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Older men in comics grooming and trying to sleep with younger women/fans is not new. And as an industry, as creators who talk but only amongst ourselves, we've failed to protect these women despite knowing what they do, or thinking we might know.
I was 19 when I first entered the world of comics and was immediately contacted by older, married, successful creators who were 15+ years older than me. Why were they doing that?
I feel it viscerally in my bones that teen girls need to be protected. Who is going to protect them from the Cameron Stewarts, Brian Woods, Warren Ellises of this industry if not us?
Yeah, those last two are from my own personal experiences.
I feel A LOT of confusion over what I did/what happened to me when I was 19/20 with these men. I always felt in control and an instigator. But I know other women weren't. That other women have been shattered and I've always dismissed it because I wasn't. And that's a shit move.
But this is the thing: either I believe I am and was in control for all those years in my early 20s, or I admit I was manipulated and I concede that power, that autonomy and I become a victim.
Am I in control when this powerful man whom I respected and adored asked to see me naked and texted me the things he wanted to do to me? I was flattered. I felt special. I wasn't. I now know he was doing the same thing to several other women at the same time.
And we all became friends. This troop of young artistic women who'd all been used and discarded by him. And we found solace in each other. And I'm so grateful for these women in my life. But I wish we'd had a different reason to know each other.
Warren Ellis is undoubtedly a force for good in comics, and has been for the last twenty years or so. He's given opportunities, money, and support to marginalised creators in comics and outside it. He's also done some fucked up things to young women. Both statements can be true.
He doesn't need to be cancelled or whatever. Instead ask how we get to a point where successful men don't prey on young women, maliciously or not. A point where those young women see the attention of men like that as damaging and not flattering. How do we change that culture?
I would like this to lead to some sort of tangible action that both questions and discourages this behaviour. But an action that doesn't put the onus on women to continue to share their pain and prove the harm done to them.
I'm not sure what that looks like. Is it a union? Is it...something in private? Is it, some sort of restorative justice project that results in a public plan of action? I don't know. But I'm interested in having these discussions.
