Gail Simone Switches From CBR To Bendis Boards

[BC Blog Poster]

Gail Simone has moved her official message board from Comic Book Resources to the Jinxworld collection of creator forums headed up by Brian Bendis..

Formed at Comic Book Resources alongside her original You'll All Be Sorry column at the site, it's been a popular creator forum for a decade with a large membership and friendships that have lasted the length of its run, as Gail's comics career has grown from strength to strength. It's also notable for the long running threads collecting critiques of Rick Olney, a would-be publisher who owes thousands to comics creators. Naturally, as with any message board there have been a number of moments of crisis and criticism within the board. And I understand that it's a recent ruction that has caused Gail to move her presence from CBR over to Jinxworld, giving her moderators more control over the people who post there.

Many comic creators prefer to choose this kind of control, such as John Byrne and Warren Ellis, not only to create a more conducive online environment for themselves, but also their fans. Although there can be problems when such control end up putting off the very fans who once considered themselves the most devoted.

And one interesting wrinkle is that the Bendis boards are not exactly known for their tolerance of such control. And feature a number of posters who delight in their, shall we say, social divergence. Hell, we have a fair few at Bleeding Cool too. There's no guarantee that Gail will find what she seems to be searching for there. But she has had a prescence for a while and early ructions with Brian Bendis seem to have smoothed over of late into, if anything, good-natured mickey-taking.

There's also a popular thread of opinion that this may be part of Gail's attempt to diversify her publishing options in the future, aligning herself with a board that is full of Marvel or Marvel-identified comic creators. But if that's all it took to get on at Marvel then, well, Tony Lee would have wrangled a spot ten years ago.

Currently there's a delightful honeymoon period as the regulars and newcomers celebrate the arrival. The board's testing time are yet to come... what happens when a Bendis longtimer decides to post something that's seen as terribly offensive? Odds are Bleeding Cool will be back for a return visit...

UPDATE: Gail Simone has addressed this post on a Jinxworld thread saying;

He just went nuts on this. It's completely made up.

And I wrote him about it and he got very testy.

I fricking HATE when he tries to be a mind-reader.

I like Rich. I do, but man, I'm tired of that gossip nonsense.

Just to assure, I didn't go nuts on this, it's not completely made up, I'm not trying to be a mind-reader.

(UPDATE FURTHER)

One informed response chooses to put blame on CBR moderators, and the belief that they tolerate abuse of people identified as common YABS posters, and the banning of certain people from YABS. That Gail instituted a forum policy to not badmouth other CBR boards, taking the high road. And fights that continued as a result. And while Gail says she has no problems with CBR owner Jonah.... no one else is mentioned.

[Mad_Man_Moon]

Does _OM_ post over there? ;-)

[Crowley]

Offensive should be fine. I think hateful is where the line is drawn.

[Gail Simone]

Wow, Rich, this may be your least accurate story ever, holy crap!

"Control" over who posts there? I can ban anyone at my boards any time at CBR, I have always had that option, I just prefer not to use it for the most part. I can modify, edit or delete posts, I just choose not to (I don't think
I have ever censored or edited a post, in my memory, anyways). What 'control' do you think I would have at Brian's that I didn't already have at CBR? If anything, I am giving up some clout because I'm the newbie
at Jinxworld. "Control" is not part of this at all. In that regard, nothing's changed even slightly.

I've been at CBR for ten years, Brian offered me a board several years back and a few recent discussions with CBR mods made me feel that we were diverging somewhat
on philosophy, so we have an amicable departure. My understanding is the board will stay open at CBR, and I think you're being a little harsh to the Benbo, as well. There have
been a couple rank discussions but that happens everywhere and truthfully, the BenBo guys as a group have always been hugely nice. They came through like no other board
when I was helping raise money for Lea Hernandez' fundraising after her house burned, and again when I was raising money for John Ostrander's eye operation.

I have no idea what 'control' you think I have at Brian's that I don't have in greater supply at CBR. You were a mod there, you should know we have the power to edit, delete, temp
ban and permaban. What's left, do you suppose?

Mostly I just wanted a change. I can't leave the furniture in my front room in the same spot for a month and I've been at CBR for over a decade. I'm still friends with Jonah, the board
is still open.

It's just a message board. Why is this even news?

[Rich Johnston]

BTW, I have asked "You Know Who" not to post here.

[Peter J Poole]

It's just a message board. Why is this even news?

It probably isn't. But since when did that ever stop anyone in fandom from hyperventilating?

BTW, I have asked "You Know Who" not to post here.

You control freak you!!!

Cheers

[Rich Johnston]

Wow, Rich, this may be your least accurate story ever, holy crap!

"Control" over who posts there? I can ban anyone at my boards any time at CBR, I have always had that option, I just prefer not to use it for the most part. I can modify, edit or delete posts, I just choose not to (I don't think
I have ever censored or edited a post, in my memory, anyways). What 'control' do you think I would have at Brian's that I didn't already have at CBR? If anything, I am giving up some clout because I'm the newbie
at Jinxworld. "Control" is not part of this at all. In that regard, nothing's changed even slightly.

Last time I checked (and yes it's been a while) CBR restrictions could be local but Jinxworld bans were board wide.

I've been at CBR for ten years, Brian offered me a board several years back and a few recent discussions with CBR mods made me feel that we were diverging somewhat
on philosophy, so we have an amicable departure.

Some people describe it in different terms.

My understanding is the board will stay open at CBR, and I think you're being a little harsh to the Benbo, as well. There have
been a couple rank discussions but that happens everywhere and truthfully, the BenBo guys as a group have always been hugely nice. They came through like no other board
when I was helping raise money for Lea Hernandez' fundraising after her house burned, and again when I was raising money for John Ostrander's eye operation.

I have no idea what 'control' you think I have at Brian's that I don't have in greater supply at CBR. You were a mod there, you should know we have the power to edit, delete, temp
ban and permaban. What's left, do you suppose?

Didn't know I could do it board wide. Again, not like I tried.

Mostly I just wanted a change. I can't leave the furniture in my front room in the same spot for a month and I've been at CBR for over a decade. I'm still friends with Jonah, the board
is still open.

It's just a message board. Why is this even news?

Welcome to the internet.

[Peter J Poole]

Offensive should be fine. I think hateful is where the line is drawn.

LOL... your credible deniability as not being in Gail's entourage just took another headshot mate

Cheers

[Comics]

I'm shocked your headline wasn't something along the lines of "GAIL SIMONE DITCHES DIDIO FOR JOEY Q!!!!" or "GAIL SIMONE AND BRIAN BENDIS BOINKING BOARDS AT JINXWORLD!!!".

I'm kinda let down by you, Rich. This site is a lot less fun without hyperbole, innuendo and libelous accusations

And one more thing. This chick Gail Simone is tougher than nails. She's always kicking ass and taking names on Twitter; definitely likes the give and take. Not sure she'd be a good fit with JoeyQ, though, who likes his girl writers either nubile or shagging one of his pals.

We shall see.

[Gail Simone]

No, Rich, welcome to YOUR part of the internet. No one else gives a shit.

I can ask for a board-wide ban on people at CBR any time. I just don't like to do it. As for the Bendis board,
I don't even know if I HAVE banning power. I haven't asked. It's not important. If I do, I have no idea how it works.
This desire for control I have must be pretty weak if I don't even know what mod powers I have at the Benbo, which
I completely do not.


You got this wrong almost from the word 'go.'

"Some people describe it in different terms."

Eh, I'm assuming they didn't read my emails with Jonah which were completely amicable. I haven't said a bad
word about CBR and don't intend to. I still support them, the board is still open, and above all...who even cares?

People move their message boards all the time. How many sites has your column been on, including usenet?