CBLDF/Planet Comics update

Originally published December 1, 1995, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1150

Here at BID, we’re starting to get the first rumblings of the response generated by my column about Planet Comics, the comic store in Oklahoma that is facing prosecution for allegedly distributing pornographic material (i.e., comic books by such publishers as Verotik and Eros).

The multiple counts indicate impressively how comics are being targeted by politicians, district attorneys, and censors who usually proclaim, oh, no, they aren’t in favor of censorship, per se. They just want to censor stuff that they don’t like.

So I attempted to conduct a sort of mail-order fundraiser via this column. The intended recipient is the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, an organization devoted to defending anyone facing prosecution or persecution because of his or her participation in the comics industry.

The CBLDF, in addition to providing public-information seminars, has participated in the defense of a multitude of comics stores and comic book creators who have been harassed by people guarding the right of free expression (i.e., guarding it for themselves). The CBLDF now faces the daunting financial prospect of the Oklahoma defense and is also trying to cope with past legal bills from other cases.

My suggestion was that everyone reading the column—fans, retailers, pros, and even publishers (who, overall, are the chintziest contributors to the CBLDF)—send one to 10 bucks, or more, to the CBLDF. My reasoning was that, if everyone sent something, the pure strength in numbers would to a long way towards contributing to the CBLDF’s war chest.

I’ve received word from Susan Alston, the CBLDF’s executive director, that the response since the column has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Contributions have been pouring in to the tune of 30 or 40 missives a day. Tons of $10 checks or bills, a few that were $1 (hey, everything helps), and donations as high as $200, are piling up at the CBLDF office.

And many of you also included supportive and praise-filled notes.

Susan is ecstatic. My feeling is: We’re on a roll. Let’s keep it going.

As I said before, it’s irrelevant whether you like comics such as those currently under prosecution. If attacks on the First Amendment and the comic book field are not met with aggressive response now, then, sooner or later, the censors will get to some comic book you do like.

If all the groundwork and precedent has already been set, it’s that much easier to target other titles that are appreciated by adult readers, but might be considered “dangerous” for young readers (case in point: Spawn).

So that address once again is: The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, 255 W. 36^th Street, Suite 501, New York NY 10018, or online at www.cbldf.org.

Peter David, writer of stuff, can be written to at Second Age, Inc., P.O. Box 39, Bayport, NY 11705.