It’s Wednesday, which means this week’s comic book releases have hit the shelves. Today, August 19th<\/b>*, you can find new first issues featuring It has been announced that Image Comics<\/b> has chosen to work with disgraced comic book writer Warren Ellis<\/b> once more, a man who was accused of the grooming and sexual coercion of at least 60 women and non-binary individuals<\/b>, at one point leading many publishers to cut all ties to him \u2014 including Image Comics. The affected individuals came together to form the organization So Many of Us<\/a>, chronicling their stories online and even offering to work with Ellis toward transformative justice. As of 2023, “he had reportedly not taken any of the steps laid out by the organization”.<\/p>\n Ellis has released a statement you can find at the first source.<\/p>\n Instead, this week’s highlight is an August 12th statement by Katie West<\/b>, a current comic book editor for Image Comics and one of the first people to speak up about the alleged grooming and sexual coercion perpetrated by Ellis.<\/p>\n Full statement under the cut. It is not graphic, but TW for sensitive content:<\/span> To believe in transformative justice is to believe people capable of change. But, as our mediator said during the process, \u201ctransformation is heartbreak.\u201d It is crushing and painful, but it is also our right as human beings. I haven\u2019t spoken to Warren Ellis in over 6 years. I don\u2019t know who he is now. I don\u2019t know how he\u2019s changed, but I\u2019m sure he has. I know Warren read all of SoManyOfUs.com and I can\u2019t imagine an outcome where doing so doesn\u2019t change you. But, as Kai Cheng Thom says, ‘Change is inevitable, growth is optional.’ I was often sad that Warren, when confronted with the consequences of his actions, didn\u2019t react in the way I expected him to. But I am grateful it led to me untangling 15 years of complicated feelings and hurtful actions.<\/p>\n I\u2019m grateful that I believe we can change and hold ourselves accountable in this world. But, quoting our mediator again, ‘being called to accountability feels like being reminded that your shit stinks, and coming clean is hard to do.’ It can feel impossible to look in the mirror and confront the worst version of ourselves. Without having the necessary support systems in place to make it possible, I don\u2019t blame or fault anyone for not being able to do it.<\/p>\n We all tried our best. When our attempt at a community accountability action failed, I was disappointed, but grateful that we tried. And grateful to know that Warren had tried, too.<\/p>\n I currently work as an editor in comics, with books I work on being published by Image. I love comics. I love the comics community and how we all keep making them despite it being so hard, with no financial security, and no safety nets. I see groups within the community doing so much good and fighting hard to make the industry more sustainable and safer for everyone involved.<\/p>\n But there is no set process for anyone in the comics community to account for our actions and change our behaviour after harm or abuse has happened. This has led many people to be forced out of the industry \u2013 victims, perpetrators, and witnesses. My heart hurts for all the people who were bullied, ostracized, shunned, or threatened out of this community, particularly those I spoke to back in June and July of 2020, impacted by Warren\u2019s actions. I hope one day this changes.<\/p>\n I\u2019m grateful to everyone who was wondered if Warren has \u201cmade amends to the satisfaction of all involved.\u201d It shows me solidarity and care are widespread within comics. I wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019m satisfied, but I also would say I am no longer personally invested in Warren\u2019s transformation.<\/p>\n I am personally invested in the books I work on that come out with Image, and I really hope you don\u2019t take any disappointment you feel in Image\u2019s actions out on the creators whose work they publish. Seeing people boycotting Image comics feels a cruel joke when that directly affects my livelihood and that of the people who respect and support me. But I get it \u2013 this seems like a financial decision from Image, so respond in a financial fashion. I hope we can all keep ourselves open to change in the future.<\/p>\n My resolve to expand my capacity to hope for change \u2013 after a night of anger and crying and shouting \u2013 is renewed. Thanks for hearing me out and for reading all of this.” Marvel<\/u><\/span><\/b> \u2022 Alien: King Killer #5 August 12th:<\/u><\/p>\n \u2022 Amazing Spider-Man #100 (Facsimile Edition) \u2022 Absolute Flash #18 August 12th:<\/u><\/p>\n \u2022 Absolute Batman #23 https:\/\/instagram.com\/p\/DcLheNhOFbD<\/a> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n More<\/u><\/span><\/b>
S<\/span>p<\/span>i<\/span>d<\/span>e<\/span>r<\/span>–<\/span>M<\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span><\/span><\/span>, B<\/span>a<\/span>t<\/span>m<\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span><\/span><\/span>, and more!
*Since OP was absent last week, August 12th<\/b> releases from Marvel and DC are included below.<\/p>\n
“I have spent the day re-reading the entirety of SoManyOfUs.com, including every testimonial. I\u2019ve also re-read dozens of documents and communications from the transformative justice action SMOU-TJ and Warren Ellis started. I wanted to remember the hope I held at that time. I also wanted to see if I could approach this moment with gratitude instead of anger.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
August 19th:<\/u><\/p>\n
\u2022 Avengers: Armageddon #3
\u2022 Bishop #3
\u2022 Captain Marvel: Dark Past #5
\u2022 Daredevil #5
\u2022 Inglorious X-Force #8
\u2022 Punisher VS. Spider-Man #2
\u2022 Queen in Black #3
\u2022 Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #2
\u2022 Silver Surfer #6 (Facsimile Edition)
\u2022 Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #4
\u2022 Spider-Man\/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone #1<\/b>
\u2022 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Echoes of the Empire #5
\u2022 Thor #800
\u2022 Ultimate Impact: Reborn #4
\u2022 Uncanny X-Men #34
\u2022 What If…? Runaways #1<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n
\u2022 Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity #5
\u2022 Doctor Strange #9
\u2022 Generation X-23 #7
\u2022 Infernal Hulk #10
\u2022 Jeff the Land Shark: Superstar #2
\u2022 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1<\/b>
\u2022 Punisher #7
\u2022 Queen in Black: Thor #1<\/b>
\u2022 Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren #1<\/b>
\u2022 Venom #260
\u2022 Wolverine #25
\u2022 X-Men ’97: Season Two #3
\u2022 X-Men #35
\u2022 X-Men United #6<\/i>
DC<\/u><\/span><\/b>
August 19th:<\/u><\/p>\n
\u2022 Absolute Green Arrow #4
\u2022 Batman\/Superman: World’s Finest #54
\u2022 Batwoman #6
\u2022 Catwoman #90
\u2022 Dark Knights of Steel II #2
\u2022 Deathstroke: The Terminator #6
\u2022 End of Life #7
\u2022 Lobo #6
\u2022 New Titans #38
\u2022 Nightwing #141
\u2022 Superman: Unlimited #16
\u2022 Wonder Woman #36<\/i><\/p>\n
\u2022 Action Comics #1101
\u2022 Adventure Comics #247 (Facsimile Edition)
\u2022 Barbara Gordon: Breakout #4
\u2022 Batman & Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #1<\/b>
\u2022 Bleeding Hearts #7
\u2022 Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #2
\u2022 Emperor Aquaman #20
\u2022 Fury of Firestorm #5
\u2022 Green Lantern Corps #19
\u2022 Supergirl #16
\u2022 The Nice House by the Sea #11<\/i>
<\/p>\n
(via Chuck’s Comic Lists<\/i><\/b>)
Dark Horse Comics<\/a> | BOOM! Studios<\/a> | IDW Publishing<\/a>
Dynamite Entertainment<\/a> | Oni Press<\/a>
Mad Cave Studios<\/a>
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/media.tenor.com\/LiPWEkPwH4YAAAAM\/ace-batman.gif\")
Let’s talk comics, ONTD! TV, movie, and video game adaptations are fair game.
Remember to hide your spoilers using the lj-spoiler tag.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n