|
I really liked Graham's take on, "Prophet." Now I just feel kinda sick hearing about him. |
Popular comic-maker Brandon Graham who actually wrote, drew, and otherwise created a good deal of comic-books I like
has turned out to be a huge creep. He apparently habitually harasses women and especially has made numerous trans women feel uncomfortable. He is the kind of person who will feign excitement about a female's work just to get her to sleep with him, and in the case of one person who transitioned to being a woman, had never expressed interest in their work until they had transitioned--then suddenly loved the stuff they created...and made unwelcome advances toward the woman in question.
In response to people bringing accusations against him to light Graham made a, "Diss track," comic that through insulting anyone who has ever criticized him and bragging about how awesome he is managed to fix all of this. I'm kidding, it was basically career suicide and he deleted it off the internet (but as the internet never forgets you can
find it saved here if you really want to read the enraged ramblings of someone who's reputation has flown straight into a garbage bin). Did Graham really thinking blaming everyone else for all this was smart?
|
"No, no, I'm the real victim!" |
When people started coming forward with stories about Brandon Graham he could have calmly denied them and pointed-out why these accusations were--as he believes--false. He also could have pulled a Brian Wood and said there was some truth to his sleazy behavior but then claimed he was otherwise a victim. He also could have just straight-up admitted to what people were saying if he wanted to. Instead he denied everything, but in a way where he blamed everyone else whilst simultaneously acting in a manner that basically proves what people are saying about him was true. Then, once that backfired he took the, "Diss-track," cartoon down and replaced it with a strip saying he was feeling ,"Bullied," that you can see above.
Brandon Graham handled all of this in what is arguably the worst way possible and now he's just like the aforementioned Brian Wood--someone whose work I once enjoyed, but now find it hard to like because the creator is too toxic a human (the same thing occurred for me with, "Dilbert," creator Scott Adams but that's because he went off the deep-end in other ways). I feel sad that I can't ever look at Graham's work the same ever again, but I'm even more heartbroken for all of his victims who were at first too scared to speak-out until enough was said to make it clear Graham was a serial-harasser who got away with it for way too long.
I was a big fan of Brandon Graham for the way he helped hold Brian Woods accountable for his actions and that he was a big supporter of less privileged creators.
ReplyDeleteI've been followed this drama on twitter but I can't actually find any accusations, not that anyone need be named or risk retaliation from dumb MRA types, but just a simple list of accusations made my anonymous people would help?
It seems actual names will be coming, but many people were scared to have their career's negatively impacted so a lot of anonymous stuff was occurring. Plus, regardless of if there were actual names, his, "Diss Track," comic is what really turned the tide against him. If he hadn't done that horrific comic maybe more folk would be giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Deletehow was the diss even horrific?
DeleteOver six years later and only one actual name from a "victim" ever emerged. How do you feel about being tricked into participating in a digital lynch mob? How did you spend your virtue-signal goodboy points?
DeleteWhether it was one name or a bunch, I don't regret what I've said about Graham just as I don't regret what I said about other creators who have faced allegations be they Warren Ellis or now Neil Gaiman. I will concede a lot less seems to have come out about Graham and it does make me wonder if some of us were quick to jump to conclusions. His behavior/responses to the allegations were incredibly toxic, however, and that says a lot about him.
DeleteIronically, I also find Grahams apparent fetish for Trans Women creepy, but it doesn't have the least bit affect on my interest in his creative material. You ever consume the artistic material of a plain ole corn bread even keel individual? Pretty boring.
ReplyDeleteLet me know when you find a body or a cellar full of abused children he's responsible for.
I don't care who he has an attraction too. I do care about if he harasses someone or tries to get them to have sex with him because of his power he has (or now, had) in the comic-book industry.
Delete