DC is investigating whether artist Andrea Sorrentino used AI to create some of the artwork in a recent Batman arc. Sorrentino contributed some of the artwork to the recent “The Joker Year One” story that ran in Batman #142-144, and that work has come into question as to whether he drew it or if he used AI in some capacity.
A spokesperson for DC Comics told indy100 that”DC Comics has longstanding policies in place that all artwork must be the artist’s original work. We are looking into the specifics of this situation.”
The concern was initially raised on social media by James Leech, who expressed his concerns that Sorrentino hadn’t drawn the artwork himself. “First off, there are the usual telltale signs – strange anatomy, errors a human is unlikely to make. The weird hands, Joker being insanely ripped in one panel and wasting away in another. His wandering nipples!” Leech said. “Secondly, there’s the style, which Sorrentino doesn’t appear to have used before outside of a couple of instagram posts. His other work is very distinctive – heavily photo-referenced, high contrast lighting. This is quite a departure from that. Not enough on its own, but telling.”
Sorrentino has not commented on the allegations. The Italian comics artist has worked on several past projects for DC, including Batman: The Imposter, Green Arrow, and I, Vampire, as well as on creator-owned projects like Gideon Falls and The Bone Orchard Mythos.
Creators | Speaking of AI, NPR spoke to several creators at Seattle’s Emerald City Comic Con earlier this month about the topic, including Katie Cook and Jim Zub.
“I’ve always loved the visceral quality of physical art,” Zub told NPR. “There’s something so intrinsically wonderful about seeing physical marks on medium, on paper, paint on Masonite, and knowing that those marks can be made by a person’s hand.”
Banned Books | The American Library Association has released their annual statistics on attempts to ban books, of which graphic novels typically make up a significant portion.
Per the ALA, titles targeted for censorship grew by 65 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, with 4,240 unique book titles being targeted in both schools and public libraries. That’s a new record, following two previous record-setting years:
Interestingly, the number of titles being targeted in public libraries grew by 92 percent over the previous year, while school library challenges went up by 11 percent. Titles representing LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC experiences made up 47 percent of those targeted in censorship attempts.
“The reports from librarians and educators in the field make it clear that the organized campaigns to ban books aren’t over, and that we must all stand together to preserve our right to choose what we read,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “Each demand to ban a book is a demand to deny each person’s constitutionally protected right to choose and read books that raise important issues and lift up the voices of those who are often silenced. By joining initiatives like Unite Against Book Bans and other organizations that support libraries and schools, we can end this attack on essential community institutions and our civil liberties.”
No specific titles were mentioned in their report, but the ALA will release their annual list of the most banned books in April.
NSFW | Gumroad, an online platform where many creators sell comics and other items, has changed their selling restrictions and will no longer allow creators to sell adult content on the site. The new rules specifically call out “Adult comics with nudity or sexual acts,” among other restrictions.
The site says they made these changes “in accordance with the policies of our payment processing partners, including Stripe and PayPal.” Many payment processors, which also includes Mastercard, have cracked down on what they’ll allow online retailers to sell. The ACLU currently has a petition up asking Mastercard to “immediately end your new policy that unfairly targets the adult content industry.”
Creators | The Minnesota State University Reporter profiles Check, Please! creator Ngozi Ukazu, who recently gave a lecture at the university.
Creators | The Star profiles Melanie Lee and Arif Rafhan, the creators of the Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma. The award-winning graphic novel series just released its third and final volume. It’s about a girl who discovers she inherited super powers from her superhero grandmother, who is also battling dementia.
Retailers | Two men have been charged in the beating and robbery of a comics retailer in Pennsylvania. The assault occurred in September of 2022 when two men pretending to be collectors attacked the owner of Comic Collection in Lower Southampton and fled with a bag of cash and collectibles. The men are charged with robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint and other crimes.
Awards | Disney has announced their 2024 Class of Disney Legends, an awards program that recognizes individuals for the “significant impact they’ve had on the Disney legacy.” This year’s class includes Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Squirrel Girl and Speedball, among many other Marvel creations.
Awards | The Missouri Association of School Librarians has released their inaugural Denny O’Neil Graphic Novel Lists, which feature graphic novels they recommend by age group. The lists are named for the famed comics writer and editor, who was born in Missouri and attended St. Louis University. O’Neil passed away in 2020.