What is Comicsgate?

TL;DR

Comicsgate is a comic book movement originating in the 2010s focused on prioritizing quality art and storytelling, creative freedom, and an active, robust dynamic with the audience via YouTube videos. The movement began more directly as a rejection of censorship and cancel culture within the mainstream comics industry, including corporate-led diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, political correctness, ideological propaganda and identity politics.

History

2014; In the U.S. Comicsgate began as a hashtag (#Comicsgate) on Twitter in the days and weeks immediately following #Gamergate which was already active at the time. Originally as #Comicgate without the (s), the hashtag was used in response to the cancellation of a variant cover of Spider-Woman #1 created by legendary artist Milo Manara. Manara portrayed Spiderwoman in a suggestive pose. The Mary Sue attacked the cover in Aug. 2014 in an article titled, "Marvel, This Is When You Send An Artist Back To The Drawing Board." "How many days did we go without an incident like this? Is it safe to say things have been OK recently as far as art is concerned in the comic book industry? ... I honestly don’t know what anyone involved was thinking.The series is being written by Dennis Hopeless with art by Greg Land, and although it appears Marvel is attempting to draw in women with a slew of new female-led titles, this does not instill confidence. Nor does it tell women this is a comic they should consider spending money on. In fact, what the variant cover actually says is 'Run away. Run far, far away and don’t ever come back...'" wrote article author Jill Pantozzi for The Mary Sue, published August 19, 2014, in response to Marvel's announcement of the variant cover on August 18, 2014. Rumors surfaced that the cover was cancelled but Marvel chose in the end to proceed with a censored version of the cover including a logo broadly covering the problematic area of the art. Many comic book fans voiced opposition to the change on Twitter, calling for artistic freedom. Bleeding Cool publisher Rich Johnston responded to the controversy with an article insisting there was no scandal to the cover's cancellation. "No, everyone, this is not #Comicgate. Milo Manara is still creating covers for Marvel," wrote Johnston, a British comics journalist and Bleeding Cool founder, on September 24, 2014, marking the first media reference to the term. This was the first time the movement was referenced in an online publication.

During that time, there was a push from mainstream media outlets to diversify the comic books medium, and publishers' attempts to answer that call, for example, in a piece from FiveThirtyEight entitled, "Comic Books Are Still Made By Men, For Men And About Men," complaining that comics target the male demographic and reporting on Marvel and DC's efforts at diversity and inclusion.

In 2015, the use of the hashtags #Comicgate and #Comicsgate continued on Twitter. That year, pushes to change covers continued with Batgirl #41, which depicted the Joker threatening Bat Girl (an homage to the 1980s "Killing Joke" when the Joker shoots Barbara Gordon/Bat Girl, paralyzing her). In a March 14, 2015 article about the cover entitled, "So, How Inappropriate Is The Batgirl #41 Joker Variant Cover?" Bleeding Cool publisher Rich Johnston asked readers, "can an outraged social media campaign persuade DC to change their minds on this one?" Responding to feedback from Twitter users for and against the cover, Johnston came back with a March 16, 2015 piece, referencing Comicsgate with an "s" in an article entitled "#ChangeTheCover Is Not The #ComicsGate That #GamerGate Has Been Waiting For ". Matt Santori on Twitter summed up the complaint, writing, "The BATGIRL team (and @DCComics) has worked really hard to make this book for new female readers. This is inconsistent. #ChangeTheCover". Fans brandishing the #Comicgate and #Comicsgate hashtags would respond on Twitter saying the cover should not be changed. On March 16, 2015, the cover was cancelled, with DC Comics appearing to cave into the pressure from Bleeding Cool and Twitter as the artist, Rafael Abuquerque, apologized and asked that it be pulled.

2016's use of the #Comicgate and #Comicsgate hashtags in part saw fans negatively reacting to Captain America declaring "Hail Hydra" (a story arc depicting Steve Rogers as having somehow been a Nazi the whole time) and the hashtag dying down a bit, with echoes of the covers being changed. Additional controversy arose around Marvel writer Chelsea Cain's Mockingbird #8 cover, which featured the character holding a sign reading "Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda" leading her to leave Twitter temporarily. The Washington Post covered the incident, with David Betancourt opining, "Online bullying may have cost the comic book industry its next great female voice."

2017 saw the emergence of the movement's most recognizable and vocal advocate Richard C. Meyer, aka Ya Boi Zack. Meyer's YouTube channel "Diversity in Comics" and the companion Twitter account steadily gained followers and views throughout the year and became one of the fastest growing channels criticizing the mainstream comics industry. The channel would later rebrand to "Comics MATTER w/ Ya Boi Zack". Meyer's first video, "Marvel Before SJW- A Deep Dive analysis of a classic Captain America story by Mark Waid & Ron Garney," was published on April 12, 2017. Meyer faced numerous attacks from both industry professionals and mainstream fans over his criticisms. Among the highlights are the discovery of a secret Facebook group composed of comic industry insiders targeting Meyer and his supporters in any way they could.

2017 also saw DC Comics artist Ethan Van Sciver emerge as a staunch critic of cancel culture and political correctness in the mainstream. Van Sciver was well positioned within the industry to speak out against what he saw first hand and feared would harm the comics ecosystem. He quickly found himself under attack and said he was being targeted within the industry because he voted for Trump, and with absurd allegations that he was some sort of fascist or Nazi. In an August 2017 Facebook post, Van Sciver denied the allegations, stating, "There are strange people on [T]witter who are pretending to believe that I am a 'white supremacist' or a 'Nazi' because I'm a rare thing in comics: a Republican. It's intolerable. It's ridiculous to have to even declare that I'm none of these things. To me, white supremacists are villains from movies. They aren't me, they aren't my family, and I deeply resent these calculated efforts to make me feel unwelcome in the industry that I've given my life to, and by the way, which has profited greatly from my work. This industry isn't them or me."

Van Sciver would go on to establish his YouTube channel "Comic Artist Pro Secrets" and gain a solid following doing comic reviews and drawing streams.

At the Marvel Retail Summit in March 2017, retailers confronted Marvel executives over diversity initiatives, with one retailer saying, "I don't want you guys doing that stuff... I want you to entertain. That's the job. One of my customers even said the other day because he knew we were coming he wants to get stories and doesn’t mind a message, but he doesn't want to be beaten over the head with these things." as reported by ICv2 on March 31, 2017.

A pivotal event was Marvel editor Heather Antos's July 28, 2017, Instagram post featuring a milkshake and caption "Make Mine a Milkshake," interpreted by critics as mocking male fans. This sparked backlash, covered by The Mary Sue on July 30, 2017. "A Marvel Comics Editor Is Being Harassed Because She Posted a Selfie With Her Coworkers," reported The Mary Sue's Marykate Jasper on July 30, 2017, amid widespread media coverage including The Telegraph and Bleeding Cool.

During 2017, the hashtag on Twitter settled into the plural #Comicsgate.

2018 saw more polarization and a number of established industry pros would either leave or be forced out. Will Caligan , Chuck Dixon , Jon Malin , and Ethan Van Sciver most notably. The online space continued to develop with voices like Just Some Guy, Capn Cummings, ThatUmbrellaGuy, Unranked Chevron , and Nerkish gaining popularity and building on the foundation creators like Cecil Says, Ethan Van Sciver, and Richard C. Meyer established and adding to the larger fan/consumer discourse. This year would see innovator Peter Simeti take his plan for Alterna Comics to bring back inexpensive, floppy, newsprint single comics into full force.

2018 also saw the launch of two highly prominent CG comics. Jawbreakers - Lost Souls by Richard C. Meyer and Jon Malin launched April of 2018. Prior to the Indiegogo launch, Meyer and Malin had been blocked from launching the campaign on Kickstarter, telling Meyer on April 9: “As a Public Benefit Corporation committed to fighting inequality and creating a more equitable world, Kickstarter does not allow projects that promote discrimination, subjugation, or intolerance towards marginalized groups.” Meyer pleaded, in vain, to save the project, stating that “the project does meet your rules. It’s a simple story about superheroes rescuing a monster that people want to exploit. The superheroes are diverse racially and sexually. Both [I] and the artist are veterans. My family is diverse. I have a Muslim daughter who wears a hijab and a Hispanic son. There is no discrimination in the book or in the campaign.”

Soon after, Ethan Van Sciver launched Cyberfrog; Blood Honey in June of 2018 to even greater commercial success and fan excitement.

Van Sciver spoke about leaving DC Comics in June 2018 to focus on his Cyberfrog series. "Maybe one day [I'd return], but I want to do CYBERFROG for the next couple of years at least. I want to own something I create. DC is great, was good to me, and I had a good time there, but it’s time to try to get rich..." announced Van Sciver on Twitter on June 10, 2018.

Controversies included Mark Waid being accused of strong arming small indie publisher, Antarctic Press, who was working with Meyer to release "Jawbreakers - Lost Souls" after Waid wrote on Facebook in May: "I have to call in to Antarctic Press. Until I hear back, I'm (hesitantly) willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that they don't really understand who or what they're getting into business with, which--though it would seem a stretch--is a possibility... Are we as creators responsible for the actions of our fans? Ultimately, of course not. But it is morally bankrupt for creators with a voice to pretend they have zero influence over their fans, and it is incumbent upon them as human beings in a society to use that influence to intervene if and when people are getting harassed or threatened in their name. You can bet your ass that if I ever found out any of my fans were spreading misogyny, transphobia, racism, or bigotry as a way of 'supporting' my work, I would take active steps to shut that shit down in a cocaine heartbeat, not just shrug my shoulders." Antarctic Press issued a statement: "After careful consideration, it is the decision of Antarctic Press to not release the comic series Jawbreakers. Antarctic Press is a staunch believer in Creator’s Rights and giving creators a chance to showcase their creation and allowing that creation to be judged on its merits. Many forces, many of them should be viewed with great trepidation about how our society acts, have led us to this decision. We do not take this decision lightly as we do believe that there should be separation between 'ART' and the 'ARTIST' and that separation has been blurred in our decision." A lawsuit by Meyer would later formally accuse Waid of tortious interference. The suit, filed by Meyer in federal court on October 12, 2018, alleged Waid's actions caused the cancellation, but was voluntarily dismissed in 2020.

Online controversy also occurred with Marsha Cooke over a Darwyn Cooke tribute in August 2018 following a Twitter post by GromComix, "Thanks for the story about Darwyn Cooke tonight guys. Here's a video that shows he would have been #Comicsgate...". Cooke, widow of the late artist, responded, "Hi guys, this is Darwyn's wife and I can guarantee he thought you comics gate idiots were a bunch of crybaby losers ruining comics. because you are..."

In August 2018, Vox Day announced a Comicsgate imprint to provide distribution for affiliated creators. "We plan on featuring any comics and graphic novels brought to us by ComicsGate-affiliated creators who wish to make public their support for ComicsGate," stated Vox Day, a science fiction writer and publisher, in an exclusive Bounding Into Comics interview on August 29, 2018. On September 3, 2018, during a YouTube livestream, Van Sciver claimed common law trademark rights to "Comicsgate" and threatened legal action against unauthorized use. "Here's the thing now: I hire um maybe three metric tons of a New Jersey attorney for copyright purposes and... you know look we're gonna put them to work. Somebody named Vox Day you know who has his own kind of a couple of comic book companies has decided to try to start his own brand called Comicsgate. And I mean I don't blame him for trying we've you know I've spent quite a while right here on my own YouTube channel building up the label Comicsgate into something fun and positive. Something that means independence, something that means joy in comics, something that means brotherhood, people working together to create comics of their own you know go against the grain of the mainstream. This is the name of my YouTube show Comicsgate LIVE! I own the word Comicsgate it belongs to me and I will fight him in court for it nobody will make a Comicsgate line of comics except for me if I want to or if I don't want to. So we are going to pursue legal action I know that I can count on the support of my fellow Comicsgaters to do so..." asserted Van Sciver in his September 3, 2018, livestream. The same day, Antonio Malpica filed U.S. Trademark Serial No. 88102778 for "Comicsgate" on Van Sciver's behalf with the USPTO. The application, filed September 3, 2018, described the mark for "comic books; graphic novels" in International Class 016. On September 7, Van Sciver's attorneys sent Vox Day a legal letter urging him to cease and desist from the Comicsgate imprint, which Vox Day never published.

In September 2018, Marvel CCO Joe Quesada engaged in a public Twitter exchange with Van Sciver, Malin, and Meyer, escalating tensions. "I'm a freelancer, nothing more. He handed over a script, I drew it and we blew the doors off setting up a new reality for freelancers to set themselves free of an environment that has nothing to disprove that it openly hates them. One a-hole against many, many others," tweeted Malin at Quesada about Malin's time working with Meyer on Jawbreakers. Quesada, Marvel's Chief Creative Officer, respsonded, "Mmmm nope. He's gone after pros on a personal basis and he's not a freelancer, he has a very profitable YouTube biz (good for him) but it's based on insulting other creators based on many criteria." Antarctic Press canceled Jawbreakers distribution in May 2018 after pressure from Waid, leading to Meyer's lawsuit. Meyer self-published the title successfully.

2019 saw continued crowdfunding momentum, with Van Sciver's Cyberfrog projects raising funds amid ongoing debates. Media gaslighting attempts to frame Comicsgate as solely harassment were countered by proponents highlighting sales data. "So why is ComicsGate important? Because if you have your ear to the ground or listen to a bevy of industry professionals like Ethan Van Sciver sounding off on the topic, it would appear as though the comic industry as a whole may be dead in 3-5 years. This is not hyperbole. Past trends suggest that the industry is on the brink of another bubble pop," argued William Valle in a post highlighted by Bleeding Fool.

The Meyer v. Waid lawsuit progressed, with discovery revealing communications; it was dismissed voluntarily in 2020 without prejudice.

2020 marked industry turmoil with DC's editorial bloodbath in August, laying off key staff amid sales declines. "Massive editorial and high-level staff cuts at DC," reported Bleeding Cool's Rich Johnston on August 10, 2020. Comicsgate campaigns thrived, with Cyberfrog 2: Rekt Planet raising $1,208,234. Dynamite Entertainment faced backlash for supporting Comicsgate, losing talent like Mark Russell and Gail Simone in June. "Dynamite loses top talent after Comicsgate support," noted Screen Rant on June 19, 2020. COVID-19 closures hit stores, but indie crowdfunding surged, totaling over $5.9 million for Comicsgate projects.

Preston Poulter filed his cancellation petition against the Comicsgate trademark on Oct. 1 after filing an application to acquire the trademark in April.

Internal divisions emerged with the War Campaign group breaking off in 2020 amid a feud with Anna That Star Wars Girl, Jon Malin, Cecil and Van Sciver.

Comicsgate.org launched in December 2020.

2021 featured Van Sciver's Cyberfrog action figures raising $619,993.

In April 2021, Malpica assigned the Comicsgate trademark to Van Sciver. Van Sciver then joined the lawsuit at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board on April 15. . The same day, Van Sciver filed for the Comicsgate service mark, a separate trademark application focused on his YouTube channel's promotion of Comicsgate content. The move came after attorney Scott Houtteman furnished a legal letter for Comicsgate.org stating Van Sciver had obtained "superior rights" to the trademark: "One and only one individual has obtained superior rights to the COMICSGATE trademark: Ethan Van Sciver". The letter cited Van Sciver's collection of super chats via his "Comicsgate LIVE!" program on his YouTube channel as well as using the hashtag #Comicsgate in connection with crowdfunding Cyberfrog: Bloodhoney in July 2018. After the post on Comicsgate.org, Van Sciver hired the same attorney.

J. Scott Campbell apologized for calling Comicsgate a "hate group" in May: "if individual members of this ComicsGate community adamantly insist that’s not what they stand for, I feel I should give these folks the benefit of the doubt and take them at their word and not paint the entire group with the same brush... These are important and valuable discussions we should all be having more openly and more thoughtfully without it devolving into tribalism and absolutes... So to these folks, I apologize for whatever grief or embarrassment I may have caused you with my earlier word jumble and wide brush..." tweeted Campbell on May 9, 2021. Gabe Eltaeb left DC over political correctness in October. "I’m finishing out my contract with DC. I’m tired of this s***, I’m tired of them ruining these characters; they don’t have a right to do this..." Eltaeb said on a livestream.

In July 2021, Van Sciver launched the "Comicsgate Kings" YouTube show featuring himself, Jon Malin, Shane Davis and other veteran comic creators, focusing on industry critique and creator discussions. The premiere episode aired July 15, 2021, on Van Sciver's Comic Artist Pro Secrets channel.

On Oct. 31, Van Sciver and Cecil interviewed Comicsgate.org editor Robert Romano on how Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investments by Wall Street firms, pension plans and federal and state retirement systems were actively funding and institutionalizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agendas and policies at publicly-traded U.S. corporations including media holding companies like Disney, Warner Brothers and others, with Romano, who works at a Fairfax, Va.-based think tank, alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by the companies via race and sex based hiring quotas and other employment discrimination. Romano had highlighted the trend in a Comicsgate.org article on Oct. 30, "Ethan Van Sciver is right. Federal and state governments fund and incentive trillions of investments into woke, left-wing corporations via ESG funds" after Van Sciver had tweeted on Oct. 28 that comic companies might be getting additional funding from both private and public sources: "SJWs are acting panicky at my suggestion that there might be some kind of financial incentive (in the form of a private or government grant of some kind) for comic book publishers to race, sexuality and gender swap characters in their comics. Nothing to see here, I guess!"

Image Comics unionization efforts in November raised concerns over potential publication cancellations. "Union demands to cancel publications are a bridge too far," opined Comicsgate.org on November 11, 2021.

2022 saw Bleeding Cool faced criticism for undercovering Eric July's indie comic launch with ISOM #1 raising over $3 million. "Bleeding Cool under fire for failing to cover Rippaverse," reported Bounding Into Comics on July 27, 2022. Dale Keown's Pitt revival aligned with Comicsgate was announced in April, only to be delayed until 2025. Shadowbanning allegations hit Indiegogo campaigns in November.

Preston Poulter filed a separate reexamination petition against the Comicsgate trademark on March 23.

Alan Moore in October said Batman movies' popularity and the "urge towards simpler times, simpler realities" it represented could lead to fascism: "I said round about 2011 that I thought that it had serious and worrying implications for the future if millions of adults were queueing up to see Batman movies. Because that kind of infantilisation – that urge towards simpler times, simpler realities – that can very often be a precursor to fascism.” He pointed to Donald Trump getting elected in 2016: “when we ourselves took a bit of a strange detour in our politics”, many of the biggest films were superhero movies. "I’m definitely done with comics," said Moore, Watchmen author, to The Guardian on October 7, 2022.

2023 began with Van Sciver protecting the Comicsgate trademark in January, with the Malpica-led registration surviving a Poulter-initiated reexamination proceeding, proving the Comicsgate trademark had been used in commerce via a licensing agreement from Malpica to Anthony Romano (DarkGift Comics) in The Dark of Midnight and Wart the Wizard: Sunday Follies (co-published by Mandy Summers), which bore the Comicsgate trademark on the covers, published before an August 2020 legal deadline. The USPTO ruling stated, "Upon review of the evidence of record, the USPTO determined that registrant has demonstrated use of the mark in commerce for all goods, subject to the proceeding. 37 C.F.R. §2.93(c)(3)(i). The evidence and arguments provided by the registrant demonstrates valid use of the relevant goods in interstate commerce. Registrant has also established that the relevant goods were provided through trade channels that directly affect interstate commerce during the period of time relevant to this proceeding." "EVS secures trademark for Comicsgate," reported Critical Blast's R.J. Carter on January 12, 2023. Van Sciver motioned for summary judgment in the TTAB trial later in January, but the motion was denied, setting up a precedent in cancellation proceedings that had a reexamination occur mid-trial.

Cyberfrog 3: Red Extermination raised $578,736.

Feuds intensified, with Van Sciver releasing a "night letter" from July demanding he cease criticism.

2024 saw ongoing successes like Reignbow the Brute figures at $235,194. Van Sciver launched Traschast on January 11 after Yellow Flash deleted the Comicsgate community group on X.com. General Piggy immediately started a new Comicsgate community group on X.com.

Alan Moore blasted Gamergate and Comicsgate fandoms in October. "Unnervingly rapidly, our culture has become a fan-based landscape that the rest of us are merely living in. Our entertainments may be cancelled prematurely through an adverse fan reaction, and we may endure largely misogynist crusades such as Gamergate or Comicsgate from those who think 'gate' means 'conspiracy', and that Nixon’s disgrace was predicated on a plot involving water, but this is hardly the full extent to which fan attitudes have toxified the world surrounding us, most obviously in our politics," said Moore to The Guardian on October 26, 2024.

2024 also saw heightened tensions with convention organizers when, on March 30, 2024, ReedPop, the company behind the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), canceled the shared exhibitor table of Ethan Van Sciver, Jon Malin, and Shane Davis, citing nebulous violations of the event's code of conduct related to "offensive comments, less than five weeks prior to the April 26-28 event at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Comicsgate.org critiqued the code as "oppressive," arguing it provided "carte blanche to target anyone." "C2E2's Oppressive Code Of Conduct Gives Organizers Carte Blanche To Target Anyone," stated the March 30, 2024, article by Comicsgate.org staff, emphasizing the vague terms allowing discretionary enforcement against creators. The following day, March 31, 2024, coverage invoked civil rights laws, asserting the cancellation violated protections against discrimination. "Civil Rights Laws Didn't Stop C2E2 Cancellation Of Davis, Malin & Van Sciver—But They Should Have," wrote Comicsgate.org, detailing failed appeals based on First Amendment and equal protection principles. On April 5, 2024, further analysis pointed to the event's location on government-owned McCormick Place as amplifying discrimination claims. "C2E2 Engages In Blatant Discrimination While Hosted On A Government Property," reported Comicsgate.org, noting the publicly funded venue's role in hosting what they deemed viewpoint-based exclusion. During the convention on April 26, 2024, Malin, having purchased a general admission ticket in protest, was briefly detained by security upon entry but released after livestreaming the encounter on X. "Jon Malin's comment live at the C2E2 convention in Chicago, Ill. on April 26 after being briefly detained by event security while livestreaming and then let go," described Del Arroz on April 26, 2024, capturing Malin's on-site remarks affirming his commitment to fighting cancel culture. In November 2024, Comicsgate.org honored Malin as "Comicsgate Man of the Year" for his stand against such discrimination. "For reminding us what we fight for in #Comicsgate, standing against cancel culture including fighting and defeating unjust discrimination of comic creators at conventions, https://comicsgate.org/ is proud to announce the CG Man of the Year: @JonMalin!" announced @ComicsgateVideo, the official X account for Comicsgate.org, on November 18, 2024, linking back to the detention coverage.

2025 saw the Comicsgate trademark trial end in Van Sciver's favor and featured Cyberfrog Universe Prequels raising $172,481. Van Sciver announced rejoining Comicsgate in June after sarcastic threats. "I have rejoined ComicsGate," tweeted Van Sciver on June 21, 2025.

Comicsgate evolved into a robust indie ecosystem, helping to raise millions of dollars via crowdfunding since 2018, despite controversies over delays, harassment claims, and internal rifts. Proponents emphasize meritocracy and consumer choice; critics view it as reactionary. Sales data shows mainstream comic declines while manga skyrocketed.

Prominent Members

Comicsgate is currently led by mainstream comic book veterans Ethan Van Sciver (Cyberfrog creator, Green Lantern artist, Comicsgate trademark holder), Jon Malin (Godlike creator), Shane Davis (Inglorious Rex creator), Billy Tucci (Shi creator), Mike Baron (Thin Blue Line and Private American creator), Aaron Lopresti (Wraith of God creator), Graham Nolan (Chenoo and Bane creator), Andy Smith (Kor'Drath creator), Art Thibert (Black and White creator), Dan Lawlis and others. The "Comicsgate Kings" led by Van Sciver host a weekly YouTube show from July 2021, critiquing industry trends and later settling into an art competition with viewers voting on the best drawing, followed by an auction, raising sometimes thousands of dollars every week for the featured artists.

Crowdfunding Successes

Comicsgate campaigns on Indiegogo and affiliates have helped raise over $24 million from 2018-2025 according to CreatorGo , highlighting indie viability. Key successes:

| 2018 | Cyberfrog: Bloodhoney | Ethan Van Sciver | $628,000 | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ethan-van-sciver-s-cyberfrog-bloodhoney-comic-book/x/18698275 |

| 2018 | Jawbreakers: Lost Souls | Richard C. Meyer & Jon Malin | $404,913 | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jawbreakers-lost-souls-graphic-novel/x/18698275 |

| 2020 | Cyberfrog 2: Rekt Planet | Ethan Van Sciver | $1,208,234 | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ethan-van-sciver-s-cyberfrog-2-rekt-planet/x/22977301 |

| 2021 | 1st Wave Cyberfrog Action Figures | Ethan Van Sciver | $619,993 | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/1st-wave-cyberfrog-action-figures/x/22977301 |

| 2022 | Shane Davis' Inglorious Rex Comic Book Vol. 2 | Shane Davis | $207,381 | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/shane-davis-inglorious-rex-comic-book-vol-2/x/22977301 |

| 2023 | Cyberfrog 3: Red Extermination | Ethan Van Sciver | $578,736 | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ethan-van-sciver-s-cyberfrog-3-red-extermination/x/22977301 |

| 2024 | Reignbow the Brute Figure | Ethan Van Sciver | $235,194 | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/reignbow-the-brute-hyper-articulated-action-figure--2/x/22977301 |

| 2025 | Cyberfrog Universe Prequels | Ethan Van Sciver | $172,481 | https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ethan-van-sciver-s-cyberfrog-universe-prequels/x/22977301 |

Totals per year: 2018: ~$1M; 2019: ~$1.5M; 2020: $5.9M; 2021: $4.8M; 2022: $4.27M; 2023: $3.49M; 2024: $2M+; 2025 (YTD): $0.8M. Data from CreatorGo trackers of books Comicsgaters were backing.

Trademark Dispute

The Comicsgate trademark (Serial No. 88102778) was filed September 3, 2018, by Antonio Malpica on behalf of Van Sciver for comic books and graphic novels. It was assigned to Van Sciver in April 2021.

A TTAB cancellation proceeding (No. 92075375) was filed October 1, 2020, by Common Sense Press Inc. (dba Pocket Jacks Comics, associated with Preston Poulter) initially against Malpica (later joined by Van Sciver), alleging rights as Poulter rushed to print books Comicsgate marks on them. Key chronology: Instituted October 2, 2020; answer November 9, 2020; motions for dismissal and judgment 2020-2021; suspended for reexam March 2022-May 2022. A reexamination petition was filed March 23, 2022, by Poulter challenging use in commerce; it was terminated January 6, 2023, after Van Sciver and Malpica submitted evidence proving the Comicsgate mark was used in commerce in a licensing agreement by Malpica to Anthony Romano (DarkGift Comics).

The trademark trial resumed May 2023; extensions through 2024; cross-motions for summary judgment July 2024, denied December 2, 2024; petition withdrawn February 10, 2025; cancellation denied with prejudice February 11, 2025, barring Poulter from future TTAB challenges of the Comicsgate trademark for comic books.

The rival application (Serial No. 88872841) for the Comicsgate trademark by Poulter was abandoned as "dead" in October 2025.

Timeline

• 2012
• Bleeding Cool report on a Richard C. Meyer crowdfunded comic 07-24-12
• 2014
• Spiderwoman #1 Milo Minara cover announced (referenced here) 08-18-14
• The Mary Sue attacks Spiderwoman #1 cover 08-19-14
• Further Coverage of Milo Minara cover; CBR 08-20-14 , The Guardian 08-21-14 , Vox 08-25-14 , Time 11-19-14
• First mention of #Comicsgate in media Bleeding Cool 09-24-14 ,
• 2015
• Robbi Rodriguez pearl-clutching over Frank Cho's barely racy Spider Gwen sketch cover 04-10-15
• Rob Liefeld defends cheesecake artists being attacked 04-12-15
• 2016
• Marvel writer driven off Twitter by sexist harassment 10-27-16
• Hey Male Members of Fandom, Stop Attacking Women Creators 10-27-16
• Washington Post article on the Chelsea Cain "my feminist agenda" controversy 10-27-16
• Commentary on Marvel's decline throughout 2016 due to the injection of identity politics 10-29-16
• 2017
• Heather Antos makes the milkshake post 07-28-17 (all original posts are deleted)
• The Mary Sue reporting on the milkshake post 07-30-17
• Milkshake coverage; The Telegraph 07-31-17 (archive) , Bleeding Cool 07-31-17 , The Wrap 07-31-17 , DVS Gaming 07-31-17 (archive)
• Kieran Shiach attacks EVS with unhinged posts. And here. And the sketchbook. 08-12-17
• Bleeding Cool defends EVS on extreme attacks against him 08-14-17
• Marvel Comics Diverse Replacement Characters Rumored To Be In Some Serious Trouble 09-02-17
• Bleeding Cool attacking Ya Boi Zack over Aubrey Sitterson 09-15-17
• IDW Reports Lower Publishing Revenues, Profits this Quarter 09-17-17
• Screen caps leak from a secret Facebook group of comic insiders colluding to sabotage Richard C Meyer publishing his book. 09-20-17
• Bleeding Cool covering Mark Waid trying to intimidate Ya Boi Zack 09-21-17 This article cites Jon Del Arroz and refers to him as "a sci-fi writer" and a "comics book fan".
• SJW Comic Writers conspire to harass YouTube critic at NYCC 09-22-17
• Comic Book Writers Go To War With Their Own Readers 09-30-17
• Ya Boi Zack covering Kelly Sue Deconnick and "don't buy my book" 10-19-17
• What happened to Melissa Morgue - Insane rant by a "Ya Boi Zack" stalker [MIRROR] 10-22-17
• Op-ed: The Divorce that is #Comicsgate 10-29-17
• EVS receives violent threats over a signing appearance 11-07-17
• Ya Boi Zack's video on the Facebook group plotting to instigate an assault 11-13-17
• Lunatic SJW fraud Melissa Morgue kindly rebutted by EVS 12-15-17
• Ethan Van Sciver interviews Mark Waid 11-27-17
• 2018
• December 2017 Comichron Sales Figures- The Month The Bottom Dropped Out Of The Comic Book Industry 01-18-18
• Bleeding Cool attacks Jon Malin for wrongthink 01-22-18
• Bleeding Cool smear piece on Ethan Van Sciver 02-02-18
• Ya Boi Zack's officially launches #MovetheNeedle 02-09-18
• What is Comicsgate? And how did it happen? 02-09-18
• Ethan Van Sciver's 1st #MovetheNeedle tweet 02-11-18 and YT video post and continuing the trend
• Nick Monroe's in-depth article on the attacks against and defense of Ethan Van Sciver 02-12-18
• Is MoveTheNeedle the Time For Comicsgate To Step Up Or Step Aside? 02-13-18
• #MoveTheNeedle Benefits EVERYONE In The Comic Book Industry 02-13-18
• The Quartering tweets support for #MovetheNeedle 02-21-18
• How an Anti-Diversity Harassment Campaign in Comics Got Ugly—and Profitable 04-02-18
• Comic Book Retailers Plan Boycott of Diversity & Comics’ Jawbreakers and Antarctic Press 05-10-18
• Just Some Guy covers the coordinated attack on YBZ and Antarctic Press 05-12-18
• That Umbrella Guy discusses the legalities of Mark Waid's interference with Jawbreakers 05-12-18
• Bleeding Cool hard hit piece on Ya Boi Zack 05-13-18
• Breitbart covers the Jawbreakers / Antarctic Press story 05-14-18
• Antarctic Press Explains The Real Reason Why They Dropped Jawbreakers 05-14-18
• Comicsgate being blown way out of proportion 05-14-18
• Ethan Van Sciver leaves DC to concentrate on his creator-owned work 06-13-18
• Ethan Van Sciver Leaves DC Comics For Self-Publishing 06-15-18
• The Darwyn Cooke dustup 08-25-18
• EVS / Robbi Rodriguez Starfish Scandal 08-28-18
• The comics industry is finally, belatedly facing up to Comicsgate 08-28-18
• Niqab wearing superhero draws backlash / calls for artistic censorship 08-29-18
• Ya Boi Zack covering the further decay in the comics industry 08-31-18
• Jon Malin supports Alterna comics and #MovetheNeedle 09-04-18
• JQ responding to Robbi Rodriguez's post 09-08-18
• EVS clearly states to Joe Quesada where CG evolved from 09-09-15 and here 09-09-15
• Joe Quesada's Comicsgate Twitter meltdown ft. Malin, Ethan, and Ya Boi Zack 09-15-18
• Ethan Van Sciver Announces ALL CAPS Comics 09-17-18
• Jon Malin calls out Frank Cho for calling CG "alt-right" 09-18-18
• Chelsea Cain Comes with Claws 09-26-18
• Chuck Wendig Says Marvel Fired Him for Social Media Behavior 10-12-18
• Ethan Van Sciver has parted ways with Comicsgate (?) 11-12-18
• 2019
• Jawbreakers Lost Souls starts arriving for backers 02-12-19
• Ethan Van Sciver Announces He Will Seek Legal Recourse Against “Anti-Comicsgate” 02-25-19
• Ethan Van Sciver vs Andy Khouri 03-10-19
• The Death In UNCANNY X-MEN #17 Is a Trans Panic Murder, & It’s Not OK 05-02-19
• Marvel Apparently Still Trying to Make Its Top Nazi-Puncher Apolitical 08-29-19
• Media Gaslighting Fails to Hide the Truth About Comicsgate 09-08-19
• 2020
• Dan DiDio has left DC Comics 02-21-20
• Industry collapse continues as 5 more comic stores close permanently 06-13-20
• Dynamite Loses Top Talent, Faces Backlash After Comicsgate Support 06-19-20
• Sina Grace kvetching about Marvel not doing enough for marginalized creators 08-01-20
• Far Left media attacks the Punisher and it's fandom 08-08-20
• Bloodbath at DC Comics - massive editorial and high-level staff cuts 08-10-20
• Alt-right Comicsgate attempt to find a famous creator who supports them 12-22-20
• 2021
• Mark Brooks Claims Joining Comicsgate Is “A Foolish, Terrible Choice” 01-25-21
• Daily Dot Jawbreakers Hit Piece 01-27-21
• I Can No Longer Support the Publisher Alterna Due to Their Comicsgate Association 04-26-21
• Disney Uses Stan Lee’s 2017 “Anti-Comicsgate” Video to Promote MCU Phase 4 05-03-21
• J Scott Campbell Apologizes For Describing ComicsGate As Hate Group 05-11-21
• How To Kill Fandoms: The SJW, Comicsgate and Ya Boi Zack Story 10-11-21
• Gabe Eltaeb leaves DC Comics over political correctness 10-21-21
• Image comics unionized workers want power to cancel publications 11-11-21
• 2022
• Why We Shouldn’t Give Up on Marvel and DC 02-02-22
• The Strange and Toxic World of American Comic Book YouTube Commentators 02-25-22
• Dale Keown Bringing Back ‘PITT’, and he's part of ComicsGate 04-28-22
• Heather Antos Attacks Independent Creator For Promoting On YouTube 05-31-22
• What is RIPPAVERSE COMICS? 07-15-22
• From Manga to Politics 07-25-22
• Bleeding Cool Under Fire For Failing To Cover Rippaverse Campaign 07-27-22
• Patrick Zircher Takes To Twitter Over Masculinity And Superheroes 09-30-22
• Watchmen author Alan Moore: ‘I’m definitely done with comics’ 10-07-22
• ISOM: A Character Who Stands for Nothing 10-31-22
• Numerous ComicsGate IndieGoGo Campaigns Appear To Be Getting Shadowbanned 11-04-22
• Punisher writer Mike Baron releases another Racist AF comic book 12-07-22
• ComicsGate LIVE! THE LAWSUIT. 12-13-22
• Ethan Van Sciver Recounts Some Early History of ComicsGate 12-17-22
• Comics Have Always Addressed Political Issues and That's a Good Thing 12-20-22
• 2023
• EVS Secures Trademark for Comicsgate: What That Means Going Forward 01-12-23
• Ethan Van Sciver motions for summary judgment in Comicsgate trademark trial 01-17-23
• Dick Masterson Reviews Isom issue 1 05-26-23
• Eric July responding to Dick's critiques 06-02-23
• Dick Masterson drops in on Eric July and Yellow Flash 06-04-23
• Ethan talking about the night letter he got from Eric July 08-10-23
• Eric July talks to Nick Rekieta about his charity 09-28-23
• 2024
• Watchmen author Alan Moore on superheroes, Comicsgate and Trump 10-26-24
• Grok AI determines EVS better comic creator than Eric July 12-17-24
• 2025
• EVS jokingly leaves and then rejoins Comicsgate 06-21-25
• JDA-Shane Davis commission dispute 10-27-25