Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, comicsgate, mark waid, richard meyer

Mark Waid Looks to Raise $75,000 to Fund Legal Defense Against the 'Comicsgate' Lawsuit

Longstanding comic book writer, editor and publisher Mark Waid has launched a crowdfunding appeal with the intent of funding his legal defense against Richard Meyer of the Diversity & Comix YouTube channel. We reported on Meyer's launching the lawsuit, which claims causes of action including defamation and tortious interference in his contract with Antarctic Press over the publication of his crowdfunded comic Jawbreakers, earlier in the year.

Waid states in his explanation on his GoFundMe campaign:

In September of this year, I was sued by one of the perceived leaders of a relentless online harassment movement called 'ComicsGate' which I and many comics professionals strongly feel has unfairly and offensively targeted women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ creators working in our industry in an effort to make them feel unwelcome. (You can read more about some perspectives on ComicsGate and its harassment techniques in the Washington Post and on Inverse.) I firmly believe this lawsuit is an effort to silence those of us who stand up publicly against bigotry and racism and who continue to defend diverse creators from harassment.

You can learn more about the lawsuit here, here, and here, and I encourage you to visit my website markwaid.com for further details.

Even though I am confident that the claims made against me are entirely without merit, lawsuits are time-consuming and very expensive. Still, I have never backed down from bullies, especially those who denigrate my friends, colleagues and the values our community stands for, and while I am not a rich man, you have my solemn promise that I will fight this fight no matter the personal cost.

But I'm going to need your help.

If you believe, as I do, that women and people of color deserve to be able to do their jobs—or any job—without being bullied, donate. Stand with me. If you believe that someone's gender or sexual preference should have no bearing on the career they pursue, donate. Send that message.

This isn't just about me; it's about standing together in the face of bullying. Every day that we don't push back against online harassment, it only becomes nastier and more powerful.

This is an important fight. Thank you for having my back.

He links to a Bleeding Cool article about Richard Meyer as a part of this. Waid's $75,000 goal is also the same amount that Meyer claimed in damages in the suit. As of publication, he has raised over $20,000 in pledges from over 400 people.

They include notable comic book industry figures as Neil Gaiman, Arthur Adams, Kurt Busiek, Yanick Paquette, Gerry Duggan, Gerry Conway, Kelly Thompson, Jeff Lemire, Peter Tomasi, Mags Visaggio, Joe Keatinge, Reilly Brown, Shawn Kirkham, Clayton Cowles, Jim Zub, Marc Lombardi, Matthew Rosenberg, Al Ewing, Dan McDaid, John Layman, Simon Fraser, Tony Isabella, James Tynion, Tim Seeley, Jamal Igle, Chris Ryall, Dan Slott, Roger Langridge, Tom Galloway, Timothy Doyle, Nathan Fairbairn, the stores Collectors Paradise and Lucky Target Comics, David Macho, Glenn Hauman, Erica Schultz, Dean Haspiel, and Jim McLauchlin.

Meyer has not posted to social media regarding this matter, though he did update people on his Indiegogo funded projects.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!