TokyoPop has started something they call "The Manga Pilot Program" designed to bring in eager young artists... who don't mind signing away all their rights. Let's take a little look-see at the friendly, "plain talk" contract they're offering. First off, though, let me just say that informal chatty language is just as bad as complicated legalese if it serves to hide the ways the publisher intends to take away your rights to your own work and give you as little as possible.

Let's begin...

Writer Wil Radcliffe offers his personal endorsement of UNSCREWED!

A warning was posted at Digital Webbing. Here is the text of the message as posted there:

This ad is listed in the talent search area:

"BlackHeart Studios is looking for colorists for their up coming project. Yes, this is a paying gig. Pay is $100 a page. Also a contract to work for BlackHeart Studios. Please send samples of art work or a link to the email provided. You must be able to start right away. Also you will have to do a test page. And be able to turn in the work as schedule. Please serious people only. Tell us a little about your self and anything other than that feel free to email us thank you.
• 03/31 • CONTACT:
blackheartstudios@gmail.com"

I had replied to a similar ad before, which I never received a reply, and followed up and was asked to do 2 more pages for samples. The artwork looks very amateurish, and given teh promised page rate, it threw up a red flag.

Lee Hester of Lee's Comics in Mountain View CA has a warning about a scammer trying to rip off comic shop owners.

BY JIMMY TOURNAS

THIS is a true story. It is meant for those who want to do work for small press and independent comic book publishers to take as a warning -- especially those working for people that are publishing comics without a lot of references.

This is what happened to me. I was asked to ink a story over a friends pencils, for a book called "Monster Squad", by Rick 0lney of Tightlip Entertainment, out of Mowhawk, NY. We were told we would get paid every ten pages, plus bonuses and percentages. We had some people on board with a lot of talent, including some who had been published by Marvel Comics and DC Comics, as well as other publishers.

It looked like a good thing. Because the penciler was also a friend, we agreed to work on the Monster Squad. Once contracts were signed, we went to work. This is where things started to get strange. Everything was delays and more delays. Scripts were not finished on schedule. Other essential parts to the comic were also not done in a timely fashion. We were concerned, but promises were made to us about "making it up," excuses were given to us, so we plodded on.

Tony Isabella of Tony's Online Tips has been posting a warning letter for a couple of weeks, keeping his readers aware of Rick Olney and TightLip Entertainment's dubious business ethics. We here at UNSCREWED! have stolen his idea and a lot of his letter's text and created our own version, which we've been passing around the comics industry soliciting signatures. You can read it here:

A Letter to Comics Professionals

Dutch Letter
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Tagalog/Filipinio Letter


If you are a comics industry professional and wish to add your name to the growing list of signatories to this letter, please e-mail letter@unscrewedcomic.com for information about how to do so.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

UNSCREWED! Brings in over $1,000 in its first auction!

Unscrewed! The collection of creators, fans, and retailers which banded together at the beginning of the year to take on an immoral and unethical publisher and conventioneer, held its first successful auction this week.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --

Auctions to benefit exploited creators

UNSCREWED!, the organization created by comics creators, fans, and retailers to combat illegal and unethical practices by a would-be publisher, today announced a benefit auction to provide relief to the artists and writers exploited by that company. Since its inception in January, UNSCREWED! has grown quickly, amassing support from top name talents in the comic book industry, as well as many who are just begining their careers. Full reports of all Unscrewed! activities can be found at the website: www.unscrewedcomic.com

The group was formed in early January of this year in response to the publisher's unethical business practices. After one writer's story was brought to light by an online journalist covering the comics business, several other creators came forward with shockingly similar stories of uncompensated work and threats of both physical violence and legal prosecution. UNSCREWED! grew out of a desire to assist the injured parties and to hold the publisher accountable.

Scott Reed, of websbestcomics.com, had filed suit against Rick Olney in Florida courts, seeking monies owed for work done on webpage design for Olney.

Service of Legal Summons