ROME, GA — Comic book retailer Gordon Lee is standing trial for two misdemeanor counts of distributing harmful material to minors and faces penalties of up to a year and prison and $1,000 in fines for each count if convicted. His trial begins on November 5th after the case’s last delay in August due to a judge’s illness. Lee’s day in court comes after nearly three years of legal proceedings arising from the Halloween 2004 distribution of Alternative Comics #2, a Free Comic Book Day sampler that featured an excerpt from the critically acclaimed graphic novel The Salon, which depicted Pablo Picasso in the nude and was accidentally handed to a minor.”Everyone at the Fund is glad to finally take this case to trial,” said CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein in a statement. “For three years Gordon has had to live with the tormenting reality of this case hanging over his head, and to suffer criminal accusations, a complete change of facts by the prosecution midstream, and numerous delays when it looked like the end was near. All for something that shouldn’t have been prosecuted in the first place. We look forward to taking this case to trial, and because of the donations of the CBLDF’s supporters, are confident that we have the best team possible to prove Gordon’s innocence.”
In the comic in question, the first meeting between Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso is shown. On three pages of the eight page section, Picasso is depicted in the nude, a factually accurate detail for the period during which the story is set. There is no sexual content in the story.
Lee has publicly and privately apologized for handing the comic to the child but was arrested anyway.
The CBLDF has spent over $100,000 to help Lee with his defense.
To support the efforts of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund as it goes to trial to defend Georgia retailer Gordon Lee, comic retailer DynamicForces.com will donate 10-percent of all internet sales from all orders placed between November 1st – 14th, 2007.
“The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund stands behind comics when the industry is threatened by outrageous prosecutions like this one, so we’re proud to do our part to stand behind the Fund in their time of need,” says Dynamic Forces President Nick Barrucci. “While very few people can raise money as well and with such class as a great artist (our good friend Jim Lee, who raised $7, 500.00 at the Baltimore Comicon), I would like to do as much as possible. In addition to the donation that DF will make by giving away 10-percent of the sales from our site, I will personally donate $1,000.00 to the Fund as a contribution. There are additional initiatives that DF will start with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. More information is to come. Freedom of Speech and expression is a liberty that as Americans we enjoy, and should not be taken for granted. The Fund is here for those whose rights are abused in any way, shape or form. The comics industry needs the Fund more than the Fund needs us. Now is the time to act and support it!”
For more on The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, visit CBLDF.org.
