In a show of support for its top-selling creator-owned title, Devil's
Due Publishing will distribute the previously solicited Hack/Slash
issues 16 and 17 directly, rather than through Diamond Comic
Distributors. The decision follows Diamond's receipt of a Cease and
Desist letter regarding the issues from an unknown, recently registered
company, Re-Animator, LLC, in connection with Dynamite Entertainment's
Nick Barrucci. Hack/Slash #15 will be available for re-order as well.
A property dispute has arisen between Brian Yuzna (the producer and
owner of the Re-Animator film franchise for over twenty years) and a
recently registered company, Re-Animator LLC over the rights to the
Re-Animator logo in various merchandise categories, which appears in
the current Hack/Slash story arc, "Cassie & Vlad Meet the
Re-Animator."
"Devil's Due have done a fantastic job of keeping the spirit of the
Re-Animator films alive in the Hack/Slash cross-over," says Yuzna "It
has been a pleasure to collaborate with such a talented crew. And I am
proud to be working with them after the admirable stand they have taken
in the face of economic coercion. This company exemplifies the
independent spirit of the genre film and comics community. It may seem
crazy to Re-Animator fans to think that a company that had nothing to
do with the classic films could actually claim ownership of the
"Re-Animator" brand and threaten to stop anyone else from creating
comics, films or merchandise with the word 'reanimator' or
're-animator' in it- even the actual producer of the films that created
the brand—but in this wacky world that is exactly what has happened."
The decision to distribute the issues outside of Diamond was not easily
made. "We deliberated internally long and hard," says DDP President
Josh Blaylock, "But this was in good conscience not something I felt we
could roll over and just accept. I've reviewed the facts, spoken to
copyright, corporate and entertainment attorneys, and resolved that
this, in my own personal opinion, is a ridiculous bully tactic that
only hurts Tim [Seeley] and all of the creators who work so hard to
make Hack/Slash the great book that it is and abuses the Diamond policy
of staying out of legal issues."
"Unfortunately, a dispute over the publishing rights in regards to the
Re-Animator characters has arisen between DDP and Re-Animator LLC, and
we have been advised by Diamond's attorney's to not distribute issues
#16 and #17 of the series Hack/Slash, plus process any additional
reorders for #15 as well. It is our understanding that DDP will be self
distributing the issues previously mentioned, and beginning with
Hack/Slack #18, will once again be distributed by Diamond," said Bill
Schanes, Vice President of Purchasing for Diamond.
The situation comes during a banner year for Hack/Slash, which has
included a sell-out of the series' first Omnibus collection, the
addition of screenwriter Justin Marks to the Hack/Slash film in
development at Rogue pictures with director Todd Lincoln, and a
nomination in the category of "Best Comic Book" for the 2008 Spike TV
Scream Awards. Fans can still vote for Hack/Slash on Spike TV's website:http://www.spike.com/event/scream/pa...category/28725
"It's been a really great year for Hack/Slash with the SG Annual, the
sold out Omnibus, a Spike TV Scream Awards nomination, and gaining lots
of new readers and such," said writer and creator Tim Seeley. "I just
want to do the right thing and with your support and understanding,
we'll do everything in our power to get this book out there and things
will be back to normal in no time. Thank you, readers and retailers!"
To order Hack/Slash, retailers should visit DevilsDue.net where two
levels of discounts are available ranging from 50-60% off the cover
price. These offers will only apply to Hack/Slash #'s 15-17 for a
limited time. Hack/Slash orders can be placed through the DDP Store by
going to: http://tinyurl.com/hackslash
