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

[Gail Simone]

Some of you might be aware that the ONLY bad experience I've ever had at a convention, or with a publisher, either, was with Rick Olney, of 'Tightlip' entertainment.

Rick's got a LOOOOOOONG history of meltdowns on the internet. People have some hilarious stories about him, and I doubt none of them. The guy is, to be kind, odd as hell.

He's one of those guys that talk about honor and integrity as if he were the only one that has those qualities, despite regularly being in the middle of serious ethical problems such as repeatedly not paying people when promised.

He talked me into paying my own way to his 'convention (which was a nightmare, but I felt bad for him at the time), to be reimbursed before I actually left home.

That was a lie.

Then I was to be paid when I got there.

That was a lie.

Then I was to be paid immediately after (the check would 'beat me home,' he said.

That was a lie.

You get the picture. My mom was in the hospital and I needed to be reimbursed. Rick's defenses got angrier and more bizarre, but I tried to work with him and be polite for a long time. Finally I got the bulk of the payment, months after being promised. But the remainder, a hundred dollars by his account, he continued to lie about, 'til after TWO YEARS (I kid you not), I finally told him to keep it, I didn't want it anymore and I never wanted to deal with his bizarre excuses again.

Lesson learned, right? Now I get lots of references from people I trust for every small con I attend, and have never had another problem, not one. Every other con I've gone to has been well-run and extremely honest in their dealings with me.

Anyway, Rick, who fancies himself a huge wheel in comics (for reasons that are beyond me even though he spent hours talking about himself after the con), decided to start a comics company called Tightlip Entertainment. Predictably, he isn't paying people when promised. They were supposed to be paid in fifteen days, but haven't been paid yet and it's months later. Pros with sterling reputations for honesty and professionalism have not only not been paid, but are being threatened with lawsuits by Rick Olney for having the 'disloyalty' to speak out, so other creators won't be taken in.

A more repulsive display of unprofessionalism I can't imagine.

Anyway, there's more, a lot more. I've spoken out, and Rick has repeatedly threatened to sue me. Hilariously, I have saved every email he ever sent me (once I realized he wasn't trustworthy), and in his own words, he lies to me over and over again.

I was willing to let the matter die. It was worth it to be rid of him. But I am furious that he has not only not paid these hard-working professionals whose only crime is trusting Olney, but that he's threatening them all with lawsuits when HE is the one who broke the agreement and acted in bad faith.

He's got a Myspace page, mostly about how great he is. It had some hilarious stuff on it, but he's mostly deleted that. Still, check out his blog at

myspace.com/orcafresh

I keep getting email from other people who have been stiffed by him, and now he's lost Ronee Burgois, one of the kindest and most generous people I've ever met, and Rick's former PR manager. The reason? Surprise surprise, he hasn't paid her in seven months.


Anyway, there's this kind of funny thing...he posts these rants about how everyone's out to get him, poor thing, and this one woman, who may be perfectly nice, for all I know, says over and over, "People suck!"

Anyway, here's the response he won't put up on his blog, from me.

"Lying deadbeats suck, I'll agree with that.

People like Rick prey on people's good intentions and honesty and then they cry 'victim' when people speak up. Boo hoo.

You keep calling me a liar, Rick. Where have I lied? Show me one place. What I said was you lied to me about paying me, which you did and you damn well know it, many, many times. Why continue lying about something we both know to be the truth? Where in the world do you come off not keeping your word AND pretending to be a victim?

What I've said was you lied to me repeatedly about payment, and you're doing much worse now, and now you've betrayed poor Ronee, one of your last few defenders. You gonna threaten to sue her, too?

I keep saying, bring it on. I can prove everything I say with your own words. YOU lied, YOU stiffed all those people and you're still doing it. Bring. It. On. You threaten all the people you've betrayed and mistreated...maybe if you kept your word once in a while people wouldn't HAVE such a low opinion of you.

This lady who keeps saying 'people suck' is wrong. MOST of them are honest and decent. It's YOU who are the exception.

And yes, I have a pen name. I'm sorry that seems to baffle and confuse you. It takes a complete lack of understanding of publishing history to be so ASTONISHED by something so banal, but as you're so desperately trying to blame others for your repeated failures, I understand you don't have much to work with. Here's something for free...I also wear corrective lenses sometimes. OH, MY GOODNESS!

Pay Chuck. Pay Val. Pay Ronee. Pay the other people who are afraid to speak in public (and quit using them as examples of happy employees--trust me, they ain't happy with you at all). Quit threatening them. Quit trying to blame THEM for your poor business practices and dishonest responses to their legitimate complaints.

Then you'll have a chance to talk again about your 'honor.' Right now, that is a devalued commodity around your company.


Gail"


IMPORTANT ADDITION:

Please note that Rick Olney was allowed to post here for quite a long time, and managed to not only never answer any accusations, but used the space only to post racist and homophobic insults against those he'd cheated and his other accusers, as well as some really vile anti-woman insults directed at nearly every woman who had ever been a guest at his fake, crappy 'convention.'

Then, because he is at heart an utter coward, he went through and deleted most of his posts, as he's done throughout the internet to the best of his ability. If we occasionally appear to be arguing with no one, it is most likely because Rick "I Always Stand By My Words" Olney deleted the crucial posts.

HOWEVER, since he's had this pattern for at least ten years (leave racist, homophobic, anti-woman slurs and threats of violence), we saw it coming and saved all of it, at www.unscrewed.com

If you'd like to see what kind of 'man' Rick is, check out Unscrewed.com.

This is not a person who keeps his word, as a decade long history of utter deceit and untrustworthiness show. He has NO ONE who supports him except for his professional toady, Dennis Kininger. Fortunately, the industry now has tools to spread the word about people like Rick Olney, and hopefully potential victims of his tricks will see how he has handled his obligations in the past, which is to say, he ignores them.

Gail

[Agent Helix]

http://www.wfmu.org/Playlists/HT/06/01/jack_burton.jpg
"When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, looks you crooked in the eye and asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: 'Have ya paid your dues, Jack?' 'Yessir, the check is in the mail.'"

[Gail Simone]

http://michaelnetzer.com/rEvolution/index.php

Mike Netzer, one of the most talented artists in comics and definitely one of the most interesting voices the industry has, has had enough of people like Rick Olney, and says so, loudly.

Thanks, Mike.

Gail

[rick]

Olney has always been a pompus, arrogant ass, who was deeply in love with himself and his superior "ethics".

Sorry to hear he's a completly dishonest ratbag too.

[Gail Simone]

If he were to say it was Friday, I'd check every calendar in the world with a spectrograph and a microscope.

NEVER met anyone in this industry who told me more mistruths.

Gail

[TomStillwell]

Go get 'em Gail.

The industry is messed up enough without scumbags like Olney stinking it up.

[Gail Simone]

I blocked him from emailing me at my yahoo.com address, but now he's emailing his weirdnesses to me at MySpace. Anyone know if I can block him from emailing?

Gail

[TomStillwell]

I don't know if you can as a user.

I know Tony Isabella had the same problems and contacted myspace about it.

[hellokittykat]

Ugh! I hate people like that.
They play up their 'victim' status to try and deflect that they are the ones that are in the wrong.

[Gail Simone]

Ugh! I hate people like that.
They play up their 'victim' status to try and deflect that they are the ones that are in the wrong.

That's him. It's utterly shameless.

Gail

[hellokittykat]

I just looked at his page. What a self righteous, snotty, SOB!

And the way he responded to Michael Netzer's perfectly curteous email was terrible! Mr. Netzer was giving him some constructive advice and he attacks him?!:mad: For him to come back so vehemently tells me that some part of his being that he doesn't want to acknowlege, knows that he's wrong.

[Lester C.]

I'm a firm believer in salvaging the best you can out of any situation and then moving on in your life. I thought long and hard about the positives of your dealing with Rick and I came up with few things.

1. You got to improve your skills as a writer and position yourself to enjoy the incredible success you so rightfully deserve.

2. The experience turned you from a rookie to a seasoned pro which sadly requires a paying of dues which is a nice way of saying getting f***ed over.

3. You got to meet with new people and the whole not paying thing, as sucky as it is, may have created a bonding experience with them.

4. You are now in a position to warn others about what happened to you.

5. Most importantly of all, you are in a position to defend and speak for others who can't legally speak for themselves.

[Corrina]

He sounded almost exactly like J-Bolt with his posts at the Dixonverse. A lot of promises for things that will never be done, and lots of reasons why not, which aren't really related.

I feel a little bad for him, because it sounds like his logic is all twisted, even in his own head, but not really, because he's the one stiffing people money owed.

[Lester C.]

He sounded almost exactly like J-Bolt with his posts at the Dixonverse. A lot of promises for things that will never be done, and lots of reasons why not, which aren't really related.

I feel a little bad for him, because it sounds like his logic is all twisted, even in his own head, but not really, because he's the one stiffing people money owed.

To be fair to J-bolt he's only hurting himself. Based on what I read Mr. Olney destructive ways sadly isn't confined to himself.

[Michael P]

I've been following the Tightlip story via Lying In The Gutters. Based just on Rick's behavior here and on other message boards, I'm inclined to believe every accusation leveled against him, and then some.

[Crowley]

I blocked him from emailing me at my yahoo.com address, but now he's emailing his weirdnesses to me at MySpace. Anyone know if I can block him from emailing?

Gail

go to his page and hit the BLOCK USER button under his picture...

and as for him... good riddance.

[Charles RB]

So, Gail, when you say "Mega-Giganta-Fibber", is that code for "complete tosser"?

[Lester C.]

So, Gail, when you say "Mega-Giganta-Fibber", is that code for "complete tosser"?

I thought complete tosser was code for something I can't describe without getting banned.

[EdContradictory]

In my experience with the man, I've found him to be... unhinged.

He would turn any discussion into one about gun control.

Every single one.

But all thie Tightlip stuff? Uncool. Looks like he got in way over his head. Same with his oft cancelled conventions, I suppose.

Oh, and the Tightlip logo? Gross and creepy.

Interesting that the Tightlip MySpace page is now friend-only.

[EdContradictory]

I've been following the Tightlip story via Lying In The Gutters. Based just on Rick's behavior here and on other message boards, I'm inclined to believe every accusation leveled against him, and then some.
Pretty much my conclusion, too.

[Crowley]

In my experience with the man, I've found
Oh, and the Tightlip logo? Gross and creepy.


Yeah gotta agree... also the name is ironic considering that everyone is pretty outspoken about what a disaster it's become.

[MacQuarrie]

It's been my experience that most people are extremely patient and forgiving if you are honest with them about the reasons why you can't pay. Assuming of course that some change in circumstances has arisen between the time you made the deal and the time the bill comes due. Lying to them and making excuses and putting them off and threatening them may buy you a little time, but it's hell on your reputation, not to mention your conscience and nervous system.

I haven't had any direct dealings with Olney apart from posting in the same threads a few times, but his character (or lack thereof) peeks through in almost every sentence he writes.

Rick: Don't say things. What you ARE shouts so loudly we can't hear what you SAY.

EDITED TO ADD:
Attention new readers. You need to be aware that Rick Olney has deleted a significant number of his posts in this thread in a desperate attempt to cover up some shockingly obnoxious behavior. Most of his posts have been screencapped and preserved at UNSCREWED (http://www.unscrewedcomic.com/mediagallery/album.php?aid=7&page=1) so you can see just how out-of-control he is. When Rick Olney refers to this thread being "full of haters", he neglects to mention his own hateful, racists, homophobic, sexist, and generally juvenile behavior here.

[Typo Lad]

NEVER met anyone in this industry who told me more mistruths.


I've met one!

I can PM you the name if you like!

I didn't know Rick was "Orcafresh". Oy.

[PatrickG]

I note that he used to be in charge of writing checks for an insurance company. Things make sense now.

Oh... And Gail?

Ask Waid about the time four kids in the middle of nowhere convinced him there was a convention and paid his way... so that he could hang out with them for an afternoon.

I've caught a bit of that one a couple of times and I may be misremembering but I'm sure the whole story must have some comedic value to be mined from it, at least.

All in all, I'd rather get paid to hang out with four bored teenagers for a day than not get paid for an actual public appearance, particularly if I needed the money for hospital care, etc.

Maybe Rick Olney could team up with the kids that flew Waid into town.

[PatrickG]

I thought complete tosser was code for something I can't describe without getting banned.

You mean a salad chef?

[Red Jack]

There are at least two (reputable) websites that I know of that keep a good record of people and companies in prose publishing who behave like this Olney person. They're largely fueled by the bad experiences of newbie writers who've been suckered in with sterling promises only to end up having to, at worst, shell out their own money or, at best, never see their story or novel published.

Perhaps comics should have the same. There are so many fly-by-night companies, and so many people desperately trying to break in, that it makes sense for there to be a central database where the offenders can be listed.

Sometimes publishers have great intentions but run out of cash (due to horrible planning and/or unintentionally sloppy business practices). Not everybody has the proper mindset to be a publisher. Sometimes they're rip-off artists looking to grow fat on free labor.

Anytime a publisher has a problem with a listing they can challenge it and then folks like Gail can counter with facts. The two parties need never interact directly.

Upshot: a lot of time and money will be saved on behalf of those who can least afford to waste either.

Artisans need to look out for each other in this respect because nobody else will do it for us.

[Charles RB]

Oh, and the Tightlip logo? Gross and creepy.

I didn't realise that was the logo at first.

[Gail Simone]

It is the creepiest logo in comics. I don't know WHAT they were thinking.

Gail

[EdContradictory]

He's one of those guys that talk about honor and integrity as if he were the only one that has those qualities,
He's also the only one who's "truly patriotic".

His MySpace page and rantings are unintentionally hilarious.

[matterconsumer]

When orcas, guns, the TightLip logo, and the bald eagle come together...well you just couldn't make it up!

Thanks to Gail, Rich, and others for doing their part to put an end to this madness...

[Larry Dixon]

As we say, "Shave off the serial numbers," Gail... meaning... you'll encounter pretty much the same thing, wherever you go. My heart's with you on this. Been there.

Earlier this year I did my 219th appearance as a Guest (or GoH) at a convention. Guys like this have been trouble in conventions and fandoms since I started 23 years ago, and from what I've learned from folks before me, they were there in the 70s and 60s too. Misty & I have gotten stiffed by cons, writers-workshops, and professional organizations, too. Sometimes it's gotten flipped into us being difficult or weird, though everyone who's worked with us on con-coms knows we deserve our reputations as congenial, level and fun people.

Think of it as schoolyard politics writ larger---yet still absurdly petty.

And, yeah, to be philosophical, this is part of what makes a seasoned pro. I agree. It is also part of what can make a pro into a bitter, hateful wackaloon if that's what they're inclined towards. Our industries are full of'em---great talents ground down into sharp chisels of rage and spite, by the bad experiences they can't reconcile and move beyond.

My advice for coping with these situations is, as always, do it for the fans. Sometimes you have to swallow a bug and keep smiling, because at just the right time, in just the right place, being good and friendly to someone might change their life. If you miss that moment because you're sour over some lousy schoolyard politics and money, then it's a small problem turned into a pretty big loss, I reckon.

We have the best jobs in the world because we get to be not only creative, but effective. We can change peoples' lives for the better by offering them stories that give insights and laughs and observations about the universe and human nature.

If scummy people harsh your mellow and take the focus off of that they don't just rob you of your personal wellbeing, they rob you of your groove. Thus, Grinch-like, they take away the cool vibe of your job because they kneecapped your muse and jammed your signal. And that (to me, unforgivably) ultimately takes something away from the fans, who would probably have dug what you might've done if these dickless wonders hadn't screwed with you and brought you down.

But you're smart. And you're you. You probably knew that already in your heart-of-hearts. For now, it's time for ice cream and a big grin to all the folks who treat you right. Don't let the bad guys take away who you really are, even a smidge.

[matterconsumer]

Applauds Larry!

[Ronée]

Aw Gail, you didnt have to defend me but thank you none the less.

This whole situation is sad. and I won't go into any real detail because it is unbecoming to sling shit unless you are a monkey. I just am mad at myself for truly believing in someone who was not what he tried to be. he was just "misunderstood" and given my dealings within the industry until then... i could totally believe that someone could be branded a certain way when they were not, in fact, evil like everyone says. I know. I've been there.

*sigh*

[Cam63]

I knows some guys.

http://www.cinema24horas.com/filmes/mafia_diva2/mafia_diva2_09.jpg

Youse want dey should pay him a visit ?

[Gail Simone]

No one blames you, Ronee, and no one expects you to fling poop. You're welcome here just for the pleasure of your company, and we'll yell at anyone who picks on ya. Cause we stick together here, unless we're yelling at each other! ;)

Gail

[Gail Simone]

No one blames you, Ronee, and no one expects you to fling poop. You're welcome here just for the pleasure of your company, and we'll yell at anyone who picks on ya. Cause we stick together here, unless we're yelling at each other! ;)

Gail

[EdContradictory]

No one blames you, Ronee, and no one expects you to fling poop. You're welcome here just for the pleasure of your company, and we'll yell at anyone who picks on ya. Cause we stick together here, unless we're yelling at each other! ;)

Gail
The good person in me agrees with Gail.

But the gossip monger in me wants the dirt. :)

[Charles RB]

It is the creepiest logo in comics. I don't know WHAT they were thinking.

"Let's make people vomit!", possibly.

[Crowley]

again and also WEIRD considering that the term "Tight Lip" doesn't bring to mind "open mouth with drool dripping from tongue"

[PatrickG]

The catlip makes it creepier for me.

"In a world where mankind has placed self greed and material worth over morality and justice -- The entertaining values of TightLip exist to point and guide your imagination to reality."

Hm. Well, their values certainly are entertaining from the right angle...

[TomStillwell]

again and also WEIRD considering that the term "Tight Lip" doesn't bring to mind "open mouth with drool dripping from tongue"

Maybe it does in the reality Olney lives in.

[Cam63]

"Let's make people vomit!", possibly.

I've just seen the site.

It's not quite vomit inducing, but I've got a cast iron gut.

[Larry Dixon]

...but I've got a cast iron gut.

I thought that it was aluminium-plated, from all the decades of close beer-can exposure.

[Cam63]

I only drink from bottles, yer heathen !

[Rob on the Job]

This thread depresses me.

I feel sorry for people like Gail and Larry, who have been hosed by flim-flam men.

It's rancid.

[Dreadstar]

Rick Olney... is this the next evolution of J-Bolt, what he might become if he actually did something?

[Cam63]

But at least they came out the wiser.

Poorer, but wiser.

That's a good... thing...

Hmm...

OK, who wants to go fracture some patellas ?

[Larry Dixon]

I feel sorry for people like Gail and Larry, who have been hosed by flim-flam men.

Don't!

There are SO MANY BETTER reasons to feel sorry for us!

-laugh-

[PatrickG]

Rick Olney... is this the next evolution of J-Bolt, what he might become if he actually did something?

I dunno. Sounds like a lousy tradeoff to me if he's doing more but stiffing more people.

I never heard any indication that J-Bolt owed anyone more than $50.

Anything a person does gets canceled out, IMO, if they're stiffing people hundreds of dollars in order to do it.

[MacQuarrie]

I never heard any indication that J-Bolt owed anyone more than $50.
There were some artists or colorists who allegedly got burned, but I don't have the details. The only confirmed case was $20, but that one was eventually resolved. Unless you want to count people who did thousands of dollars worth of work knowing they most likely wouldn't get paid, simply because they're nice people. A certain web designer comes to mind.

[matterconsumer]

One huge difference between J-Bolt and Olney is that J-Bolt brought hours of entertainment value...

[PatrickG]

There were some artists or colorists who allegedly got burned, but I don't have the details. The only confirmed case was $20, but that one was eventually resolved. Unless you want to count people who did thousands of dollars worth of work knowing they most likely wouldn't get paid, simply because they're nice people. A certain web designer comes to mind.

Still a world of difference, IMO, and vastly unfair to J-Bolt. (Where is he now?)

Although, in all honesty, both scenarios probably involve more incompetence than fraud.

The difference seems to be that Olney doesn't have a plan for where the money will come from and I honestly believe that J-Bolt believed in his plans and didn't understand the illegalities or infeasibilities of some of them.

I sincerely don't believe either are grifters based on what I've seen. J-Bolt needed advice that he wasn't able to process/take. Whereas it seems to me that Olney might well believe in some kind of strange serendipity that will make everything fall into place.

Olney, in turn, brings this to mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QACSo5xk3dE

[Cam63]

One huge difference between J-Bolt and Olney is that J-Bolt brought hours of entertainment value...

'More like " months of entertainment value ", Matt.

[Gail Simone]

One big difference is that J-bolt CAN draw...Olney can't write a sentence in English with both hands and a Mixmaster.

Gail

[Cam63]

Hmm... OK, I have to give that a try.

*Runs off to kitchen while cat shakes head sadly and pulls on overalls and goggles*

[TomStillwell]

I sincerely don't believe either are grifters based on what I've seen.

What would call someone who agrees to pay a person for work and knows beforehand that he has no way of paying that individual, instead using out right deception to conceal that payment will never come?

The law calls that fraud.

Now you can argue that Olney really has good intentions but bad planning all you like. The facts and countless experiences of people like Gail, Ronee, Chuck Dixon say otherwise.

This the same guy who led people to believe there was going to be a Mighty Mini-Con this year despite the fact he had never booked a venue. Again, that's fraud.

Now while J-Bolt may not the same caliber of fraud as Olney, he has knowingly used deception from the start and continues to do so.

These guys baffle me. I'm running my little rinky dink publishing company here and I can't believe that from the ground floor up these guys started the deceptions. If nobody likes my work, if no one buys another comic book from me, I can still hold my head high and say that anyone who dealt with me was treated with fairness and honesty. That my yes meant yes, and my no meant no, as the Bible puts it.

If you don't have a good name what else matters? Nothing.

[Spike-X]

J-Bolt needed advice that he wasn't able to process/take.

Such as "You need to actually produce a comic"?

[Crowley]

in a perfect world Olney would have hired J-Bolt as his PR agent and Pat Lee as his artist.

[matterconsumer]

'More like " months of entertainment value ",

Guess we read at different rates :)

[matterconsumer]

One big difference is that J-bolt CAN draw...Olney can't write a sentence in English with both hands and a Mixmaster.

Gail

It's amazing to me that he continues to send you emails...where did he get the idea that more makes it better...

[matterconsumer]

Now while J-Bolt may not the same caliber of fraud as Olney, he has knowingly used deception from the start and continues to do so.

These guys baffle me. I'm running my little rinky dink publishing company here and I can't believe that from the ground floor up these guys started the deceptions. If nobody likes my work, if no one buys another comic book from me, I can still hold my head high and say that anyone who dealt with me was treated with fairness and honesty. That my yes meant yes, and my no meant no, as the Bible puts it.

If you don't have a good name what else matters? Nothing.

That's a good way to be.

Over time J-Bolt was so unbelievable in his schemes that no one was going to fall for them.

[EdContradictory]

Gail Simone is un-patriotic because she doesn't like Rick Olney! She also apparently supports illegal immigration for the same reason! (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59528410&blogID=205803144&MyToken=115fcf16-7ef0-465a-a4b3-fe731e00b761)

This was the kind of thing I was talking about before (but with gun control). He'll start on one topic then go off on this other one, that really has nothing to do with the other, but in his mind, because Gail is a bad person, she also is in favor of other things he doesn't like.

[Crowley]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/orcafresh/phphBrbBwPM.jpg

gah... So wrong on SOOOO many levels...

time to start photoshopping in "from Rick Olney and the screwed Talent of Tightlip Entertainment"

[Charles RB]

Based on that pic, the talent remaining with Olney consists of one extremely stoned woman.

[Crowley]

who has one refrain:
"People suck!!"

[Gail Simone]

If the people are lying deadbeats, then yes, people suck!

But yeah...the person who drew that might have talent, but HOLY SHIT it's a bizarre image. What the hell is the kid on the right DOING?

Gail

[Gail Simone]

I've been getting letters for weeks now from people who claim to have been abused financially by Rick Olney. I had originally thought, maybe the way he treated me was an anomoly, but it certainly appears to have been a long-running pattern, and as of yet, i haven't found a single person who has come forth to say he paid on time as promised. That seems very odd. Fortunately, even more of these folks are coming forward. At least we now know that all his NDA paranoia was for a good reason.

Guys like Rick Olney take advantage of people's trust and then fail to keep their promises, and then threaten to sue when the people he mistreated go public.

Fortunately, there are very few of HIM and people like the Zeus Comics guys and the Toronto Paradise con guys and the Emerald City con guys more than make up for it with their professionalism and integrity.

Gail

[hellokittykat]

If the people are lying deadbeats, then yes, people suck!

But yeah...the person who drew that might have talent, but HOLY SHIT it's a bizarre image. What the hell is the kid on the right DOING?

Gail

I think he's holding a breast implant.

[hellokittykat]

Also Happy 'Holiday's'? Guess he doesn't pay for proof reading either.

[Gail Simone]

As we say, "Shave off the serial numbers," Gail... meaning... you'll encounter pretty much the same thing, wherever you go. My heart's with you on this. Been there.

Earlier this year I did my 219th appearance as a Guest (or GoH) at a convention. Guys like this have been trouble in conventions and fandoms since I started 23 years ago, and from what I've learned from folks before me, they were there in the 70s and 60s too. Misty & I have gotten stiffed by cons, writers-workshops, and professional organizations, too. Sometimes it's gotten flipped into us being difficult or weird, though everyone who's worked with us on con-coms knows we deserve our reputations as congenial, level and fun people.

Think of it as schoolyard politics writ larger---yet still absurdly petty.

And, yeah, to be philosophical, this is part of what makes a seasoned pro. I agree. It is also part of what can make a pro into a bitter, hateful wackaloon if that's what they're inclined towards. Our industries are full of'em---great talents ground down into sharp chisels of rage and spite, by the bad experiences they can't reconcile and move beyond.

My advice for coping with these situations is, as always, do it for the fans. Sometimes you have to swallow a bug and keep smiling, because at just the right time, in just the right place, being good and friendly to someone might change their life. If you miss that moment because you're sour over some lousy schoolyard politics and money, then it's a small problem turned into a pretty big loss, I reckon.

We have the best jobs in the world because we get to be not only creative, but effective. We can change peoples' lives for the better by offering them stories that give insights and laughs and observations about the universe and human nature.

If scummy people harsh your mellow and take the focus off of that they don't just rob you of your personal wellbeing, they rob you of your groove. Thus, Grinch-like, they take away the cool vibe of your job because they kneecapped your muse and jammed your signal. And that (to me, unforgivably) ultimately takes something away from the fans, who would probably have dug what you might've done if these dickless wonders hadn't screwed with you and brought you down.

But you're smart. And you're you. You probably knew that already in your heart-of-hearts. For now, it's time for ice cream and a big grin to all the folks who treat you right. Don't let the bad guys take away who you really are, even a smidge.


That's fine advice, and that IS the reason I do conventions when otherwise, I'm really more of a stay at home, private person. For the readers. Seems like the least I can do and I do really enjoy meeting them (and fellow creators).

But this guy is mistreating a LOT of people and threatening them. And I refuse to back down just because he threatens me.

Gail

[Crowley]

What the hell is the kid on the right DOING?

Gail

dunno, but he apparently has blue balls...

[Karen El]

I've been trying to keep positive about the current situation I'm in, but I need to blow off a little steam, and this seems an appropriate spot, somehow.

I've been trying to get the money I'm owed for the Planet Karen minicomic. It's not a huge amount in the great scheme of things, but for someone who can barely cover her rent each month it would mean I could have a nice Christmas. I may yet see some money but the chances of it happening in time for the holiday are vanishing fast. The thing that had me bashing my head against the wall was the last email I recieved.

Having suggested that after four months it would be nice if I was paid, I was expecting some kind of breakdown of costs and profits so I'd know what the situation was (bear in mind that I know from other sources that all the comics have now been sold). What I got was "let me know how much you feel you are owed and I'll see what I can do." (underlining mine)

I was so angry and frustrated at the idea that my payment for work I'd done should be based on my feelings about it rather than any factual information that I only just now noticed that he ends with "I'll see what I can do".

I need to go bash my head against a wall some more now.

[Red Jack]

I've been trying to keep positive about the current situation I'm in, but I need to blow off a little steam, and this seems an appropriate spot, somehow.

I've been trying to get the money I'm owed for the Planet Karen minicomic. It's not a huge amount in the great scheme of things, but for someone who can barely cover her rent each month it would mean I could have a nice Christmas. I may yet see some money but the chances of it happening in time for the holiday are vanishing fast. The thing that had me bashing my head against the wall was the last email I recieved.

Having suggested that after four months it would be nice if I was paid, I was expecting some kind of breakdown of costs and profits so I'd know what the situation was (bear in mind that I know from other sources that all the comics have now been sold). What I got was "let me know how much you feel you are owed and I'll see what I can do." (underlining mine)

I was so angry and frustrated at the idea that my payment for work I'd done should be based on my feelings about it rather than any factual information that I only just now noticed that he ends with "I'll see what I can do".

I need to go bash my head against a wall some more now.

I know exactly how you feel.

[Gail Simone]

I've been trying to keep positive about the current situation I'm in, but I need to blow off a little steam, and this seems an appropriate spot, somehow.

I've been trying to get the money I'm owed for the Planet Karen minicomic. It's not a huge amount in the great scheme of things, but for someone who can barely cover her rent each month it would mean I could have a nice Christmas. I may yet see some money but the chances of it happening in time for the holiday are vanishing fast. The thing that had me bashing my head against the wall was the last email I recieved.

Having suggested that after four months it would be nice if I was paid, I was expecting some kind of breakdown of costs and profits so I'd know what the situation was (bear in mind that I know from other sources that all the comics have now been sold). What I got was "let me know how much you feel you are owed and I'll see what I can do." (underlining mine)

I was so angry and frustrated at the idea that my payment for work I'd done should be based on my feelings about it rather than any factual information that I only just now noticed that he ends with "I'll see what I can do".

I need to go bash my head against a wall some more now.



WHO SAID THAT?

See, this pisses me off, they think YOUR money is THEIR money and they're doing you a huge favor. SCREW that.

Who said this? I want to make sure I NEVER work for them in any capacity.

Gail

[Crowley]

So from Olney to English translations:

TightLip= open mouthed logo with tongue drooling and people speaking out about how they've not been paid.

OrcaFresh=
Organized Readers of Comics Associated (ORCA):
which has a link to this:
http://www.orcafresh.net/
So "fresh"= 2003 is the last update
"organized"= broken links to old CrossGen ads

[Cam63]

I'm sorry to read about your financial situation, Karen.

Hopefully, the law will make them pay, seeing they don't seem to have much of a conscience.

...Oh and after viewing Olney's website and blog, I'm surprised he has any business.... or friends.

[Shades0077]

And yes, I have a pen name. I'm sorry that seems to baffle and confuse you. It takes a complete lack of understanding of publishing history to be so ASTONISHED by something so banal, but as you're so desperately trying to blame others for your repeated failures, I understand you don't have much to work with. Here's something for free...I also wear corrective lenses sometimes. OH, MY GOODNESS!

Gail Simone is a pen name?

[Crowley]

I'm sorry to read about your financial situation, Karen.

Hopefully, the law will make them pay, seeing they don't seem to have much of a conscience.

...Oh and after viewing Olney's website and blog, I'm surprised he has any business.... or friends.

I especially love the part in his blog where he claims he inspired a Star Wars character.

[Charles RB]

I especially love the part in his blog where he claims he inspired a Star Wars character.

Well, at least someone's taking responsibility for Jar-Jar.

[Cam63]

I especially love the part in his blog where he claims he inspired a Star Wars character.

Dicboah of Sukkobar.

Hey, coming up with Star Wars character names is shit easy.

[Cam63]

Well, at least someone's taking responsibility for Jar-Jar.

No, Geeeorge already admitted to that particular crime.

[Ronée]

I have now been told that because he neglected to secure a contract or NDA from me (said we didnt need one) that he cannot pay me.

Of course this is after he sent me checks that got lost in the mail... (more than once)

[Lester C.]

I have now been told that because he neglected to secure a contract or NDA from me (said we didnt need one) that he cannot pay me.

Of course this is after he sent me checks that got lost in the mail... (more than once)

Did you save your emails, messages, etc? In them he may have admitted that you had an oral contract or an arraignment of some sort. A written contract is only one type of binding agreement, as there are others.

[Jared_Humpherys]

Gail Simone is a pen name?

Well, she has to maintain her secret identity as a hairdresser some time, y'know.

What a scumbag this guy is. Sorry to all who've had to deal with his B.S.

As for me, I can barely stand reading his blog. He's like a lovechild of J-Bolt at his worst and Samurai, on crack.

[Cam63]

I have now been told that because he neglected to secure a contract or NDA from me (said we didnt need one) that he cannot pay me.

Of course this is after he sent me checks that got lost in the mail... (more than once)

He needs to go down.

Badly.

[Cam63]

As for me, I can barely stand reading his blog. He's like a lovechild of J-Bolt at his worst and Samurai, on crack.

I had trouble making it through two paragraphs.

The guy's writing skills suck.

[DuelaDent]

Some of you might be aware that the ONLY bad experience I've ever had at a convention, or with a publisher, either, was with Rick Olney, of 'Tightlip' entertainment.

Rick's got a LOOOOOOONG history of meltdowns on the internet. People have some hilarious stories about him, and I doubt none of them. The guy is, to be kind, odd as hell.

He's one of those guys that talk about honor and integrity as if he were the only one that has those qualities, despite regularly being in the middle of serious ethical problems such as repeatedly not paying people when promised.

He talked me into paying my own way to his 'convention (which was a nightmare, but I felt bad for him at the time), to be reimbursed before I actually left home.

That was a lie.

Then I was to be paid when I got there.

That was a lie.

Then I was to be paid immediately after (the check would 'beat me home,' he said.

That was a lie.

You get the picture. My mom was in the hospital and I needed to be reimbursed. Rick's defenses got angrier and more bizarre, but I tried to work with him and be polite for a long time. Finally I got the bulk of the payment, months after being promised. But the remainder, a hundred dollars by his account, he continued to lie about, 'til after TWO YEARS (I kid you not), I finally told him to keep it, I didn't want it anymore and I never wanted to deal with his bizarre excuses again.

Lesson learned, right? Now I get lots of references from people I trust for every small con I attend, and have never had another problem, not one. Every other con I've gone to has been well-run and extremely honest in their dealings with me.

Anyway, Rick, who fancies himself a huge wheel in comics (for reasons that are beyond me even though he spent hours talking about himself after the con), decided to start a comics company called Tightlip Entertainment. Predictably, he isn't paying people when promised. They were supposed to be paid in fifteen days, but haven't been paid yet and it's months later. Pros with sterling reputations for honesty and professionalism have not only not been paid, but are being threatened with lawsuits by Rick Olney for having the 'disloyalty' to speak out, so other creators won't be taken in.

A more repulsive display of unprofessionalism I can't imagine.

Anyway, there's more, a lot more. I've spoken out, and Rick has repeatedly threatened to sue me. Hilariously, I have saved every email he ever sent me (once I realized he wasn't trustworthy), and in his own words, he lies to me over and over again.

I was willing to let the matter die. It was worth it to be rid of him. But I am furious that he has not only not paid these hard-working professionals whose only crime is trusting Olney, but that he's threatening them all with lawsuits when HE is the one who broke the agreement and acted in bad faith.

He's got a Myspace page, mostly about how great he is. It had some hilarious stuff on it, but he's mostly deleted that. Still, check out his blog at

myspace.com/orcafresh

I keep getting email from other people who have been stiffed by him, and now he's lost Ronee Burgois, one of the kindest and most generous people I've ever met, and Rick's former PR manager. The reason? Surprise surprise, he hasn't paid her in seven months.


Anyway, there's this kind of funny thing...he posts these rants about how everyone's out to get him, poor thing, and this one woman, who may be perfectly nice, for all I know, says over and over, "People suck!"

Anyway, here's the response he won't put up on his blog, from me.

"Lying deadbeats suck, I'll agree with that.

People like Rick prey on people's good intentions and honesty and then they cry 'victim' when people speak up. Boo hoo.

You keep calling me a liar, Rick. Where have I lied? Show me one place. What I said was you lied to me about paying me, which you did and you damn well know it, many, many times. Why continue lying about something we both know to be the truth? Where in the world do you come off not keeping your word AND pretending to be a victim?

What I've said was you lied to me repeatedly about payment, and you're doing much worse now, and now you've betrayed poor Ronee, one of your last few defenders. You gonna threaten to sue her, too?

I keep saying, bring it on. I can prove everything I say with your own words. YOU lied, YOU stiffed all those people and you're still doing it. Bring. It. On. You threaten all the people you've betrayed and mistreated...maybe if you kept your word once in a while people wouldn't HAVE such a low opinion of you.

This lady who keeps saying 'people suck' is wrong. MOST of them are honest and decent. It's YOU who are the exception.

And yes, I have a pen name. I'm sorry that seems to baffle and confuse you. It takes a complete lack of understanding of publishing history to be so ASTONISHED by something so banal, but as you're so desperately trying to blame others for your repeated failures, I understand you don't have much to work with. Here's something for free...I also wear corrective lenses sometimes. OH, MY GOODNESS!

Pay Chuck. Pay Val. Pay Ronee. Pay the other people who are afraid to speak in public (and quit using them as examples of happy employees--trust me, they ain't happy with you at all). Quit threatening them. Quit trying to blame THEM for your poor business practices and dishonest responses to their legitimate complaints.

Then you'll have a chance to talk again about your 'honor.' Right now, that is a devalued commodity around your company.


Gail"

Not paying people for the services they rendered is bullshit.

Rick is an ass-bag. :mad:

[Cam63]

Not paying people for the services they rendered is bullshit.

Rick is an ass-bag. :mad:

He's a pair hipster jeans ?

[MichaelNetzer]

http://michaelnetzer.com/rEvolution/index.php

Mike Netzer, one of the most talented artists in comics and definitely one of the most interesting voices the industry has, has had enough of people like Rick Olney, and says so, loudly.

Thanks, Mike.

Gail

Thank you, Gail, for the kind words. Supporting such a cause in the good company of outspoken voices and distinct talent is thanks enough in itself.

I've had several correspondences with Rick after the last one he posted and it's come to a dead end. I've done what I could to explain the gravity of what he's done and how he's perceived by it. He ignores it all and seems to be hell bent on pursuing litigation, defaming his victims and wallowing in the publicity he's receiving. You might have noticed his latest remarks directed at you on his blog. Venomous muck masking itself as patriotic hypocracy.

It's unclear how any lawyer would advise him that he has a legal issue when most of the parties involved didn't sign an NDA, and some not even the contracts. It seems more like a lot of hot air and empty threats, which is very complimentary to his true character, though time will tell.

[MichaelNetzer]

I have now been told that because he neglected to secure a contract or NDA from me (said we didnt need one) that he cannot pay me.

Of course this is after he sent me checks that got lost in the mail... (more than once)

It's good to see you out of there, Ronée, especially with such a graceful exit. You have nothing to regret as far as your own decision to work with him. The losses will come back to you in another way.

[OzBat!]

Gail Simone is un-patriotic because she doesn't like Rick Olney! She also apparently supports illegal immigration for the same reason! (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59528410&blogID=205803144&MyToken=115fcf16-7ef0-465a-a4b3-fe731e00b761)I think somebody has been indulging in the eggnog a little early... that has to be the most unfocussed rant I've read in a lonnnnnnnng time!

[PatrickG]

So "Gail Simone" is a pen name?

I DON'T see how that's any indictment against Gail's character as it IS a common enough device.

Hm. I know several comics types who use abbreviations of their name or pen names and, honestly, I've thought for awhile that several pros ARE using pen names.

Like Mark Waid. Not to sound conspiratorial but I don't know of any Waids in Alabama and most of the names around these parts tend to be fairly common. I've often thought, upon seeing the name, that it's evocative of "Mark Twain" (also a famous pseudonym).

But in the end, it doesn't matter that Twain, Shakespeare, Waid or Simone are (or MIGHT be) pseudonyms as it's the professional who goes by the name that I'm a fan of and the name suits my purposes. There's nothing dishonorable there as Olny seems to infer.

[Lester C.]

Not paying people for the services they rendered is bullshit.

Rick is an ass-bag. :mad:

Ass-bag. I like it. I'm going to use it in a sentence now. Hey Stacy is an ass-bag. I'm hip.:cool:

[Lester C.]

I think somebody has been indulging in the eggnog a little early... that has to be the most unfocussed rant I've read in a lonnnnnnnng time!

Someone hasn't been reading my posts on why Creote is a heterosexual sex machine that's having sex with Zinda!:mad:

[heystacy]

Ass-bag. I like it. I'm going to use it in a sentence now. Hey Stacy is an ass-bag. I'm hip.:cool:

Yeah, you're hip. :rolleyes:

As hip as two weeks old roadkill! :eek:

[Lester C.]

Yeah, you're hip. :rolleyes:

As hip as two weeks old roadkill! :eek:
And this is why you are a Yuppie latte drinking ass-bag. Speaking of which what does bag add to the insult. I get calling someone an ass, but what does adding a hypen and bag give the insult that extra little zing? And I'm still hip.:cool:

[DocAbsurd]

I've kept my mouth shut about all this. I stuck beside Rick when it seemed like his life was going to hell without the advantage of a handbasket. I remained his friend during all his losses. We've talked on a regular basis for years now, and I've tried desperately to get him to calm down. I remained a sounding board for his half of the story. But, just like Ronee said, it's pointless defending someone who's carrying sticks of dynamite across his chest with a defective timer for a fuse.

I wrote toy reviews for his Mighty MiniCon site, including many that never saw print because of the same reason: non-payment. I was promised -- on more than one occasion -- payment for all of them, plus re-imbursement for the toys reviewed. On more than one occasion, I was promised toys in recompense from auctions he was specifically bidding on for that purpose. It's been 2 years since my first review. At this point I don't even remember how much I'm owed.

He approached me earlier this year to form a group that all small press creators could partake in, a chance for them to team-up with other creators on projects that would do nothing but help them promote their work (check out the Independent Creators Coalition link on his MySpace, that's all my ideas contained therein). Due to my own personal circumstances (divorce, sole custody of 2, hunting down the ex for child support, finding permanent employment, etc), I've had to put off igniting any projects despite many requests from many creators. In retrospect I'm glad it happened this way; I honestly have no idea how he'd fund any of the projects I have in mind. And you have no clue how many people said they'd have no involvement if Rick was even marginally involved.

This week was the final straw.

Why he mentioned me specifically in his last rant to Mr Johnston is beyond me. I was never consulted, never asked, and certainly not the notoriety I'd hope for. Granted, there's no love lost between Mr Shires and myself, but that's way back in the past. I have neither need nor desire to re-live any of that.

But that doesn't seem to be part of Rick's concern. While everyone simply must forgive him his transgressions because of his extenuating circumstances, he doesn't feel the need to do the same. I'm very sick right now; even as I'm writing this I'm in excruciating pain which is only going to be made worse when I have to re-visit the ER tomorrow for the follow-up from my visit yesterday. I may even have to miss my daughter's birthday along with both the jobs I'm working on Monday, depending on how painful the procedure is. Yet he had no qualms dragging me into this little tirade.

I'm done now. I'll take my ideas for the ICC elsewhere, work in conjunction with someone who might be able to fund the ideas reliably, and fight like hell to get the money he owes me.




Doc 'All I Can Stands' Absurd

[heystacy]

And this is why you are a Yuppie latte drinking ass-bag. Speaking of which what does bag add to the insult. I get calling someone an ass, but what does adding a hypen and bag give the insult that extra little zing? And I'm still hip.:cool:

Like being an ass-hair is hip.:p

[Cam63]

Like being an ass-hair is hip.:p

It's closer to the anus than the hip.

[Cream Filled Taco]

Gail Simone is a pen name?

You think anyone would take Nancy Whalehumper seriously? Wake up, man!

[heystacy]

It's closer to the anus than the hip.

Yet further proof as to why Lester will never be hip. :D

[Cam63]

You think anyone would take Nancy Whalehumper seriously? Wake up, man!

How about Gertrude Horsfokker ?

[OzBat!]

Someone hasn't been reading my posts on why Creote is a heterosexual sex machine that's having sex with Zinda!:mad:nonono, those are focussed, they're just not very healthily focussed!

Olney's reads like some wild train-of-thought rant derailed at the station, and the only passengers were thoughts of gail, bald eagles and the statue of liberty. None of whom now get on, because gail stepped on their feet and called them all bad names while climbing out of the wreckage!

[Cam63]

Yet further proof as to why Lester will never be hip. :D

It's easier to be an arse.

[heystacy]

It's easier to be an arse.

More or Lesster :D

[Cream Filled Taco]

How about Gertrude Horsfokker ?

Wait, I thought Horsfokker was her maiden name?

[Cam63]

Olney's reads like some wild train-of-thought rant derailed at the station, and the only passengers were thoughts of gail, bald eagles and the statue of liberty. None of whom now get on, because gail stepped on their feet and called them all bad names while climbing out of the wreckage!

That shit happens every other day.

" Gail " should try to be a better person that Mr. Olney would approve of.

[OzBat!]

Doc, I've followed some of your posts on the Comm board, and yet I still didn't have any idea of just how rough you've had it. If Olney had a single shred of decency left, he'd post a grovelling retraction and apology to you immediately.

But apparently, empathy towards pain only goes so far as his own.

Bastiche.

[Cam63]

Wait, I thought Horsfokker was her maiden name?

No, but that's a frequently made mistake.

Clydesdale-Ryder was actually her maiden name.

[Cam63]

Doc, I've followed some of your posts on the Comm board, and yet I still didn't have any idea of just how rough you've had it. If Olney had a single shred of decency left, he'd post a grovelling retraction and apology to you immediately.

But apparently, empathy towards pain only goes so far as his own.

Bastiche.

I think he's a tryer for the 2007 Nobel Piss Prize.

[heystacy]

This Olney guy is off the charts with the craziness. To those who were involved with him, you have my sympathies. Hopefully he will simply be a bad memory, and not a bad aftertaste.

[DocAbsurd]

Doc, I've followed some of your posts on the Comm board, and yet I still didn't have any idea of just how rough you've had it. If Olney had a single shred of decency left, he'd post a grovelling retraction and apology to you immediately.

But apparently, empathy towards pain only goes so far as his own.

Bastiche.

The money I'm owed could have saved me many arguments and several eviction notices from my landlord over the past 2 years. The toys could have saved Christmas this and last year for my Things.

Honestly, the only reason I hung on thru broken promise after broken promise was because I love being creative. I figured it was money in the bank.

Now I realize the bank has been bought out by a conglomerate that has no intention of honoring the 'free toaster with every account' ad.




Doc 'Screw Me Once' Absurd

[Cam63]

Cannibalism is wrong, Stace ( unless your plane crashes in the fuckin' Andes ).

[SUPERECWFAN1]

This is a sad tale and one I was tempted to post last week but stopped. Due to the fact that I didn't know if it was right and all. Because Gail was having problems with him. Hence the thread in Lying in the Gutters.

Its just damn sad Olney would stiff all these workers. I'm sure as hell its more costly to sue people and haul em into court than it would be to pay them. But of course we all realize that it won't happen. :(

[Cam63]

The money I'm owed could have saved me many arguments and several eviction notices from my landlord over the past 2 years. The toys could have saved Christmas this and last year for my Things.

Honestly, the only reason I hung on thru broken promise after broken promise was because I love being creative. I figured it was money in the bank.

Now I realize the bank has been bought out by a conglomerate that has no intention of honoring the 'free toaster with every account' ad.




Doc 'Screw Me Once' Absurd

Good luck in the new year, Doc'.

[DocAbsurd]

That's what kills me.

This litigation has got be costing him a small fortune. Only a true shyster would be giving him such advice as 'fight in court instead of paying them off'. And I know that's exactly what he's being told.

'Course, I also know he realizes that most of us can't afford to take him to court. Which is probably why he's taking this route in the first place.




Doc 'Shyster in My Pocket' Absurd

[heystacy]

Cannibalism is wrong, Stace ( unless your plane crashes in the fuckin' Andes ).

Sometimes it does the job. Oh well. Noboy bites the oily guy!

[OzBat!]

If he has the money to sue, he has the money to pay. My contention is that he probably doesn't have either. He was really good with the gift of the gab for a while, but the constant weaving of tales is coming unravelled and can't hide his poor financial skills anymore. Of course, he can always prove me wrong, by paying some people.

[Cam63]

Can't we just dangle him by the legs over a building ledge ?

The entertainment value is pretty good.

[OzBat!]

You pay for entertainment, and that's not going to help some people suffering because of Olney's actions.

[Charles RB]

If he has the money to sue, he has the money to pay. My contention is that he probably doesn't have either.

If he doesn't have the money to sue, will that stop him from doing it anyway? Coz lack of money hasn't stopped him from anything else...

[SUPERECWFAN1]

That's what kills me.

This litigation has got be costing him a small fortune. Only a true shyster would be giving him such advice as 'fight in court instead of paying them off'. And I know that's exactly what he's being told.

'Course, I also know he realizes that most of us can't afford to take him to court. Which is probably why he's taking this route in the first place.




Doc 'Shyster in My Pocket' Absurd

I think at this point its just " I'm gonna sue " and he knows the talent can't do anything. But I would say that if Gail , Chuck and the others who have claimed they are owed money don't move fast he could ( this is could ) file a bankruptcy and no one will get anything.

[OzBat!]

It would be great if the Comic Defence fund or some similar body could jump in and sue HIM first on behalf of their members. Then we'd see just how much of a love affair with the legal system he has, or how quickly he's able to settle instead.

[Michael P]

It's unclear how any lawyer would advise him that he has a legal issue when most of the parties involved didn't sign an NDA, and some not even the contracts. It seems more like a lot of hot air and empty threats, which is very complimentary to his true character, though time will tell.

I think Rick's lawyer is one of those who has a fool for a client.

[OzBat!]

If he doesn't have the money to sue, will that stop him from doing it anyway? Coz lack of money hasn't stopped him from anything else...He's relying on the bluff. Chuck has already confirmed he never signed an NDA, so it's all noise from Olney, signifying nothing.

[Magneto_X]

I think at this point its just " I'm gonna sue " and he knows the talent can't do anything. But I would say that if Gail , Chuck and the others who have claimed they are owed money don't move fast he could ( this is could ) file a bankruptcy and no one will get anything.

They're not getting anything *anyway*.

What you're suggesting sounds like a class action lawsuit.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

It would be great if the Comic Defence fund or some similar body could jump in and sue HIM first on behalf of their members. Then we'd see just how much of a love affair with the legal system he has, or how quickly he's able to settle instead.

Hmmmm great idea. I wonder if the non-paid have contacted the Comic Defense Fund about it ?

[Cam63]

That's good, but I've got my heart set on dangling him upside down over the ledge of a building.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

They're not getting anything *anyway*.

What you're suggesting sounds like a class action lawsuit.

Yeah....something like that. If a pro had the money to say " Ok if you want a fuckin court battle , your gonna get one. "

[Iangould]

Rick Olney was on my friend list at Comicspace - I used the retailer tag so a lot of creators and publishers have asked to be added.

It gave me a very minor little tingle of pleasure to boot his arse off.

[Ronée]

Doc, I feel for you hun. I'm going through a divorce myself right now and due to not being paid by TightLip I had to find full time employment.... I have easily had the roughest year of my life and when I would inquire about my own payment while being one of the very few still holding on and trying to hold TLE together.. I was made to feel selfish.. as if my problems were never as vast as his. I finally just had enough.

[DocAbsurd]

That's my case, exactly, Ronee. I'm still sore at Mr Shires for dumping me from the SPA during my divorce and I think (in retrospect) Rick used that to his advantage, knowing full well he'd have an enemy of an enemy on his side.

Something musta been kicking the backside of my brain when it came to being so slow in the formation of the ICC. Everyone I've talked to about it loves the idea, but even the ghost of his name sent them scurrying. And I've worked so hard to get him to focus on the creativity and being grateful for them rather than expending unnecessary energy on fighting with every friend he makes. It was like slinging Jell-o against a brick wall.

I honestly had no idea you were getting the same treatment. I'm not surprised, but I am pissed off.

I know he's probably reading this; his ego simply won't let the mere mention of his name pass without some sort of glance. Just as I'm sure he's feeling betrayed. But I didn't screw so many people over and over and over.

And I certainly didn't drag a rundown, haggard, sickly single father into another pointless battle.




Doc 'Line in the Sand' Absurd

[Cam63]

Have a great future, Ron' and Doc.

[Night Swordsman]

I've been getting letters for weeks now from people who claim to have been abused financially by Rick Olney. I had originally thought, maybe the way he treated me was an anomoly, but it certainly appears to have been a long-running pattern, and as of yet, i haven't found a single person who has come forth to say he paid on time as promised. That seems very odd. Fortunately, even more of these folks are coming forward. At least we now know that all his NDA paranoia was for a good reason.

Guys like Rick Olney take advantage of people's trust and then fail to keep their promises, and then threaten to sue when the people he mistreated go public.

Fortunately, there are very few of HIM and people like the Zeus Comics guys and the Toronto Paradise con guys and the Emerald City con guys more than make up for it with their professionalism and integrity.

Gail

I fully agree. I also like to take the time to give a great shout out to Zeus Comics. Richard and his store have shown me more professional courtesy and service than i have had in a VERY long time. I even got my books a day EARLY this week(Friday instead of Saturday). I fully recommend them.

[TomStillwell]

I've been trying to keep positive about the current situation I'm in, but I need to blow off a little steam, and this seems an appropriate spot, somehow.

I've been trying to get the money I'm owed for the Planet Karen minicomic. It's not a huge amount in the great scheme of things, but for someone who can barely cover her rent each month it would mean I could have a nice Christmas. I may yet see some money but the chances of it happening in time for the holiday are vanishing fast. The thing that had me bashing my head against the wall was the last email I recieved.

Having suggested that after four months it would be nice if I was paid, I was expecting some kind of breakdown of costs and profits so I'd know what the situation was (bear in mind that I know from other sources that all the comics have now been sold). What I got was "let me know how much you feel you are owed and I'll see what I can do." (underlining mine)

I was so angry and frustrated at the idea that my payment for work I'd done should be based on my feelings about it rather than any factual information that I only just now noticed that he ends with "I'll see what I can do".

I need to go bash my head against a wall some more now.

Karen, this sucks, but when doing consignment it's been my experience that getting stiffed is normal. So far I've been stiffed by just about every shop that has consigned my books. Only Rich as Zeus has been the epitome of an honest business man for my consignments. Hell, there's two former Eisner winning shops that have been Olneying me for the better part of a year.

I pretty much write off any books for consignment as a loss and figure the exposure is worth it. Distribution for me is such a relief now that I'll no longer need to deal with the shops directly.

I'm really sorry this has happened to you. I just wanted you to know you're not alone.

[OzBat!]

Hell, there's two former Eisner winning shops that have been Olneying me for the better part of a year.If "Rick" IS reading this, I hope he's noticed that he's managed to single-handedly destroy his own reputation to the point where his name is now a verb.

And a damn effective one at that!

[palaeomerus]

If the people are lying deadbeats, then yes, people suck!

But yeah...the person who drew that might have talent, but HOLY SHIT it's a bizarre image. What the hell is the kid on the right DOING?

Gail

He's licking his eye and getting ready to throw a blue orb at the camera. Y'knooo...lahk ye dooo...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/jdonahue62/c92cfea0.jpg

[Ronée]

That's my case, exactly, Ronee. I'm still sore at Mr Shires for dumping me from the SPA during my divorce and I think (in retrospect) Rick used that to his advantage, knowing full well he'd have an enemy of an enemy on his side.

Something musta been kicking the backside of my brain when it came to being so slow in the formation of the ICC. Everyone I've talked to about it loves the idea, but even the ghost of his name sent them scurrying. And I've worked so hard to get him to focus on the creativity and being grateful for them rather than expending unnecessary energy on fighting with every friend he makes. It was like slinging Jell-o against a brick wall.

I honestly had no idea you were getting the same treatment. I'm not surprised, but I am pissed off.

I know he's probably reading this; his ego simply won't let the mere mention of his name pass without some sort of glance. Just as I'm sure he's feeling betrayed. But I didn't screw so many people over and over and over.

And I certainly didn't drag a rundown, haggard, sickly single father into another pointless battle.




Doc 'Line in the Sand' Absurd


Yes he does read everything... he googles his name constantly. I stopped doing that after I got tired of reading crap about me but I couldnt get him to stop doing the same.

No one feels more for these creators than I do... i felt for them all along. And I constantly got emails from people asking me to help, but there was nothing I could do...

As for the Mighty Mini Con.. I helped get that together, the venue was his job however. I know he had some rough times and I felt for him, I still do and that is why I hung in for so long, I wanted to help. He wanted to nix the whole thing a little sooner, I talked him out of it, saying it would truly ruin him, only to have him pull out at the last second and now I feel responsible as well. But there is only so much you can do.

It's a sad situation all around. And what I am owed pales in comparison to so many others, but being newly seperated and approaching divorce, I had my own drama to deal with and I just did not need to keep taking on drama from others, espescially when it also included my lack of payment.

He sees me as a deserter, and wants me to feel guilty about it all but honestly I just had to get away from all this. It saddens me that it ended this way and I doubt I'll try to work in comics again other than agent work, not to mention my column being on extended hiatus. It sucks.

[DocAbsurd]

Yup, my column's been on hiatus since the middle of last year. And I was 'promised' a fresh launch with the new TightLip site. Which also seems to be another 'promise'.

Y'know, hearing your side of the story, it seems like we were both doing the same job. In fact, I was offered the position of PR for the MiniCon last year. Thankfully I turned it down after a couple of months when he never bothered paying for the columns.

So . . . where you taking your column? Do they need someone to write toy reviews?




Doc 'Fishing' Absurd

[Gail Simone]

Listen, I HATE that you guys aren't writing your columns over this. That is worse than any financial fakeouts, in my eyes, to have your writing screwed up over it.

It's not worth it. I hope you both start your columns up immediately. Show your talent!

And no one blames you, Ronee, I swear, everyone knows you have a huge heart, just get that thought out of your mind.

The best thing, honestly, is to extricate yourselves as quickly and completely as possible. A lot of people are rooting for both of you!

Including me and everyone here!

Gail

[kingdom2000]

I belive the crap stories about him and his company for one odd but important reason: those confidentiality agreements. Its not even that he "requires" them, its that they seem to be is may source of defense. He can't seem to defend himself (using the term loosely since he really hasn't explained or defended anything) without mentioning those agreements. Its like you can just tell there is a lawyer whispering in his ear to talk about them. The way he treats the agreement as this shield that protects him pretty much screams that the charges are accurate. I am especially tired of the threats related to the agreements. That is usually the tactics of a cornered bully. He has been called out, knows it and trying to deflect by pointing out a "wrong" that others are committing by speaking of it. As if the comics community is going to care about the minor detail. The more he "defends" himself, the more it seems like the best thing for the industry would be for him to be removed from it.

[Gail Simone]

I want to make this clear. Months after it was promised, Rick did reimburse me for most of the expenses (he never paid for my husband's flight as he claimed, but I never asked him to, either, so I'm sure he's just misremembering that he did). He then came up with a figure to cover the remainder of what he owed (and I stress, I paid the expenses out of my own pocket) and after two full years of excuses and falsehoods, I told him to keep it, I didn't want it any more.

So I'm not owed any money, and I don't want him to keep his word now, four years later. What I care about are Ronee and Val Staples and Chuck Dixon and the others who haven't yet come forward, people who did the work in good faith. That's all. If he pays, good, end of story.

Gail

[Gail Simone]

I belive the crap stories about him and his company for one odd but important reason: those confidentiality agreements. Its not even that he "requires" them, its that they seem to be is may source of defense. He can't seem to defend himself (using the term loosely since he really hasn't explained or defended anything) without mentioning those agreements. Its like you can just tell there is a lawyer whispering in his ear to talk about them. The way he treats the agreement as this shield that protects him pretty much screams that the charges are accurate. I am especially tired of the threats related to the agreements. That is usually the tactics of a cornered bully. He has been called out, knows it and trying to deflect by pointing out a "wrong" that others are committing by speaking of it. As if the comics community is going to care about the minor detail. The more he "defends" himself, the more it seems like the best thing for the industry would be for him to be removed from it.




Bingo. Which, if true, is very disturbing. Even the name, "Tightlip," is odd in light of all the threats.

It's beyond weird.

Gail

[SUPERECWFAN1]

At least Olney hasn't done what MECW John Collins did once. For those who don't remember I believe the story is this. Collins wanted to start a National wrestling company so he folded his indie he ran and renamed it MECW.

Collins then brought in all this talent and ran one show. Just one show...and he stiffed nearly everyone. In fact heres a bunch of news threads on Collins and what guys thought of him. Just go John Collins:MECW and watch the horror stories.Heres one...

http://www.3strandwrestling.com/interact/top10/archives/11.shtml

Collins from what I can remember had some pissed off wrestlers out for him and he even faked a heart attack to get away from them. I wonder if Olney would try a John Collins ?

[Crowley]

I really hope that Ronee, Doc, Chuck and Val can rally these guys:
http://www.cbldf.org/

behind them and plant a firm boot up Olney's sorry ass.

[Gail Simone]

Little Update...My MySpace page appears to have been deleted. This fits Little Ricky's MO, as he's tried similar petty little moves elsewhere when people dared to point out his untruths. Did he succeed this time? Only time will tell! :)

The hilarious thing is...who cares? I mean, this is the best revenge you've got?

It's funny. ;)

Best,

Gail

[Michael P]

Little Update...My MySpace page appears to have been deleted. This fits Little Ricky's MO, as he's tried similar petty little moves elsewhere when people dared to point out his untruths. Did he succeed this time? Only time will tell! :)

The hilarious thing is...who cares? I mean, this is the best revenge you've got?

It's funny. ;)

Best,

Gail

I dunno, I'd hate to have that Tom guy mad at me. I mean, he's on *everyone's* friend list.

;)

[FantomasPR]

Hey, I can see your MySpace place Gail.

[Typo Lad]

Okay, I take it back, tightlip is MUCH worse than the guy I was refering to.

My guy still gets second place though.

[DocAbsurd]

At least Olney hasn't done what MECW John Collins did once. [snip] Collins from what I can remember had some pissed off wrestlers out for him and he even faked a heart attack to get away from them. I wonder if Olney would try a John Collins ?

Just to recount, Rick canceled a show last year because of -- wait for it -- a heart attack. This year's show was canceled because of 3 deaths in his family, which was also why he skipped out on the payments.




Doc 'Ripley' Absurd

[TomStillwell]

Gail, your page is still up.

There's no way Olney could get your site deleted unless you were like selling lemur porn or something.

[Gail Simone]

Yeah, false alarm, my page is back up. Very weird.

Gail

[DocAbsurd]

Oh, thanks for the kind words, Gail. I've tried out my column on my 360 page once, and I think I'm gonna keep it going there until I can find a regular spot for it.




Doc 'Articulated' Absurd

[Gail Simone]

Have you talked to Jonah about it, Doc?

Gail

[Gail Simone]

I should add that Jonah, unlike some people we could name, is incredibly honest and full of integrity. If he promises something, he always delivers.

Gail

[Ronée]

I dunno where Im going to put mine. After ComiXtreme and PopCultureShock.. besides... as Rich likes to point out. I'm controversial at best. lol

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Just to recount, Rick canceled a show last year because of -- wait for it -- a heart attack. This year's show was canceled because of 3 deaths in his family, which was also why he skipped out on the payments.




Doc 'Ripley' Absurd

Ha ha....he's pretty much a comics version of John Collins then. Collins got such a bad name over it , he never tried creating another wrestling company. Word had spread so fast it ruined him.

[MichaelNetzer]

I dunno where Im going to put mine. After ComiXtreme and PopCultureShock.. besides... as Rich likes to point out. I'm controversial at best. lol

You always have a home where you're called a hero. rEvolution.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Olney has always been a pompus, arrogant ass, who was deeply in love with himself and his superior "ethics".

I don't know a thing about his business ethics, other than what I'm reading in this thread and related links, but on his CBR posts he's always presented as an ignorant and pompous ass, and he's defended some pretty indefensible stuff for a guy of supposedly high ethical caliber.

[Gail Simone]

You always have a home where you're called a hero. rEvolution.

Welcome, Michael!

I'm a huge fan of your work, and your defense of the people stiffed by Olney is much, much appreciated!

Gail

[Gail Simone]

I don't know a thing about his business ethics, other than what I'm reading in this thread and related links, but on his CBR posts he's always presented as an ignorant and pompous ass, and he's defended some pretty indefensible stuff for a guy of supposedly high ethical caliber.

That is baffling to me. Most everyone I've met in the industry has been of high ethical caliber, honestly, and yet, it's the guy who DOESN'T have a good history of keeping his word that crows about it all the time.

Gail

[Gail Simone]

I dunno where Im going to put mine. After ComiXtreme and PopCultureShock.. besides... as Rich likes to point out. I'm controversial at best. lol

People like controversy!

And you never know where a column will take you, as is indicated by the name of this forum and the career it built for me so far.

;)

Gail

[Karl J. Barnes]

That is baffling to me. Most everyone I've met in the industry has been of high ethical caliber, honestly, and yet, it's the guy who DOESN'T have a good history of keeping his word that crows about it all the time.

Gail

Isn't that the way though? people that have to tell you that they are honest,good or what have you; generally aren't what they say they are.

[the4thpip]

Does anybody have a link to some Lemur porn yet?

And wow, Mike Netzer only a couple of weeks after Marty Pasko showing up! It's like a Kobra reunion! :D

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Isn't that the way though? people that have to tell you that they are honest,good or what have you; generally aren't what they say they are.

Its pretty much the self praise some use. The way they try and make themselves look awesome. But underneath they are assholes and worse than what they appear. I'm always wary of people who crow about their accomplishments and all.

[JeffreyWKramer]

That is baffling to me. Most everyone I've met in the industry has been of high ethical caliber, honestly, and yet, it's the guy who DOESN'T have a good history of keeping his word that crows about it all the time.

See, here's the funny thing. Up until this thread, I knew virtually nothing about this guy, other than what he posted on CBR under the screen name Orcafresh, but I'm not the least bit surprised to hear that the guy is a world-class douchebag *because* of his posts on CBR.

Keep in mind, I have virtually no first-hand, personal experience with any aspect of the comics industry. I'm a lifelong comics fan that has bought and read a lot of books and gone to a couple of cons (long ago). I sometimes comment on comics, and I pay a minimal amount of attention to the industry news. I've chatted with a few creators here at CBR and on the old newsgroups, and done a minimal bit of email correspondence with a couple creators. That's it.

I knew that the guy that posted under the name Orcafresh was Rick Olney, because he either signed his posts or had his name in his sig - I don't recall which. I also knew, from what he had posted, that he was vaguely involved on some level with the comics industry, but I assumed this was a peripheral involvement at most. After reading this, I recall skimming over some mention in LitG of some of these things involving the guy, but until now, I didn't connect any of that to the guy that was posting under the name Orcafresh.

My impression of Orcafresh was that the guy was a semi-articulate troll. Most of what he posted was entirely forgettable and generally irrelevant to the topic of whatever thread he was posting in. Occasionally he made astoundlingly ignorant statements about political and historical matters, and my primary interacton with him was calling him to task on statements he made on various threads in which he essentially defended things like the historical treatment of American Indians by the US government, and the internment of Japanese-Americans in WW II. He tended to post vague, poorly-worded diatribes, and when you called him on the bullhsit he was spouting, or asked him to actually provide support for any of his assertions, he'd either fail to respond or - occasionally - emit some rant that more or less suggested that anyone who felt the US Government was capable of bad actions was a traitor and an enemy of freedom. And then he'd drop out of the thread, only to remerge elsewhere, later, spouting other unpleasant stuff. Sort of like a persistent acne condition.

So, again, while until today I didn't really know squat about the guy's business practices, I'm not at all surprised to find out they are dishonest ones. It's sort of like finding out that a Klansman is also a tax cheat that abuses his wife and kids. Anyone who believes some of the stuff he apparently believes, it would be more surprising if he *was* a moral and honest person.

[shanejayell]

I'm seriously wondering about this guy's connection to reality, considering his crowing about how good he is and his scummy actions. Either that or he's just a complete nypocrite.

[Michael P]

See, here's the funny thing. Up until this thread, I knew virtually nothing about this guy, other than what he posted on CBR under the screen name Orcafresh, but I'm not the least bit surprised to hear that the guy is a world-class douchebag *because* of his posts on CBR.

Keep in mind, I have virtually no first-hand, personal experience with any aspect of the comics industry. I'm a lifelong comics fan that has bought and read a lot of books and gone to a couple of cons (long ago). I sometimes comment on comics, and I pay a minimal amount of attention to the industry news. I've chatted with a few creators here at CBR and on the old newsgroups, and done a minimal bit of email correspondence with a couple creators. That's it.

I knew that the guy that posted under the name Orcafresh was Rick Olney, because he either signed his posts or had his name in his sig - I don't recall which. I also knew, from what he had posted, that he was vaguely involved on some level with the comics industry, but I assumed this was a peripheral involvement at most. After reading this, I recall skimming over some mention in LitG of some of these things involving the guy, but until now, I didn't connect any of that to the guy that was posting under the name Orcafresh.

My impression of Orcafresh was that the guy was a semi-articulate troll. Most of what he posted was entirely forgettable and generally irrelevant to the topic of whatever thread he was posting in. Occasionally he made astoundlingly ignorant statements about political and historical matters, and my primary interacton with him was calling him to task on statements he made on various threads in which he essentially defended things like the historical treatment of American Indians by the US government, and the internment of Japanese-Americans in WW II. He tended to post vague, poorly-worded diatribes, and when you called him on the bullhsit he was spouting, or asked him to actually provide support for any of his assertions, he'd either fail to respond or - occasionally - emit some rant that more or less suggested that anyone who felt the US Government was capable of bad actions was a traitor and an enemy of freedom. And then he'd drop out of the thread, only to remerge elsewhere, later, spouting other unpleasant stuff. Sort of like a persistent acne condition.

So, again, while until today I didn't really know squat about the guy's business practices, I'm not at all surprised to find out they are dishonest ones. It's sort of like finding out that a Klansman is also a tax cheat that abuses his wife and kids. Anyone who believes some of the stuff he apparently believes, it would be more surprising if he *was* a moral and honest person.
It would be cruel to post a search link so people could check out his greatest hits for themselves, wouldn't it?

Yeah, probably.

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/search.php?searchid=2076388

:D

[JeffreyWKramer]

It would be cruel to post a search link so people could check out his greatest hits for themselves, wouldn't it?

Yeah, probably.

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/search.php?searchid=2076388

:D

If I cared enough, it might be amusing to go and see what of his posts on what old threads have survived the various reboots and purges.

I don't really care, though, but kudos still to you, Michael,

[Crowley]

he's still registered here:
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/member.php?u=439

[Ronée]

You always have a home where you're called a hero. rEvolution.Hmmm.... we just may have to talk about this. Thanks, :)

[MichaelNetzer]

Welcome, Michael!

I'm a huge fan of your work, and your defense of the people stiffed by Olney is much, much appreciated!

Gail

Thank you, Gail. I'm a huge fan of your work as well... and also a big fan of your voice in support of the compormised creators. Unlike other such cases, Olney is a small time operator who's rarely followed through with his projects. The sympathy one might naturally have for his personal difficulties has been drowned by the repulsion he evokes with his behavior. A sad blemish on the comics community. But the way Chuck, Val, Ronee and yourself have handled things (along with Rich Johnston breaking the story) is something that the professional community can chalk up to its credit. It's a privelage to pitch in.

[MichaelNetzer]

Hmmm.... we just may have to talk about this. Thanks, :)

Let me know if you're still at the AOL email address... and if not email me through this link (mnetzer@michaelnetzer.com).

[Jeff Brady]

And wow, Mike Netzer only a couple of weeks after Marty Pasko showing up! It's like a Kobra reunion! :D

Mike's been posting in the Comm on & off for a while now. Crawl out from the YABS shell once in a while.

[DocAbsurd]

The sympathy one might naturally have for his personal difficulties has been drowned by the repulsion he evokes with his behavior. A sad blemish on the comics community.

Mr Netzer, you hit the proverbial nail. I personally have listened to -- and sympathized to -- hours of endless tales of sadness. And as I've said, I do feel bad that he had to go thru such emotional trauma. But he milked it for every ounce he could squeeze out. It became not a reason but an excuse.

I know I let a lot of people down during my divorce and adjustment to single fatherhood, but I never promised them payment when so many of them desperately needed it for just surviving the month. And when it all became too much to handle, I explained my situation and slowed down; but I never refused to do whatever work I promised them. I managed to work out a future date.

But the way Chuck, Val, Ronee and yourself have handled things (along with Rich Johnston breaking the story) is something that the professional community can chalk up to its credit.


Which is in complete contrast to how it was handled on the other end. Like I said, I lost it when he dragged my name in without knowledge or permission.

And since I never signed an NDA, I may very well contact Mr Johnston meself.




Doc 'Dirty Rat' Absurd

[MichaelNetzer]

Does anybody have a link to some Lemur porn yet?

And wow, Mike Netzer only a couple of weeks after Marty Pasko showing up! It's like a Kobra reunion! :D

Now that would be really nice. Haven't heard anything about Marty since '79.

About Kobra. It was one of my earlier assignments in comics and I was always impressed by the fanfare he had with DC's readership. Snakes are interesting and fun to work with because you never know from which side they'll come at you. I wouldn't mind seeing him brought back into the present DCU continuity.

[Crowley]

E-mail Rich tonight Doc!
LITG goes out tomorrow.

[Gail Simone]

Thank you, Gail. I'm a huge fan of your work as well... and also a big fan of your voice in support of the compormised creators. Unlike other such cases, Olney is a small time operator who's rarely followed through with his projects. The sympathy one might naturally have for his personal difficulties has been drowned by the repulsion he evokes with his behavior. A sad blemish on the comics community. But the way Chuck, Val, Ronee and yourself have handled things (along with Rich Johnston breaking the story) is something that the professional community can chalk up to its credit. It's a privelage to pitch in.

Yeah. ANYONE would feel sympathy for the death of a parent, certainly. But the repulsive glee with which he threatens to sue people he's mistreated really burns up the empathy meter fast. He's sent me a couple genuinely grotesque emails and posts that have made it very plain that he's got a really vile streak. Too gross to even dignify with repeating.

So, no, not a fan. But yeah, once he pays everyone he's owed, I'm done talking about him and will happily crow it to the world that he finally paid his debts.

I'm not holding my breath.

Gail

[MichaelNetzer]

E-mail Rich tonight Doc!
LITG goes out tomorrow.

Rich is thorough and likely to be keeping an eye on this thread. But yes, Doc, send an email.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Yeah. ANYONE would feel sympathy for the death of a parent, certainly. But the repulsive glee with which he threatens to sue people he's mistreated really burns up the empathy meter fast. He's sent me a couple genuinely grotesque emails and posts that have made it very plain that he's got a really vile streak. Too gross to even dignify with repeating.

So, no, not a fan. But yeah, once he pays everyone he's owed, I'm done talking about him and will happily crow it to the world that he finally paid his debts.

I'm not holding my breath.

Gail


From reading the links to the Dixon board , Rich had I kinda doubt it as well. Its a sad situation . But with Rich breaking it and word spreading fast to talents in the industry I see that he will have a hard time getting others.

[MichaelNetzer]

So, no, not a fan. But yeah, once he pays everyone he's owed, I'm done talking about him and will happily crow it to the world that he finally paid his debts.

I'm not holding my breath.

Gail

That would be the professional response, which is more than he deserves right now. An additional problem with him is that he really has nothing to lose. He doesn't have a thriving enterprise to protect and clearly doesn't care about his reputation. Another publisher that a few freelancers and myself had a similar issue with last year quickly changed his tune when we took him to task for it on a public forum.

This makes it very difficult to apply any pressure on Olney publicly and it's the main reason I've said he's headed for a very bad fall. His reputation will be insalvagable in the comics community, which is his whole world, really. He's made the choice himself though, and there's no way for him to understand how shamefully he's behaved other than to hit rock bottom and lose all the fight he has in him.

That's good enough reason to keep the pressure on... for his sake also.

[DocAbsurd]

Hoo-boy.

I'm gonna do it. Rick said for Mr Johnston to contact me, so let's see how he likes it when the truth back-hand bitch-slaps him upside the head.




Doc 'One Foot in Front of the Other' Absurd

[Lester C.]

This may not be an appropriate place to mention this but Mr. Netzer I'm been a huge fan of yours ever since I picked the Batman/Green Arrow/ Poison Ivy graphic novel you did a long time ago with Denis Oneal. Thank you for your many contributions to my intensely enjoying of your art which has really enrich my life with your dazzling pencils.

[Crowley]

This may not be an appropriate place to mention this but Mr. Netzer I'm been a huge fan of yours ever since I picked the Batman/Green Arrow/ Poison Ivy graphic novel you did a long time ago with Denis Oneal. Thank you for your many contributions to my intensely enjoying of your art which has really enrich my life with your dazzling pencils.

the Poison Tomorrow... one of my favorites as well.

[EdContradictory]

If he has the money to sue, he has the money to pay.

He has no money to sue.

"You'll be hearing from my lawyers" means "I have no money and am desperately threatening you to get you to leave me alone."

[Cam63]

Little Update...My MySpace page appears to have been deleted. This fits Little Ricky's MO, as he's tried similar petty little moves elsewhere when people dared to point out his untruths. Did he succeed this time? Only time will tell! :)

The hilarious thing is...who cares? I mean, this is the best revenge you've got?

It's funny. ;)

Best,

Gail

Sad, sad, sick little man.

I bet the neighbour's kid's sandcastle has been kicked down too.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

He has no money to sue.

"You'll be hearing from my lawyers" means "I have no money and am desperately threatening you to get you to leave me alone."

Pretty much what I'm thinking as well.

[MichaelNetzer]

This may not be an appropriate place to mention this but Mr. Netzer I'm been a huge fan of yours ever since I picked the Batman/Green Arrow/ Poison Ivy graphic novel you did a long time ago with Denis Oneal.

the Poison Tomorrow... one of my favorites as well.

Thank you Lester and Emperor. Apropos an appropriate place, and beyond the slightly flexible netiquette of trying to remain on topic, I am touched by Gail's hospitality and the good spirit here. You are not only a splendidly talented writer and remarkable achiever, Gail, but a graceful friend with a passion for doing the right thing. Your sentiment highlights this holiday season for me and caps off the year with a distinct dignity. Muchas gracias from the bottom of the heart.

[MichaelNetzer]

He has no money to sue.

"You'll be hearing from my lawyers" means "I have no money and am desperately threatening you to get you to leave me alone."

It's possible to think that he could be cunning so as to appear to have no money while in fact is able to maintain a reasonable cash flow. With Onley, though, he's cancelled several conventions in the last two years and is now on a course for self destruction. That's the clincher that he is really flat broke and that your assesment is right on, Ed. Which is all the more sad, actually.

[Cam63]

Fuck, the guy's ex USMC.

I thought honour would mean something to him.

[Gail Simone]

All respect to his military career, honestly.

I don't want bad things to happen to him. I'm not interested in punishing him.

But he needs to pay the people he owes money to. Every other day I'm hearing from someone who he hasn't paid. It's appalling.

Gail

[PatrickG]

Fuck, the guy's ex USMC.

I thought honour would mean something to him.

Did he serve with Micah Wright?

[Crowley]

Did he serve with Micah Wright?

well played Patrick! :D

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Did he serve with Micah Wright?

I'm thinking both may have served with this man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vN__-DMQ70

[Ronée]

Let me know if you're still at the AOL email address... and if not email me through this link (mnetzer@michaelnetzer.com).same address :) You should still have it.

[Matt Algren]

Looking forward to the response to Doc's calling of the bluff. Olney's already edited out a few posts to your myspace, Doc.

Nothing else to add to the thread but a response to this:That is baffling to me. Most everyone I've met in the industry has been of high ethical caliber, honestly, and yet, it's the guy who DOESN'T have a good history of keeping his word that crows about it all the time.

Gail
The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

[DocAbsurd]

I did it. I left a PM for Mr Johnston, telling him that Rick had no right using me a reference when he still owes me money. Haven't heard anything back yet.

Matt, if you've got a MySpace, feel free to add me. Same with Gail, Mr Netzger, and anyone else. Once things settle down around here, I may begin a few revealing blogs of my own.

Oh, I did get your email, Mr Netzger. And I'm still awed by your generosity and kind words. I read what Rick wrote to you when you tried to set him on the straight and narrow and I could never see why the hell he responded the way he did. Lemme mull over the idea a little bit. I'll write you back later today.

And I still haven't heard from Rick.

Or his attorney.




Doc 'No Vultures' Absurd

[MichaelNetzer]

All respect to his military career, honestly.

I don't want bad things to happen to him. I'm not interested in punishing him.

But he needs to pay the people he owes money to. Every other day I'm hearing from someone who he hasn't paid. It's appalling.

Gail

Alternatively in his situation, imagine the difference it would've have made had he not given empty promises and avoided the people he owed money to. If he is in such dire straits and would have tried to be honest instead of playing the big shot... I don't believe anyone would've felt they're being avoided or needed to voice their grievance openly. People would've understood it was bad luck and that he was sincere. Ronee would've either been out of there eartlier or made a decision to help him out of choice. In such a case none of this would've happened and very few people might have known about it. He would've had a chance to pick himself up and concentrate on getting his business operable again and regaining the confidence of those he contracted for work.

Instead, it was promises he had no intention of keeping. Lame excuses and avoiding those he had a responsibility for... which led to their realization they're being had and speaking openly about it in hopes of bringing him to settle things between them. His reaction is to lash back by maligning his victims publicly and threatening them as if they're wrong for wanting justice.

We only want good things to happen to him but it begins by his making good choices, instead of the ones he's making now.

[matterconsumer]

Just as an obvious FYI, legal agreements are binding.

Be careful what you sign. It doesn't matter what sort of person the person is. If you have a legal agreement it has to be honored.

[Gail Simone]

Just as an obvious FYI, legal agreements are binding.

Be careful what you sign. It doesn't matter what sort of person the person is. If you have a legal agreement it has to be honored.

Right, but it works both ways. He has to pay what he owes, as agreed.

Gail

[matterconsumer]

Agreed. I'm not absolving Olney.

I'm just generalizing. If you sign an agreement with someone and discover that they're a bastard you still have to honor the agreement.

[Solaris]

You know, he reminds me a lot of a person we know, who has a financial obligation to us. "Perpetual tragedy, can't seem to get a break, everyone does him wrong, his family treats him like dirt, etc. etc."... and then after we've bent over backwards to help, the broken promises for payment start, and the excuses, and continuing sagas of further tragedies... and of course, outright lies.

It sucks when you encounter people like this, and it's even worse when they owe you money, and instead of being honest with you, lie and start making up lies *about* you. It's even worse when it hits you when *you* are in a tight financial period... and you're seeing your friendship being repaid with lies to and about you. Been there, done that, still in it at the moment.

All I can say is, put the word out, and then follow Larry's advice. In some ways, it's kinda like 911: if you let fear over what terrorists might do curtail your life, you're letting them limit your life. If you let guys like this sour you in making contacts and being kind with other people, it's handing over control of how you express yourself and how you interact with others, to *them.*

There's always bad apples in the barrel. Don't let that keep you from making apple pie---just get rid of the bad one, and keep looking for good ones. :)

[JeffreyWKramer]

Agreed. I'm not absolving Olney.

I'm just generalizing. If you sign an agreement with someone and discover that they're a bastard you still have to honor the agreement.

Generally true, but not universally. It depends on whether the terms of the agreement were legal in the first place.

[matterconsumer]

Generally true, but not universally. It depends on whether the terms of the agreement were legal in the first place.

True. I should have put "legal" in front of agreement. It's what I intended.

[matterconsumer]

and if possible folk should sue Olney for what they're owed...

[MacQuarrie]

Agreed. I'm not absolving Olney.

I'm just generalizing. If you sign an agreement with someone and discover that they're a bastard you still have to honor the agreement.

Not necessarily.

It's a two-way street. If the other guy violates the terms of the contract, it could be null and void.

In any case (and I'm not a lawyer, so don't rely on my advice), A non-disclosure agreement pertains to the particulars and trade secrets of a company, it is not carte blanche permission for one party to be a criminal while muzzling the other. My hunch is that Olney's NDAs, if they exist, would stand up in court like a margarine marital aid in Death Valley.

[kingdom2000]

Just as an obvious FYI, legal agreements are binding.

Be careful what you sign. It doesn't matter what sort of person the person is. If you have a legal agreement it has to be honored.

Legal agreements are only as binding as your lawyer wants them to be. Anything can be contested, no matter how "iron-clad" its percieved to be. The main question is the cost of the fight worth the reward to disrupt a legal agreement and does the person have the will to see it through. If have the money and the will, then can do what you want in legal arenas (see SCO for examples).

[SUPERECWFAN1]

and if possible folk should sue Olney for what they're owed...

Yeah its what I said earlier. But it takes $$$ to do it. I wish the Comic Defense League had something ready in cases like this.

[Cully Hamner]

I blocked him from emailing me at my yahoo.com address, but now he's emailing his weirdnesses to me at MySpace. Anyone know if I can block him from emailing?

Gail

Yeah, I had to block this weirdo from my MySpace page, as well. He started out by commenting on my blog, which admittedly tends toward the political. His comments would tend to be vaguely confrontational, yet with sort of a jovial frosting on them. I like to debate, so I took him on for a while, all in good fun. Eventually, he sort of took to lecturing me about accepting differing points of view, while simultaneously accusing anyone who shares my point of view (read: me) of being a communist. I responded that saying that is like me saying that all conservatives are fascists-- I certainly don't think that, but I was making a point.

That's when he sent me a fairly menacing PM accusing me of calling him a fascist, and telling me what would happen if I said it to his face. That's when I googled him and discovered the depth and breadth of his friggin' craziness, and blocked him.

I still read his blog and his posts on various boards for a laugh, though. This guy's almost more delusional than J-Bolt.

Almost.

I hope Chuck, Val, and the rest get what's rightfully theirs, at some point. And I hope Olney eventually gets what's coming to him, too... like therapy.

[Cully Hamner]

Gail Simone is un-patriotic because she doesn't like Rick Olney! She also apparently supports illegal immigration for the same reason! (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59528410&blogID=205803144&MyToken=115fcf16-7ef0-465a-a4b3-fe731e00b761)

This was the kind of thing I was talking about before (but with gun control). He'll start on one topic then go off on this other one, that really has nothing to do with the other, but in his mind, because Gail is a bad person, she also is in favor of other things he doesn't like.

My favorite part:


Our newly elected Democratic Congress seems to feel that the smart thing in solving the woes of Iraq is to pump another 100,000 thousand to 125,000 thousand troops into that country. Believe me, I didn't vote for that kind of logic. They're talking sending more United States Marines and Army, and there is also talk of (again) taking Army National Guard troops and re-injecting them over there.

Isn't that kind of stupid in leaving our borders even more exposed? What an oppotune time for more illegals to flood America, or for more terrorists to slip across possibly bringing WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION with them. Just how stupid are we?

Yeah, 'cause, you know, we actually use the Army and Marines to police our own borders, rather than the U.S. Border Patrol and the Coast Guard. Just stupid are the rest of us again, Rick?

Isn't this guy supposed to be a Marine?

[DocAbsurd]

Wow.

I'm amazed at how much he kept secret from me during our conversations.

I apologize for everyone he's 'molested' online. I can't help but feel partially responsible. I honestly thought I had convinced him to use better restraint when it came to bantering with other professionals.

Y'know, I've got one of my idols, Fred Hembeck, on my MySpace and I still have yet to work up the nerve to approach him and let him know how much he inspired me when I was deciding on a cartooning bent for my style. I once sat by Joe Staton, another major influence of mine, for 6 hours at a show before I finally turned to him and shook his hand. And when I met you in 2003, Gail, it was easily 4 hours of perusing your table before I could approach you. I hold too much respect for professionals to take as much liberties as he does on a daily basis.

I'm so glad I never got any of his damned NDAs.




Doc 'Loose Lips' Absurd

[matterconsumer]

It's a two-way street. If the other guy violates the terms of the contract, it could be null and void.


Yes that should be the case.

[matterconsumer]

Legal agreements are only as binding as your lawyer wants them to be. Anything can be contested, no matter how "iron-clad" its percieved to be. The main question is the cost of the fight worth the reward to disrupt a legal agreement and does the person have the will to see it through. If have the money and the will, then can do what you want in legal arenas (see SCO for examples).

Yes depending on the situation it may be very difficult to fight someone legally.

However one would wonder how good/effective Olney's legal capability would be.

[matterconsumer]

Yeah its what I said earlier. But it takes $$$ to do it. I wish the Comic Defense League had something ready in cases like this.

Good point.

One or more of the Olney victims would need to approach the CDLF about the situation. Then the CDLF could determine what they would be able to do.

[Cully Hamner]

I apologize for everyone he's 'molested' online. I can't help but feel partially responsible. I honestly thought I had convinced him to use better restraint when it came to bantering with other professionals.

Hey, you've got no need to apologize for him. That last encounter with him was, to me, just an interesting Saturday. No real harm done, certainly not by you.

I have to admit that I'm amused by your comment about his behavior toward "other professionals." I don't think anyone here has accused the guy of actually being a professional, have they? :)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Hey, you've got no need to apologize for him. That last encounter with him was, to me, just an interesting Saturday. No real harm done, certainly not by you.

I have to admit that I'm amused by your comment about his behavior toward "other professionals." I don't think anyone here has accused the guy of actually being a professional, have they? :)

According to this thread he usually preaches on how much of a professional he is. Which leaves me shakin my head in disbelief.

[TomStillwell]

Olney needs some serious psychological help.

Some might say that his issues are an excuse for his behavior.

Poppycock.

If you know you have issues and ignore them, responsibility falls squarely on your own shoulders. Especially if you alienate those who would help you.

[Crowley]

I'm an absolute nobody and Olney has tried 3 times to friend me via Myspace.

Once as Tightlip Entertainment, once as OrcaFresh and once as Rick from TLE...

Blocked all three fuckers...

[JeffreyWKramer]

Whoa, Cully Hamner!

Another of my personal-fave comics pros is here. Cool beyond words.

Yet another cool thing about CBR.

[Gail Simone]

My favorite part:



Yeah, 'cause, you know, we actually use the Army and Marines to police our own borders, rather than the U.S. Border Patrol and the Coast Guard. Just stupid are the rest of us again, Rick?

Isn't this guy supposed to be a Marine?

Hey, Cully! I'm LOVING your recent stuff, by the way.

Yeah, if all the stuff people are sending me about their dealings with him are true, it's a long pattern, not just a recent lapse.

Sad.

Gail, totally unpatriotic

[Night Swordsman]

I also loved Cully's work on Blue Beetle,and will miss him. I also liked what he did on Down as well. And i will try out whatever work he does next.


I honestly never heard of Rick Olney or if i did it was totally unmemorable. But i am also not into the comic book "scene",i BUY comics. I LIKE comics,i READ up about them from time to time,and i participate usually only in comic book talk on THIS forumn,YABS ONLY(I did make a couple posts on Newsarama recently thou...). The worse part is that i can see,from a total outsider point of view,is that no one has YET to start litigation procedures against Rick(Most likely they HAVE,and we do not yet know public records of this,due to lawyers usually telling clients not to discuss impending litigation to people before the trail/meetings/etc.)

If Mr. Olney owes people money,they should collect on it. THAT simple. If Mr. Olney thinks dramatic statements will change that,he is due a reckoning.

[Crowley]

oh Gail... all you have to do to be Patriotic is start posting patriotic images in between posts...
see:

People should have guns... and I love animals... therfore my dog needs a handgun:
http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/American-Eagle-and-Flag-II-Print-C10055018.jpeg
GOD BLESS MERIKA!


http://myspace-024.vo.llnwd.net/01527/42/07/1527637024_s.jpg
LOLZ!
PEOPLE SUCK!

[Magneto_X]

Olney needs some serious psychological help.

Some might say that his issues are an excuse for his behavior.

Poppycock.

If you know you have issues and ignore them, responsibility falls squarely on your own shoulders. Especially if you alienate those who would help you.

Insanity is defined, IIRC, as doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Rick seems to be just that.

He definitely needs a therapist, though.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

oh Gail... all you have to do to be Patriotic is start posting patriotic images in between posts...
see:


I love the " People Suck " situation. Has that girl said more than that ?

[Crowley]

I love the " People Suck " situation. Has that girl said more than that ?

dunno... let's ask her:

http://myspace-024.vo.llnwd.net/01527/42/07/1527637024_s.jpg
PEOPLE SUCK!

Apparently not...

[Larry Dixon]

-rubs his forehead a bit- let me see if I can get the right words for this. I was going to say the same thing on Gail's 'Deadbeats' thread, but I'll pop it in here since it feels appropos.

We know, as writers, that characters---and people---have motives, needs, desires, motivators, and a reactive core personality.

Some years ago, I was bitching to a friend about another friend who for years was, basically, a bum. "Why does he drive other peoples' cars, eat their food, live off their generosity, and mooch on everyone around him?" I griped. "Why doesn't he get a job?"

My friend replied, simply, "That is his job."

I stopped and looked at my friend. He continued, "It is his job. I mean, seriously, look at it. It gets him food, shelter, attention, entertainment and pretty much everything he wants in his life. He has a full belly, transportation, and even though it's usually negative, attention. His misery is never-ending, so he gets the poor-babies and sympathy to satisfy his need for people to make a big deal about him like they care. He gets his three hots and a cot, and all the drama he could ever dream of. Being a leech is his job."

[Gail Simone]

-rubs his forehead a bit- let me see if I can get the right words for this. I was going to say the same thing on Gail's 'Deadbeats' thread, but I'll pop it in here since it feels appropos.

We know, as writers, that characters---and people---have motives, needs, desires, motivators, and a reactive core personality.

Some years ago, I was bitching to a friend about another friend who for years was, basically, a bum. "Why does he drive other peoples' cars, eat their food, live off their generosity, and mooch on everyone around him?" I griped. "Why doesn't he get a job?"

My friend replied, simply, "That is his job."

I stopped and looked at my friend. He continued, "It is his job. I mean, seriously, look at it. It gets him food, shelter, attention, entertainment and pretty much everything he wants in his life. He has a full belly, transportation, and even though it's usually negative, attention. His misery is never-ending, so he gets the poor-babies and sympathy to satisfy his need for people to make a big deal about him like they care. He gets his three hots and a cot, and all the drama he could ever dream of. Being a leech is his job."

Larry, be honest.

Is the 'friend's' name Larry Dixon?

YOU BUM!

:)

I love my portable hard drive thing! THANK YOU!

Gail

[Cam63]

Isn't this guy supposed to be a Marine?

http://www.kfcplainfield.com/tv/gomer4.jpg

OLNEY !!!

[TomStillwell]

oh Gail... all you have to do to be Patriotic is start posting patriotic images in between posts...
see:

Crowley, I love you. Not enough to switch hit, but enough to state my love of your wit and humor.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

http://www.kfcplainfield.com/tv/gomer4.jpg

OLNEY !!!


Heh heh heh...thats funny. :D

[Cully Hamner]

Thanks for the nice words, Gail (and everybody!); I'm loving what you do, too.

But seriously, I got a weird vibe from Olney's very first comment on my blog, and wasn't surprised at all when he eventually tried to be intimidating to me online. I'm not sure what attracted him to me, other than my obvious commie-pinko-liberal-baby-killer-homo-lover-ish-ness. Apparently, I represent everything he thinks is wrong, and he feels it's his duty as an honorable Marine to set ill-thinking, dishonest folks like me straight...

...While bilking people.

BTW, I'll still be around on BB a bit, Night Swordsman. I'm doing all the covers next year, and I'm supposed to do an issue here and there. The main thing I'm doing in '07, though, is gonna be Black Lightning: Year One with Jen Van Meter...

[Gail Simone]

Thanks for the nice words, Gail (and everybody!); I'm loving what you do, too.

But seriously, I got a weird vibe from Olney's very first comment on my blog, and wasn't surprised at all when he eventually tried to be intimidating to me online. I'm not sure what attracted him to me, other than my obvious commie-pinko-liberal-baby-killer-homo-lover-ish-ness. Apparently, I represent everything he thinks is wrong, and he feels it's his duty as an honorable Marine to set ill-thinking, dishonest folks like me straight...

...While bilking people.

BTW, I'll still be around on BB a bit, Night Swordsman. I'm doing all the covers next year, and I'm supposed to do an issue here and there. The main thing I'm doing in '07, though, is gonna be Black Lightning: Year One with Jen Van Meter...


WHAT?

Holy crap, that's awesome! Jen Van Meter is THE most under-rated writer in comics right now, and everything she touches is pure spun gold. I am dead serious, I adore her stuff.

And you're drawing it?

Woohoo!

I love love love Black Lightning, too. Hopefully you can get some Tony Isabella input, as he really deserves to be consulted.

That's gonna be a great book!

Gail

[Ronée]

Just to clarify. I personally have not sought litigation because I HAVE NO MONEY and, given my past with the CBLDF I doubt they will be running over to help me anytime soon.

The chick on his blog is none other than my father's current girlfriend who joined his list cause he was on mine, don't ask me what the hell is going on there I have no clue.

I too... numerous times tried to get him to watch his communications with others, to no avail. I even defended him to Gail more than once in the past and still think that deep down he is a good person who just does not know how to deal with others correctly.... it is a shame really.

Anything I say is being watched and threats are being made but I got where I am by saying what I think and I refuse to stop now.

[Cully Hamner]

WHAT?

Holy crap, that's awesome! Jen Van Meter is THE most under-rated writer in comics right now, and everything she touches is pure spun gold. I am dead serious, I adore her stuff.

And you're drawing it?

Woohoo!

I love love love Black Lightning, too. Hopefully you can get some Tony Isabella input, as he really deserves to be consulted.

That's gonna be a great book!

Gail

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. And as I understand it, Joan has spoken to Tony about it. To what extent, I don't know.

But again, thanks for the kind words.

[Val]

Hey, it's Cully!
I still love droolin' over that He-Man cover you did for MV a few years back.
Sweet sweet stuff.
-------------------------

This whole thing with Rick is unfortunate.
If Rick was apologetic and put together a game plan for his efforts on paying creators, he may have my support.
But he has taken a very different, very unpleasant route.
I just don't understand that approach. Why not do the right thing and save face over time rather than digging a hole in the short term that one can never get out of? :(

Like Gail said, Rick's already in breach of his agreements with non-payment.
And as kingdom2000 pointed out, a legal agreement is only as good as the money one can invest in a lawyer to enforce it.

My NDA with Rick was reviewed long ago by the same legal means I used to sue and win against CrossGen (even though they filed for bankruptcy a few weeks later and we never saw any of those due winnings).
It is doubtful Rick will be taking me to court, just like it is doubtful he'll be paying me.

I hope, at the very least, this keeps other creators informed so we can all move one step away from similar mistakes in the future.
And my big hope is that Rick takes a breather and then does the right thing rather than jeopardizing his future in comics with the path he is currently taking. I'm still prone to forgive and forget if he'll just own up to his mistakes and start making an effort to make everything right for everyone he hasn't paid over time.

And a big thanks to all the support from fans and creators out there, especially Gail. :)
I'm glad I've never been on her bad side. :D

[matterconsumer]

Just to clarify. I personally have not sought litigation because I HAVE NO MONEY and, given my past with the CBLDF I doubt they will be running over to help me anytime soon.

The chick on his blog is none other than my father's current girlfriend who joined his list cause he was on mine, don't ask me what the hell is going on there I have no clue.


Sorry about the CBLDF mention. Trying to be helpful isn't always helpful. Perhaps LegalAid is an option?

As to your father's girlfriend well this situation just gets rougher and sadder.

[matterconsumer]

My NDA with Rick was reviewed long ago by the same legal means I used to sue and win against CrossGen (even though they filed for bankruptcy a few weeks later and we never saw any of those due winnings).
It is doubtful Rick will be taking me to court, just like it is doubtful he'll be paying me.


True he may not pay. But if he has to declare bankruptcy that's a victory. I can understand that some would consider it more trouble than what it's worth or simply not be able to pursue it though.

[MacQuarrie]

I just don't understand that approach. Why not do the right thing and save face over time rather than digging a hole in the short term that one can never get out of? :(
Some people simply do not grasp the Rule of Holes.

We'll go over it one more time for the slow learners....

Rule of Holes: You can not get out of a hole by digging.

As soon as you find you are in one, stop digging. The first step to gettting out of a hole is admitting you are in one. People will happily and eagerly help you get out your hole if you can admit you are in one and have put down the damn shovel already. If you continue to dig while accusing others of having put you in there, others may happily fill in your hole on top of you. If you throw your dirt at them while digging yourself in deeper, they will definitely do so.

Rick, is there any part of this that you don't get?

[matterconsumer]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. And as I understand it, Joan has spoken to Tony about it. To what extent, I don't know.

But again, thanks for the kind words.

It's good that Joan is reaching out. If possible anyone writing BL should "speak" with Tony. At least that's what Tony wants. BL is a bad, bad political mess. It would mean a lot to him.

[Crowley]

Just to clarify. I personally have not sought litigation because I HAVE NO MONEY and, given my past with the CBLDF I doubt they will be running over to help me anytime soon.

The chick on his blog is none other than my father's current girlfriend who joined his list cause he was on mine, don't ask me what the hell is going on there I have no clue.

sorry about that Ronee... I now feel the joke on the prior page was in bad taste...

my apologies.

[Bright-Raven]

Recently I have received four emails jumping me over this whole Rick Olney mess.

Apparently some people mistook some sort of past interaction between Rick Olney and Ian Shires of the Small Press Association as having been positive? This got me attached to the mess in the following manner...

I once was at Ian Shires' Dimestore Productions as a forums member. I stopped going there a long time ago (DocAbsurd probably remembers when I left, because it was about the same time he got dumped from the group), and I have no real formal or informal affiliations with him or his organization.

A Mr. Jack Bertram, current chairman of the Small Press Syndicate, is the gentleman who is using the "Bright Raven" name and is a moderator at Mr. Shires' site. This is to be presumed to be coincidental.

I have sent an email formally requesting Mr. Bertram change the name so as to prevent future confusion. I have had no affiliations to Rick Olney at any time in my career, no formal affiliations to Ian Shires' Small Press Association, and no affiliations with the Small Press Syndicate.

As far as I understand it, Mr. Shires and Mr. Olney do not get along whatsoever and that is their business.

So I hope that clears things up for those who have been emailing me or anybody who might have been wondering. Please, no more emails. I have nothing to do with Rick Olney and I have nothing further to add to the matter.

[Cully Hamner]

It's good that Joan is reaching out. If possible anyone writing BL should "speak" with Tony. At least that's what Tony wants. BL is a bad, bad political mess. It would mean a lot to him.

Like I said, I don't know how far any conversations with Tony went, and I don't know if he's spoken to Jen at all. I do know that Joan took the initiative and called him to let him know what all was going on, and that Tony has publically said that he appreciated that she gave him the respect that he felt others hadn't.

I'm not the writer, though, just the artist, so my influence is limited to that side of things. I'm hoping that he ends up pleased by what we do...

[Typo Lad]

Umn, LBR, can you REALLY stop someone from using a screen name?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Umn, LBR, can you REALLY stop someone from using a screen name?

Thats what I'm thinking as well. Because someone can come along and go " Well tough luck ". Which doesn't make it right anyhow BR.

Ohh and Ronee I'm sorry. I had sadly forgetton about your thing with CBDL.

[AIPman1]

Granted, there's no love lost between Mr Shires and myself, but that's way back in the past. I have neither need nor desire to re-live any of that.

Doc 'All I Can Stands' Absurd

It's a shame too, cause I considered you a friend and wish things were different. I'm sorry that I had to kick you out of the SPA leadership back then, Tim. When things went bad with Olney, it poisoned alot of things. If you won't respond in private, at least you can see that I, here, really wish there was a way to mend that fence.

[Ronée]

Ohh and Ronee I'm sorry. I had sadly forgetton about your thing with CBDL.

Nah, don't sweat it. Still now I feel I did what had to be done at the time and though hindsight is 20/20 and things could have been handled better all over, I have no regrets.

[AIPman1]

Recently I have received four emails jumping me over this whole Rick Olney mess.

Apparently some people mistook some sort of past interaction between Rick Olney and Ian Shires of the Small Press Association as having been positive? This got me attached to the mess in the following manner...

I once was at Ian Shires' Dimestore Productions as a forums member. I stopped going there a long time ago (DocAbsurd probably remembers when I left, because it was about the same time he got dumped from the group), and I have no real formal or informal affiliations with him or his organization.

A Mr. Jack Bertram, current chairman of the Small Press Syndicate, is the gentleman who is using the "Bright Raven" name and is a moderator at Mr. Shires' site. This is to be presumed to be coincidental.

I have sent an email formally requesting Mr. Bertram change the name so as to prevent future confusion. I have had no affiliations to Rick Olney at any time in my career, no formal affiliations to Ian Shires' Small Press Association, and no affiliations with the Small Press Syndicate.

As far as I understand it, Mr. Shires and Mr. Olney do not get along whatsoever and that is their business.

So I hope that clears things up for those who have been emailing me or anybody who might have been wondering. Please, no more emails. I have nothing to do with Rick Olney and I have nothing further to add to the matter.

To confirm: Jack Bertram, who is the leader of the Small Press Syndicate, was using Bright Raven as a moderator of the SPS section of our forum. We will have his name changed soon. We were unaware of the potential controversy of the use of that user name.

What concerns me more is that Louis was appearantly brow-beaten that he is even a member of the Self Publisher Association forums by people due to Rick Olney? Rick Olney was, over 2 years ago, an administrator of the SPA. I invited him in. He spun quite a web. Then, it became nessessary to remove him from the group. Reasons do not matter. I've got absolutely nothing else to say on the matter that others here haven't.

I would love to know what people said to Louis that brought this up and dragged my past association with this guy into the mix. But then again, I have so many other better things to be doing.

Ach, the ghost doth taint...I run from it while I can.

[matterconsumer]

Like I said, I don't know how far any conversations with Tony went, and I don't know if he's spoken to Jen at all. I do know that Joan took the initiative and called him to let him know what all was going on, and that Tony has publically said that he appreciated that she gave him the respect that he felt others hadn't.

I'm not the writer, though, just the artist, so my influence is limited to that side of things. I'm hoping that he ends up pleased by what we do...

Agreed. All the readers will be looking forward to it too.

[TomStillwell]

After looking at the two books in production on Tight Lip's site, I think Olney should change the company's name to Shoebox Entertainment, as in it's a shallow cover for getting his whacked point of view out in comic form.

The Freedom 3 looks like Libereality II.

[Bright-Raven]

I emailed this privately to Ian, but I feel it deserves to be made public also.

What was emailed to me were two emails from personal friends who had seen Rich Johnston's reports on the situation at LYING IN THE GUTTERS, somewhere saw SPA mentioned, went to their forums and saw "Bright Raven", and assuming it was me, emailed me to find out if I was another creator who'd been stiffed and/or what else I knew about the situation.

Another person, a "Tony Nickelby", sent two emails basically trashing me for "siding" with the SPA, Gail, Val, Chuck, et. al. I have chosen to have authorities look into this person for my own reasons.

These emails spurred me to contact Ian privately, apparently in a tone that was misinterpreted as my being angry with him and the SPA.

So let's put that to bed, too. No ill will here. At no time did I suspect either Mr. Shires or Mr. Bertram to be using the "Bright Raven" name improperly or with intent to cause me or my business reputation harm in any way. I merely wanted to nip any further confusion in the bud, as I have been the victim of online identity theft and impersonation attempts at different comic sites and in emails in the past by my ex-girlfriend Christa, who used to post here at CBR as realcat13. (Told you I had my own reasons for looking into this "Tony Nickelby".)

Ian and Jack - I apologize for the rough start and any miscommunications.

Back to the Olney Show....