Just a few of the reactions to IndieGoGo’s self-destructive decision to retroactively cancel AH:Q and refusal to make payments it was obligated to make:
Chuck Dixon, the creator of Bane, and an all around comic book legend saw his Alt-Hero: Q crowdfunding campaign shutdown by IndieGoGo on Thursday without any kind of explanation.
We reached out to Dixon to get his thoughts on the matter and one thing is clear. He’s determined. Dixon already has the entire first issue scripted and a good chunk of the second issue. The series is expected to be six issues long with each issue being 24 pages. The entire story will eventually get collected into a graphic novel.
Dixon told us, “I’ll do my work on this project if I have to write it for free.”
He believes the campaign was shut down due to “politics.” And he doesn’t think this will be the last time independent creators who have differing politics will be targeted. We asked him if he believes further moves will be made against creators because of their politics. Dixon responded, “Absolutely. The left will weaponize anything to shut down free speech.”
Dixon did tell us that he will keep using IndieGoGo for other projects he is working on.
“Well, I’m used to being blacklisted. And I suppose IGG can do more. But we received funds on my other projects so they will continue on.”
However, he did note that IndieGoGo denied the funds for Alt-Hero: Q. But once again he showed his determination to get this project completed.
“Qanon will have to be completed by other means as the funds we raised have been denied us. But it WILL be completed. This is a speed bump.”
From one typical backer:
I’ll quadruple the amount I pledged for AltHero Q to 300. The 300 I gave you last time has done more than all the money I’ve given to charity.
From another:
I will triple my backing from $40 to $120.
And a third:
Having Alt-Hero-Q on IndieGogo had a knock-on effect, I subscribed to several other campaigns. All of which I’m canceling.
If you’re canceling support for any other campaigns on IndieGoGo, be sure to tell them why. As I mentioned previously, we expect to get version 2.0 of the AH:Q campaign up in about two weeks. As always, we’re focused on doing it right rather than doing it fast, so rest assured that work has been proceeding on the first issue regardless of when we relaunch the campaign and how we do it. As The Legend has already declared, those involved will do it for nothing if necessary.
UPDATE: We’re looking into various legal options and assessing our optimal strategy. To maximize those options, if you’re a backer, please email Indiegogo at support@indiegogo.com and opt out of their arbitration process by sending an email from your registered email address on Indiegogo let them know that you are opting out of the arbitration and class action waiver provisions by contacting them with the subject line, “ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER OPT-OUT”.
Ignore their self-declared 30-day time limit on it. That’s probably not applicable in this particular situation given the fact that their action took place retroactively several weeks after the campaign ended.
UPDATE: CC’d from a backer:
ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAVER OPT-OUT
This is to notify Indiegogo that I am opting out of your arbitration and class action waiver process, in light of your retroactive cancellation of the Alt-Hero:Q fundraiser. As a backer of that campaign, I intend to support whatever legal action the project chooses to pursue.