Neil Gaiman Lastest Exposed Predator
It’s all over the news so I guess it’s OKAY to comment on this— but Neil Gaiman is the latest creator in the field of comics to be uncovered as a sexual predator taking advantage of his power and fame in coercing young women (I think it’s just women) into spending time with his butt-ugly ass who would never give him a second look if he was a greeter at Wal*Mart ™ — which may be a career future for him.
Don’t take my word for it— do a Google search for just his name— or CLICK here if you want some quick updates on what is happening.
I’m all for innocent until proven guilty but I’ve been hearing about Neil’s exploits for well over ten years when an editor he and I both worked with made some comment about watching out for him. I don’t know if it was me being warned, or Veronica but warn they did. If they were unwarranted comments made by someone with a grudge to bear or if these latest dozens of claims are untrue then I feel for Neil, but it doesn’t look that way right now.
The thing that bothers me most is this is something that comes up every year or so and we all clutch our pearls and shriek with shock and disbelief. I’m a big believer in COMMON SENSE— and I like to take the emotion out of thought- let’s look at this;
1- Many of these guys are grossly out of shape, frankly quite ugly, and lack any kind of real personality. I’m going to take a wild guess that they didn’t have a lot of luck with the ladies until they became famous.
2- All creative endeavors are powered by three things- talent, luck and connections. You might have talent but if you aren’t lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time you may not be “discovered” and connections go a long way towards finding you success. Someone who likes your work who happens to have some connection to an editor, director or other person who can hire you connects you. Sometimes people do it because they honestly want to see talent succeed, but a lot of the time there is some kind of payback expected.
3- Even after you’ve been established a Convention Bar after show hours where you are drinking next to a person of power can sometimes take a darker turn. Editors and writers have a lot of say about who gets what assignment.
Sometimes the victim honestly thinks the person genuinely likes them, and that they are sincere in wanting to get you work AND have some kind of relationship with you. Too often what happens is this same person comes to realize the “helper” has sociopathic tendencies and they get tossed aside with nothing left but a bad reputation whispered behind closed doors.
There are a lot of big name creators out there who are bad people. I’ve seen it.
HOW CAN YOU SEE IT FOR YOURSELF?
Watch how they react to the cosplayers in various states of undress. I don’t care how old you are— you should not be oogling some young woman in a Red Sonja outfit. So if you’re standing in front a creator who is signing your book and they pause to watch Red Sonja go by-with our without comment— this person is suspect.
Do they travel with their wife or significant other? You know what I do when I’m at a show without my wife? I head back to my room so I can call her. I behave on the show floor the same exact way I would if she was standing next to me. When the frat boys start to surround me I make my excuses and leave.
And you’d be surprised at some of the things these frat boys say— and I’m talking big name creators. They think it’s the norm.
So why don’t I report them? For what? Hearsay? Obnoxious lowbrow women ogling? I’d have to empty out the hall.
My advice to you is if you are a young creator at a show and you feel uncomfortable with someone’s behavior say something to the organizers. If its at a show we’re doing feel free to come to our table as a safe space and we’ll direct you where to make your complaint.
But sexual harassment in the comics and entertainment industry is widespread and rampant.
Be alert.
