"No Guns, No Killing" - The Comic Book Industry Reacts To The Colorado Tragedy

"No Guns, No Killing" - The Comic Book Industry Reacts To The Colorado Tragedy

Reactions from creators, writers, retailers and journalists who have given public statements to offer their thoughts and condolences on the biggest mass shooting in the history of the United States.

By Scooby - Jul 23, 2012 08:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: USA Today

Many were shaken and left speechless at this senseless tragedy which will be remembered as the biggest mass shooting in the history of the United States. It left a cloud of gloom and despair over the film The Dark Knight Rises, the movie industry, and the comic book industry. Here are a few creators, writers, and retailers from the comic book industry offering their thoughts on this extremely tragic event - which will have unforetold outcomes:


Brad Meltzer - bestselling American political thriller novelist, non-fiction writer, TV show creator and award-winning comic book author:

"'No Guns, No Killing.' That line bears repeating," quoting a line from a scene in The Dark Knight Rises. Batman, Meltzer reminds us, is a symbol against gun violence. "That is the mass appeal of the character. It's not just Batman but what's inside him and the idea that we can all see and understand what it's like to have loss and see harm and want to do good.

"So when you have it happen in the shadow of that, the knife just twists a little bit deeper for us all as a community.

"We can't possibly say this could be more tragic - but I do think that there's some twisted irony in the fact that it's a movie [about] someone who so many people look up to, and a movie that celebrates someone who can stop this kind of violence."

Jim Lee - comic book artist, writer, editor and co-publisher at DC comics:

"Just shocked and saddened today - my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims' families and friends and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy."

Gerry Gladston - co-owner and chairman of marketing at New York City's Midtown Comics:

"I would worry a lot more about gun control than influence by comics and other pop culture and media.

"I think it's a senseless tragedy conducted by a psycho who took advantage of the mass popularity of this public event. He clearly wanted to make a big splash and he picked the biggest public spectacle he could find, and this week it happens to be The Dark Knight Rises."

Jonah Weiland - creator of Comic Book Resources:

"Anybody drawing assumptions between the actions of this man and things they've read in a comic book or a movie is just plain wrong.

"If you really look at who Batman is and what he stands for, he doesn't stand for what this guy did."

Joe Quesada - comic book editor, writer, artist and current CCO of Marvel Entertainment:

“This has been an incredibly sad day for all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the people of Colorado.”




Other sources:

Washington Post
ALIENS Star Michael Biehn Reveals That He Was Almost Cast As Tim Burton's BATMAN
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DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 7/23/2012, 9:00 AM
That bit from DKR up there is nice. This is the weapon of the enemy. We do not need it. We will not use it. Aah, you can't beat Miller's Batman. I hope him and Didio aren't letting that whole Holy Terror crap get in the way of his return to Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder.
MarkV
MarkV - 7/23/2012, 9:06 AM
Unless you live in Aurora Colorado, none of this is any of your business. Just stop posting about this already, so sick of it.
CaptainFlan
CaptainFlan - 7/23/2012, 9:06 AM
Thanks for this article. It's interesting to see how industry insiders feel about this.

So terrible. What a nightmare.
Advocate
Advocate - 7/23/2012, 9:08 AM
Meltzer says it all. And that comic bit just further cements it. Nice touch.
CaptainFlan
CaptainFlan - 7/23/2012, 9:09 AM
Also, in 'Batman Begins', after contemplating shooting Joe Chill at the courthouse, and having flashbacks to his parents' shooting, he realizes the vicious circle of gun violence and throws the revolver off the pier, into the ocean.

Powerful scene.
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 7/23/2012, 9:11 AM
To those who are sick of CBM posting articles about this, why don't you just stop clicking on articles you're not interested in?
BooYah
BooYah - 7/23/2012, 9:16 AM
@Markv- Just because you don't live in Colarado doesn't mean it isn't your business. This affects everyone and if you're sick of these articles than don't click. Some people are still saddened about this so there's no need to be a dick.
Talontd
Talontd - 7/23/2012, 9:18 AM
@TRUDY

Eagerly awaiting the NOLANITE response to that comment, lol.
SFCamerica
SFCamerica - 7/23/2012, 9:18 AM
The high majority of gun owners use them legally and responsibly. Evil people will find other ways to kill people if guns are not available. I am in the military and obviously know my way around firearms, but I have never owned one. My wife, with baby on the way, wants me to get one and a conceal/carry permit to protect our family from harm. I'm undecided, but this incident makes me lean towards the purchase and I'm thankful that I have that opportunity to do so, considering a ban on guns WILL NOT stop criminals from doing their thing.
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:19 AM
@Intruder

I'm sorry, but no. If you're gonna talk about how "Nolanites" have been antagonizing people, you need to talk about how avengers/marvel fans have been doing the same thing.

Just go on any TDKR article prior to the shooting and you'll see Marvel fans making fun of DC movies and calling people names.

The shooting had NOTHING to do with the movie. The guy was crazy. There's no connection between anything.
Knightstalker
Knightstalker - 7/23/2012, 9:19 AM
The problem isn't guns. The problem is a culture obsessed with violence and death.

@MarkV...Are you sugggesting that we all simply ignore the problem and hope that it goes away by itself?
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:21 AM
There you have it.

Talontd just proved my point by being an utter douchebag.
SotNatt
SotNatt - 7/23/2012, 9:21 AM
Is it wrong that, after well into the movie, I was wondering how easy American policy had made it order for Bane to get all those guns/weapons?

I mean, this isn't the film industry causing harm by the portrayal of accessible weaponry and senseless violence. This is art imitating life, and, with our most prominent lobbyist in Washington, D.C. being the National Rifle Association, it isn't any wonder why the Holmes of this country can get a hold of weapons easy peasy lemon squeezy.

That's why I thought, "Oh, it's going to be good, everyone seeing this film," as Batman is, of course, a HUGE advocate AGAINST guns.

SoapDogg
SoapDogg - 7/23/2012, 9:21 AM
@MarkV Really?! As a member of the human race, this concerns all of us. Yes people die every die, but that doesn't make those lives any less important. If you're tired of hearing about it, then I suggest you stay away from this website and other types of media during this time. Even if you are tired of hearing about it, why would you be so selfish as to verbalize it during this time. I'm so sorry that this tragedy has inconvenienced you during your "me" time!
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:24 AM
Well, since you're throwing theories, maybe he was an over zealous Marvel, who knew this movie was going to rock. Who knew the Avengers was nothing but a silly, childish popcorn flick and he wanted to do something drastic to throw everyone's attention off of the movie.
SotNatt
SotNatt - 7/23/2012, 9:27 AM
@Knightstalker You're right. The problem isn't guns. The problem is the easy accessibility to guns.

Saying that restricting gun use is pointless because the culture is there to promote the use of guns is like saying, well, let all the murderers go free because they'll only might end up killing people in prison as well.

Not combating evil because the source of evil is our society is a terrible argument to make.
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:28 AM
@Intruder

I hope you understand that there's a huge different between calling someone names, and hell, even making threats online and actually planning something like James did.

What you're saying here is stupid. I'm sorry, if I'm blunt or disrespectful. But you don't have any facts to support your theory and you're just using a terrible, evil act to attack "Nolanites".

That is completely unnecessary and you're smarter than that.
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:29 AM
@nighteagle

Exactly.
DraculaX
DraculaX - 7/23/2012, 9:31 AM
If only the world had a Batman....
DraculaX
DraculaX - 7/23/2012, 9:33 AM
The only thing to blame around here is the scumbag himself. No Marvel/Nolanites.
m0th3r
m0th3r - 7/23/2012, 9:34 AM
To me, and this is just me..and im far from a Nolanite (i thought the move was just ok)....Batman, especially Nolan's versions, is the personification of righteousness with a code. This evil nutjob only did this in this context because it is so counter to what most of us believe in..even us Punisher fans, and an attack on our mythology all together. is it me, or do comic book fans have the CLEAREST sense of right and wrong..good and evil...and self sacrifice. My heart, prayers, mojo, and good will go out to the families of victims...and especially to the people that died saving others...the guys who believed they way most of us do and the ones who acted like most of us hoped we would..peace
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:34 AM
@intruder

Think logically, dude. Why would a "Nolanite" kill people watching "TDKR"? That shit makes no sense.

If he was some sort of Overzealous "Nolanite", he would go after people watching "The Avenger"...

So, my theory makes more sense. He's a Marvel fan. He wanted to hurt the Batman movies image.

Or... and this is also just a theory, so feel free to take it with a grain of salt, or he was just some nut.
EmineAmada
EmineAmada - 7/23/2012, 9:36 AM
To try and place blame on any one group/person, other than the shooter is just wrong. He was a guy with some issues and he took it out on those who had nothing to do with it. Nolanites/Marvelites/Whedonites,etc. can all be annoying, but that doesn't make me want to go out and kill them/others. Even if it did, it would still be my fault, because I chose to do it, no matter what the reasons are. Same thing for this shooter. People need to be held accountable for their actions and not pass the blame to others.
DraculaX
DraculaX - 7/23/2012, 9:37 AM
@intruder He picked TDKR because he knew the theaters were gonna be jam packed, this was a highly anticipated film after The Avengers. More people killed= more publicity.
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:37 AM
@Intruder

It's a clue, yes. It shows that he was batshit insane. Nothing else.
DraculaX
DraculaX - 7/23/2012, 9:39 AM
It gets worse, I heard the WBC are gonna picket the funerals.
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:39 AM
@Intruder

You compared him to them "Nolanites". Which was totally unnecessary. There's a huge difference between psychopathy and fanboy bitchiness.
BooYah
BooYah - 7/23/2012, 9:43 AM
lol weren't Marvelites the ones who were making sexist comments to a woman critic who didn't like the Avengers? So is it fair to blame Marvelites if a Marvel fan rapes a girl? No, just like it isn't fair blaming Nolanites for this. Thats just ridiculous.
Greengo
Greengo - 7/23/2012, 9:45 AM
omg didn't take long for this to devolve into a Nolanite bashfest.

Some of you will never learn.

And this mother [frick]er was not BRILLIANT. Give me a [frick]ing break.
codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:46 AM
@Intruder

"Nolanites" had NOTHING to do with this. He was just a crazy person. That's what you're not getting. He did that, because he wanted to kill people, and like Double and Dragon said, he knew there'd be a lot of people there.
Greengo
Greengo - 7/23/2012, 9:47 AM
brilliant:

1. shining brightly; sparkling; glittering; lustrous: the brilliant lights of the city.
2.
distinguished; illustrious: a brilliant performance by a young pianist.
3.
having or showing great intelligence, talent, quality, etc.: a brilliant technician.
4.
strong and clear in tone; vivid; bright: brilliant blues and greens; the brilliant sound of the trumpets.
5.
splendid or magnificent: a brilliant social event.

this term does not apply in any sense of the word @Intruder
DraculaX
DraculaX - 7/23/2012, 9:50 AM
He could could very well be Anti-Dc, Batman, Nolanite and dressed up as The Joker to mock the character
Greengo
Greengo - 7/23/2012, 9:51 AM
Yeah he's not ignorant but he's not "brilliant"

There's a fine line between genius level intellect and psychotic. Many geniuses were indeed psychotic.

But the bottom line here is he's psychotic & evil regardless of how book smart he is.

Bet that mother[frick]er didn't have any street smarts.
Greengo
Greengo - 7/23/2012, 9:54 AM
Intruder is right. At least as far as he's concerned.

They've obviously have driven him crazy.

That tells us more about you than it does about Nolanites Intruder.

codydriscollsrightarm
codydriscollsrightarm - 7/23/2012, 9:55 AM
@Intruder

Aaah, I get it now. You're a troll. Worst, you're a Marvel troll.
Greengo
Greengo - 7/23/2012, 9:56 AM
I bet that [frick]in evil ass bastard frequented CBM.

That gives me the heebie jeebies
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