Mark Russell Tweeted yesterday he was wrapping up his Red Sonja #24 script due to contractual obligations, but will no longer be accepting further work from Dynamite Entertainment due to their affiliation with the Comicsgate movement. In the Twitter thread, Russell explained the decision came because, “When a creep walks into a bar, I think they should be the ones to leave” but that “if they won’t leave the bar, then I have to.”
As I write this, I am finishing work on Red Sonja #24, which concludes my contractual obligations to @DynamiteComics. After which, I will no longer be accepting any further work from Dynamite for as long as they continue any affiliation whatsoever with Comicsgate. 1/
— Mark Russell (@Manruss) July 19, 2020
Twitter was a hotbed of anger and frustration towards Dynamite Entertainment beginning late Thursday, July 16th, when Dynamite’s official Twitter account shared an Indiegogo campaign belonging to a creator affiliated with Comicsgate.
Check out @dickandcomix's next cash grab!https://t.co/FG0g5S7nS4
— DynamiteComics (@DynamiteComics) July 17, 2020
Over the course of the last 48 hours, many websites in the comics industry took to Twitter to voice their concern about the move by Dynamite, as well as vow to not cover Dynamite while they actively ally themselves Comicsgate, including us.
Red Sonja #13, written by Mark Russell, is set to release in comic shops July 22nd.
Mark Russell’s friend and artist on Second Coming, Richard Pace, took to Twitter to defend Russell’s actions.
Van Sciver, in going after my partner in Second Coming, @manruss , is forgetting Dynamite was one of the many publishers who wanted our book after DC, the company that dumped Ethan, gave it back to us.
Publishers like and respect Mark. Dynamite is just taking your money.
— Richard Pace (@rpace) July 18, 2020
Other creators, like Rahsan Ekedal, voiced concern about Dynamite’s actions and let his followers know on Twitter he was reaching out to his editor to voice concern. He also noted in the Twitter thread his editor is not part of Dynamite but a subcontractor. Ekedal was set to draw an upcoming James Bond miniseries for Dynamite.
So I reached out to my editor at Dynamite about this CG situation and said that I can’t be associated with a company that allies itself with a hate group. I just want my followers and other creators to understand that i condemn CG and am furious with the company.
— Rahsan Ekedal (@RahsanEkedal) July 18, 2020
We’ll keep you up to date as we learn more from creators who are reacting to Dynamite’s recent actions. There’s no word yet from Dynamite, even as pressure continues to mount.
