Black Lightning Creator Tony Isabella Lambasts ComicsGate in Twitter Rant

Spencer Baculi |

Aug 7, 2018

The divide between comic book fans and creators grew wider this past weekend as another veteran comic creator declared their hardline stance against the ComicsGate movement.

In a series of tweets that began on Saturday and continued into Sunday, Tony Isabella, the Black Lightning creator who recently made his return to comics with Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands, went on a mini-rant detailing his adamant stance against the ComicsGate movement:

To the #Comicsgater who said it was bad business for me to alienate my base, you should know my base has NEVER been racist, bigoted, misogynist, white supremacist, GOP-loving zombies. You must be confusing me with some other writer. And, also, I blocked you. Bye, Felicia.

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 4, 2018

Lashing out with accusations, Isabella speaks directly to an unknown ‘ComicsGater’, though it is known via Twitter’s functionality that the accused cannot see tweets from an account that blocks them.

#Comicsgate‘s so-called “concerns” are a mask for their bigotry et al. My definition of diversity in comics is that our readers should be able to see themselves in our comics. For example, there have been many people of faith in my comics and I have treated them with respect.

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 5, 2018

Isabella truly believes the tired narrative that ComicsGate is a movement of bigotry.

His disdain for anyone associated with the movement is made apparent when, in response to a fan attempting to engage in a dialogue to detail and discuss the real concerns of the ComicsGate movement, Isabella responds with dismissal and mockery, rather than responding to any of the fan’s points.

Your complaint seems aimed at creators whose positions you disagree with. This is not a “both sides are valid” argument as the Dumpster would have it. There are bad people in this world and their positions are not equatable with their opposition. https://t.co/aDsLtbBhyC

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 5, 2018

See…now your making absurd comments for absurdity sake. This is where so many online discussions, especially those generated by #Comicsgate and its allies go. When you make an absurd comment like “Mandarin Lightning,” you’ve lost the argument and your credibility.

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 5, 2018

Dismissal rather than engagement, a growing trend in interactions between comic book fans and authors.

There is a moment where Isabella seems to feel vindicated in his hatred. He alleges that he received a veiled threat regarding his personal home address (published publicly on craigslist, with links provided by Isabella, in an effort to promote an upcoming garage sale). Harassment and physical violence are decried by the rational members of each side of this ongoing debate, and this alleged assault raised eyebrows across the board.

Wow. A #Comicsgater just made a veiled threat re: my listing my address in my garage sale notices. That’s about the dumbest thing it could have done. My fun is just beginning.

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 5, 2018

Based on what a former Comicsgater told me, I am not asking the authorities to investigate Jack, though the agent I spoke to told me the tweet he made would have warranted that. There’s a second threat out there that is being investigated.

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 6, 2018

Isabella never directly refers to a specific user or handle, referring to the alleged bully simply as “Jack.” This seems to refer to Twitter user @SJWsAreForKids, who lists his display name as “I am Jack’s Failed TURBO Signal…”. Upon investigation, the veiled threat that Isabella refers to appears to be:

And since you want to talk shit online to draw attention to yourself, that’s probably not the best thing to do. Just food for thought.
2/2

— I am Jack’s Failed TURBO Signal…?‍♂️ (@SJWsAreForKids) August 5, 2018

However, at no point is mention of a direct threat made. Twitter user @SJWsAreForKids simply reaches out to Isabella to point out that Isabella has in fact ‘doxxed’ himself.

A self-admitted ComicsGate supporter, @SJWsAreForKids was not making a threat, but wished to help prevent Isabella, whom @SJWsAreForKids admits he has no current grievances concerning, from receiving harassment from the more unhinged and radical members of comicsgate (which is odd, as it seems to be taken from the playbook of the opponents rather than comicsgate supporters, as seen in the recent assault of Jeremy Hambly at GenCon) by advising that he may want to remove the posting from his associated Twitter page.

Other Twitter users began to respond to Isabella, pointing out that @SJWsAreForKids was reaching out in good faith. Isabella responded to these civil responses by doubling down on his belief that he was being directly threatened when, despite all evidence to the contrary, and responding with a combination of blocks and posturing.

If he was honestly concerned, he could have contacted me privately. He didn’t. That speaks volumes to me.

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 5, 2018

Like Steve Ditko, my address has always been in the phone book and, yes, hard as this is to believe, they still make phone books and they are excellent door stops. Unlike Mr. Ditko, I am not a recluse. I am a respected member of my community. Anyone who threatens me…

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 5, 2018

You know, unless your parents actually named you “The Watcher” and you have the birth certificate to prove it, I’m not inclined to take your word that “Jack is a good guy” in this. If “Jack” is who I was posting about.

— Tony Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning (@thetonyisabella) August 5, 2018

This scene, of a veteran comic book creator meeting genuine discussion with falsely exaggerated threats of violence and intimidation from supporters of ComicsGate, is unfortunately one all too common in modern comic book discussions.

Though many work to open a constructive dialogue between various factions to address the concerns of a diverse audience of comic book fans, the clear majority of comic creators are far too quick to believe fearmongering and the vast amount of lies disseminated about the ComicsGate movement.

Until we can engage in civil discussions between creators and fans, Isabella’s ranting will merely be the latest in a long line of self-fabricated attacks set to divide comic book fans and avoid constructive dialogue.