Rick Olney--Fibber or Mega-Giganta-Fibber?

[Papergirl]

Gotcha.

Seems unlikely that he would have the cash for a retainer, I agree.

Maybe he sold the Van of Justice.

Hee! And THAT is why it's suddenly not HIS van anymore!

~Bev

[AaronJ]

Hee! And THAT is why it's suddenly not HIS van anymore!

~Bev

Amazing, ini't? :)

I made sense prior to having my morning coffee?! :eek:


~Bev

Yep. My friend, who is Internet-deprived, and whom I told all about this, has gotten quite a kick out of the whole Van of Justice thing. He's read this whole thread, and thinks it is just insane (as we all do).

I've been on-line since like 1990, and I've never seen anything like this. It's unbelievable.

[OzBat!]

The fact that he's putting out his own "Cease and Desist" emails proves he still doesn't have one, as no lawyer worth their retainer would ever let him continue on with the emails/blogging/message boarding in the first place.

No, I think his time away from the boards has been spent googling up as much info about copyright and legal formalese as he could find. With the same disastrous results as last time. He simply doesn't understand the realities involved, OR he's trying to deliberately muddy the waters since he knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on and the sharks are closing in.

[TomStillwell]

But wouldn't that be, I don't know *illegal*? :evilsmile

Not at all...if that was the end the story.

However, he has passed off TLE as a legal business entity. I'm not sure if that is considered fraud.

[AaronJ]

Eeek! I switched around those responses to you, Bev.

And OzBat, I agree.

[JTPencils]

The fact that he's putting out his own "Cease and Desist" emails proves he still doesn't have one, as no lawyer worth their retainer would ever let him continue on with the emails/blogging/message boarding in the first place.

No, I think his time away from the boards has been spent googling up as much info about copyright and legal formalese as he could find. With the same disastrous results as last time. He simply doesn't understand the realities involved, OR he's trying to deliberately muddy the waters since he knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on and the sharks are closing in.

You've got that right Oz, and even though my response was pretty straightforward, no reply. No "not yet", no "soon", not even an "iKill"... nothing! Seems to me that the most direct questions just confuse the hell out of him.

[Gail Simone]

Nonono! I wasn't complaining about Honor! She does, indeed, rule! I was complaining that I already have a ton of books I haven't read yet. And, at this rate, they may not get read for quite a while! :D



Holy shit, you're being generous. That's just... awful!

~Bev

You're just jealous because you WISH you were a "a fiery fem with a touch too much!"

Gail

[Papergirl]

The fact that he's putting out his own "Cease and Desist" emails proves he still doesn't have one, as no lawyer worth their retainer would ever let him continue on with the emails/blogging/message boarding in the first place.

No, I think his time away from the boards has been spent googling up as much info about copyright and legal formalese as he could find. With the same disastrous results as last time. He simply doesn't understand the realities involved, OR he's trying to deliberately muddy the waters since he knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on and the sharks are closing in.

Eh. I still think he went for a few of the free consultation deals. Here, almost any lawyer will give one free consultation. And you can go to as many different lawyers for free consultations as you like. No money needs to leave your pocket.

Between the free consultations and online reading (hey, this thread has even provided the copyright/trademark/etc links for him), he got enough legal-speak to draft his own letter, albeit badly. Sadly, he still doesn't get that he's in the wrong.

And, if he thinks muddying the waters will stop this school of sharks from taking a bite out of him, he's dead wrong. These people aren't dumb enough to fall for it. :)

~Bev

[TCJohnson]

You're just jealous because you WISH you were a "a fiery fem with a touch too much!"

Gail

Shut up! The man is a genious! He came up with Frankenbog! Half Frankenstein, half cyborg, half jewish, half swedish, all woman!

[Papergirl]

Amazing, ini't? :)

It happens once in a while, but not very opften! So, don't get used to it! :D

Yep. My friend, who is Internet-deprived, and whom I told all about this, has gotten quite a kick out of the whole Van of Justice thing. He's read this whole thread, and thinks it is just insane (as we all do).

I've been on-line since like 1990, and I've never seen anything like this. It's unbelievable.

I have friends who know absolutely NOTHING about comics and have been laughing their asses off at him. And that's something he doesn't GET. He's a laughing stock to people outside of comics. He's ruined his chances to break into ANY business, at this point.

~Bev

[Blake Petit]

Now here's a thought -- if Tightlip Entertainment doesn't even exist as a business entity, would that make any contracts entered into with that organization -- for example, NDAs -- null and void?

[Papergirl]

You're just jealous because you WISH you were a "a fiery fem with a touch too much!"

Gail
Damn. You got me there. It's the whole "touch too much" thing I'm lacking, and I can't stand it!

~Bev
Who is now crying in her coffee...

[Papergirl]

Eeek! I switched around those responses to you, Bev.

And OzBat, I agree.
Hee! No worries. I understood! :D

~Bev

[Typo Lad]

You're just jealous because you WISH you were a "a fiery fem with a touch too much!"


And I thought my taglines were lame.

[JTPencils]

Now here's a thought -- if Tightlip Entertainment doesn't even exist as a business entity, would that make any contracts entered into with that organization -- for example, NDAs -- null and void?

Or better yet, if it doesn't exist as a business entity, wouldn't it be ironic for someone to actually go thru the legal loopholes to list it. Obtain the name, and then sue Rick for infringement?

Sad thing is... the name TightLip Entertainment is in such a bad light now, it'd be throwing good money down a hole.

But it would be amusing.

[JTPencils]

I say again, "a fiery fem with a touch too much."

Holy SHIT. That's one of the stupidest, clumsiest sentences I've ever read in my life. No WONDER his artists had to hold their noses drawing his crappy scripts.

"a fiery fem with a touch too much."

Ughhhhhhg! Jesus, it's BURNED into my BRAIN!

Now he can be known for being TWO kinds of reeky!

Gail

Admit it Gail, you'll be using that description in your next work, right? It's like that really bad song you get stuck in your brain, and can't get rid of until you ram an icepick into your ear.

If you think it stinks to read it, can you imagine trying to make it visually appealing?!

[Papergirl]

And I thought my taglines were lame.
Morts, I'm not saying this just because you're my friend and I miss hanging out with you and Typo Tot, but... You have more creativity and imagination in your little finger than Olney does in his entire being. So stop knocking yourself, okay? :p

~Bev

[Typo Lad]

Aww, Peeg is gonna make me blush.

I know I'm creative Bev, but I suck at taglines.

Example:

"Silencer: She's the girl no-one notices... until it's too late".

C'mon!

[OzBat!]

And OzBat, I agree.Hee! No worries. I understood! :DAt last, people are finally beginning to realise just how right I am, all the time. Peace, harmony, and NDA-flavoured cornchips for every man, woman and child are just around the corner!!

[Papergirl]

*thwaps Oz*

I was replying to the FIRST part of her quote. :p

~Bev

[Papergirl]

Aww, Peeg is gonna make me blush.

I know I'm creative Bev, but I suck at taglines.

Example:

"Silencer: She's the girl no-one notices... until it's too late".

C'mon!
That's still blows "a fiery fem with a touch too much" out of the water!

~Bev

[OzBat!]

"Silencer: She's the girl no-one notices... until it's too late".

C'mon!Silencer: the last word on the subject!

Silencer: the first too-hot sip of morning coffee!

Silencer: it's a play on 'silence her'... and it'll never happen!

Silencer: Yo momma couldn't silence her!

Silencer: on hourly rates and NDA free since her first contract!

[OzBat!]

*thwaps Oz*

I was replying to the FIRST part of her quote. :p

~Bev*thbbbbbbbbt*! :p

[TCJohnson]

That's still blows "a fiery fem with a touch too much" out of the water!

~Bev

Shush up, fem!

[AaronJ]

At last, people are finally beginning to realise just how right I am, all the time. Peace, harmony, and NDA-flavoured cornchips for every man, woman and child are just around the corner!!

LOL

I swear: it absolutely sucks that people have been screwed out of their due desserts. And I don't want to minimize that, AT ALL.

But I have to say, this has been the most enjoyable, most fun, most "together" thread I have ever experienced.

More irony: that someone like "Rick" could bring so many people together, so many interesting creators, so many hilarious posters ... the whole deal.

It's like a family. And it has been wonderful just experiencing it.

[Typo Lad]

That's still blows "a fiery fem with a touch too much" out of the water!

~Bev
That's my point. I'm comforted to know that, lame as I am, there's someone lamer.

[Gail Simone]

Admit it Gail, you'll be using that description in your next work, right? It's like that really bad song you get stuck in your brain, and can't get rid of until you ram an icepick into your ear.

If you think it stinks to read it, can you imagine trying to make it visually appealing?!

My question to you is, when you got a script from this tin-eared, language-mangling, Mary Sue-using hack, how did you not shoot yourself?

Gail

[Typo Lad]

Silencer: the last word on the subject!

Silencer: the first too-hot sip of morning coffee!

Silencer: it's a play on 'silence her'... and it'll never happen!

Silencer: Yo momma couldn't silence her!

Silencer: on hourly rates and NDA free since her first contract!
I stand in awe of you, oh Aussie wonder.

Would you write the text for the Image pitch for me?

[Papergirl]

*thbbbbbbbbt*! :p
*thwaps Oz again*

:p

~Bev

[Gail Simone]

Oh, and just for the record, I thought the 'FrankenBorg' thing was a joke.

And you, with a straight face, are telling me it's real?

He actually came up with a character called, 'FrankenBorg?'

No, I refuse to believe such an idiot exists.

Gail

[Papergirl]

Shush up, fem!
Pfft. Make me. I never signed an NDA with you.

:p

~Bev

[Gail Simone]

Man, what if FRANKENBORG fought whatever stupid fucking name he gave that Fiery Fem with a touch too much?

I bet that would be STUPIDLY TERRIBLE!

AWESOME!

Gail, just plotted Tightlip's Crossover Blockbuster

[OzBat!]

I stand in awe of you, oh Aussie wonder.

Would you write the text for the Image pitch for me?Get your lawyer to contact my lawyer and we'll talk.

[Gail Simone]

And they could both fight the magic fish!

Gail

[Typo Lad]

Get your lawyer to contact my lawyer and we'll talk.
I left my lawyer in my other pants.

[TCJohnson]

Oh, and just for the record, I thought the 'FrankenBorg' thing was a joke.

And you, with a straight face, are telling me it's real?

He actually came up with a character called, 'FrankenBorg?'

No, I refuse to believe such an idiot exists.


Yup. She was on the Monster Squad.

I wish I still had the copy on that...but he took the page down. Each looked like a monster on the outside, but was a really nice person with a heart of gold underneath...

Not quite sure where he got the concept from, actually.

[TCJohnson]

Man, what if FRANKENBORG fought whatever stupid fucking name he gave that Fiery Fem with a touch too much?



That would be Anchor.


....what?

[OzBat!]

Man, what if FRANKENBORG fought whatever stupid fucking name he gave that Fiery Fem with a touch too much?"Cap'n! They be firing "lube job" jokes into the plot-containment field polarisation unit! The engines, they cannae take the strain!"

[AaronJ]

Man, what if FRANKENBORG fought whatever stupid fucking name he gave that Fiery Fem with a touch too much?

I bet that would be STUPIDLY TERRIBLE!

AWESOME!

Gail, just plotted Tightlip's Crossover Blockbuster

You KNOW you want to. You just know it.

[Papergirl]

That would be Anchor.


....what?
You have my deepest sympathies for even knowing that.


~Bev

[KevinTBrown]

Silencer: the last word on the subject!

Silencer: the first too-hot sip of morning coffee!

Silencer: it's a play on 'silence her'... and it'll never happen!

Silencer: Yo momma couldn't silence her!

Silencer: on hourly rates and NDA free since her first contract!

Actually, I was thinking....



Silencer:











:p

[AIPman1]

Oh, and just for the record, I thought the 'FrankenBorg' thing was a joke.

And you, with a straight face, are telling me it's real?

He actually came up with a character called, 'FrankenBorg?'

No, I refuse to believe such an idiot exists.

Gail

Since there are Borg action figures and Christmas orniments (I love a borg cube on my Christmas Tree), and the term Borg is very much Star Trek (owned by Paramount, right?), isn't using a character called Frankenborg a trademark infringement? They might be interested in tossing a cease and decist someone's way if they knew...

[wishlish]

I don't want to get into the Politics of it because i know that this thread isn't the place for it, but does anyone think bringing back the uber-patriotic days of the 40's/50's into comics is really that good an idea.


Eh, it doesn't bother me. I might not read it, but it's not a crime. Heck, Eisner had the Spirit fight Hitler in 1941. (In fact, the Spirit converts Hitler to the side of the good guys! Hitler goes back to Germany and tries to end the war, but his cabinet decides they like being at war, kill him, and replace him with a double.) It's in the 2nd Sprit Archive book that DC is putting out.

As much fun as it is to mock Olney for being a bad writer, it's important to remember that's not his crime. It's not paying artists and lying repeatedly to, well, EVERYONE that's the problem. If he had paid the artists and put out these books, no one would really be that upset.

[TCJohnson]

You have my deepest sympathies for even knowing that.


~Bev

Just remember that because somebody pointed out that Anchor, Globe and Eagle are the three parts of the Marines emblem.

[Typo Lad]

AIP - it's just an abreviation for Cyborg, which is itself an abreviation for Cybernetic Organism, He's actually basically in the clear on that.

Kevin - I may... actually use that.

OH!

Silencer - We'd tell you what this concept was about, but then she'd have to kill you.

[Gail Simone]

That would be Anchor.


....what?

"Anchor" is an awesome name for a fiery fem with a touch too much.

When all the kids gather to play their favorite Tightlip characters, everyone wants to be 'Anchor.'

Rick is a fiery fudgewit with a touched almost never.

Gail

[TCJohnson]

And they could both fight the magic fish!

Gail

So, when are we going to get to read the fish story?

[AIPman1]

AIP - it's just an abreviation for Cyborg, which is itself an abreviation for Cybernetic Organism, He's actually basically in the clear on that.

Drats. Foiled again!

[Gail Simone]

Eh, it doesn't bother me. I might not read it, but it's not a crime. Heck, Eisner had the Spirit fight Hitler in 1941. (In fact, the Spirit converts Hitler to the side of the good guys! Hitler goes back to Germany and tries to end the war, but his cabinet decides they like being at war, kill him, and replace him with a double.) It's in the 2nd Sprit Archive book that DC is putting out.

As much fun as it is to mock Olney for being a bad writer, it's important to remember that's not his crime. It's not paying artists and lying repeatedly to, well, EVERYONE that's the problem. If he had paid the artists and put out these books, no one would really be that upset.



"It's not his crime?"

Brother, "fiery fem with a touch too much," that's a FELONY on any sane planet.

Gail

[Gail Simone]

So, when are we going to get to read the fish story?

"So, when are we going to be poking our own eyes out?"

Gail

[OzBat!]

Awesome! "Stan Lee" might be his refused-to-be-pseudonymed idol, but even that hack was stuck giving his characters such unoriginal descriptive names as "the invisible woman" and "the human torch". But Rick has "Anchor! Globe! And EAGLE!" Everybody knows exactly who they are immediately just by hearing their names, right? right? right? Beuller...

[EdContradictory]

"a fiery fem with a touch too much"

Oh, my god, is he the worst writer in history?


And what the hell does that have to do with an "anchor"?

[OzBat!]

Nothing. His analogy is all wet.

[OzBat!]

ba-dump TISH!! Thankyou, thankyou, you've been a WONDERFUL audience! Don't forget to tip your waitresses! G'night!

[wishlish]

"It's not his crime?"

Brother, "fiery fem with a touch too much," that's a FELONY on any sane planet.

Gail

So we're indicting writers for bad stories? If that's true, JMS better tremble over Sins Past. I'm supposed to believe Gwen Stacy slept with Norman Osborn but NOT Peter Parker? THAT'S a felony. "Fiery fem with a touch too much" is jaywalking compared to that bit.

I'm not defending Olney's writing. It's bad. But I can gloss over the bad fiction writing. It's the nonpayments and lying that gets to me.

(Great. Now I've got "fiery fem with a touch too much" stuck in my brain. I wonder if I can get a poem out of it...

Fiery fem with a touch too much
She drives automatic; can't use a clutch
...

Bleh.)

[Mike Bullock]

Man, what if FRANKENBORG fought whatever stupid fucking name he gave that Fiery Fem with a touch too much?

And they could both fight the magic fish!

Gail

On a stairway to Heaven.

[wishlish]

You know, if TLE had ever gotten off the ground, I'll bet that in the first company crossover, Magnus Grimoire would have SO scored with Frankenborg. Now THAT'S hot. Just picture it!

(waits to hear the shrieks of horror all across the land)

[singoalla]

By now I just keep getting Blazing Saddles analogies, when I imagine olney circling his own little wagon while the people who are actually in comics attack him from all sides.

...it's funny in my head at least...

[JTPencils]

My question to you is, when you got a script from this tin-eared, language-mangling, Mary Sue-using hack, how did you not shoot yourself?

Gail

Wasn't easy. Sorta like driving straight at a brick wall and thinking "nah, I don't have to brake, it'll move".

Chalk it up to either stupidity, or just total eagerness to try to make something out of near nothing.

[Danny Donovan]

Oz, Stan didn't come up with the name Human Torch. The Human Torch was a robot by the name of Jim Hamond who was published in the 1930s/40s in "More Fun Comics" Timely/Marvel purchased the rights to The Torch, and Namor and used them in the invaders and whatnot, then when Stan into the fray and created Marvel as we know it, he took the Torch name since no one had been using it since the end of the war, for his Fantastic Four team.

So, you can't blame the Torch name on Stan. ;) Invisible Girl/Woman was all his though.

As for the borg thing, no, Trek doesn't have a trademark or copyright on the term "Borg" Perhaps as just a name without a prefix to it, like the old Haim Saban Power Rangers knock off, "Big Bad Beetleborgs" but as long as you put something in front of Borg or after it, Paramount can't say squat. Not like they reallly could unless you had it identical to the characters that appear in star trek.

[Alan Lynch]

Was it ever established what exactly this fiery fem Anchor had too much of? Don't tell me I missed that.

[TCJohnson]

Was it ever established what exactly this fiery fem Anchor had too much of? Don't tell me I missed that.

That woman had a touch too much mouth on her.

[Papergirl]

Was it ever established what exactly this fiery fem Anchor had too much of? Don't tell me I missed that.
I don't think I want to know...


~Bev

[EdContradictory]

Or maybe he finally TiVo'ed an episode of Justice.
TiVo requires paying a monthly subscription.

I think he maybe just caught an old episode of Matlock at 2am while splitting his attention with reading this thread.

Hi, Rick!

[Typo Lad]

Was it ever established what exactly this fiery fem Anchor had too much of? Don't tell me I missed that.
We're not sure, but Globe says she passed the burning on to him, if you get my meaning.

[Papergirl]

We're not sure, but Globe says she passed the burning on to him, if you get my meaning.
*chokes on her coffee*

~Bev

[Ronée]

In the film business, writers and directors have the right to remove their name from work, if they so choose. Writers usually have to designate a chosen pseudonym, directors are designated "Alan Smithee". I would think the same could be applied to comic book artists. I mean, I don't see any reason why not.Actually, "Alan Smithee" has not been used in years, but it WAS the industry standard for un happy directors for quite some time.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Ok...I just got off the phone with St Jude's Children's Research Hospital and they are investigating the claims that donations were made to them in 2003 via Rick Olney/Tightlip/Orca.

But it doesn't look too fucking good for him so far.

[Kozemp]

Actually, "Alan Smithee" has not been used in years, but it WAS the industry standard for un happy directors for quite some time.

Ronee is quite right, the new psuedonym is "Thomas Lee."

C.F. Walter Hill removing his name from the awful "Supernova."

JLK
needs a psuedonym

[Papergirl]

Ok...I just got off the phone with St Jude's Children's Research Hospital and they are investigating the claims that donations were made to them in 2003 via Rick Olney/Tightlip/Orca.

But it doesn't look too fucking good for him so far.
Are we shocked? He won't even pay the people who did work for him. I won't be at all surprised if he didn't give the donation he claims he did to them.

And I usually see the best in people. That says something.

~Bev

[Danny Donovan]

Actually, "Alan Smithee" has not been used in years, but it WAS the industry standard for un happy directors for quite some time.

Does that say more about the fact that directors are feeling better having their name on crap (*cough*Uwe Boll*cough*) or does it mean things are getting better at the movi..bwahahahahaha okay I was almost able to finish that with a straight face.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Are we shocked? He won't even pay the people who did work for him. I won't be at all surprised if he didn't give the donation he claims he did to them.

And I usually see the best in people. That says something.

~Bev

Well, if I can nail him for fraud, I am going to.

[Dreadstar]

I've been on-line since like 1990, and I've never seen anything like this. It's unbelievable.

I have. Well, not in the fuck-em-over and don't pay em bit, but the last couple weeks of the internet back and forth.

I used to frequent a (now defunct) math academia board. Used to be a LOT of really fun threads in there, especially when the subject got into debateable theoretics in the physics realm. We had one guy who was generally respected, as he had a PhD. and toured the sporadic lecture and seminar circuit and even had had a college level text book in print.

Well, a thread (I kind of hestitate to use that term, because back in the day it was more of a "listing") got a little out of hand, and a newer poster more or less got the upper hand on the previous mentioned respected poster, mainly due to the fact that he was a very well known (in academic circles) author and theorist. The new guy proceeded to tear the older poster's argument to shreds, while more and more of the veteran board people acquiesced to the new guy's exposition. Finally, it bacame very obvious that the veteran poster had no ground to stand on, but stubbornly refused to give up his lost argument. He then began to reel out some very odd backing facts for his argument, none of which could be verified. In the next day or so, that board's MacQ and Cam (to use a parallel) began digging for facts on their own.

Seems our respected poster used the name of a deceased text book writer and there was never any record of any circuits or seminars. And yet, when presented with these facts, instead of simply disappearing, he refuted them vehemently, even with every FACT in his face. He was asked repeatedly where his PhD was from and he refused to answer, exactly like Ricky does. The meltdown was so complete that in the end, a guy who once posted in erudite terms at length became a fool babbling one-line insult nonsense.

People build online personas. Sometimes, those personas incorporate --- shall we say "ephemeral" facts. Sometimes it's not the personal facts so much as the facts spewn from their keyboard that are ephemeral. But there's one universal element to it, and I see it everyday at CBR. Attack the nebulous nature of the persona or the persona's position of authority, and the person behind the persona can't find a clear direction to back down and continue to keep the persona propped up. Everyday here, I see people doing similar (if much more minor) things. It's actually kind of interesting to keep tabs on: which expert doesn't know his ass from his elbow.

But then again I'm easily amused.

Sorry for the derailment.

[Alan Lynch]

We're not sure, but Globe says she passed the burning on to him, if you get my meaning.
...Aye, that's too much.

[Dreadstar]

Now here's a thought -- if Tightlip Entertainment doesn't even exist as a business entity, would that make any contracts entered into with that organization -- for example, NDAs -- null and void?

Here's a second thought:

What's to keep an entity from registering "Tightlip Entertainment" out from under him?

Or is that covered under the prior usage bit of trademark law?

[Papergirl]

Well, if I can nail him for fraud, I am going to.
Let me know if I can do anything to help.

~Bev

[twilight]

From the desk of Twilight:

Before today I didn't have any idea who Rick Olney besides being mentioned in the new X-Cres title.

I just had a look at Coke and Comics digest of this thread and I have to say I'm shocked.

The man is obviously a bigoted,foolish shell of a man.

Here's hoping you take him down Gail and co.

-Twi

[Dhaunea]

Okay, this morning I spoke to my local salvation army, the Herkimer Salvation Army (the only one around Mohawk) and the officers who were in charge of the Herkimer Salvation Army over Christmas of 2000.

None of them have ever heard of ORCA, the Organized Readers of Comics Associated, Rick Olney or any program that was meant to bring comics to children over the Christmas of that year. Full stop.

I was suspicious from the start because, what most people who don't deal with the Salvation Army fail to realize is that they are an organized Christian Church, and one which does not hold with alcohol, violence and sex. In short, the comics they perceive as appropriate for children would probably not match a good half of what would probably be donated. Not only that, but all donations, save those for specific drives, go to the store to be sold again. Womens and children's coats, toys for Christmas and the like are matched to specific needs and requests.

Comic books are not a Salvation Army appropriate item. Many of the stores will not carry them at all.

So. For the record, if anyone gave ORCA and Rick Olney comics for the Salvation army, he might have anonymously dropped off a box or two. But there was no Christmas stocking stuffer drive for Christmas of 2000.

My thanks to Joshua Pantalleresco and Matt Doc Martin for putting up with me while I rambled on about this.

The links which sent me searching are the following:

http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=2;t=002087

http://www.teako170.com/tis.html

Those and the fact that nowhere does ORCAs webpage represent itself as a not-for-profit or charity group, although Rick seems proud to spout it as fact in other places.

[DocAbsurd]

Y'know, we haven't heard from our attorney since last week.

When he packed a huge briefcase fulla documents.

Onna trip somewhere . . . northeast-ish I think it was.




Doc 'I Heard a Rumor' Absurd

[AaronJ]

I have. Well, not in the fuck-em-over and don't pay em bit, but the last couple weeks of the internet back and forth.


Wow. Interesting story.

Always fascinating to see someone completely meltdown. As I said earlier in this thread, I've had my share of total screw-ups. But this is just a total new one, for me.

And watching people come together to get at the truth has really been a wonderful experience, to be honest.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Y'know, we haven't heard from our attorney since last week.

When he packed a huge briefcase fulla documents.

Onna trip somewhere . . . northeast-ish I think it was.




Doc 'I Heard a Rumor' Absurd


oooh....do tell...

[NatGertler]

The State of New York has an Attorney General's Charity Bureau (http://www.oag.state.ny.us/charities/charities.html). They might be quite interested in ORCA's activities (although the matters at hand may fall outside of the Statutes of Limitations, I don't know.)

[Matt Doc Martin]

The State of New York has an Attorney General's Charity Bureau (http://www.oag.state.ny.us/charities/charities.html). They might be quite interested in ORCA's activities (although the matters at hand may fall outside of the Statutes of Limitations, I don't know.)

*happy meal smile*

[Sarah Beach]

Y'all been delayin' me getting goin' this morning!

But I agree that I haven't seen anything quite like this before, and I've been online..... at least since 1990. (Ah! Memories! I know I was on GEnie, and remember discussing the Babylon 5 PILOT when it first aired. When you had to dial directly in to the message board! Gah! I'M ANCIENT! :D )

But the interest in folks in finding out the truth, and sharing the information, that's been cool.

Oh, and what Gail says about his writing? Yeah, it's a crime. And it's quite different from someone like JMS telling a poor story. We know and can prove that JMS is capable of excellent writing. He just may follow through with a story concept that is bad. But RO? Nope. Nada. Not only can he not string the words together well, he has lame ideas of story itself. Derivative, without putting a fresh twist to them.

(Speaking of which, about Freedom 3.... are there any women in the Marines? I thought they were still the only one of the armed forces that didn't take women. Or well... I think women are still not accepted in the SEALS.)

[Matt Doc Martin]

The State of New York has an Attorney General's Charity Bureau (http://www.oag.state.ny.us/charities/charities.html). They might be quite interested in ORCA's activities (although the matters at hand may fall outside of the Statutes of Limitations, I don't know.)

Can anyone link me to teh posts where he was collecting for his charity efforts? I am too busy to paw through my collection.

I have a formal complaint to the AG in the works, you see....

[NatGertler]

Let me make it clear that I'm not submitting stuff to the Attorney General's office myself, as I don't have all of the materials that others have been gathering. I'm merely suggesting a direction for others.

[NatGertler]

(duplicate post removed)

[TomStillwell]

Okay, time for a bit of clarification.

Chalk this one up to me being a perfectionist. I followed up my electronic search from Friday with a call to Herkimer County this morning. The DBA & Business clerk to be exact.

I was wrong. Tightlip Entertainment was a business partnership starting in 2004. Was is the operative word.

TLE is no longer in business. As of 1/11/07. The day before I did my search.

Interesting, no?

[Matt Doc Martin]

Let me make it clear that I'm not submitting stuff to the Attorney General's office myself, as I don't have all of the materials that others have been gathering. I'm merely suggesting a direction for others.

I, however, am.

Again, if someone can provide links to his claims for charity raising efforts, I would appreciate it.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Okay, time for a bit of clarification.

Chalk this one up to me being a perfectionist. I followed up my electronic search from Friday with a call to Herkimer County this morning. The DBA & Business clerk to be exact.

I was wrong. Tightlip Entertainment was a business partnership starting in 2004. Was is the operative word.

TLE is no longer in business. As of 1/11/07. The day before I did my search.

Interesting, no?

Why...that would be the same day he received at least one summons!

[EdContradictory]

I have. Well, not in the fuck-em-over and don't pay em bit, but the last couple weeks of the internet back and forth.

I used to frequent a (now defunct) math academia board. Used to be a LOT of really fun threads in there, especially when the subject got into debateable theoretics in the physics realm. We had one guy who was generally respected, as he had a PhD. and toured the sporadic lecture and seminar circuit and even had had a college level text book in print.

Well, a thread (I kind of hestitate to use that term, because back in the day it was more of a "listing") got a little out of hand, and a newer poster more or less got the upper hand on the previous mentioned respected poster, mainly due to the fact that he was a very well known (in academic circles) author and theorist. The new guy proceeded to tear the older poster's argument to shreds, while more and more of the veteran board people acquiesced to the new guy's exposition. Finally, it bacame very obvious that the veteran poster had no ground to stand on, but stubbornly refused to give up his lost argument. He then began to reel out some very odd backing facts for his argument, none of which could be verified. In the next day or so, that board's MacQ and Cam (to use a parallel) began digging for facts on their own.

Seems our respected poster used the name of a deceased text book writer and there was never any record of any circuits or seminars. And yet, when presented with these facts, instead of simply disappearing, he refuted them vehemently, even with every FACT in his face. He was asked repeatedly where his PhD was from and he refused to answer, exactly like Ricky does. The meltdown was so complete that in the end, a guy who once posted in erudite terms at length became a fool babbling one-line insult nonsense.

People build online personas. Sometimes, those personas incorporate --- shall we say "ephemeral" facts. Sometimes it's not the personal facts so much as the facts spewn from their keyboard that are ephemeral. But there's one universal element to it, and I see it everyday at CBR. Attack the nebulous nature of the persona or the persona's position of authority, and the person behind the persona can't find a clear direction to back down and continue to keep the persona propped up. Everyday here, I see people doing similar (if much more minor) things. It's actually kind of interesting to keep tabs on: which expert doesn't know his ass from his elbow.

But then again I'm easily amused.

Sorry for the derailment.
Not at all, that's a great story. I lurve stuff like this. So entertaining/interesting/mind-boggling.

[TomStillwell]

Why...that would be the same day he received at least one summons!

I thought that it might be.;)

I've also sent an e-mail into the VA's General Investigation division this morning.

[Gail Simone]

Okay, this morning I spoke to my local salvation army, the Herkimer Salvation Army (the only one around Mohawk) and the officers who were in charge of the Herkimer Salvation Army over Christmas of 2000.

None of them have ever heard of ORCA, the Organized Readers of Comics Associated, Rick Olney or any program that was meant to bring comics to children over the Christmas of that year. Full stop.

I was suspicious from the start because, what most people who don't deal with the Salvation Army fail to realize is that they are an organized Christian Church, and one which does not hold with alcohol, violence and sex. In short, the comics they perceive as appropriate for children would probably not match a good half of what would probably be donated. Not only that, but all donations, save those for specific drives, go to the store to be sold again. Womens and children's coats, toys for Christmas and the like are matched to specific needs and requests.

Comic books are not a Salvation Army appropriate item. Many of the stores will not carry them at all.

So. For the record, if anyone gave ORCA and Rick Olney comics for the Salvation army, he might have anonymously dropped off a box or two. But there was no Christmas stocking stuffer drive for Christmas of 2000.

My thanks to Joshua Pantalleresco and Matt Doc Martin for putting up with me while I rambled on about this.

The links which sent me searching are the following:

http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=2;t=002087

http://www.teako170.com/tis.html

Those and the fact that nowhere does ORCAs webpage represent itself as a not-for-profit or charity group, although Rick seems proud to spout it as fact in other places.


You are terrifying.

Well done.

Gail

[Comcman]

Just found my flier from the MMC 2003. (the one that actually went on)
On the front cover is the phrase and logo

BENEFITTING THE
ST. JUDE'S CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL,
AISAC Danny Thomas, Founder

Here's the link to the hospital
http://www.stjude.org/

Is there anyone on this board that knows how to find out if Rick Olney or OCRA did actually 'benefit' the hospital?
I assume the hospital would have to keep records of all the dontations that were given to it. Would this information be available publicly or would you need to file some legal papers to get that info.
Again, MMC was on May 10th, 2003

Very interested in finding out the truth.

Here you go, Matt

[Gail Simone]

Why...that would be the same day he received at least one summons!

The plot sickens!

Gail

[colleen]

Y'all been delayin' me getting goin' this morning!

But I agree that I haven't seen anything quite like this before, and I've been online..... at least since 1990. (Ah! Memories! I know I was on GEnie, and remember discussing the Babylon 5 PILOT when it first aired. When you had to dial directly in to the message board! Gah! I'M ANCIENT! :D )

But the interest in folks in finding out the truth, and sharing the information, that's been cool.

Oh, and what Gail says about his writing? Yeah, it's a crime. And it's quite different from someone like JMS telling a poor story. We know and can prove that JMS is capable of excellent writing. He just may follow through with a story concept that is bad. But RO? Nope. Nada. Not only can he not string the words together well, he has lame ideas of story itself. Derivative, without putting a fresh twist to them.

(Speaking of which, about Freedom 3.... are there any women in the Marines? I thought they were still the only one of the armed forces that didn't take women. Or well... I think women are still not accepted in the SEALS.)

Yes, there are women Marines.

SEALS are Navy.


c

[Typo Lad]

Why...that would be the same day he received at least one summons!

Wait.. he actually got one? I missed this.

Serves me right for sleeping.

Any details?

[Matt Doc Martin]

Here you go, Matt

I need the links where Rick talks about it. I want to print it out to include with my packet.

[EdContradictory]

he might have anonymously dropped off a box or two.

The most likely scenario.

[colleen]

Why...that would be the same day he received at least one summons!

I smell a Chapter 7.


c

[neko onna]

Wait.. he actually got one? I missed this.

Serves me right for sleeping.

Any details?

same here...how did I miss that?

[Matt Doc Martin]

Wait.. he actually got one? I missed this.

Serves me right for sleeping.

Any details?

My source won't let me reveal details yet. But as soon as I am cleared to, I will.

[EdContradictory]

Okay, time for a bit of clarification.

Chalk this one up to me being a perfectionist. I followed up my electronic search from Friday with a call to Herkimer County this morning. The DBA & Business clerk to be exact.

I was wrong. Tightlip Entertainment was a business partnership starting in 2004. Was is the operative word.

TLE is no longer in business. As of 1/11/07. The day before I did my search.

Interesting, no?
Wow. :eek:

[TomStillwell]

I smell a Chapter 7.


c

I'll check on that later today. It might be too soon to tell though.

[colleen]

I'll check on that later today. It might be too soon to tell though.

Rat's leaving a sinking ship.

Help him Ric Olie! You're his only hope!

[AaronJ]

Rat's leaving a sinking ship.

Help him Ric Olie! You're his only hope!

Ouch.

Hilarious. But ouch.

[Kurt Busiek]

Yup. She was on the Monster Squad.

I wish I still had the copy on that...but he took the page down. Each looked like a monster on the outside, but was a really nice person with a heart of gold underneath...

Not quite sure where he got the concept from, actually.

Without even knowing anything about the rest of the Monster Squad, I'm going to guess this:

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/1983/400/1983_4_097.jpg

kdb
who likes the name "Frankenborg," actually

[TomStillwell]

I am pretty sure he had a werewolf and vampire in there, Kurt. Along with a mummy and a female gargoyle (Girl-Goyle I think was the name).

[Typo Lad]

My source won't let me reveal details yet. But as soon as I am cleared to, I will.

Tease.


who likes the name "Frankenborg," actually

True, but you also named a Spider-Man villianess after a beer.

[TomStillwell]

Rat's leaving a sinking ship.

Help him Ric Olie! You're his only hope!

Nothing yet on the bankruptcy. Again, it might take a few days for it to show up, especially with the court holiday yesterday.

[Kurt Busiek]

I am pretty sure he had a werewolf and vampire in there, Kurt. Along with a mummy and a female gargoyle (Girl-Goyle I think was the name).

"Girl-Goyle" isn't as good as Frankenborg, but it's got a certain zing to it, particularly if she had a heavy Brooklyn accent.

The Creature Commandos started out with a vampire, a werewolf and a Frankenstein monster, but later added, I think, a mummy, a Medusa, and G.I. Robot.

The mummy may have been a villain, though.

kdb

[TCJohnson]

[/IMG]

kdb
who likes the name "Frankenborg," actually

Well, then why dont you become a professional comic book writer? Then you can make your own Frankenborg!

....oh, wait.

[Typo Lad]

G.I. Robot is my hero.

As perfect as New Frontier was, it lacked the Creature Commandos. So sad.

[Kurt Busiek]

True, but you also named a Spider-Man villianess after a beer.

A Mexican beer!

I think there's lots of different approaches to good comics names. Whoever noted that Eagle, Anchor and Globe aren't as descriptive as, say, the Human Torch and the Invisible Girl can't really say the same of Frankenborg. Or even Girlgoyle.

I wouldn't put either of 'em on the X-Men, but Frankenborg's a nice on-the-nose high-concept name, and Girlgoyle works in a lighthearted context.

kdb

[Kurt Busiek]

G.I. Robot is my hero.

As perfect as New Frontier was, it lacked the Creature Commandos. So sad.

The Creature Commandos aren't Silver Age. They got whomped up in the late Seventies or thereabouts.

But they're still great.

kdb

[TCJohnson]

TightLip Entertainment Announces Third Title: Monster Squad

Posted: Friday, March 31
Posted By: Kevin Noel Olson
Print This Item

TIGHTLIP ENTERTAINMENT: The publisher of Freedom Three and Deep Blue is very pleased to announce their third title: Monster Squad. The ghoulish super team will be unleashed upon the comic book world this summer. TightLip has divulged the cover of Monster Squad #1.

The cover of Monster Squad #1 pays respect to illustration legend Peter Costanza. “Peter Costanza gave me an appetite for comic book art and stories back during his era,” writer of Monster Squad, Rick Olney said. “Are there any artists today that can boldly assert that? I think it is debatable. Today's artists, with few exception, cater to what they're told is the style and approach to maintaining a readership within a title. Least wise in the larger venue of making comic books.”

Cesar Feliciano pencils the homage cover. Jim Tournas provides the inks. And Dash Martin weighs in with colors.

The mysterious leader of Monster Squad, Magnus Grimoire, has gathered the misunderstood monsters: HOWLER, MERLIN, FRANKENBORG, KID MUMMY, GARGIRL the SPOOK to save mankind...and along the way find their own humanity.

Monster Squad #1
28 colored pages of story/art
Cover: $2.95
Due: Summer 2006

Visit TightLipEntertainment.com for more information.


http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/news/114381750740215.htm

Another homage cover? Geeeze.

[Matt Doc Martin]

“Peter Costanza gave me an appetite for comic book art and stories back during his era,” writer of Monster Squad, Rick Olney said. “Are there any artists today that can boldly assert that? I think it is debatable.

That makes NO sense.

[Sarah Beach]

Okay, time for a bit of clarification.

Chalk this one up to me being a perfectionist. I followed up my electronic search from Friday with a call to Herkimer County this morning. The DBA & Business clerk to be exact.

I was wrong. Tightlip Entertainment was a business partnership starting in 2004. Was is the operative word.

TLE is no longer in business. As of 1/11/07. The day before I did my search.

Interesting, no?

Awww. And on my birthday, too! How sweet!

Any particular reason given for the "no longer in business", do you know? (Idle curiousity, I wouldn't know if cause would be required for the public records.)

[TCJohnson]

Next convention I am going to asks artists if they have given Rick Olney an appetite for comic book art and stories. Let's see if any of them can assert that.

[Matt Doc Martin]

“Peter Costanza gave me an appetite for comic book art and stories back during his era,” writer of Monster Squad, Rick Olney said. “Are there any artists today that can boldly assert that? I think it is debatable.

That makes NO sense.

[Typo Lad]

A Mexican beer!

Of course. That's how you know she's eeeeevil.

I think there's lots of different approaches to good comics names. Whoever noted that Eagle, Anchor and Globe aren't as descriptive as, say, the Human Torch and the Invisible Girl can't really say the same of Frankenborg. Or even Girlgoyle.

I wouldn't put either of 'em on the X-Men, but Frankenborg's a nice on-the-nose high-concept name, and Girlgoyle works in a lighthearted context.

I'd put Girlgoyle on the X-Men. She'd be a mutant trying to convert to Judaism.

The Creature Commandos aren't Silver Age. They got whomped up in the late Seventies or thereabouts.

But they're still great.

They are.

I, it seems, am an idiot. For some reason i thougth there was a WWII era G.I. Robot.

[Matt Algren]

I, however, am.

Again, if someone can provide links to his claims for charity raising efforts, I would appreciate it.
Here's a Comicon.com thread (http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=42;t=000901;p=1) from August 2000. Rick talks about gearing up for the Salvation Army drive that year. The thread turns out pretty much like this one, with people asking questions and Rick getting defensive.

EDIT: Quoting Elayne Riggs on page two. You might check with the Empire State Division (http://www1.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use_emp.nsf) of the Salvation Army.

Okay, I didn't speak directly with Rick Olney this past weekend at Toronto, mainly because I never ran into him, but I talked with Mary S, who's ORCA's marketing person, and here's the deal:

They are still in the process of getting their 501(c)3 tax status, but do not have it yet. As anyone who's done the paperwork for this knows, applying can be a pretty long process. She hopes to hear good news soon, but as of right now ORCA is not yet a 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation.

However, they have forged some sort of partnership with the Salvation Army (Empire chapter, I think she called it, that deals with the NY area), so if you donate any comic books you should donate them c/o the Salvation Army and, as someone else in this thread noted, that is tax-deductible.

Hope this helps, if only a little.

- Elayne

[EdContradictory]

“Peter Costanza gave me an appetite for comic book art and stories back during his era,” writer of Monster Squad, Rick Olney said. “Are there any artists today that can boldly assert that? I think it is debatable.
That makes NO sense.
No artists today can boldly assert that they gave Rick Olney an appetite for comic book art and stories.

I think John Cassaday tried to assert it.

But then Olney sued him for defamation of character.

[Sarah Beach]

(My post got eaten! But--- )

GARGIRL?!? GARGIRL!!!

Oh. My. God. That is sooooooooo bad.... I want to gargle to get it out of my mouth!

What gets me is that in this thread, even when we're trying to be lame, we can't be as lame as Himself!

(And having seen that, I now agree with Kurt that "Girlgoyle" actually does have some fun sense to it.)

[Dhaunea]

Unforunately, the only claims I could find were the ones I posted earlier, the screenshot of his con report which claims they were supporting Saint Jude, and the screenshot of his interview with someone. I've got no direct links - sorry.

His site for ORCA says nothing, anywhere, about being a charity or non-profit, unless it's in the forums someplace.

[Kozemp]

My source won't let me reveal details yet. But as soon as I am cleared to, I will.

Dude, seriously, the teasing is uncool.

You're worse than one of my exes.

JLK
no, I stand by it, he's worse

[TomStillwell]

The Creature Commandos aren't Silver Age. They got whomped up in the late Seventies or thereabouts.

But they're still great.

kdb

I love 'em. I they were still kickin' in the modern DCU.

[Dhaunea]

EDIT: Quoting Elayne Riggs on page two. You might check with the Empire State Division (http://www1.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use_emp.nsf) of the Salvation Army.

There is nothing called the 'Empire State Division'. Each church/mission has it's own area and all of them operate under the orders of the international organization. Even more fun is the fact that the officers rotate, regularly. Every two years or so (longer if they have kids and want them to stay in school at the same place) the officers are rotated out. (This is why it took me three phone calls to find whoever was in charge of the closest church and services to him in 2000 - although every church keeps very good records of who was where at what dates..)

The stores are operated semi-independently, and you can find things at some that others refuse to stock... but all the charity stuff goes through the church and if the sampling I took of the Capital District Salvation Army officers is anything to judge by, no one in this section of New York State ever heard of him, his charity or anything about comic books for Christmas of 2000 or any time after.

[TomStillwell]

Awww. And on my birthday, too! How sweet!

Any particular reason given for the "no longer in business", do you know? (Idle curiousity, I wouldn't know if cause would be required for the public records.)

They said it expired at first so I asked "Oh, so it wasn't renewed?".

"No, they dispersed it on January 11th, 2007."

I didn't press further as to who "they" were. You have to be careful when calling for these things. Ask too many questions and then they start to ask YOU questions.

[TomStillwell]

(My post got eaten! But--- )

GARGIRL?!? GARGIRL!!!

Oh. My. God. That is sooooooooo bad.... I want to gargle to get it out of my mouth!

What gets me is that in this thread, even when we're trying to be lame, we can't be as lame as Himself!

(And having seen that, I now agree with Kurt that "Girlgoyle" actually does have some fun sense to it.)

It was so bad I misremembered it into a better name!

[Kurt Busiek]

For some reason i thougth there was a WWII era G.I. Robot.

Nope -- both the Creature Commandos and G.I. Robot were created during the Len Wein editorial tenure on WEIRD WAR TALES.

Oh, and it strikes me that Galgoyle is a better name than Girlgoyle.

Gargirl, though, should be an alligator-girl, not a gargoyle-girl.

kdb

[wishlish]

I had a few questions after Tom Stillwell, so I called the clerk also. A few nuggets:

1. Tightlip Entertainment was a partnership between Rick and his wife, Barbara J. Olney. It was the day they created it, and it was the day it was dissolved. Rick and Barbara signed both sets of papers in front of a notary in the clerk's office, so she is just as liable. (This should resolve some of the questions about her liability in this debacle.)

2. The only lawsuit showing against TLE is one from 2004. Greg Van Camp of Comiczone sued for $498. She didn't know the resolution. She also didn't know if TLE's filed for bankruptcy.

3. There is no criminal record (yet) for either Olney.

From this info, I'd recommend filing against BOTH Rick and Barbara, as she was an owner of TLE. Her involvement is interesting given Ronee's comments about him trying to secure the assets. Because it was a partnership, he could not do that without her consent.

[TomStillwell]

I had a few questions after Tom Stillwell, so I called the clerk also. A few nuggets:

1. Tightlip Entertainment was a partnership between Rick and his wife, Barbara J. Olney. It was the day they created it, and it was the day it was dissolved. Rick and Barbara signed both sets of papers in front of a notary in the clerk's office, so she is just as liable. (This should resolve some of the questions about her liability in this debacle.)

2. The only lawsuit showing against TLE is one from 2004. Greg Van Camp of Comiczone sued for $498. She didn't know the resolution. She also didn't know if TLE's filed for bankruptcy.

3. There is no criminal record (yet) for either Olney.

From this info, I'd recommend filing against BOTH Rick and Barbara, as she was an owner of TLE. Her involvement is interesting given Ronee's comments about him trying to secure the assets. Because it was a partnership, he could not do that without her consent.

Nice work!

The bankruptcy won't be at a circuit court level. That will be a federal matter.

[wishlish]

They said it expired at first so I asked "Oh, so it wasn't renewed?".

"No, they dispersed it on January 11th, 2007."

I didn't press further as to who "they" were. You have to be careful when calling for these things. Ask too many questions and then they start to ask YOU questions.

"They" were Rick and Barbara. I told the person I spoke to what was up, and she was very willing to supply info. I told her she was doing the work of the angels, and she was quite flattered.

[Danny Donovan]

I don't know why I didn't put two and two together before, but you know in '04/'05 I was developing a project (a humor/horror hybrid) that consisted of a vampire, a mummy, and a warewolf, (no gargoyles but there was a creature from the black lagoon) and I did post snippits of it on MMC before Rick came up with his Monster Squad thing....

hmmm...

I would have to know more about the context of the story before I can tell if it infringes on any of my copyrights, which if it did it's easy enough to prove, with statements from the artist involved, and most of the people at Heroes the year we were doing teasers for it.

That'd suck if I got ganked twice $$ wise and intellectual property wise.

[wishlish]

Nice work!

Coudln't have done it without your initial work, Tom.

[Typo Lad]

Wait... so they created and disolved the company on the same day?

[Matt Doc Martin]

Wait... so they created and disolved the company on the same day?

No...I took it to mean they were in it together the whole time.

[Sarah Beach]

They said it expired at first so I asked "Oh, so it wasn't renewed?".

"No, they dispersed it on January 11th, 2007."

I didn't press further as to who "they" were. You have to be careful when calling for these things. Ask too many questions and then they start to ask YOU questions.

But since you'd already tracked "they" from a different direction.... But I know what you mean about asking too many questions.

On other fronts.... I was thinking that in one way, the folks in this thread have turned out to be rather scary (in a good way!). Such efficiency and thoroughness has been applied in the group effort, once it was determined that not only was it possible to bring him to book, but worth the exercise, just to take him out of the circuit. I guess there was just a sudden flowing together of a sense that the comic book business is serious business, and not some "arena of flakes", and a desire to put the foot down on those who treat the aspiring professionals like wannabe fans. And dang, if its not a great thing to see.

We really do seem to be living up to the forum title! Hehehe. Don't mess with us!

[TomStillwell]

Wait... so they created and disolved the company on the same day?

No, no. He was saying both Rick and his wife were present when the company was formed and dispersed.

[Matt Algren]

That's what I read at first, too. I think he means "1. Tightlip Entertainment was a partnership between Rick and his wife, Barbara J. Olney. It was [a partnership between Rick and his wife]the day they created it, and it was [a partnership between Rick and his wife] the day it was dissolved."

[Typo Lad]

Ah, okay.

Because the other way would be fishy as heck.

[NatGertler]

A Mexican beer!
[...]
I wouldn't put either of 'em on the X-Men, but Frankenborg's a nice on-the-nose high-concept name, and Girlgoyle works in a lighthearted context.I dunno... Frankenborg sounds to me less like a good character name, and more like the name of a German beer.

Of course, there's no reason it can't be both.

[bert]

You're just jealous because you WISH you were a "a fiery fem with a touch too much!"

Gail

Heh. . it sounds as if he read an issue of Perez' beautifully illustrated book,

Crimson Plague and in his head, thought of a tagline for what he figured her powers were.

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/c/crimplag.htm

[TomStillwell]

But since you'd already tracked "they" from a different direction.... But I know what you mean about asking too many questions.

On other fronts.... I was thinking that in one way, the folks in this thread have turned out to be rather scary (in a good way!). Such efficiency and thoroughness has been applied in the group effort, once it was determined that not only was it possible to bring him to book, but worth the exercise, just to take him out of the circuit. I guess there was just a sudden flowing together of a sense that the comic book business is serious business, and not some "arena of flakes", and a desire to put the foot down on those who treat the aspiring professionals like wannabe fans. And dang, if its not a great thing to see.

We really do seem to be living up to the forum title! Hehehe. Don't mess with us!

I had called once already fishing for litigation against Olney and a supervisor had stonewalled me. I wasn't sure of the reception my next call would get so I played it safe.

Sometimes you get a nice person you can sweet talk. Sometimes you get a stickler for rules wary of people from big cities.

[Kurt Busiek]

I don't know why I didn't put two and two together before, but you know in '04/'05 I was developing a project (a humor/horror hybrid) that consisted of a vampire, a mummy, and a warewolf,

There's really no way to "own" the concept of "the big Universal monsters in a team."

John Byrne's "You Go, Ghoul" has a vampire, a mummy and a werewolf as sexy girl characters, for instance. The 1987 move MONSTER SQUAD had Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Mummy and the Gillman. We've already mentioned the Creature Commandos -- and even that, I've long thought, was partly inspired by Poul Anderson's OPERATION: CHAOS, the first bits of which were published in 1956.

Plus, of course, all those Universal movies, with various team-ups.

I think the Creature Commandos were great and I'd love to have written them -- but there's just no way to call any such concept new or original. Surface details, maybe, but not the core concept of horror-flick staples in a group together.

kdb

[bert]

Morts, I'm not saying this just because you're my friend and I miss hanging out with you and Typo Tot, but... You have more creativity and imagination in your little finger than Olney does in his entire being. So stop knocking yourself, okay? :p

~Bev


here. . let me put it "better", Morts:

you have more creativity, wisdom, and imagination, in the part the Rabbi snipped off during the Bris, then Olney has in his entire being.


(so you've LOST more talent then the man has ever had)

and as someone who has read some of your work, trust me, I speak the truth.

bert

[NatGertler]

A Mexican beer!
[...]
I wouldn't put either of 'em on the X-Men, but Frankenborg's a nice on-the-nose high-concept name, and Girlgoyle works in a lighthearted context.I dunno... Frankenborg sounds to me less like a good character name, and more like the name of a German beer.

Of course, there's no reason it can't be both.

[Typo Lad]

All I know is that I am never, ever messing with Tom or Wishlist.

Not that I'd planned on it, but this is added incentive.

[wishlish]

No...I took it to mean they were in it together the whole time.

That's exactly it. The company was created sometime in 2004 (darn it, I didn't write it down). To create the partnership, Rick and Barbara both signed the paperwork in front of a notary. When they dissolved it, they both signed paperwork in front of a notary.

Come to think of it, I think someone said she worked in insurance. I think we're all pretty sure he didn't work at a day job, correct? If that's true, she may have partially financed the company.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Well, I now have a complaint off to:

NY State Dept. Of Law
Charities Bureau
120 Broadway - 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10271



In regards to claims previously made by a "Rick Olney" in regards to donations supposedly made and supposed tax-exempt status.

Rick...if you are reading this, that smell is your fat being cooked off as the heat is turned up.

Some "fanbot" I turned out to be, eh?

[wishlish]

All I know is that I am never, ever messing with Tom or Wishlist.

Not that I'd planned on it, but this is added incentive.

But it's Wishlish, not Wishlist! Wishlish is the name of my spirit animal (a chameleon). Wishlist is one of those things you get on Amazon to tell people what you want for Christmas. Hmmm...what county do you live in again?

Oh wait- TYPO lad. Never mind. :)

[Kurt Busiek]

I dunno... Frankenborg sounds to me less like a good character name, and more like the name of a German beer.

Of course, there's no reason it can't be both.

It's a monster beer!

Technically, all "Frankenborg" would mean as a German name would be a town in the Franken region of Bavaria, though the spelling would be a bit corrupted.

kdb

[EdContradictory]

I had a few questions after Tom Stillwell, so I called the clerk also. A few nuggets:

1. Tightlip Entertainment was a partnership between Rick and his wife, Barbara J. Olney. It was the day they created it, and it was the day it was dissolved. Rick and Barbara signed both sets of papers in front of a notary in the clerk's office, so she is just as liable. (This should resolve some of the questions about her liability in this debacle.)

From this info, I'd recommend filing against BOTH Rick and Barbara, as she was an owner of TLE. Her involvement is interesting given Ronee's comments about him trying to secure the assets. Because it was a partnership, he could not do that without her consent.
While she will likely need to be a part of any legal proceedings, I seriously doubt from what people have said that she was in any way involved in the actual business.

[MacQuarrie]

Honestly? Now I'm starting to get pissed off. Why are you fixated on me, because I live near him? If you want to see a fight get in your car and be in a fight. I've never indicated that I'm "serious" about any off-line confrontations, I keep saying that I would never do that. That it's not going to happen. Stop the fucking "cage match" bullshit.

Yeah, leave Omar alone. Having to live within five hundred miles of Olney is bad enough.

[Typo Lad]

Oh wait- TYPO lad. Never mind. :)

Yes, yes indeed I am that.

Verry sorry old chap. Please forgive this unworthy one.

[Sarah Beach]

All I know is that I am never, ever messing with Tom or Wishlist.

Not that I'd planned on it, but this is added incentive.

WISHLISH! LISH! LISH! LISH!

Come on, gang. We understand Olney making the mistake. And of course, the name does play to our expectations. But it's been pointed out once to Olney that the screenname is "Wishlish" NOT "Wishlist".

(Yeah, and I'd probably be making the same mistake, if Olney hadn't been corrected.)

:)

(Don't mind me, I'm in a crusading mood. The name owner has spoken. ;) )

[Typo Lad]

Frankenbrat would either be Frankenborg's kid sidekick, or a delicios taste treat consiting of chicken, beef, and venison sausages, tied together with stitiches on the casing.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Frankenbrat would either be Frankenborg's kid sidekick, or a delicios taste treat consiting of chicken, beef, and venison sausages, tied together with stitiches on the casing.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm....questionable meat combinations.............

[Kurt Busiek]

You're just jealous because you WISH you were a "a fiery fem with a touch too much!"

Heh. . it sounds as if he read an issue of Perez' beautifully illustrated book, Crimson Plague and in his head, thought of a tagline for what he figured her powers were.

Nah. It's an AC/DC lyric.

kdb

[wishlish]

Well, I now have a complaint off to:

NY State Dept. Of Law
Charities Bureau
120 Broadway - 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10271



In regards to claims previously made by a "Rick Olney" in regards to donations supposedly made and supposed tax-exempt status.

Rick...if you are reading this, that smell is your fat being cooked off as the heat is turned up.

Some "fanbot" I turned out to be, eh?

Go Matt Go! :) It was one thing not to pay freelancers. As bad as it was, it wouldn't have gotten him into criminal court. Raising money for a children's hospital and not paying? Every politician loves such an easy target. Better practice walking with your hands behind your back, Rick!

[bert]

I smell a Chapter 7.




nah,

that's just me.

I'm wearing hemp undies, and I farted.




:p

[NatGertler]

It's a monster beer!It's a beer monster! A bitter, bitter creature, bubble-headed. And beware of its hops!

[Kurt Busiek]

Frankenbrat would either be Frankenborg's kid sidekick, or a delicios taste treat consiting of chicken, beef, and venison sausages, tied together with stitiches on the casing.

FrankenBrat is another good name.

It's even horrific and funny at the same time -- a monster reanimated from the parts of dead children?! Ghah!

On the one hand, he could be a pal to Casper. On the other, he could be the star of a movie franchise like Chuckie in, what was it, CHILD'S PLAY?

It'd be an easy sell in LA. "It's Child's Play meets Pet Sematary!"

kdb

[wishlish]

Nah. It's an AC/DC lyric.

kdb

I now have an image of Rick Olney rocking out to "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap."

Oh wait, it's not Rick. It's YOU, Kurt!

DONE! DIRT! CHEAP!

(And I still wish I could find a copy of Astro City: Confession in hardcover. Can't you talk DC into issuing Absolute Astro City?)

[Blake Petit]

Sooooo. TightLip NO LONGER exists as a business entity.

So what does that mean for contracts signed with the company? Me needs a law degree...

:sits back and waits for "Galgoyle" to appear in Astro City, preferably in a Hanged Man story:

[Matt Doc Martin]

Go Matt Go! :) It was one thing not to pay freelancers. As bad as it was, it wouldn't have gotten him into criminal court. Raising money for a children's hospital and not paying? Every politician loves such an easy target. Better practice walking with your hands behind your back, Rick!

I have done charity work before. Nothing official, min d you, but I busted my ass. Collected toys and clothes for a needy family, outsold everyone in my department raising money for another family, etc. etc.

The fact that this loon bilked honest folk to pad his own collection sickens me.

[Kurt Busiek]

(And I still wish I could find a copy of Astro City: Confession in hardcover. Can't you talk DC into issuing Absolute Astro City?)

It's been discussed.

But I'd check eBay regularly -- the Confession HC does turn up from time to time.

kdb

[wishlish]

FrankenBrat is another good name.

It's even horrific and funny at the same time -- a monster reanimated from the parts of dead children?! Ghah!

On the one hand, he could be a pal to Casper. On the other, he could be the star of a movie franchise like Chuckie in, what was it, CHILD'S PLAY?

It'd be an easy sell in LA. "It's Child's Play meets Pet Sematary!"

kdb

I can see the trailer. A greyish, dirty hand knocks at the door. A housewife answers, half-distracted. "Yeah, what do you...want..." Eyes suddenly grow big in horror as her head rises to meet the unseen monster's eyes.

"Laa-dee...can Billy come out to...play?" in a voice mixed with childhood and gravel.

The housewife screams in horror.

"Frankenbrat."

"I even brought a ball. See?" Frankenbrat, unseen, holds up a severed head.

"Opening this Christmas everywhere."

[Sarah Beach]

Sooooo. TightLip NO LONGER exists as a business entity.

So what does that mean for contracts signed with the company? Me needs a law degree...

:sits back and waits for "Galgoyle" to appear in Astro City, preferably in a Hanged Man story:

I don't think it means much for the contracts. They were pretty much legal commitments by a "legitimate" (in the strictly on-paper sense) business, so the owners are still liable to meet or resolve the terms, I'd think.

If anything, the dissolution would probably favor the creators, in that they'd get back ownership of work done. It doesn't absolve the company of the debts it accrued during its existence, I'd think - so things like the PR work Ronee did, and the website work, those would still be outstanding debts of the company.

But I'm not a legal eagle. I've only "worked in the legal arena". ;)

[Matt Algren]

Sooooo. TightLip NO LONGER exists as a business entity.

So what does that mean for contracts signed with the company? Me needs a law degree...Very good question. I like the way you think.

[wishlish]

It's been discussed.

But I'd check eBay regularly -- the Confession HC does turn up from time to time.

kdb

It's one of my Favorite searches. Any time one's listed, I put a bid in. I'll bet the day I win, they'll announce Absolute AC. (It almost happened when Absolute Long Halloween was announced.)

[Blake Petit]

It's been discussed.

But I'd check eBay regularly -- the Confession HC does turn up from time to time.

kdb

Totally off topic, I know Kurt, but I just gotta say that Confession, to date, remains my favorite long-form Astro City story. Which is like saying "my favorite Beatles song" or "my favorite Shakespeare play" -- that's just picking out the purest diamond from a cart of gems.

[Blake Petit]

Very good question. I like the way you think.

Thanks -- although "the way I think" generally just means "articulating questions I feel stupid for asking because I assume everybody else already knows the answer." :D

[TomStillwell]

FrankenBrat is another good name.

It's even horrific and funny at the same time -- a monster reanimated from the parts of dead children?! Ghah!

On the one hand, he could be a pal to Casper. On the other, he could be the star of a movie franchise like Chuckie in, what was it, CHILD'S PLAY?

It'd be an easy sell in LA. "It's Child's Play meets Pet Sematary!"

kdb

This reminds me of the arch enemy I made for a jokey superhero team I made up years ago.

http://www.gammapatrol.com/liechtenstein.php

It was called the Gamma Patrol of Liechtenstein and the villain was Verbrenndre Wurst (flaming sausage or something like that).

[Danny Donovan]

You are right concerning Universal monsters Kurt. Or well the things that were made popular by the universal films.

lol.

I shouldn't post on no sleep what so ever.

[bert]

Hey Gail,

did you ever get the proof you were looking for the other night?

for the thing that was going to absolutely disproove one of peanut's longstanding claims?

was that about the Star Wars/Ric Olie thing? or do you have some other thing still to share w/ the class

hmmmmm?

[Kurt Busiek]

Totally off topic, I know Kurt, but I just gotta say that Confession, to date, remains my favorite long-form Astro City story. Which is like saying "my favorite Beatles song" or "my favorite Shakespeare play" -- that's just picking out the purest diamond from a cart of gems.

Thanks!

kdb

[TCJohnson]

There's really no way to "own" the concept of "the big Universal monsters in a team."

John Byrne's "You Go, Ghoul" has a vampire, a mummy and a werewolf as sexy girl characters, for instance. The 1987 move MONSTER SQUAD had Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Mummy and the Gillman. We've already mentioned the Creature Commandos -- and even that, I've long thought, was partly inspired by Poul Anderson's OPERATION: CHAOS, the first bits of which were published in 1956.

And recently there was Keith Giffen's Nick Fury's Howling Commandos where SHIELD was forcing some of the characters from Marvel's old horror comics as agents.

I also remember when I was a kid there was a cartoon called Teen Monsters, where you had Dracula Jr., Frankelstein Jr. and Mummy Jr. doing missions for the government.

[Kozemp]

All I know is that I am never, ever messing with Tom or Wishlist.

Not that I'd planned on it, but this is added incentive.

I was going to mess with Tom, but something else came up.

Lucky thing, that.

JLK
verrrry lucky

[Sarah Beach]

Hey Gail,

did you ever get the proof you were looking for the other night?

for the thing that was going to absolutely disproove one of peanut's longstanding claims?

was that about the Star Wars/Ric Olie thing? or do you have some other thing still to share w/ the class

hmmmmm?

Her news was indeed hearing from the character designer for Ric Olie. And yeah, it totally shot down the aquatic mammal's claims.

[MacQuarrie]

Oh, it's very possible he got a free consultation deal from a lawyer. However, I highly doubt he actually hired said lawyer, as most want a retainer fee, and I don't believe he has the money for it.

Give him time. He'll be back and up to his old tricks again. He can't resist for long.

~Bev

Take a moment and enjoy the thought of him trying to explain all this to a lawyer during his free consultation period. Imagine him trying to spin all this, frantically trying not to sound like a delusional maniac.

Now imagine the lawyer telling him that the best thing he could possibly do is to shut up, slip quietly away and hope people lose interest.

I'm loving it.

[colleen]

I don't think it means much for the contracts. They were pretty much legal commitments by a "legitimate" (in the strictly on-paper sense) business, so the owners are still liable to meet or resolve the terms, I'd think.

If anything, the dissolution would probably favor the creators, in that they'd get back ownership of work done. It doesn't absolve the company of the debts it accrued during its existence, I'd think - so things like the PR work Ronee did, and the website work, those would still be outstanding debts of the company.

But I'm not a legal eagle. I've only "worked in the legal arena". ;)

There should be a termination clause somewhere in the contract. However, since Olney's company was amateur night, it's anyone guess what that would say.

A real publisher would:

A) Be allowed to sell those contracts as assets, but no one is going to buy assets that haven't been paid for because a nice injunction would stop the proceedings cold.

or

B) On dissolution of the company, or on bankruptcy, or on failure to pay within a specified period, the contract rights should revert.

If the company just went down, all freelancers should check their contracts to see if the contracts can be transferred.

Olney may transfer assets to a new dummy company. If he does, he may be bold enough (or stupid enough) to transfer your contracts. That would be doubly dumb because if he does, you can sue the new company.

If he just dissolves his old company and doesn't transfer, he can walk away from your contracts, and so can you.



c

[NatGertler]

John Byrne's "You Go, Ghoul" has a vampire, a mummy and a werewolf as sexy girl characters, for instance. The 1987 move MONSTER SQUAD had Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Mummy and the Gillman. We've already mentioned the Creature Commandos -- and even that, I've long thought, was partly inspired by Poul Anderson's And Marvel's Legion of Monsters contains a vampire, a werewolf, and a couple other creatures.
Of course, there's sitcom usage of such folks hanging together, most notably the Munsters, but I'm also thinking of a sitcom pilot (from back in the days when they aired the pilots that did not get picked up) where the various creatures lived together, including a wolf-man named Marv. I forget the title, but I believe it was the address of the house.

[MacQuarrie]

That would be Anchor.


....what?

Wait a minute.. "Anchor" has fire powers? By that logic, shouldn't Eagle be an underwater guy and Globe have air-based powers?

I'm not following.

[Papergirl]

1. Tightlip Entertainment was a partnership between Rick and his wife, Barbara J. Olney. It was the day they created it, and it was the day it was dissolved. Rick and Barbara signed both sets of papers in front of a notary in the clerk's office, so she is just as liable. (This should resolve some of the questions about her liability in this debacle.)

Allow me just a moment to be smug and say I called that one. :p

~Bev

[wishlish]

Olney may transfer assets to a new dummy company. If he does, he may be bold enough (or stupid enough) to transfer your contracts. That would be doubly dumb because if he does, you can sue the new company.

If he just dissolves his old company and doesn't transfer, he can walk away from your contracts, and so can you.


2 thoughts:

1. I did ask the clerk if he created a new company. She hadn't heard anything.

2. So the freelancers can't sue for their moneys now?

[Cam63]

Knowing Olney's lack of real talent , how bad was Freedom 3 ?

It was rejected by the paper they tried to print it on.

[Papergirl]

Take a moment and enjoy the thought of him trying to explain all this to a lawyer during his free consultation period. Imagine him trying to spin all this, frantically trying not to sound like a delusional maniac.

Now imagine the lawyer telling him that the best thing he could possibly do is to shut up, slip quietly away and hope people lose interest.

I'm loving it.

Ha! Yeah, I was chuckling over that mental image earlier. What a lovely thought, no?

:D

~Bev

[MacQuarrie]

Here's a second thought:

What's to keep an entity from registering "Tightlip Entertainment" out from under him?

Or is that covered under the prior usage bit of trademark law?

"My lawyer can beat up your lawyer."

Given enough money to bully the prior user into submission, it could be done... but who the hell would want a name like "Tightlip Entertainment" anyway? Even without the olney-stench on it, it's a horrible name.

[T Sterling]

There should be a termination clause somewhere in the contract. However, since Olney's company was amateur night, it's anyone guess what that would say.

A real publisher would:

A) Be allowed to sell those contracts as assets, but no one is going to buy assets that haven't been paid for because a nice injunction would stop the proceedings cold.

or

B) On dissolution of the company, or on bankruptcy, or on failure to pay within a specified period, the contract rights should revert.

If the company just went down, all freelancers should check their contracts to see if the contracts can be transferred.

Olney may transfer assets to a new dummy company. If he does, he may be bold enough (or stupid enough) to transfer your contracts. That would be doubly dumb because if he does, you can sue the new company.

If he just dissolves his old company and doesn't transfer, he can walk away from your contracts, and so can you.



c

Colleen - you should probably go to law school. You seem to have enough knowledge already that you could sail through. In fact, you could teach a few lawyers a thing or two. (But then, who wants to be a lawyer if they can earn a living making comic books ... [SIGH])

Anyway, just want to weigh in on one point here. There is an important legal distinction between a company / corporation and partnerships. Corporations are distinct legal entities, and their shareholder/owners are not liable for the corporation's legal obligations. I.e.TightLip Entertainment, Ltd. would be a legally separate person from Rick Olney.Your points above are relatively accurate with respect to corporations.

However, partnerships are not distinct legal entities - they are generally individuals doing business together. Each individual is liable for the obligations of the partnership; even if partner A does something that Partner B doesn't know about, Partner B is legally responsible. I.e. TightLip Entertainment is basically a Pseudonym for Rick Olney (So, "TightLip Entertainment" in Olney-speak - another serendipitous hypocrisy.) Consequently, on dissolution, each individual partner would remain liable for previously existing partnership obligations.

You are 100% correct, though, that the written contracts are the first point of reference for determining the matter. The above are general default positions that can be modified by contract. Interestingly, I noted that the form of NDA that was produced much earlier in this thread, and all the spurious copyright notices, named both Rick Olney AND TightLip Entertainment. If all his contracts read this way, then he has basically thrown away any shield from liability even if TightLip had been incorporated.

[Gail Simone]

A Mexican beer!

I think there's lots of different approaches to good comics names. Whoever noted that Eagle, Anchor and Globe aren't as descriptive as, say, the Human Torch and the Invisible Girl can't really say the same of Frankenborg. Or even Girlgoyle.

I wouldn't put either of 'em on the X-Men, but Frankenborg's a nice on-the-nose high-concept name, and Girlgoyle works in a lighthearted context.

kdb

Kurt, I think you're ascribing ironic intent where I doubt any exists, maybe. "Frankenborg?"
That's just clunky and awful to my ear.

How about Cutiestein?

Gail

[Mike Bullock]

Why do I have the feeling there's a stamp collecting forum out there somewhere that just had a new member sign up under the name Dick Rolney, owner of Right Ship Entertainment and SnorkelFresh?

[Cam63]

"Creating" characters called Eagle, Globe, and Anchor...good god 'o' fish hooks! That would HAVE to have ol' Chesty spinning in his grave.

http://www.semperfidelisnoah.com/Lindas%20Webready%20photos/Chesty%20Poster%20email.jpg

I'd love Chesty to return to life and spend a few minutes ( or a day ) with Olney.

Say, since I was in the Navy, maybe I could do a character named Squid Vicious? Uh, no.

No, please do !

[Jack Zodiac]

Now here's a thought -- if Tightlip Entertainment doesn't even exist as a business entity, would that make any contracts entered into with that organization -- for example, NDAs -- null and void?

Well, even if they weren't utterly worthless in this situation, nulled and voided upon his failure to pay his creators, I don't think you need to own a legitimate business to authorize legally binding NDAs. Not that it matters, though. Dickface already fucked up. All that'd be is another fuck-up for the pile.

Gettin' pretty big, now.

And I thought my taglines were lame.

Your face is lame!

That's still blows "a fiery fem with a touch too much" out of the water!

Your face blows "a fiery fem with a tou-" oh, wow... I can't even finish that. Jesus Christ, that is bad.

Oh, and just for the record, I thought the 'FrankenBorg' thing was a joke.

And you, with a straight face, are telling me it's real?

He actually came up with a character called, 'FrankenBorg?'

No, I refuse to believe such an idiot exists.

Here's the thing, though, Gail.

FrankenBorg could be an amazing, dare I say even genius creation, just not in the hands of a bag of shit like Dickface. No, knowing Dickface, he'd probably try to make him a legitimate character. In more gifted hands, FrankenBorg (half zombie, half machine, half bad at fractions) could be a hilarious character. Like Argh!Yle!, the argyle sock with a metal mask that terrorized Ambush Bug, or Dr. Bong, a dude with a bell for a head who tried to destroy Howard the Duck.

Don't hate the creation. Hate the douchebag who thought he could write it. Kinda' like when Liefeld created Deadpool as a flat, waste of a character before Joe Kelly saved him from being wasted.

Yup. She was on the Monster Squad.

I wish I still had the copy on that...but he took the page down. Each looked like a monster on the outside, but was a really nice person with a heart of gold underneath...

Not quite sure where he got the concept from, actually.

Had to be a coinkidink, since he's a monster on the outside and a huge bag of fuckin' shit on the inside, too.

[Gail Simone]

Nah. It's an AC/DC lyric.

kdb

I get that, but...

ARGH, who would use that in the promo? It's HIDEOUS!

Gail

[TomStillwell]

Ha! Yeah, I was chuckling over that mental image earlier. What a lovely thought, no?

:D

~Bev

Attorney: So how can I help you?

RO: Well see, I started this this publishing company a couple years ago, this was after I scammed a bunch of plebes into giving me free comics and stiffed a ton of guests I duped into coming to my failed convention.

Anyways, I started this company up to fulfil my dream of working in the hobbies and/or industry of comics. This was my only recourse because

a). I have the writing skill and wit of a brain damaged tree slug

and

b). that crumb catcher Scott Shaw! has been keeping me down!

I didn't have any money so I solicted work from freelancers and then never paid them.

Can you imagine the that they dared to complain?!

I read somewhere that the best legal defense is running willy nilly all over the internet like a possessed loon on crack, posting whenever and whatever came to mind.

These plebes are making my happy meal dreams come true!!!

I want them sued for complaining, sued for suing me, sued for talking about me, sued for looking up information, and sued for not liking me.

So, how much can we take them for? I need some funds to publish my books.

Attorney: Mr. Olney, you have multiple suits against you, your being investigated for fraud, your company has been disolved. The best case scenario has you bankrupt and the laughing stock of the comic industry. Otherwise you're facing prison time for multiple federal offenses.

RO: So, like it's like a 50/50 chance of me making millions?

Attorney: Get out of my office.

[NatGertler]

It was called the Gamma Patrol of Liechtenstein and the villain was Verbrenndre Wurst (flaming sausage or something like that).Was he part of the Wiener Melange?
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000K3EVQQ.01-A2R2RITDJNW1Q6._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg (http://aaugh.com/to.htm?B000K3EVQQ)

[Sarah Beach]

Originally posted by TomStillwell:
I have the writing skill and wit of a brain damaged tree slug


Oh, man! And I was about to take a drink of water at my desk when I read this! Nearly spewed!

That is wicked funny.

[Papergirl]

Attorney: So how can I help you?

RO: Well see, I started this this publishing company a couple years ago, this was after I scammed a bunch of plebes into giving me free comics and stiffed a ton of guests I duped into coming to my failed convention.

Anyways, I started this company up to fulfil my dream of working in the hobbies and/or industry of comics. This was my only recourse because

a). I have the writing skill and wit of a brain damaged tree slug

and

b). that crumb catcher Scott Shaw! has been keeping me down!

I didn't have any money so I solicted work from freelancers and then never paid them.

Can you imagine the that they dared to complain?!

I read somewhere that the best legal defense is running willy nilly all over the internet like a possessed loon on crack, posting whenever and whatever came to mind.

These plebes are making my happy meal dreams come true!!!

I want them sued for complaining, sued for suing me, sued for talking about me, sued for looking up information, and sued for not liking me.

So, how much can we take them for? I need some funds to publish my books.

Attorney: Mr. Olney, you have multiple suits against you, your being investigated for fraud, your company has been disolved. The best case scenario has you bankrupt and the laughing stock of the comic industry. Otherwise you're facing prison time for multiple federal offenses.

RO: So, like it's like a 50/50 chance of me making millions?

Attorney: Get out of my office.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Nice, Tom! That's pretty much how I saw it playing out in my head! :D

~Bev

[TCJohnson]

I get that, but...

ARGH, who would use that in the promo?


Rick Olney would!

[Kurt Busiek]

Kurt, I think you're ascribing ironic intent where I doubt any exists, maybe.

I'm not ascribing intent at all -- I'm removing the name from context and considering it as a name. I think it's a fine name.

It's not a dead-serious name, but then, comics don't gotta do that.

"Frankenborg?" That's just clunky and awful to my ear.

You need to embrace your inner Stompa, woman!

Then again, I created Slammazon, Gasbag and Krypto-Coccus the Omni-Germ...

How about Cutiestein?

That's, like, a shot glass, right?

kdb

[Kurt Busiek]

Why do I have the feeling there's a stamp collecting forum out there somewhere that just had a new member sign up under the name Dick Rolney, owner of Right Ship Entertainment and SnorkelFresh?

Please. OkraFresh.

kdb

[colleen]

Colleen - you should probably go to law school. You seem to have enough knowledge already that you could sail through. In fact, you could teach a few lawyers a thing or two. (But then, who wants to be a lawyer if they can earn a living making comic books ... [SIGH])

Anyway, just want to weigh in on one point here. There is an important legal distinction between a company / corporation and partnerships. Corporations are distinct legal entities, and their shareholder/owners are not liable for the corporation's legal obligations. I.e.TightLip Entertainment, Ltd. would be a legally separate person from Rick Olney.Your points above are relatively accurate with respect to corporations.

However, partnerships are not distinct legal entities - they are generally individuals doing business together. Each individual is liable for the obligations of the partnership; even if partner A does something that Partner B doesn't know about, Partner B is legally responsible. I.e. TightLip Entertainment is basically a Pseudonym for Rick Olney (So, "TightLip Entertainment" in Olney-speak - another serendipitous hypocrisy.) Consequently, on dissolution, each individual partner would remain liable for previously existing partnership obligations.

You are 100% correct, though, that the written contracts are the first point of reference for determining the matter. The above are general default positions that can be modified by contract. Interestingly, I noted that the form of NDA that was produced much earlier in this thread, and all the spurious copyright notices, named both Rick Olney AND TightLip Entertainment. If all his contracts read this way, then he has basically thrown away any shield from liability even if TightLip had been incorporated.

You make my heart go pitty pat. I did once consider law school. But I decided to remain a humble cartoonist. Besides, law school costs $150,000.

It never occurred to me to think of Olney's company as a partnership and not a corporation. GREAT point! I'm just surprised there was a company at all. I was thinking limited liability corp, which would have been smart. But then, it's Olney.

That said, you make the even better point that the way the company was set up, both Olney and wife are still liable. Personally.

That's going to be some row in the Olney household.

However, if the contract was with both Olney and Tightlip, not only is he still liable for the contract, the NDA is still in force because Olney still exists even if Tightlip does not.

But if the termination clause (if there is one) shows the contract terminating when the company does, the NDA and the rights should terminate and revert respectively. Correct?

That NDA was, by the way, the biggest bunch of bullshit I have ever read. I didn't have to sign anything that absurd even when I worked at Disney.


c

[kadymae]

Anyway, just want to weigh in on one point here. There is an important legal distinction between a company / corporation and partnerships. Corporations are distinct legal entities, and their shareholder/owners are not liable for the corporation's legal obligations. I.e.TightLip Entertainment, Ltd. would be a legally separate person from Rick Olney.Your points above are relatively accurate with respect to corporations.

However, partnerships are not distinct legal entities - they are generally individuals doing business together. Each individual is liable for the obligations of the partnership; even if partner A does something that Partner B doesn't know about, Partner B is legally responsible. I.e. TightLip Entertainment is basically a Pseudonym for Rick Olney (So, "TightLip Entertainment" in Olney-speak - another serendipitous hypocrisy.) Consequently, on dissolution, each individual partner would remain liable for previously existing partnership obligations.



Maybe I missed something in the previous posts but were the Olneys partners in an LLC (does NY allow for LLCs?) or a "traditional" partnership?

INAL, but if they were an LLC, then they (as a business) were distinct from themselves (as people).

[Jack Zodiac]

It's been discussed.

But I'd check eBay regularly -- the Confession HC does turn up from time to time.

Yeah, about as often as Spider Jerusalem sunglasses, except the Confession book doesn't usually jump in the neighborhood of two hundred and fifty bucks. :mad:

It's one of my Favorite searches. Any time one's listed, I put a bid in. I'll bet the day I win, they'll announce Absolute AC. (It almost happened when Absolute Long Halloween was announced.)

Yep, in my favorite searches, too, and without fail, every time I bid, I get scooped at the last second. And Kurt, I love your writing, especially Astro City, but I can't wear a hardcover comic on my face and look fuckin' boss.

I mean, I could, but it'd be kinda' tough.

[Mike Bullock]

Attorney: So how can I help you?

RO: Well see, I started this this publishing company a couple years ago, this was after I scammed a bunch of plebes into giving me free comics and stiffed a ton of guests I duped into coming to my failed convention.

Anyways, I started this company up to fulfil my dream of working in the hobbies and/or industry of comics. This was my only recourse because

a). I have the writing skill and wit of a brain damaged tree slug

and

b). that crumb catcher Scott Shaw! has been keeping me down!

I didn't have any money so I solicted work from freelancers and then never paid them.

Can you imagine the that they dared to complain?!

I read somewhere that the best legal defense is running willy nilly all over the internet like a possessed loon on crack, posting whenever and whatever came to mind.

These plebes are making my happy meal dreams come true!!!

I want them sued for complaining, sued for suing me, sued for talking about me, sued for looking up information, and sued for not liking me.

So, how much can we take them for? I need some funds to publish my books.

Attorney: Mr. Olney, you have multiple suits against you, your being investigated for fraud, your company has been disolved. The best case scenario has you bankrupt and the laughing stock of the comic industry. Otherwise you're facing prison time for multiple federal offenses.

RO: So, like it's like a 50/50 chance of me making millions?

Attorney: Get out of my office.


Your skill at grammar, punctuation & syntax betray your desire to mock one such as Rolney... Plebe!

[colleen]

"My lawyer can beat up your lawyer."

Given enough money to bully the prior user into submission, it could be done... but who the hell would want a name like "Tightlip Entertainment" anyway? Even without the olney-stench on it, it's a horrible name.

Tightlip Entertainment sounds like the euphemism for a particular service one may choose from the menu of offerings at a house of ill repute.

c

[TCJohnson]

But I decided to remain a humble cartoonist.

Well, a cartoonist at least.


....What? What? Oh, crap, that's right, you are on my list. Nevermind, nothing to see. ;)

[Cam63]

Do you guys think that "Rick" finally talked to a lawyer? It seems interesting that he is this long away from here. Might someone have finally talked him down?

Or am I just being silly?

Maybe the cops talked him down off his roof.

[MacQuarrie]

Tightlip Entertainment sounds like the euphemism for a particular service one may choose from the menu of offerings at a house of ill repute.

c

No thank you, I've seen what he looks like.

[Cam63]

You're just jealous because you WISH you were a "a fiery fem with a touch too much!"

Gail

You should see her keelhauling skills.

[Cam63]

Shut up! The man is a genious! He came up with Frankenbog! Half Frankenstein, half cyborg, half jewish, half swedish, all woman!

...and part time dominatrix, I suspect.

[Matt Doc Martin]

No thank you, I've seen what he looks like.

Close your eyes. Just let it happen.

[DarrenCawsey]

Attorney: So how can I help you?

RO: Well see, I started this this publishing company a couple years ago, this was after I scammed a bunch of plebes into giving me free comics and stiffed a ton of guests I duped into coming to my failed convention.

Anyways, I started this company up to fulfil my dream of working in the hobbies and/or industry of comics. This was my only recourse because

a). I have the writing skill and wit of a brain damaged tree slug

and

b). that crumb catcher Scott Shaw! has been keeping me down!

I didn't have any money so I solicted work from freelancers and then never paid them.

Can you imagine the that they dared to complain?!

I read somewhere that the best legal defense is running willy nilly all over the internet like a possessed loon on crack, posting whenever and whatever came to mind.

These plebes are making my happy meal dreams come true!!!

I want them sued for complaining, sued for suing me, sued for talking about me, sued for looking up information, and sued for not liking me.

So, how much can we take them for? I need some funds to publish my books.

Attorney: Mr. Olney, you have multiple suits against you, your being investigated for fraud, your company has been disolved. The best case scenario has you bankrupt and the laughing stock of the comic industry. Otherwise you're facing prison time for multiple federal offenses.

RO: So, like it's like a 50/50 chance of me making millions?

Attorney: Get out of my office.


Oh god, oh... laughing... too... much... sides... hurting


People at work are now looking at me funny.


-------------------

[Matt Doc Martin]

Maybe the cops talked him down off his roof.

I am imagining a police sniper going "Damn. Please resist. Make my day...make my day..."

[Cam63]

I have friends who know absolutely NOTHING about comics and have been laughing their asses off at him. And that's something he doesn't GET. He's a laughing stock to people outside of comics. He's ruined his chances to break into ANY business, at this point.

~Bev

Fast food restaurant manager: " This is the deep fryer, Mr. Olney. Please be careful not to burn yourse*... (Sighs) Could someone pass me the first aid kit, please ? "

[JTPencils]

Okay, time for a bit of clarification.

Chalk this one up to me being a perfectionist. I followed up my electronic search from Friday with a call to Herkimer County this morning. The DBA & Business clerk to be exact.

I was wrong. Tightlip Entertainment was a business partnership starting in 2004. Was is the operative word.

TLE is no longer in business. As of 1/11/07. The day before I did my search.

Interesting, no?

Could that mean that he can default on any and all contracts under the TLE heading then? Just seem's strange that suddenly, it's dissolved (though I'm quite certain why).

[OzBat!]

So for our two callers to the business register, did the clerks clarify what type of business the Olney's were indulging in?

EDIT - okay, Business Partnership. Each individual is liable for the obligations of the partnership. That means they're both still sunk.

I bet Olney is REALLY wishing he'd sprung for a real attorney at some point!

[TomStillwell]

Could that mean that he can default on any and all contracts under the TLE heading then? Just seem's strange that suddenly, it's dissolved (though I'm quite certain why).

It really depends on the wording of the contracts. As stated before, if the contracts list both TLE and Olney, the contract would still exist between Olney and other parties.

[JTPencils]

I am pretty sure he had a werewolf and vampire in there, Kurt. Along with a mummy and a female gargoyle (Girl-Goyle I think was the name).

Gargurl actually.

And Kid Mummy, The Spook, Frankenborg (horrible name, but actually, if I understood pRick thru the babbling, an interesting idea... you see she was... ooops... that would be violatin' the NDA... something I haven't done whatsoever yet), there was also a Beast ripoff character (but I can't think of his name). As far as I'm familiar with, there was no vampire.

[TCJohnson]

Gargurl actually.

And Kid Mummy, The Spook, Frankenborg (horrible name, but actually, if I understood pRick thru the babbling, an interesting idea... you see she was... ooops... that would be violatin' the NDA... something I haven't done whatsoever yet), there was also a Beast ripoff character (but I can't think of his name). As far as I'm familiar with, there was no vampire.

THat was probably Howler.

[TCJohnson]

Although, in all fairness, I still think "Young Avengers" and "Hulkling" are horrible, horrible names.

[Papergirl]

I am imagining a police sniper going "Damn. Please resist. Make my day...make my day..."

Fast food restaurant manager: " This is the deep fryer, Mr. Olney. Please be careful not to burn yourse*... (Sighs) Could someone pass me the first aid kit, please ? "

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Too damn funny, guys! One right after the other, too! Good thing I learned my lesson and wasn't drinking anything this time! :p

~Bev

[Matt Doc Martin]

Although, in all fairness, I still think "Young Avengers" and "Hulkling" are horrible, horrible names.

Yes on both. And "Iron Lad"

[Jack Zodiac]

Yes on both. And "Iron Lad"

Why do you guys hate comics, freedom, and America so much?

[DarrenCawsey]

Could that mean that he can default on any and all contracts under the TLE heading then? Just seem's strange that suddenly, it's dissolved (though I'm quite certain why).

While obviously the law here will differ from that in the States, I do have a little experience dealing with defunct business and partnerships through my job (I work at a Bank in our, well our collections department is the easiest way to explain it I guess) and in my experience Businesses (being either LLC's, Corp's, Partnerships and DBA's) can stop trading, shut shop and even be removed from the company register if incorporated, but are still liable for the debt's incurred while trading.

The issue for creditors or staff seeking wages really arises when the business is placed into Liquidation or Receivership, and/or when the operator (in the case of Partnerships and or DBA's) is Bankrupted. You obviously still have recourse in these situations, but from my experience unless you are a preferential creditor (such as the IRS) or a secured creditor (like Banks) you are really at the bottom rung and can fight over any scraps leftover.

Legal action is always the best bet, but even then can sometimes be more expensive than the funds you are after.

However in the case of a Partnership or DBA, as they are not separate legal entities in their own right (usually), if a judge finds in your favour it is possible that the persons who were operating as the Partnership or under the DBA name will be held personally liable and instructed to pay.





-------------------

[Matt Doc Martin]

Why do you guys hate comics, freedom, and America so much?

I am a communist fanbot stalker queer Mickey Mouse.

Or something like that.

[TCJohnson]

Yes on both. And "Iron Lad"

Oh, and Stature.

Allen Heinberg is the worse when it comes to pickout out names...but Young Avengers was still my favorite comic of 2006.

[Sarah Beach]

I am a communist fanbot stalker queer Mickey Mouse.

Or something like that.

Well, I am a performing seal from the Troll Tank.

Or the (self-designated) lady-in-waiting to the Troll Queen.

I haven't decided which yet.

:D

[Calliope's Comics]

Yes on both. And "Iron Lad"

None of those were as bad as Asgardian, thankfully they changed his name.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Oh, and Stature.

Allen Heinberg is the worse when it comes to pickout out names...but Young Avengers was still my favorite comic of 2006.

I don't like Wiccan either.

Of course, there were gems like "StiltMan" , "Paste-Pot Pete" , and "The Whizzer".


Stiltman has stilits

Paste Pot Pete has glue.

The Whizzer...whizzes.

[Sarah Beach]

I don't like Wiccan either.

Of course, there were gems like "StiltMan" , "Paste-Pot Pete" , and "The Whizzer".


Stiltman has stilits

Paste Pot Pete has glue.

The Whizzer...whizzes.

Hmmm. So, you mean, if I come up with a character called "Dancer" (which I have), that would be lame? Without a leg to stand on?

That would be disappointing. I have high hopes for her.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Well, I am a performing seal from the Troll Tank.

Or the (self-designated) lady-in-waiting to the Troll Queen.

I haven't decided which yet.

:D

Yeah, I was a troll too.

Those were he days.

[Matt Doc Martin]

Hmmm. So, you mean, if I come up with a character called "Dancer" (which I have), that would be lame? Without a leg to stand on?

That would be disappointing. I have high hopes for her.

Bad monkey! No banana!

[TCJohnson]

Hmmm. So, you mean, if I come up with a character called "Dancer" (which I have), that would be lame? Without a leg to stand on?

That would be disappointing. I have high hopes for her.

Careful with the puns, I am just getting over the stomach flu.

[Sparvid]

In more gifted hands, FrankenBorg (half zombie, half machine, half bad at fractions) could be a hilarious character. Like Argh!Yle!, the argyle sock with a metal mask that terrorized Ambush Bug, or Dr. Bong, a dude with a bell for a head who tried to destroy Howard the Duck.
Creepy, I was just about to suggest Argh!Yle! as the archnemesis of Gargirl before I read your post!

[JeffreyWKramer]

Although, in all fairness, I still think "Young Avengers" and "Hulkling" are horrible, horrible names.

I agree. The book and the character are great, but the title and name suck. "Asgardian" and "Wiccan" both suck as character names, too - would anyone except maybe Garth Ennis think of making a character code named "The Jew"? - but the book is still one of the rare high points in recent Marvel history.

[MacQuarrie]

I agree. The book and the character are great, but the title and name suck. "Asgardian" and "Wiccan" both suck as character names, too - would anyone except maybe Garth Ennis think of making a character code named "The Jew"? - but the book is still one of the rare high points in recent Marvel history.

Well, no, not "the Jew"... Maybe Jewman or Captain Israel or Kosher Kid...

[MacQuarrie]

Oh, wait, not Kosher Kid.


Kid Kosher! The Fastest Jew in the West!

[MacQuarrie]

Now there's an Olney-quality pitch. A super-team made up entirely of religious stereotypes.

[Jack Zodiac]

Still nowhere near as awesome as Troy Hickman's Acidic Jew.

[Blake Petit]

Damn, Common Grounds was fantastic. When is Top Cow gonna do more of those?

[Jack Zodiac]

When people stop buying crap like Civil War, and start buying gold like Common Grounds. :p

[Blake Petit]

When people stop buying crap like Civil War, and start buying gold like Common Grounds. :p

You, sir, are my new best friend. :D

[Danny Donovan]

Kid Kosher! The Fastest Jew in the West!

There's a Ron Zimmerman Rawhide Kid mini series inspired joke about sexual dysfunction in the wild west in there some where but damned if I'm going to resist the urge to do it. :-p

[PatrickG]

Well, no, not "the Jew"... Maybe Jewman or Captain Israel or Kosher Kid...

I spent YEARS dying to use the phrase "qaballistic missiles". I think someone in the industry has now beat me to that, somewhere. I remember reading it and shaking my fist.

[TCJohnson]

You, sir, are my new best friend. :D

Careful, Jack...Blake slit the throat of his old best friend and sold his spleen on the black market.

[Gail Simone]

I'm not ascribing intent at all -- I'm removing the name from context and considering it as a name. I think it's a fine name.

It's not a dead-serious name, but then, comics don't gotta do that.



You need to embrace your inner Stompa, woman!

Then again, I created Slammazon, Gasbag and Krypto-Coccus the Omni-Germ...

kdb

Oh, my god, on PURPOSE?

;)

Gail

[Blake Petit]

Careful, Jack...Blake slit the throat of his old best friend and sold his spleen on the black market.

It was more of a beige market, actually.