CBLDF Presents: Liberty from Image Comics Featuring Comics' Greatest Creators

Celebrate creative freedom with the comic book industry’s top talents in LIBERTY, an anthology benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! This deluxe hardcover edition published by Image Comics collects LIBERTY ANNUAL 2008-2012, additional material not seen anywhere else, and a stunning new cover by Paul Pope. The Liberty Annuals have never before been collected together in one volume, making LIBERTY a must-have for fans and collectors alike.

 

LIBERTY is 216 pages total and includes several rare works, such as a The Walking Dead tale by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, 100 Words by Neil Gaiman and Jim Lee, Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, plus stories from Geoff Johns, Mark Millar, J.H. Williams III, Terry Moore, Howard Chaykin, Jason Aaron, Brian Wood, Stuart Immonen, Kathryn Immonen, Mike Allred, Darwyn Cooke, Paul Pope, and dozens more! LIBERTY also includes incredible illustrations from Frank Miller, Jeff Smith, Tim Sale, John Romita Jr., Mike Mignola, and many more! All proceeds from this collection benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s work protecting the freedom to read! 

 

“This book is bursting with incredible stories and art from some of the finest people working in the field. CBLDF’s Liberty collection is perfect for comics aficionados because it has so many of their favorite creators in there,” said Charles Brownstein, Executive Director at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. “It's also a terrific book for fans and retailers to give to the new readers flocking to comics right now as a sampler of all the incredible talent the medium has to offer. Best of all, it helps CBLDF pay for our important work on behalf of readers, retailers and creators everywhere.”

 

What better way to support a good cause? Order LIBERTY (ISBN: 978-1-60706-937-9) today for $29.99 with Diamond Code: JAN140547. Available in stores on 3/26.

Boom! Studios Joins the CBLDF

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) announced today that BOOM! Studios has joined the organization as their newest corporate member!  

 

BOOM! Studios Founder & Chief Executive Officer Ross Richie says, "The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a vital champion for the rights we as publishers, and our retailer partners depend upon to do business.  We have always believed that their work helps make it possible for the direct market to support the diversity of content we're able to publish, and we're pleased to make a meaningful impact in their important work with this support."

CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein says, "BOOM! Studios has distinguished itself for its commitment to the direct market by publishing one of the fastest rising and diverse publishing lines in comics.  As CBLDF's latest corporate member, they are taking a leadership position in helping us protect the freedom to read comics.  We're thrilled to have them aboard."

BOOM! Studios joins industry leaders Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Dark Horse, DC Entertainment, Discount Comic Book Service, Diamond Comic Distributors, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Random House, Valiant, and TFAW.com as Corporate Members supporting the CBLDF’s important work of protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers.

To make a contribution to these important efforts, please visit www.cbldf.org.

CBLDF and Dark Horse Release Definitive Manga Guide

This summer, Dark Horse is proud to publish CBLDF Presents Manga: Introduction, Challenges, and Best Practices, an authoritative yet accessible handbook designed to help librarians, educators, and parents navigate the vast and popular field of manga. Prepared by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the freedom to read, CBLDF Presents Manga provides what you really need to know about manga from those who really know it! The book will premiere at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 27–July 2, and at Anime Expo in Los Angeles,July 4–7.

Made possible with a grant from the Gaiman Foundation, CBLDF Presents Manga is a handbook designed to provide a concise and informed overview of manga—its history, genres, and issues. This educational work delves into the history of manga, its major demographic divisions, its most significant creators, and the challenges it has sometimes faced in North America.

What sets this book apart from other manga guides is its expert panel of writers, including not only scholars of the medium but veterans of the manga industry itself—professionals who have worked from both the North American and Japanese sides of manga in publishing, editing, review, and library services. Edited by Melinda Beasi of Manga Bookshelf, CBLDF Presents Manga is written by Manga Bookshelf columnist Sean Gaffney, Ed Chavez of Vertical, Erica Friedman of Yuricon and ALC Publishing, Shaenon Garrity of Viz Media and Otaku USA, and Robin Brenner and Katherine Dacey of School Library Journal.

CBLDF Presents Manga is an insider’s view on this dynamic and influential field and promises to be an essential resource for years to come!

CBLDF Presents Manga: Introduction, Challenges, and Best Practices is on sale in comic shops everywhere December 4. 

ComiXology Announces Their First Summer Event at SDCC

This summer, fans… Meet Your Makers – comiXology’s first summer event celebrating comic creators and the creation of comics. Each week from now until Comic-Con International ’13, comiXology will reveal a new aspect of the Meet Your Makers event celebrating the people behind your favorite comics and the act of creating comics.

“Without comic creators there wouldn’t be any comics to enjoy, so all of us at comiXology wanted to use the summer to have a celebration of comic creators and the creation of comics,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “We can’t wait until people see what we have in store for this event!”
“At comiXology we’re proud of our ability to help creators get their work to all corners of the globe,” said comiXology co-founder John D. Roberts. “And we wanted to take the summer to give back to those creators that have given us so much.”

As part of their commitment to creators, this past March comiXology debuted comiXology Submit, an easy to use self-publishing portal that enables independent comic book creators to reach comiXology’s global audience of comic fans.

Today, comiXology is proud to announce that it is a minor sponsor in both the Eisner Awards Ceremony and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Welcome Party that both take place during Comic-Con International. These sponsorships are just one part of comiXology’s commitment to the greater comic book industry and also give support to two comic book industry institutions that have aided and celebrated creators for decades. This summer also marks comiXology’s second year as a corporate member of the CBLDF.

Stay tuned for further announcements.

CBLDF Liberty Annual Gets 2nd Printing

The 2012 CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL, an anthology featuring top comics creators that benefits the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, is receiving a second printing — with two new covers!

The first is "Lady Liberty" by Ben Templesmith (FELL, 30 Days of Night) (OCT128241), a painting of a young woman wearing the Statue of Liberty's iconic crown. The second is a new Image Comics 20th anniversary tribute cover by Chris Giarrusso (G-MAN, Ultimate Marvel Minis) (OCT128242) — this time to Jim Valentino's creation SHADOWHAWK.

All proceeds from the CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2012 benefit the important First Amendment legal work of the CBLDF, a non-profit group dedicated to protecting the free speech of the comics community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers.

The anthology is 48 pages, featuring stories with the theme "It's Good to Be Free," edited by Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. It will be in stores on December 19.

Below is the complete list of creative teams made up of some of the comic book industry's best and brightest (Writer and Artist; one name indicates creator both writes and draws the story):

Howard Chaykin and Sina Grace
Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
Chris Roberson and Roger Langridge
Jonathan Hickman
Terry Moore
Richard Starkings and Ian Churchill
David Hine and Doug Braithwaite
Joe Keatinge and Chynna Clugston-Flores
Kieron Gillen and Nate Belllegarde
Brandon Graham
Chris Giarrusso
James Asmus and Takeshi Miyazawa
James Robinson and J. Bone
Jim McCann and Janet Lee
Andy Diggle and Ben Templesmith

CBLDF Liberty Annual 2012 from Image Comics

This year's CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL anthology, benefitting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and published by Image Comics, declares "It's good to be free!" Edited by Image Publisher Eric Stephenson, the 48-page anthology to be released on October 31 features short stories by some of comics' hottest creators.

 

Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard contribute an all-new story about THE WALKING DEAD arch-villain The Governor, who will be making his debut in the television series this season. The anthology also features incredible stories by Howard Chaykin, Kieron Gillen, Jim McCann, Terry Moore, Chris Roberson, James Robinson, and more! Eye-popping art by stars like Michael Allred, Chynna Clugston-Flores, Janet Lee, and Ben Templesmith completes this celebration of comics and free speech. In addition, previews of two upcoming Image comics—STORM DOGS by David Hine and Doug Braithwaite and THE SAVIOR by James Robinson and J. Bone—will be included.

The anthology features an "A" cover by Gabriel Bá (Casanova, The Umbrella Academy) (AUG120468), a "B" cover by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson (Harley Quinn, Trouble, Defenders) (AUG120469), and a "C" cover by Chris Giarrusso (Mini Marvels, G-MAN) (AUG128005).

All proceeds from the CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2012 will benefit the important First Amendment legal work of the CBLDF, a non-profit group dedicated to protecting the free speech of the comics community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. It is available for pre-order now.

Here is the complete list of creative teams (Writer and Artist; one name indicates creator both writes and draws the story):

Howard Chaykin and Sina Grace
Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
Chris Roberson and Roger Langridge
Jonathan Hickman
Terry Moore
Richard Starkings and Ian Churchill
David Hine and Doug Braithwaite
Joe Keatinge and Chynna Clugston-Flores
Kieron Gillen and Nate Belllegarde
Brandon Graham
Chris Giarrusso
James Asmus and Takeshi Miyazawa
James Robinson and J. Bone
Jim McCann and Janet Lee
Andy Diggle and Ben Templesmith
 

CBLDF Comic Con Welcome Party Co-Sponsored by Image Comics

Kick off Comic-Con with the greatest stars in comics to celebrate 20 Years of Image Comics and the power of free expression at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Comic-Con Welcome Party! Starting at 8:00 PM on Thursday, July 12 at the Westgate Hotel, the CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party is jam-packed with amazing people and cool stuff! This party is sponsored by Image Comics, TFAW.Com, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, & Threadless!

Experience Creativity with Image Comics greats including: Ales Kot, Amanda Conner, Ben McCool, Ben Templesmith, Brandon Seifert, Charles Soule, Chris Giarrusso, Cory Walker, Dan Brereton, Darick Robertson, Deborah Vankin, Dexter Weeks, Dirk Manning, Edwin Huang,Eric Shanower, Eric Stephenson, Erik Larsen, Gerry Duggan, Glen Brunswick, Jim Mahfood, Jim McCann, Jim Valentino, Jim Zub, Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Keatinge, John Layman, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Joshua Williamson, Kody Chamberlain, Kurtis Wiebe, Mark Poulton,Matt Hawkins, Michael Moreci, Moritat, Nate Bellegarde, Nathan Edmondson, Phil Noto, Richard Starkings, Ron Marz, S. Steven Struble, Scott Tuft, Sina Grace, Steve Seeley, and many more!


Get The Exclusive Goods: Free gift bag, featuring a CBLDF party exclusive edition of Revival #1 by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton from Image Comics, and other special thank yous from CBLDF supporters including Valiant and Threadless!

See The World Premiere of "The Day The Saucers Came:” Be the first to see the latest Comics-On Tees from Threadless featuring Neil Gaiman's "The Day The Saucers Came,” featuring artwork by John Cassaday, Brandon Graham & Ben Templesmith at a special fashion show! Get your tees straight from the source at the party!
Smell Awesome At The Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Trading Post: BPAL will make their only Comic-Con appearance at the party, setting up a one-night only display of fragrances, including the world premiere of new fragrances based on Neil Gaiman's Coraline!

Check Out The Amazing Items In CBLDF's Comic-Con Auction, sponsored by TFAW.Com & Valiant Comics: Check out all the amazing original art up for grabs at Saturday's CBLDF Comic-Con Auction live!
Come support Free Speech and experience the best of Comic-Con at the CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party Thursday at the Westgate Hotel, 1055 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 from 8 PM to 11 PM! This party is FREE for CBLDF Members. Non-Members, suggested $10 – $20 donation at the door, please.