IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog team including writer Ian Flynn, artist Tracy Yardley, and editor David Mariotte are the latest folks from IDW to come out and insult their customers.
Flynn and Mariotte follow in the footsteps of Jonathan H. Gray, who described comic fans as racists, homophobes, xenophobes, and Nazis, and IDW executive Justin Eisinger who intimated he wanted to execute Trump supporters via guillotine.
Back in July, Flynn went on a political diatribe against conservatives and devout people. (Archive link: http://archive.is/VFuWf)
I try not to get political here – give y’all a break from the vitriol – but I fear that my silence will be mistaken for complicity. So I’m going to try to keep this positive and brief. (1/7)
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) June 21, 2018
I believe we are all inherently equal. We have different skills, different limitations, but by virtue of being human we should all receive the same level of love and respect from each other. (2/7)
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) June 21, 2018
Personally speaking, you – all of you – have my friendship and respect by default. Maybe not “BFFs 4evr!!!1!” but at least “we cool.” There are no qualifiers there. Whatever you identify as, whoever you identify as, we’re good. (3/7)
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) June 21, 2018
But what I give can be lost. Insults and bullying get you shut out and ignored. Align yourself with the cruel, oppressive and the demonstrably evil an we’re done. (4/7)
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) June 21, 2018
Note that being devout or being conservative is not inherently any of those things. Those titles often used as cover, as excuses, but that’s individual cowardice, not the fault of the group. (5/7)
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) June 21, 2018
And if your reply is “Yes, but what about the [group]?” or “You’re just as hateful and intolerant because you’re calling out my bigotry!” or “[thing] is a SIN!” then save your time. This line of discussion is worn into the ground. We are at odds. (6/7)
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) June 21, 2018
Far braver and more eloquent people are fighting right now. I wish I had more resources/less of a temper to offer them. But for what small measure that it’s worth: you have my respect and support. (7/7)
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) June 21, 2018
Flynn would follow up this political stance against conservatives and devout people by attacking members of Comicsgate at large earlier this month. (Archive link: http://archive.is/k6sMK)
I was a jittery kid. One of my first trips to a comic shop I asked for help finding a Robin book. The clerk sneered since I didn’t know which title/number, I shrank back and left. They lost a sale, and I seriously debated ever going to another comic shop again.
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) September 4, 2018
Years later I took a good friend to a much better shop, but… She asked the clerk about Wonder Woman. When she made it clear she was looking for vintage material and knew her stuff, the clerk’s tone went from “sweetie/honey” to “just one of the guys.”
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) September 4, 2018
#AleahBaker was a consistent contributor since STH#229. She did coloring, character design, and conceptualized 90% of “Waves of Change” but was given the back-ups to do. I have received cover credit for every story she’s worked on.
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) September 4, 2018
A friend of mine, the only POC in the office, was nearly fired for retweeting an article panning a comic for being racial tone deaf.
And I’m being super vague since I can’t afford to burn bridges.
— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) September 4, 2018
These are just my personal experiences. Elitism and bigotry remain issues at every level of our industry.
Gate keeping is bullshit.
Comicgaters are pure shit.
Comics are for everyone.
Thanks for reading.— Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) September 4, 2018
Flynn’s words echo IDW editor David Mariotte, who labeled Diversity & Comics a “hate person.” He also labeled Comicsgate members as sexist, racist, homophobic, and transphobic.
Just to make this perfectly clear, if you send me a thing from Diversity & Comics or any of the other ComicsGate hate group, you’re blocked/banned/etc. That sort of sexism/racism/homophobia/transphobia is unacceptable.
— David Mariotte (@IDW_David_M) February 24, 2018
Like, oddly enough, if you support a hate group/person like D&C that targets my friends, colleagues, and admirable strangers, I’m not interested in hearing your hate.
— David Mariotte (@IDW_David_M) February 24, 2018
Along with the writer and editor of Sonic insulting their fans, artist Tracy Yardley has also made it clear that he has a problem with customers especially if they are white.
“Sure, the entire country is drowning, but white Americans are content as long as they can watch everyone else choke on their dying breaths first.”
A bleak reality. One which I wish I could say wasn’t true. But it is. And we’ll never move on until we face it. https://t.co/PHfQHBjyG3— Tracy Yardley! @NYCC B8 (@yardleyart) July 27, 2018
He also intimates that 50% of the United States of America is associated with Nazis and white supremacists.
Well, you can try to turn this around so I’m the villain here. That’s fine. We have a president who panders to ACTUAL Nazis and white supremacists and 50% of the country supports him. Not ALL white people are on their side, but we all do benefit from their racism…
— Tracy Yardley! @NYCC B8 (@yardleyart) July 28, 2018
No one in the USA has to imagine that. It’s at the heart of every aspect of our society: politics, sports, immigration, religion, comics, etc. Shitty white people will do anything to maintain the perception of a world that is for them and them alone.
— Tracy Yardley! @NYCC B8 (@yardleyart) September 3, 2018
While these IDW creators continue to attack, insult, and ridicule their customers, IDW Publishing is struggling financially. In fact, their most recent financial report saw comic and graphic novel sales decline by $173,000. IDW blamed a “continued industry cyclical downward pressure driven by market leaders, as well as the timing of significant major brand titles.”
However, it’s quite possible the behavior of their creators might be resulting in their decline in revenue and sales.
In fact, YouTuber That Umbrella Guy reports that a number of fans are contacting Sega over IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog creators.
