic books deemed obscene wereOmaha the Cat Dancer,The Bodyssey,Weirdo, andBizarre Sex.Kitchen Sink Press released an art portfolio of pieces donated by comics artists; proceeds were donated to Correa's defense. First Amendment attorneyBurton Joseph defended Friendly Frank's and ultimately had the conviction overturned.[10]Denis Kitchen officially incorporated the CBLDF in 1990 as a non-profit charitable organization with capital left over from Correa's defense fund, and Burton Joseph became their legal counsel in 1996. Since then, the Fund and Burton Joseph have provided advice and legal assistance in many cases and incidents.[11] In 1991, the CBLDF was honoured with theBob Clampett Humanitarian Award.
In 2002, Charles Brownstein became the executive director of the CBLDF.[12]
The Fund publishes a quarterly newsletter calledBusted!: the official newsletter of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.OCLC 41042960
On September 29, 2011, it was announced that the CBLDF acquired intellectual property rights of theComics Code Authority seal from the now defunctComics Magazine Association of America; the sale coincided withBanned Books Week. The CBLDF intends to use the seal in merchandise through licensing agreements, with proceeds from the licenses benefitting the CBLDF.[13]
The CBLDF works independently and with coalitions to defend against unconstitutional legislation.[14] CBLDF works with the Media Coalition, along with:The American Booksellers for Free Expression Group at ABA,Association of American Publishers, Inc.,Authors Guild,Entertainment Software Association,Freedom to Read Foundation,Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., andRecording Industry Association of America, Inc.[15] They were active plaintiffs against internet filters in libraries[14] and more recently in 2012, a Utah bill that wanted to censor internet speech, which the CBLDF was able to help stop.[16]
Since 2008, the CBLDF has published an annual comic book,The CBLDF Liberty Annual, to which many major artists and writers, includingJ. Michael Straczynski,Garth Ennis, andRichard Corben, have contributed.
In 2025, the CBLDF vowed to support those wrongly accused underTexas Senate Bill 20.[17][18] Jeff Trexler, director of the organization, also expressed worry that the legislation "may discourage people from engaging with specific titles, leading to unspoken censorship," guessed that the law may be aiming to "instill fear" rather than enforce it, and argued that the law allows for the "unconstitutional prosecution for possessing certain cartoons or animation."[18][19] After the bill's passage, the CBLDF noted, on social media, that the organization tried to make the bill "align with constitutional standards and to remove the comics reference" while working behind closed doors but that these amendments didn't "work out."[20]
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In the late 1940s and 1950s, comic books faced significantpublic scrutiny and moral panic in the United States. This era witnessed widespread comic book burnings, spearheaded by community and religious groups who feared the impact of comic book content on youth. A pivotal figure in this movement was psychiatristDr. Fredric Wertham, whose work "Seduction of the Innocent" argued thatcomic books were a negative influence on children, leading tojuvenile delinquency. Wertham's conclusions significantly influenced public perception and even led to a U.S. Senate inquiry into the comic book industry. The climate of concern and censorship created during this period underscored the need for legal defense and advocacy for the comic book industry, a role that the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund would come to fulfill in later years. This historical context highlights the complex cultural and legal challenges faced by the comic book industry and underscores the importance of organizations like the CBLDF in protecting and promoting free expression in comic art.[21]
In June 2020, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein resigned following,[22][23] as described inThe Hollywood Reporter:[12]
renewed pressure from the comic book industry surrounding a sexual assault from 2005... Brownstein assaulted comic book creator Taki Soma atMid-Ohio Con in November, 2005, in an incident that was reported to police without leading to an arrest... Brownstein, who characterized the incident as "a stupid, drunken prank, of which I'm ashamed," remained in place with the CBLDF following what was described as an independent investigation carried out on behalf of the organization.
Polygon reported that "multiple comics creators", includingBrian Michael Bendis,Al Ewing,Pia Guerra, andJames Tynion IV, "announced they would no longer be working with the CBLDF — or spoke publicly about how they had already stopped working with the organization — because of Brownstein's conduct".[24]
In the following week, three members of the board also stepped down: Jeff Abraham, Katherine Keller, andPaul Levitz.[25] "All three leave days after it emerged that Brownstein had been abusive to others during his tenure in charge of the non-profit organization... with the organization taking the unprecedented move of releasing former employee Shy Allot from a non-disclosure agreement signed in 2010 so that she could come forward with her experiences".[25] CBLDF issued a statement on June 29, 2020:
We respect the decisions that Paul, Katherine and Jeff have made to leave the Board. We realize it will be a long path to earning back the trust of our members, supporters and the industry. We recognize that it's been our inability to react, or act at all, that's been the cause of pain in our community. Even last week, when we took the necessary action in accepting Charles's resignation, our communications were stilted and clumsy. To everyone who has come forward, we haven't done justice to your bravery and we are truly sorry. We vow to be better. We've begun the search for a new Executive Director. We're going to look both inside and outside the comic book industry to find the best person to run the Fund and fix what's broken. We are taking steps to expand our mission to make sure that we are best serving the industry's needs. We have a responsibility to our community, and that means listening and responding to your concerns. Most importantly, we want to keep talking. We want to keep listening. If you have a story to tell, whether it involves the CBLDF or not, we want to hear it. We've created the email feedback@cbldf.org where you can share your story or voice your concerns. We don't expect our words to earn us anything. We hope our actions will.[26]
In July 2020,The Daily Beast reported that "under Brownstein's tenure, the CBLDF drew criticism for defendingMilo Yiannopoulos, while not intervening to defend 11 creators who were slapped with a defamation suit after accusing small-press comics creator Cody Pickrodt of rape and sexual harassment."[22]
The CBLDF creates toolkits that are available for librarians and others to use on the website.[14] They also give lectures and presentations "at comic book and anime conventions, library and book trade conferences, universities, and symposiums in the United States and around the world."[14]
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