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

[Matt Doc Martin]

I've been reading but not responding so far. (Hi Rick! I know you're reading)

When I'm not making funny books, I'm a police officer.

Matt Doc Martin:
As far as I know "harrassing" someone isn't against the law. If you haven't made any type of explicit threat of harm to Rick then he can't get you for communicating threats either. By the same token, his telling you he has something for you when you see him at a convention isn't a real threat either. Its way too vague.
Most (if not all) states do have some sort of stalking statute in place, but unless you've done something more than a couple of snide emails or MySpace messages to him, I don't you're gonna qualify. Especially when he has the option to block you from contacting him anymore.
Having said that....even if he did get a magistrate in New York to issue a warrant against you, the most he might get is a misdemeanor charge (based on the little you've communicated here, unless he lies about what has been said/sent to him). Being a misdemeanor, I know of no organization who's going to foot the bill to extradite you from Florida to New York to be tried.
So, in other words, don't sweat it.


And yes, I've butted heads with Rick as well in the past. Good news for me though was that it was a relatively small amount of money and I waited for payment before giving him the work. When payment Wasn't made within a reasonable amount of time (over a year) I was able to sell it to other people.

My changing my location to "Alcatraz Island" aside, I wasn't terribly concerned. I have a friend who is a cop in NYC, and another in NH. "Dick" is a blowhard, nothing more.

[EdContradictory]

"Dick" is a blowhard, nothing more.

Right. I mean, anyone heard from a lawyer, yet?

The fact that he started a new blog for his worthless con and is trying desperately to pretend nothing has happened just screams desperate and pathetic.

[EdContradictory]

But there is an entire world of non-comic reading people out there that would enjoy a comic-book if they only knew they existed. Well, the Mighty MiniCon is that kind of event! We expose the un-exposed!

Does any sane person actually think low readership is attributable to other people not knowing comics actually exist?

[Matt Doc Martin]

Right. I mean, anyone heard from a lawyer, yet?

The fact that he started a new blog for his worthless con and is trying desperately to pretend nothing has happened just screams desperate and pathetic.

Hey now!!!! That has stuff from as recently as 2003!!! A little respect is due, I think. And look how much Gail is smiling!


MMC= We may not be relevant, but we know revisionist history!

[Gail Simone]

I've been reading but not responding so far. (Hi Rick! I know you're reading)

When I'm not making funny books, I'm a police officer.

Matt Doc Martin:
As far as I know "harrassing" someone isn't against the law. If you haven't made any type of explicit threat of harm to Rick then he can't get you for communicating threats either. By the same token, his telling you he has something for you when you see him at a convention isn't a real threat either. Its way too vague.
Most (if not all) states do have some sort of stalking statute in place, but unless you've done something more than a couple of snide emails or MySpace messages to him, I don't you're gonna qualify. Especially when he has the option to block you from contacting him anymore.
Having said that....even if he did get a magistrate in New York to issue a warrant against you, the most he might get is a misdemeanor charge (based on the little you've communicated here, unless he lies about what has been said/sent to him). Being a misdemeanor, I know of no organization who's going to foot the bill to extradite you from Florida to New York to be tried.
So, in other words, don't sweat it.


And yes, I've butted heads with Rick as well in the past. Good news for me though was that it was a relatively small amount of money and I waited for payment before giving him the work. When payment Wasn't made within a reasonable amount of time (over a year) I was able to sell it to other people.

Good lord, another one.

Did Rick Olney ever pay ANYONE?

This goes way, way beyond some temporary health problem into a full-blown pattern of deception going back years. That is just so repulsive.

BLEAH.

Bring on some baby SEALS.

Gail

[Typo Lad]

Dear Mr. Olney.

Please stop exposing yourself.

Thank You.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Jesus did lengthy threads about baby seals? How did I miss that one? It was one of those gnostic gospels, wasn't it?

It was all about getting them to turn the other cheek so they wouldn't see the clubs coming, I think.

And how tasty they are, of course.

[TCJohnson]

Dear Mr. Olney.

Please stop exposing yourself.

Thank You.

Ok, that one really made me laugh out loud.

[Gail Simone]

And, I open my email and have yet ANOTHER person stiffed by Rick.

Guys, listen.

I no longer believe Rick ever had any intention of paying anyone. The pattern is simply too established, too deeply, going back years.

I've gotten a ton of emails from people who have not yet come forward, either because they fear Rick's NDA's, or because they still have some dim hope that he'll pay some portion of what he owes.

You signed the NDA's. You still got stiffed. The NDA excuse is all just Olney bullshit. He did not pay you, HE was the one who broke the agreement.

I believe it's time for you all to come forward. Keeping quiet about Olney's abusive, dishonest practices only allows the possibility that he could do it again, however remote.

I feel for you. I kept quiet for a long time because I felt strongly that dealing with that "man" simply wasn't worth it.

But a lot of people may be suing Rick soon, or taking other legal actions, and it can only help to have the full extent of his dishonesty known. At some point, I feel the creative community owes it to the rest of the group to come forward with their stories for those reasons.

While I appreciate the kind words, don't you think it's time to chime in? No one's asking you to say anything but the truth in your own words, however you see it.

I am completely appalled that, as many people as have shown up here saying they've been cheated, there are so many more who have yet to come forward. You know who you are. I hope you'll consider it.

Best wishes,

Gail

[mroakley]

Well, this thread has CERTAINLY been intriguing. I remember quite well all the "The world's out to get me" discussions I had with Rick.

My name is Martin Oakley, and I commented twice to Rich Johnston on this entire debacle.

I've taken a hiatus from comics due to this crap, and also due to the "one quart shy of a crank case" comment that Rick threw at me. I'm sick of seeing this stuff happening, and sick of being screwed over.

A few comments to different posters:

DOCABSURD: E-mail me if you want, I'd enjoy talking with you again Tim. I forget who else contacted me when I left Rick's employ, but I remember you were one of them.

MARK WAID: You are most certainly a knight in shining armor to many of the creators screwed over. I am only owed $300, and taking from that the $100 I actually (yes I admit) owe Olney, I'm more than happy to declare everything even. It's not worth a small claims court battle for $200 + court costs. I've said my piece.

GAIL AND RONEE: Thank you both for being so stand up about this situation.

IAN: E-mail me man, it's been too long.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are able to do things like this in the comic book industry. Hell, I was nearly one of them but got out before I racked up too many bills. I owe one person money from my failed publishing venture, and he and I have made payment arrangements. Joe, if you're reading, you'll get the money on the 13th of January (this month).

I'm not sure why I decided to post, I said most of what I had to say in the LiTG column a few weeks back. I'm just glad that this is getting attention, so that more people will NOT become screwed by Olney.

Take care all, I'll respond if I can.
--Martin R. Oakley

[TCJohnson]

And, I open my email and have yet ANOTHER person stiffed by Rick.

Guys, listen.

I no longer believe Rick ever had any intention of paying anyone. The pattern is simply too established, too deeply, going back years.

I've gotten a ton of emails from people who have not yet come forward, either because they fear Rick's NDA's, or because they still have some dim hope that he'll pay some portion of what he owes.

You signed the NDA's. You still got stiffed. The NDA excuse is all just Olney bullshit. He did not pay you, HE was the one who broke the agreement.

I believe it's time for you all to come forward. Keeping quiet about Olney's abusive, dishonest practices only allows the possibility that he could do it again, however remote.

I feel for you. I kept quiet for a long time because I felt strongly that dealing with that "man" simply wasn't worth it.

But a lot of people may be suing Rick soon, or taking other legal actions, and it can only help to have the full extent of his dishonesty known. At some point, I feel the creative community owes it to the rest of the group to come forward with their stories for those reasons.

While I appreciate the kind words, don't you think it's time to chime in? No one's asking you to say anything but the truth in your own words, however you see it.

I am completely appalled that, as many people as have shown up here saying they've been cheated, there are so many more who have yet to come forward. You know who you are. I hope you'll consider it.

Best wishes,

Gail

Just because this thread is so jubled with stupid jokes (including all of my jokes), threats and other stuff, maybe we should start a website with just stories of people who got screwed by Olney. A format similiar to the creators response section of WiR. A place where people can state the facts without worrying about Olney derailing it with a meltdown.

[PatrickG]

Does any sane person actually think low readership is attributable to other people not knowing comics actually exist?

To an extent, I'd agree. I know plenty of people who say, "They still publish those things?"

You have to seek them out to find them and so if you want to capture the casual reader market, it does become an issue of awareness.

However, an awareness campaign isn't what you need to do in order to bring back impulse buys.

What you need is a cheap product placed directly under the nose of a casual reader that screams, "Buy me!"

[Matt Doc Martin]

Just because this thread is so jubled with stupid jokes (including all of my jokes), threats and other stuff, maybe we should start a website with just stories of people who got screwed by Olney. A format similiar to the creators response section of WiR. A place where people can state the facts without worrying about Olney derailing it with a meltdown.

And take away from the fun of this thread? No thank you!

[TCJohnson]

MARK WAID: You are most certainly a knight in shining armor to many of the creators screwed over. I am only owed $300, and taking from that the $100 I actually (yes I admit) owe Olney, I'm more than happy to declare everything even. It's not worth a small claims court battle for $200 + court costs. I've said my piece.

I understand where you are coming from, but just a thought: I think one of the reasons Olney has been esculating is because people are saying it is not worth it so he can get away with it. If he thinks he can get away with it because others say it is not worth it, he might do it to others. If he knows what the consequences are, maybe he won't do it to others.

Just a thought, deffinitely wouldn't blame you at all if you said you were just tired of the whole thing.

[TCJohnson]

And take away from the fun of this thread? No thank you!

Oh, not in replace to this thread, in addition. This is too addicitng.