Why the Employees of Image Comics Unionized
The announcement came earlier this week from the editing and publishing staffers at the new Image Comics union, Comic Book Workers United.
Following in the footsteps of the company’s founders, the employees of Image have formed Comic Book Workers United. The Image Comics union is the first of its kind in the comic book industry. But it’s a natural evolution for the creator-owned publishing company.
Courtesy of Image Comics
On Monday, staff members at Image comics took to Twitter to announce their intentions to unionize. In the tweet thread, they summed up the demands found on the Comic Book Workers United website. They also cited the founding of Image iteself as their inspiration.
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The Founding of Image Comics
Image was founded in 1992 by 7 comic book creators. They founded the company with the intention of allowing creators to own the rights to their works and maintain full editorial control of them.
The founders of Image Comics: (top, L-R) Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Mark Silvestri (bottom, L-R) Whilce Portacio, Jim Lee, & Jim Valentino
At the time, all of the creators were working for “the big two” either Marvel or DC. Both companies practiced a work for hire policy. This copyright practice meant that any new characters that were created belonged to the publishing company because the creators were employees of the company.
Some of the creators held meetings with executives at Marvel and DC. The group quit their jobs with each publisher without making demands, instead explaining to them why they were leaving and going public with their plans for their own company.
And Image received a lot of support from fans. Marvel’s stock even fell $3.25/share when the news went public.
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Image Comics has since become the third-largest publisher in the comic book space. Some internal struggles have changed the partner lineup over the years: Rob Leifeld left in 1996. And in 2008, Robert Kirkman became a partner after the success of his series The Walking Dead and Invincible.
Recent years have seen Image publish some big titles, including Morning Glories, Chew, Fatale, and Saga. Comic book creators have expressed a desire to work with the company because it allows them creative and financial independence. And it’s in that very spirit that the Comic Book Workers United have pushed to unionize.
The Employees of Image Comics Unionize
The publisher’s employees make up the members of the Image Comics union. The CBWU will look out for the interests of Image staffers, the editorial team, and the production crew. Comic book creators, however, are contracted labor, and by U.S. law cannot unionize.
Workers expressed a deep love for their jobs, but also a need for better working conditions, including salary and workload transparency.
Our workforce, and the comic book and publishing industry as a whole, is overtaxed and undervalued.
— Comic Book Workers United (@cbwupdx) November 1, 2021
Other desires include a plan to address the lack of diversity, remote working options to continue, and a method of voting that allows the company to sever ties with creators who engage in abuse, sexual assault, or bigotry.
The CBWU also expressed deep admiration for the founding principles of the company itself. They even cited Image co-founder Jim Valentino’s pro-union social media post and the spark that lit the kindling.
“In the early stages of organizing, we looked to Image’s founders for inspiration. Their dreams of self-determination and more equitable treatment in the industry they loved and helped make successful are also our dreams.
We are honored to grow their legacy by taking this step to give all comic book industry professionals, regardless of title, the same rights, guarantees, security, and protections which the founders sought when they broke away from the big two to start their own company.” –CBWU via Twitter
Supporters can add this and other banners to their websites in a show of solidarity.
Sign the CBWU letter of support here!
Image’s Response to Comic Book Workers United
Once the intention to unionize is announced, a company can do one of two things. They can either acknowledge the union and enter into demand negotiations, or they take a count of employees in favor of unionizing. If the majority of employees are in favor, the National Labor Relations Board arranges a formal vote.
The company has issued a statement in response to the workers’ union:
“Image has always believed in the fair and equitable treatment of staff and has always strived to support employees to the best of our company’s ability with regard to their employment.”
The statement is short and vague, but positive and supportive. It is yet unknown if and when Image will enter into negotiations with CBWU. But we’re not the only ones watching– the comic book industry has been long overdue for a refresh of labor policies.
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Check Out the Image Comics Union Full List of Standard Practices Here
