Unscrewed!

Olney continues to stonewall

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:50:00 -0500

Despite having lost in court, and having agreed to a payment plan with the plaintiff's collection agency, TightLip Entertainment's would-be publisher has now declared that the initial $100 payment he made on the account several months ago would be his last.

The new Unscrewed! is under construction

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:10:00 -0600

There are a lot of changes in how the site works and how it displays content. Have a look around and get a feel for the new site.

Hey Kids! Wanna get screwed? Sign the TokyoPop Manga Pilot Contract and bend over!

Wed, 28 May 2008 19:20:00 -0500

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...

Endorsement: Wil Radcliffe

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:30:00 -0500

Writer Wil Radcliffe offers his personal endorsement of UNSCREWED!

WARNING: New Scammer

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:30:00 -0500

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.
â¢ 03/31 â¢ CONTACT:
blackheartstudios@gmail.com"

Warning! Attempted scam against comic shops

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:30:00 -0500

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

Jimmy Tournas Talks About TightLip

Tue, 15 May 2007 18:20:00 -0500

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.

PR: UNSCREWED! Update First Wave of Auctions SUCCESS! Second waveup and running!

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:10:00 -0500

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.

PR: UNSCREWED! Update! Auctions to benefit exploited creators

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 18:10:00 -0600

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.

While UNSCREWED! was forming, comics writer Mark Waid stepped forward to personally finance legal action against the publisher. Tom Stillwell, writer-publisher of Spinner Rack Comics' HONOR BRIGADE and comics fan Matt "Doc" Martin provided research and supporting evidence, with the result that two court judgments have recently been awarded to artists who filed suit.

With legal redress firmly underway, UNSCREWED! has turned its attention to the first of their relief efforts, the UNSCREWED! Auctions, with a starting line-up of 17 items available via eBay, including one-of-a-kind and rare items from the top names in comics. The first wave of auction items can be seen at http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZzapow21 or at the Unscrewed! site.

UNSCREWED! media representative Danny Donovan had this to say about the auctions taking place: "It is just amazing to see our community standing strong in the face of something like this. For the longest time we've been thought of as a closed off, insular industry, but with UNSCREWED! we're proving that we're a community. When one person is wronged by the actions of an unscrupulous individual and [that individual] is left unchecked, they are able to do it again to someone else. By taking a stand we place the power back into the hands of those who create."

The first series of UNSCREWED! Auctions includes original art by acclaimed cartoonist Scott Shaw! of his characters from Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew; individual headshots of Captain Carrot, Fastback, Little Cheese, Pig Iron, Rubber Duck, Yankee Poodle, American Eagle, and Alley-Kat-Abra. At the New York Comic-Con last weekend, DC Comics announced a new three-issue miniseries, CAPTAIN CARROT: THE FINAL ARC, to be drawn by Shaw! from a script by Bongo Comics' Bill Morrison. Donovan explains, "before DC releases their brand new epic mini series, you can own a piece of history, drawn and signed by the artist, Scott Shaw! And if thatâs not enough you can also own a piece of PRE-history," referring to a headshot of beloved animated icon Fred Flintstone, a character that has been a major part of Shaw's career over the last three decades. Starting bids for each portrait are set at $25.

Famed writer Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans; Crisis of the Infinite Earths; creator of Blade) has contributed autographed full comic scripts from his current series, NIGHTWING, issues #125-127, along with the published corresponding issues (with art by Dan Jurgens) also signed by Wolfman. Bidding on this one of a kind piece of comic book memorabilia begins at $20.

A page of original art from Tom Bedlandâs popular and critically acclaimed, award winning comic, âTRUE STORY, SWEAR TO GODâ has been donated by the author. This piece is from the original self published version of the currently being published by IMAGE COMICS. Complete with autograph by prolific artist/writer Tom Beland, the bidding on this stunning piece of art begins at $200.

Kurt Busiek has donated an extremely rare deluxe hardcover edition of his award-winning series MARVELS, which launched artist Alex Ross to super-stardom. It is an artistâs proof and not available anywhere else but UNSCREWED! Signed by both Busiek and Ross, the book features a second autograph by Busiek with a special message for UNSCREWED! Bidding starts at $80.

Busiek has also donated what Donovan describes as "a must have for any fan of super-heroes," a very rare boxed two-volume hardcover edition of the JLA/AVENGERS crossover. Volume One contains the complete mini-series with introductions by Stan Lee and the late Julie Schwartz, along with character and creator biographies, while Volume Two is a compendium featuring George PÃ©rez's 21 pages pf pencils from the aborted 1983 crossover; the initial plot for the current mini-series and every character, place, and incident used in the mini-series carefully annotated by PÃ©rez and Busiek. As with the MARVELS auction, this item comes signed by writer Kurt Busiek along with a very special message to the supporters of UNSCREWED! Bidding begins at $85.

Artist Jamal Igle, of FIRESTORM and NEW WARRIORS fame, has donated a signed piece of original art from MARVEL ADVENTURES: SPIDER-MAN #14. Fully penciled and inked, Bidding starts at: $50. "This piece is a must have for webheads, and a great way to kick off the countdown to Spider-man 3!" remarks Donovan.

As new items are added to the auction list, notices will be sent to the media and posted on the UNSCREWED! website.

In addition to the auctions, UNSCREWED! has begun a second relief effort, the Unscrewed! Anthology, with stories and art from some of the best and brightest artists and writers in the field. Legendary X-MEN artist PAUL SMITH contributes a special two page story which joins a host of stories collected in one volume, with proceeds going to help creators in need.

For the full story and mission statement of UNSCREWED! please visit their website at http://www.unscrewedcomic.com. The website will be bringing webcomics online in the coming weeks. Parties interested in contributing work to the site please visit the UNSCREWED! website for submission guidelines.

Donovan closes out with these remarks: "As always I want to thank our gracious contributors and supporters in this important movement. The outpouring of submissions, one-of-a-kind items, and overall support is very much appreciated. Fan, Creator, Retailer alike, we thank you for that."

Scott Reed successful in claim against Olney

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:40:00 -0600

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.