The conclusion of the 1205-day DC Comics Blackout Boycott marks a pivotal moment for collectors and industry enthusiasts, as it opens new avenues for representation and investment in Black characters within the comic book landscape.
The DC Blackout boycott campaign against DC Comics has officially come to an end after an extended period without any ongoing DC Universe comic book featuring a Black lead character. Launched last Thursday, the campaign gained momentum through the weekend, with supporters utilizing hashtags like #DCSoWhite and #DCBlackout. Notable figures in the industry, such as Rob Liefeld, engaged in discussions regarding the campaign’s impact. Throughout its duration, campaign founder James Portis III shared visuals of DC Comics’ Black superheroes, emphasizing their significant absence from recent titles. With anticipation building for potential projects like a possible Vixen series, the conversation continues to evolve, though the boycott aspect has now concluded. The following is the official statement from the campaign organizers.
“First and foremost, we want to thank everyone who has supported the DCSoWhite campaign. Since the beginning of this year, thousands of comic readers, retailers, creators, and fans have joined us in advocating for greater investment in Black characters and opportunities for Black creators within the comic book industry. Today, we are announcing the end of the DCBlackout boycott. This decision comes after a lot of reflection and conversations with members of the comic book community. While the boycott aimed to spotlight an important issue, it became evident that discussions surrounding the boycott tended to overshadow the broader goals of the campaign.”
“The fact remains that it has been over 1200 days since a Black character has headlined a solo title in DC Comics’ mainline continuity. We continue to believe that this is a conversation worthy of exploration. However, many fans and creators we respect expressed that the boycott unintentionally marginalized the work of creators who are already doing meaningful work in terms of representation for women, LGBTQIA+ readers, people of color, and other marginalized groups. That was never our intention, and we apologize for that impact. These concerns significantly influenced our decision to reevaluate the boycott. Our goal has never been to diminish support for any group in pursuit of advocating for Black characters. We believe that Black characters should receive the same level of support as others, while we also celebrate works that effectively represent diverse voices in the industry. Consequently, the DCSoWhite movement will remain an awareness and advocacy campaign rather than continuing as a boycott effort.”
“One of the most effective ways readers can support creators and influence publisher decision-making is through preorders before a book’s Final Order Cutoff (FOC) date. Pre-orders serve as a reliable indicator of reader interest, helping publishers and retailers make informed decisions about supporting various characters, titles, and creative teams. We encourage fans to support the works and creators they want to see thrive, particularly those from underrepresented communities. For FOC dates, we suggest reaching out to your local comic shop or consulting publicly available retailer resources.
DCBlackout transcended our original expectations, leading to fruitful conversations, though we recognize that focus often diverted from the core issues that initiated the campaign. Moving forward, we aim to emphasize solutions, support, and meaningful opportunities for Black characters and creators.”
“The DCSoWhite campaign remains active. Our petition is still live, and we will continue to spotlight Black creators, promote Black independent comics, document industry trends, and advocate for increased investment in Black characters within mainstream comics. While we cannot predict the future of DC or the industry as a whole, we remain steadfast in our belief that Black characters deserve the same opportunities, promotion, and compelling narratives as all others. This has always been the essence of our campaign, and we will continue to advocate for this cause. When DC eventually announces a Black ongoing title within the mainline continuity, we will approach the next phase of this initiative, just as we initially envisioned.”
The petition can be found here.
Based on reporting by https://www.facebook.com/richard.james.johnston. Read the full story at https://bleedingcool.com/comics/1205-days-the-dc-comics-blackout-boycott-has-ended-so-what-now/.