Erin BroadleyThe erotic, popular models of alternative pin-up website SuicideGirls.com have been supposedly banned from participating in this year's San Diego Comic-Con, according to a notice received by SuicideGirls founder Missy on June 22 from Comic-Con International Exhibits Sales representative Rod Mojica.
Missy told L.A. Weekly that she was informed SucideGirls are currently banned from “having a significant presence” and getting their own booth at either Comic-Con or Wondercon, both owned by Comic-Con International, but without explanation from the parent company as to what the ban entails.
In his conversation with Missy, Mojica conveyed that the reason for the ban was because a member of Comic-Con International's Board of Directors purchased an adults-only SuicideGirls DVD at Wondercon 2010 without being ID'd and that the same man also saw, first hand, an underage person purchase a DVD from SuicideGirls without an ID check. Mojica did not name the member of the Board of Directors who made the above claim.
“This is completely unacceptable and I am shocked and horrified that this could have happened,” Missy told L.A. Weekly. “We have done at least 10 conventions a year for the past 9 years and never had this issue arise. We instruct all girls who are present at conventions to check IDs for anyone who looks under 30. We have a large sign up at our booths that says 'You must be 18+ with ID to purchase.'”
SuicideGirls.com
L.A. Weekly called Comic-Con International's Director of Marketing and Public Relations David Glanzer for an official statement.
“No one is banned,” Glanzer said. “My understanding is that SuicideGirls didn't have a booth and there is a 400+ waiting list.”
Glanzer went on to address the incident at Wondercon and said that there had been an issue with SuicideGirls doing something that didn't comply with Comic-Con International's rules and community ethics, mainly that adult content was being made available to all ages attendees.
Glanzer told L.A. Weekly, “We got a report that they were handing out material that was not all ages appropriate. It's happened before where companies have not complied with our standards … Does that mean that they're banned for life? No, we don't do that. Next year could be a different thing.”
Missy responded, “We don't believe that there was an incident [at Wondercon]. We checked IDs vigilantly and we feel very confident that there was no age-inappropriate material made available.”
“If SuicideGirls is not banned then we're excited to be down in San Diego and look forward to meeting [Comic-Con Executive Director] Fae Desmond and David Glanzer and clearing this matter up,” she continued.
SuicideGirls has had a significant presence at Comic-Con over the last four years, making appearances alongside Con favorites like actor/author Wil Wheaton and FilmThreat founder Chris Gore, as well as holding fan signings at the numerous booths that sell the company's merchandise which includes clothes, DVDs, the hardcover book Beauty Redefined (AMMO), and the series of Devil's Due Hack/Slash comics by Tim Seeley* featuring actual Suicide Girls as characters. In addition, SuicideGirls has been supporters of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund since 2006.
*Note: This story has been edited to remove Tim Seeley's Hack/Slash comic book artwork featuring Suicide Girls per the artist's request.
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