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Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) returns to Comic Con International: San Diego 2022 this month with the CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party Thursday night and the CBLDF Art Auction Saturday night. These events will be in addition to nine CBLDF-sponsored panels. You’ll also be able to reach us throughout the Con at booth #1918.

Defending the Comic Arts

Challenges to graphic novels and other forms of comic art have increased to levels not seen in decades. A particular focus of the CBLDF’s current legal work is defending against a lawsuit in Virginia Beach aimed at having Maia Kobabe’s award-winning graphic novel Gender Queer declared obscene. CBLDF Interim Director Jeff Trexler is representing Maia Kobabe in the case along with renowned Virginia litigator Steve Emmert. Funds raised during Comic-Con will directly support this case and the CBLDF’s ongoing efforts to protect free expression through all comics media.

CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party

Join CBLDF and their contributing members Thursday night, July 21, for the convention’s most popular comic-focused party. CBLDF will host the party at the Westgate Hotel’s Terrace Under the Stars starting at 8 pm. The welcome party brings together all corners of the comics community, including retailers, publishers, creators, educators, and fans. The party will have hot and cold hors d’oeuvres for the first 90 minutes and a cash bar through the evening until 12 am. It’s open to the public, with free admission for CBLDF members and all others asked to make a voluntary contribution. Attendees will also get an up-close look at the art to be auctioned Saturday night.

CBLDF Art Auction

CBLDF Art Auction is back! After two years, the fan-favorite auction returns with art and collectibles from some of comics’ greatest creators. (See our full list below.) The CBLDF Art Auction will be held Saturday, July 23, from 8 pm to 10 pm at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront in the Sapphire AB room. All proceeds will benefit CBLDF’s ongoing battle against the rising tide of censorship in our schools, libraries, and stores. The auction is open to all — You do not need a Con badge to attend! Bidding will be available online, and Comic-Con attendees can also visit CBLDF booth #1918 to see auction art in advance. More details will be posted soon on CBLDF’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and website, cbldf.org

CBLDF Panels

Interim Director Jeff Trexler, Communications Director Jordan Smith, and special guests will host the following special CBLDF panels on recent developments in protecting the comic arts:

• CBLDF: Defending Comics Today, Thursday, 7/21/22, 12:00PM – 1:00PM, Room 11
• Decency Exposed: Law, Comics, and the New Culture Wars, Thursday, 7/21/22, 1:00PM – 2:00PM, Room 11
• Strategies for Defending Comics in Your Library, Thursday, 7/21/22, 4:00PM – 5:00PM, Room: Helen Price Reading Room, San Diego Central Library
• Being Seen: Defending Identity in the Comic Arts, Friday, 7/22/22, 12:00PM – 1:00PM, Room 11
• Raising the Dead: Horror Comics and the Comics Code, Friday, 7/22/22, 1:00PM – 2:00PM, Room 11
• Protect Yourself: Responding to Challenges, Saturday, 7/23/22, 12:00PM – 1:00PM, Room: 11
• Express Yourself: Activism Through the Comic Arts, Saturday, 7/23/22, 1:00PM – 2:00PM, Room 4
• Intellectual Freedom for Educators, Saturday, 7/23/22, 3:00PM – 4:00PM, Room: Helen Price Reading Room, San Diego Central Library
• CBLDF Legal Q&A, Sunday, 7/24/22, 12:15PM – 1:45PM, Room 5AB

Interim Director Jeff Trexler will also be participating in three additional panels to discuss issues pertaining to rights and free expression in the comics community:

• Crazy Talk: Representing Mental Health, Thursday, 7/21/22, 3:00PM – 4:00PM, Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis
• Banned Comics: Old Problems in New Forms, Saturday, 7/23/22, 10:00AM – 11:00AM, Room 4
• Tales from the Comic Book Crackdown, Sunday, 7/24/22, 2:00PM – 3:00PM, Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis 

CBLDF Auction Artists

Alan Quah

Andy Kubert

Ben Caldwell

Beth Sotelo

Bill Morrison

Danica Brine

Derrick Chew

Dike Ruan

Eduardo Risso

Gary Frank

Georges Jeanty

Jamal Igle

Jorge Fornés

June Brigman

Justin Norman

Kael Ngu

Kendrick “Kunkka” Lim

Kenneth Rocafort

Leinil Yu

Mike McKone

Nick Bradshaw

Niko Henrichon

Paolo Rivera

Peter Steigerwald

Riccardo Federici

Ron Salas

Rose Besch

Scott Kolins

Simone Di Meo

Stanley “Artgerm” Lau

Sweeney Boo

Todd Nauck

Veronica Fish

Wee “Ejikure” Kiat

Yildiray Cinar

And More!

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF):

About Comic Book Legal Defense Fund: Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization protecting the freedom to read comics! Our work protects readers, creators, librarians, retailers, publishers, and educators who face the threat of censorship. We monitor legislation and challenge laws that would limit the First Amendment. We create resources that promote understanding of comics and the rights our community is guaranteed. Every day we publish news and information about censorship events as they happen. We are partners in the Kids’ Right to Read Project and Banned Books Week. Our expert legal team is available at a moment’s notice to respond to First Amendment emergencies. CBLDF is a lean organization that works hard to protect the rights on which our community depends. Please support our important work! http://cbldf.org ` Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) About SDCC: The SAN DIEGO COMIC CONVENTION (Comic-Con International) is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation organized for charitable purposes and dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms, including participation in and support of public presentations, conventions, exhibits, museums and other public outreach activities which celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. `