Image Comics Will Not Work With Warren Ellis Until He Has Made Amends 2 2

[Prince Namor]

Image Comics Will Not Work With Warren Ellis Until He Has Made Amends

Posted on June 25, 2021 

by Rich Johnston

 

Last week, Ben Templesmith announced that he was returning to comics with Warren Ellis, finishing their long-abandoned comic book Fell, from Image Comics, as a graphic novel. There were considerable negative responses from comic book creators and commentators concerning a series of multiple allegations of sexual harassment and grooming made against Ellis and exposed en masse less than a year ago. The So Many Of Us website which had collated sixty-two experiences from over a hundred women added a new statement to their front page stating that "We called for openness, accountability, and growth, extending an offer of working with Ellis on some form of transformative justice. Since his public statement a year ago, to the knowledge of these authors, Ellis has still not taken direct responsibility for his destructive behavior nor attempted to tackle the circumstances that allow such behavior to go on unchecked both on and offline."

Prominent Image Comics creators had started to comment their disquiet as well, including James Tynion IV and Scott Snyder. Then last night, Warren Ellis finally addressed the issue, stating of the year-old website, "I was made aware today of the So Many Of Us collective's offer of a mediated dialogue, and have today asked their permission to enter that dialogue. Where that will take us, I'm not sure, but I know I want to make certain that I'm doing all I can to no longer be part of the problem or in any way still perpetuating the past. I hope these conversations will be ongoing and productive for all." So Many Of Us also stated that "Author Warren Ellis reached out to this collective for the first time today. We will update this site when appropriate as we attempt to begin a transformative justice journey. " And now Image Comics has now issued the following statement, which sees them state that it was not intended that Fell be announced so soon, but that they will not be working with Warren Ellis on anything further.

This week's FELL announcement was neither planned, nor vetted, and was in fact, premature. While finishing Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith's FELL is something we've been looking forward to for years, Image Comics will not be working with Warren on anything further until he has made amends to the satisfaction of all involved. It is our sincere hope that the conversations that are beginning now will result in positive changes for everyone. Please visit SoManyOfUs.com.

Bleeding Cool has clarified from Image Comics that "anything further" means "anything", including any planned publication of Fell, not just projects planned after it.

[lordbyroncomics]

I do not think Image Comics deserves any credit for making this adjustment, not really a decision. Sixty two statements are sixty two too many. I've long heard people whine about "separating the artist from the art" but I think that's selfish indulgence not really considering empathy for victims. I enjoyed some of Gary Glitter's glam rock stompers but guess what- I can't listen to them anymore. Ellis can't make amends and anything he does would seem forced in order to return to the comics industry.

[Point Five]

Wow, this is horrible. Whew.

 

[followtheleader]

I just wish it had not been announced last week at all.  Been aching to see the series end.  I almost feel like some were testing the water with the announcement and they found out its wayyyyyyy too hot.   The events in the past 2 weeks have confirmed that his time is pretty much over.

Patrick 

[WolverineX]

The Harvey Weinstein of comics?

[kav]

Pretty sure he will never be able to "make amends to the satisfaction of all involved".

[Cat]

I loved his work, but his reaction to all this has been abominable, and his timing now just screams 'at my convenience'. 

Not a good look at all. 

[kav]

Not addressing Ellis per se but all men, especially older men, should rein in their slobbering desire for females.  Some tact, pls.

[JTLarsen]

34 minutes ago, kav said:

Not addressing Ellis per se but all men, especially older men, should rein in their slobbering desire for females.  Some tact, pls.

Now do ageism.

[kav]

3 minutes ago, JTLarsen said:

Now do ageism.

Responsibility comes with age.  Older men should act not as younger men do out of ignorance and desire.

[kav]

If youre saying a 55 year old man hitting on young chicks should be considered the same as a 20 year old man, I have to disagree.  
And so would most fathers of young women I suspect.

[Sauce Dog]

The amazing thing is the victims on SoManyOfUs.com never set out to 'cancel' Ellis, but hoped he would just actually own up to his actions, apologize, and use his platform to right some wrongs and bring more awareness to all forms of manipulation/power imbalance he and others have abused and hurt people with. The industry needs more light cast on it.

Ellis avoided this for over a year and only now is having to address it since it's clear it never magically went away. If you do something wrong and own up to it IT WORKS OUT BETTER FOR EVERYONE (for example Dan Harmon, who ignored his lawyers advice and instead owned up to his awful behaviour and everybody was happy for that and he kept working afterwards with full support!)
 

[Sauce Dog]

Warren has reached out to SoManyOfUs to start a mediated dialogue (I actually find it very hard to believe his claim that he is only NOW being made aware of this - the dude is one of the MOST online people in the industry) and made an update post about this (which has some glaring issues, both with the content and the sudden timing with this new project now in jeopardy) but at least this sounds like a step towards healing and addressing the problems in the open.

 

[shadroch]

I know nothing about him except he is a comic author. I don't believe I've ever read any of his stuff, but how was it 62 sexual  complaints didn't equate to an arrest on any charges?  Are there charges pending? 

[kav]

21 minutes ago, shadroch said:

I know nothing about him except he is a comic author. I don't believe I've ever read any of his stuff, but how was it 62 sexual  complaints didn't equate to an arrest on any charges?  Are there charges pending? 

From what I remember and dont quote me on this maybe others can clarify it was more perceived creepy flirtation than actual criminal acts.

Edited June 26, 2021 by kav

[Cat]

43 minutes ago, kav said:

From what I remember and dont quote me on this maybe others can clarify it was more perceived creepy flirtation than actual criminal acts.

 

Yeah from what I remember from one of Ellis' texts, he's psychologically manipulated and abused these women, nothing criminal as such. 

[onlyweaknesskryptonite]

44 minutes ago, kav said:

From what I remember and dont quote me on this maybe others can clarify it was more perceived creepy flirtation than actual criminal acts.

[onlyweaknesskryptonite]

6 minutes ago, Mecha_Fantastic said:

he's psychologically manipulated and abused these women

[Spawnfreak]

6 hours ago, kav said:

Not addressing Ellis per se but all men, especially older men, should rein in their slobbering desire for females.  Some tact, pls.

George Burns, when asked why he surrounded himself with beautiful young women, replied," I liked young women all my life, and my life isn't over yet", and to my knowledge, was never accused of anything untoward. So, watch it with the old men S#$%!

[Sauce Dog]

3 hours ago, Spawnfreak said:

George Burns, when asked why he surrounded himself with beautiful young women, replied," I liked young women all my life, and my life isn't over yet", and to my knowledge, was never accused of anything untoward. So, watch it with the old men S#$%!

So basically what he was saying



(creepier the older you get, no matter how you cut it)