Analyzing the DC Comics Insider

Much has been made over the past few days concerning a series of allegations made by an individual who has dubbed himself a "DC Comics Insider" and who purports to work for DC Comics. Today we'll take a look at these allegations, without identifying the accused, and see what they say about the industry as well as the individual who posted them.

The initial allegation concerned the reasons behind artist JG Jones departure from DC's big event of the year, Final Crisis. This particular allegation apparently regarded activities between consenting adults, and seemed designed to do nothing more than embarass individuals whom the Insider has a personal dislike for (the one thing that may be of interest to fans is that Jones is now supposedly set to do work for Marvel). There was some lip service given to "defending" the artist from being blamed by the fan community for supposed delays, but if the artist wished to raise this matter in his defense, he was more than capable of doing so himself. The fact that he didn't surely means he didn't wish this raised publicly, even if there is truth to it. So by doing this, the Insider is knowingly harming someone he professes to defend, marking him as a hypocrite.

After posting this first in the comments section of former DC employee Valerie D'Orazio's blog ( http://occasionalsuperheroine.blogspot.com/ ), the Insider went on to create his own blog and repost the allegation there. The blog was quickly deleted, presumably by Blogger at the request of concerned parties. He also apparently sent out e-mails to several different bloggers and news websites, in an attempt to get them to carry the story. The Comic Book Bin site published an editorial detailing its decision not to carry the story ( http://www.comicbookbin.com/Whistle_BlowingComic_Book_Journalism001.html ), and blogger Kevin Huxford, while withholding details of the allegations, did choose to post a message he received from the Insider ( http://www.schwapponline.com/2008/10/well-i-guess-i-dont-have-developing.html ). In it, the Insider promises to "continue my list of editors who need to leave for how their lack of moral character has ruined DC Comics."

The Insider then created a second blog, and sure enough, posted more allegations about other DC employees. Most of these allegations were of a similar variety to the initial one; matters that should not concern anyone except the people they directly affect (affairs, drug abuse, and the like). Stuff that was clearly designed only to damage the reputations of those involved, whether true or not. He also tossed in a heaping helping of complaints about the quality and success of the books themselves, marking him not only as a disgruntled employee, but a fanboy as well, who pines for the good old days when comics were the way he liked them, and decries how the current people are ruining them. Yes, we've all done that, myself included. But we haven't all mixed it in with direct and personal character assassination, have we?

The only allegation that bears looking into any further is the one of mistreatment of employees. One employee in particular is accused of severe verbal abuse toward subordinates, as well as numerous instances of sexual harassment. As Valerie D'Orazio has mentioned on her blog, she is named as the target of several of these incidents, and she does not appear to dispute them ( http://occasionalsuperheroine.blogspot.com/2008/10/one-or-two-things-ive-learned.html ). The Insider again tosses in superfluous bits that are meant only to embarass and humiliate, but regardless of his shameful tactics, it should be of concern to all who support the industry if such things have been going on this long and unchecked. Unfortunately, the Insider does not make good on his promise to "examine why very few people ever get fired from DC", thus leaving his attacks without any context that would elevate their worth. It is indeed an important question to ask why, if such things are going on, nothing is done, but it doesn't look like you'll find any answers from the DC Insider. By all appearances, this is a person far more concerned with getting revenge for personal slights, than in correcting any wrongs.

If these things are going on, the only way they will stop is if someone who has been victimized is willing to step forward and press legal remedies. This will take an enormous amount of intestinal fortitude, as well as a not inconsiderable amount of material resources. But I think if someone was willing to take that step, they might find more supporters, both materially and morally, than they might have previously believed.