Last yr, comics author Warren Ellis—identified for his work at Marvel and DC on sequence like Nextwave, The Batman’s Grave, Transmetropolitan, and extra, in addition to his work on Netflix’s Castlevania sequence—was the topic of accusations from a bunch of over 60 individuals who declare years of grooming and sexually predatory habits by the author, typically allegedly in change for mentorship on this planet of comics writing. Now, a yr to the day that allegations started rising, Ellis is as soon as once more getting main work—at Image Comics.
The information was delivered to mild via an replace on the Patreon account of artist Ben Templesmith who famous he and Ellis can be reuniting at Image Comics this yr to revive and conclude Fell, a criminal offense sequence the duo started at Image in 2005, and which has been on hiatus since 2008. “For better or worse, this is unfinished business to me. We really left it hanging. Obviously, so much has changed since those days. Yes, I know, *so much*,” Templesmith wrote within the publish asserting the information. While it was unclear if he was particularly referencing the accusations levied towards Ellis final yr, ultimately collected by a bunch of 60 folks (who stated they heard from over 100) accusing Ellis of inappropriate sexual conduct and coercion via the testimonial archive SoManyOfUs.com, it grew to become extra apparent as he continued. “Not for me to speak for Warren, but I agreed to do the book and I’m glad he’s going to be doing some comics again. I don’t think anyone thought he’d bugger off and work in a shoe factory or anything,” Templesmith continued. “He is after all, one of the most important comics writers of the past few decades. It means a lot to me to finish this thing, finally, so I couldn’t say no. I guess we’ll let the market speak as to how things go.”
io9 has reached out to Image Comics, Ellis, and Templesmith for additional remark in regards to the determination to publish the remaining problems with Fell, however has not but obtained a response from the author nor the artist (we’ll replace this publish if we do). When requested about its earlier information in regards to the accusations towards Ellis, the choice to return to Fell 13 years later within the wake of them, and a response to business critics of the writer’s determination to platform the author, Image declined to remark, solely confirming: “Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith’s Image Comics series Fell will indeed return for its long awaited final story arc in graphic novel format. We will have more details to share about this very soon.”
Indeed, the information has drawn harsh criticism from many comics critics and professionals, and Image Comics has but to publicly acknowledge Templesmith’s reveal or announce Fell’s return itself. However, Templesmith as soon as once more took to his Patreon to handle some followers’ considerations at Ellis’ sluggish return to the comics sphere within the wake of the accusations levied towards him. “I just can’t subscribe to a permanent social and economic living death for anyone, outside of criminal matters. What’s between you all & him is your personal business & I wish you all well in those dealings. Everyone will be free to not buy the book, ignore his further works, (& mine) deride them & pass judgment economically,” Templesmith wrote in response to a commenter final evening. “I know some people will never be happy, or healed. I’ve dealt with abuse & manipulation myself, so I empathize with those affected. I also believe in redemption & that he’s capable of making amends, growing from his actions & hopefully becoming an example of change in a community that desperately warrants it.”
You might recall that final yr the staff behind SoManyOfUs harassed that they weren’t seeking to destroy anybody’s profession and, actually, provided the “possibility of a mediated transformative justice action.” Just a few days later they made an replace saying that after the “statement’s publication, he continued to send sexual messages and overtures to people as recently as July 2020.”
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Today, the group launched one other assertion to its homepage addressing the information. “When we published SoManyOfUs.com on July 13, 2020, we expressly did not want to ‘cancel’ author Warren Ellis. Rather, we shared constructive ways to address the all-too-common issue of powerful men’s abusive behavior,” the brand new assertion reads partially. “We challenged people to rethink past actions and to consider how—and why—they may have facilitated harmful behaviors and environments. We called for openness, accountability, and growth, extending an offer of working with Ellis on some form of transformative justice.”
“Today, as Ellis returns to comics without making amends to anyone involved in SoManyOfUs.com or accepting the ramifications of his actions, the renewal of ardent public support alongside calls for accountability is reassuring,” the assertion concludes. “We reaffirm our call for Warren Ellis to earn the opportunity to become the man so many people believed him to be.”
Although on the time allegations first emerged DC Comics pulled Ellis’ story from the then-upcoming Dark Nights: Death Metal Legends of the Dark Knights anthology, however continued to publish his miniseries The Batman’s Grave, with artist Bryan Hitch. Just a few months in the past, Netflix launched the fourth and now closing season of Castlevania, which Ellis wrote, and whereas the streamer did announce a brand new spinoff sequence set in the identical universe, Ellis’ involvement was nowhere to be discovered. As the author started re-encroaching the general public sphere late final yr, SoManyOfUs.com’s homepage assertion was beforehand up to date in December 2020 to say, “We have fielded questions about whether [Ellis] has approached the people who contributed to this website. To the best of our knowledge, he has not contacted any of us since the site’s publication in July 2020.”
What makes the Image information so notably damning goes past the timing of its revelation. In the wake of the allegations towards a number of different outstanding figures within the comics business—together with former Comic Book Legal Defense Fund government director Charles Brownstein, creator Cameron Stewart, and former Dark Horse Comics editor Scott Allie—there was a motion to make sure abusers can be held accountable to make sure a protracted historical past of predation just like the allegations levied towards Ellis couldn’t occur once more. This was to be accomplished both via accountability and reconciliation or via fellow business creatives committing to confronting and stamping out predatory habits. Notable business creatives together with DC scribe Tom King, Scott Snyder, Jeff Lemire, and extra all publicly shared a “Men in Comics Pledge,” stating an intent to “never abuse, harass, groom, or manipulate women and all people of marginalized genders and sexes,” in addition to “actively intervene when we see or know of abuse, harassment, grooming, or manipulation.”
Instead, as Ellis returns to the highlight at a outstanding writer, there’s largely been silence.
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