CBLDF Goes to Court for Gordon Lee; Launches eBay Support Initiative

This Thursday the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund goes to court in Rome, GA on behalf of retailer Gordon Lee. The CBLDF legal team will be arguing at a hearing on motions to dismiss charges against Lee. Lee is facing two counts of violating Georgia's unconstitutional Unlawful Dissemination of Nudity/Sexual Conduct law, as well as 5 counts of Distributing Harmful to Minors Material for accidentally distributing a copy of Alternative Comics #2, a free comic book day comic that depicted artist Pablo Picasso in the nude. CBLDF attorneys Alan Begner and Paul Cadle will be providing oral arguments for four motions submitted on Lee's behalf earlier this year. For full info on these motions, click here.

To support the court costs of this very important hearing, the Fund is launching seven eBay auctions this afternoon at 3:00 Eastern/12:00 Pacific Time. Items offered will include All Star Batman & Robin #1, the RRP Variant edition signed by Jim Lee & Frank Miller, CGC Graded 9.8; original Jonathan Luna Spider-Woman art; original Jaime Hernandez Hopey art; the coveted Hellblazer #27 signed by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, and more. This auction begins a two-week auction initiative to offset the costs of this very important case.

"Right now we are embarking on the first step of the next phase of the Gordon Lee defense," says CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. "Our attorneys have written a series of excellent motions supporting Gordon's innocence, and now we're going to court to move forward on proving his innocence. We've spent $40,000 to get this far, and it's going to get more expensive as we move ahead. That's why we hope that our supporters are generous in their bidding on these auctions, and why we encourage everyone who values the First Amendment to make a donation to the Fund in the weeks before year's end. If you're not a member or due to renew, now is a good time. If you've already paid this year's dues and can afford it, now would be a good time to give an additional gift. Your donations will help us to continue our aggressive defense of Gordon's innocence, and the industry's rights to free expression that are threatened by this case."

To bid on this week's auctions, click here.

Here is a listing of the items on auction this week:

Serenity novelization signed by Morena Baccarin (Inara); Adam Baldwin (Jayne); Jamie Chambers (author, Serenity RPG); Keith R. A. DeCandido (author, Serenity novelization); Ron Glass (Book); Jewel Staite (Kaylee); Margaret Weis (publisher, Serenity RPG)

Dark Phoenix Marvel Hero Clix 2005 WizKids Convention exclusive figure
This massive Hero Clix was the rage of the 2005 convention season. Only available by winning a drawing for the chance to purchase one at the Wizard World cons, this massive Hero Clix has been donated by WizKids to benefit the CBLDF!

All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder #1 B&W sketch Retailer Incentive cover, signed by Jim Lee (artist) and Frank Miller (writer) on 8/05/05 at Wizard World Chicago, CGC rated 9.8 This is the first 9.8 graded edition of the incentive cover edition of ASB&R #1 to be signed by both authors and placed on the market. All proceeds benefit CBLDF

Hellblazer #27 signed by Neil Gaiman (writer) and Dave McKean (artist)
Before they created the sensational film Mirrormask, Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean wrote this chilling Hellblazer tale. This book is in NM condition and signed to benefit the CBLDF.

WildC.A.T.S Complete Series DVD signed by Jim Lee, factory sealed
Signed by creator Jim Lee, this factory sealed DVD features the complete run of the fan favorite television series and benefits the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Hopey Drawing by Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez, the master graphic novelist behind Locas and Love & Rockets contributes this exquisite Hopey drawing to benefit the CBLDF!

Jonathan Luna Spider-Woman Drawing Hot on the heels of the Luna Brothers' work on Spider-Woman: Origin comes this original Jonathan Luna pencil drawing of the arachnid beauty to benefit the CBLDF! This original pencil drawing on comic-page board was donated by the Lunas to benefit the Fund at Baltimore Comicon, and will support the Fund's current casework.