Batman: White Knight Creator Sean Gordon Murphy Calls for Comics Cease Fire!

John F. Trent |

Feb 26, 2018

Batman: White Knight creator Sean Gordon Murphy issued a call for a comics cease fire. He asked people in the comic book world to “unblock everyone in exchange for zero negativity for 30 days.” He added, “And we all promise to be on our best behavior. See how we like it.”

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967881583150723072

He didn’t stop at just calling for a cease fire. He also explained his own “no block” policy. For those that haven’t been following the Twitter battles in the comic book industry, many creators and editors have begun block chaining people. Basically, they block everyone who follows someone else. This is mostly done to followers of Diversity & Comics and people involved in #Comicsgate, who are outspoken critics of the current state of comics. They’ve even created a boycott list of the people they feel are toxic to the industry.

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967864318774693888

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967864419601567745

Murphy eloquently explains that he is running a business and he understands that when you run a business you have to deal with customer service.

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967864542532456448

He even has solution for dealing with potential unruly customers.

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967864614250860546

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967864792923942912

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967865181417156608

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967865376636882944

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967865698155417600

https://twitter.com/Sean_G_Murphy/status/967866332048973826

Most people seemed to agree with Murphy’s “No Block” policy.

https://twitter.com/McKnut_45/status/967868542052982791

I’m down with this thread….. pic.twitter.com/gu5bPTR9HR

— Brian Vander (@vander11chi) February 25, 2018

You're catching heat for your no block policy? What!?!?! Dude, I'm over here like, "I need to be more like SGM… That dude is a class act!"

— Joshua McDonald (@JoshuaLMcDonald) February 26, 2018

You have articulated this so perfectly. I could not agree with you more and appreciate you stating it.

— Christina Merkler (@DCBSchristina) February 26, 2018

https://twitter.com/ReelGeekyDork/status/968020492941639680

https://twitter.com/GnarlyCanary/status/968007288962322432

https://twitter.com/brunderek/status/967914731255353344

However, Tamra Bonvillain found Murphy’s characterization of dealing with unruly people as customer service “offensive.”

At one point, I never blocked anyone either, until I got on their radar. I find your characterization of dealing with this as customer service to be offensive. If someone had legitimate, reasoned criticisms for me and my work, that's fine. That's not what they do.

— Tamra Bonvillain (@TBonvillain) February 25, 2018

Others disagreed with the whole idea of the Comics Cease Fire.

https://twitter.com/MrMarcWithaCee/status/967884348950220800

Some simply called the suggestion “naive” and “childish.”

I think this is profoundly naive.

— Comic Island (@Comic_Island) February 25, 2018

Your child-like innocence makes me wish for a better world.@justsomeguycc @No1MarmadukeFan

— Joshua Swanson (@IpfwSwanjr04) February 26, 2018

The comic book industry at the moment has really become a battleground in a much larger culture war. Many comic book creators have gotten away from the idea of escapism and adventure and simply making good comics. Instead many are focused on turning comics into pure propaganda by pushing radical agendas into their stories. But not only are they focused on turning the industry into a propaganda outlet, they are also trying to force creators who disagree with their political beliefs out of the business. We saw conservative comic book creator Will Caligan lose his job. CBR journalist Kieran Shiach has made it his mission to get “moderate Republican” Ethan Van Sciver fired from DC Comics. More recently, he’s even targeting Howard Chaykin. Bane co-creator Chuck Dixon is even on an alleged black list at Marvel Comics. This type of behavior is absolutely unacceptable. People should not be trying to ruin others careers over a disagreement in political beliefs. A ceasefire could really help and bring some sanity back to the comic book industry.

Do you think a ceasefire would work or would only one side participate? I’m leaning that a ceasefire wouldn’t really accomplish much. It’s a great idea, but I don’t see people like Kieran Shiach stopping his aggressive pursuits to get comic book creators fired from DC Comics and Marvel Comics.