Swipe File: Nick Simmons vs Bleach - Radical Comics Respond

[Rich Johnston]

Rock musician Nick Simmons has been writing and drawing the comic Incarnate for Radical Comics. But some people have seen a few similarities between that book and the successful manga series, Bleach.

Here are a couple of the more... pronounced examples, but there are few other places with other candidates...
















After making enquiries, Radical Comics replied to Bleeding Cool saying;

We at Radical Publishing, Inc. and Radical Comics, Inc. are quite concerned to hear the news surrounding Nick Simmons?s Incarnate Comic Book. We are taking this matter seriously and making efforts now to contact the publishers of the works in question in an effort to resolve this matter. We have halted further production and distribution of the ?Incarnate? comic book and trade paperback until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Rest assured that Radical is taking swift action regarding this matter and will continue in its efforts to maintain the integrity and protect the intellectual property of artists throughout the world whose creative works are the bedrock of our Company and the comic book industry.

In Swipe File we present two or more images that resemble each other to some degree. They may be homages, parodies, ironic appropriations, coincidences or works of the lightbox. We trust you, the reader, to make that judgment yourself. If you are unable to do so, please return your eyes to their maker before any further damage is done. The Swipe File doesn?t judge, it's interested more in the process of creation, how work influences other work, how new work comes from old, and sometimes how the same ideas emerge simultaneously, as if their time has just come. The Swipe File was named after the advertising industry habit where writers and artist collect images and lines they admire to inspire them in their work. It was swiped from the Comic Journal who originally ran this column, as well as the now defunct Swipe Of The Week website.

[kaiho]

Beaten by Xenos.

good thing that people at Radical acknowledge the swipe and don't hide behind their fingers. I wish Marvel would say something about Land's crap ...

[bottleHeD]

Pretty professional on Radical's part! Good for them!

[midusunknown]

Not to mention that the cover was totally in the style of Hellsing. Damn, now I really wish I had bought this all and got it signed by Nick before the Radical response. Better rush to look into this.

[Mike H.]

That's some of the finest talent a lightbox can buy!

[The Xenos]

Yeah, when I first saw it, I thought it was a Hellsing ripoff. It wasn't until a CBR post months ago that someone made the Bleach connection. Looking at it again in the shop, the scythe guy looked familiar too. I didn't think there were more direct traces, then again I don't read Bleach. I'd guess that fans can pick up such panels at least vaguely reading copied works. I know I kept meaning to check out Hellsing for comparison shots but never did.

Then today I saw this livejournal post linked to on an image board and realize it's a lot more than just Alucard and that blonde haired guy in Bleach being ripped off. So I posted it in the comics forum and also forwarded the link to Rich. Though it seems to be exploding all over the internet now.

I must agree that Radical is handling this very well.

[The Xenos]

While not traces, the Hellsing similarities first tipped me off. Someone else just said one character looks like the One Piece character Crocodile with the glasses of Alucard from Hellsing. Someone else said Greed from Full Metal Alchemist, but Crocodile has that scarf like this character does.






And funny enough, someone said that one of his Deviant Art journal posts said

If you steal my artwork, you will pay. In cash.
Spank you very much and good night.

[Mike H.]

That little "poof" sound you just heard while reading the article? That was Nick's comic book career vanishing in a puff of plagiarism.

Or maybe not. I suppose he could always team up with Micah Ian Wright. And maybe Josh Hoopes can do a fill-in from time to time.

I can see the title now: "Disgrace (2) Comics"

[JamieB]

"I suppose he could always team up with Micah Ian Wright."

Uh, DC didn't fire Wright for plagiarism.

[Satandy]

Well I can't say it is strange for a super-rich kid to be lazy and not want to work hard to be successful. Here's to hoping he never works again!