§ DETECTIVE COMICS by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III has won the GLAAD Media Award in the comics category. The awards celebrate strong portrayals of LGBT characters in the media, and DETECTIVE features the lesbian Batwoman. Congrats.
§ Meanwhile, Colleen Doran posts a few pages from her shocking comic that was nabbed in a porn raid and links to Steve Bissette’s fascinating account of the Friendly Frank’s Raid, and other matters regarding comics censorship in the late ’80s, such as the below ad from CBG. It’s a great historical story, backed up with tons of materials from Bissette’s own archives.
From a 1988 article reproduced in Bisette’s blog: “The largest distributor in the direct sales market, Diamond circulates between 25% and 30% of all comics sold in specialty shops….”
Well, at least it doesn’t have that kind of influence today (said with more than a little irony).
I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, so my local comics shop was VERY careful about stocking and selling anything considered “For Mature Readers”. Adult comics? I had to journey to Iowa or Minnesota to buy them.
I read about Friendly Frank’s after the facts, when The Comics Journal reported on the court case. That issue is buried in my archives, so I hope they reprint it online.
Of course, I remember the debate about labeling comics, but I still see it on the Vertigo titles, so I wonder who won?
Congrats to Rucka and JHW3. There’s is one of the most beautiful comics going, right now.