A graphic novelist whose latest work has been rejected by his publisher went on a twitter storm pleading with his fans to back his work.
Joshua Luna wrote a novel on Filipino American and Asian American identity, Americanizasian, A Filipino American Comic Creator’s Awakening.
Luna says Image Comics first rejected the book and then approved it, only to reject it later. You can read his entire tweet below.
Luna said his novel was original rejected as too negative, but when an Asian American employee at Image Comics agreed to back the work, the publisher relented. Then we he submitted the cover, Image Comics attorneys claimed the cover had copyright issues. Once again, Luna says Image Comics withdrew its support. The graphic novelist offers to change the cover, were allegedly rejected
“When I realized Image was not being forthcoming in moving my project forward (even after I promptly and thoroughly provided them a list of strips that may pose a legal problem) and the conversations were becoming increasingly contentious, I knew my career was already in jeopardy whether I stayed silent or chose to speak up. My options were dwindling,” Luna told Comics Beat.
“Ultimately, I knew I couldn’t get help if I didn’t ask for it. I just had to believe that the community of people who’ve enjoyed my strips would be there for me, and they were. The outpouring of support over the past few days has been overwhelming. Image has been my home since 2004, but maybe I’d found a new kind of home without even realizing it.”
A former employee of Image Comics called Luna’s actions “classless and unfounded,” according to Bleeding Cool. The tweet reportedly from former Image publisher Erik Larsen has been removed.
Luna says he is now seeking a new publisher.
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