Comic Book Resources Explained

CBR
Former Name:Comic Book Resources (1995–2016)
Screenshot Size:250px
Type:Pop culture
Language:English
Owner:Valnet Inc.
Author:Jonah Weiland
Current Status:Online
Headquarters:Saint-Laurent, Quebec

CBR, formerly Comic Book Resources, is a news website covering movies, television, anime, video games and comic book–related news and discussion. It is owned by Valnet Inc., parent of publications including Screenrant, Collider, MovieWeb and XDA Developers.

History

Comic Book Resources (CBR) was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1995 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland created to discuss DC Comics' then-new mini-series of the same name.[1] [2]

CBR has featured columns by industry professionals such as Robert Kirkman, Gail Simone, and Mark Millar.[1] Other columns were published by comic book historians and critics such as George Khoury and Timothy Callahan.[3] [4]

Acquisition by Valnet

In April 2016, CBR was sold to Valnet Inc., a Montreal, Canada–based company that owns other media properties including Screen Rant.[5] [6] The site was relaunched as CBR.com on August 23, 2016, with the blogs integrated into the site.[7] [8] Popverse reported that following the acquisition by Valnet "comics were increasingly sidelined for coverage [...], as were both reviews and columns as focuses for publishing; instead, the site refocused on shorter news pieces and reactions to news stories". Valnet Inc. is a subsidiary of Valsef Group, which is also headquartered in Montreal.[9]

Firings and staff turmoil

Adam Swiderski, CBR's editor-in-chief since July 2022,[10] along with "senior news editor Stephen Gerding after 18 years with CBR and senior features editor Christopher Baggett after eight years" were laid off by Valnet in May 2023.[11] Heidi MacDonald, for The Beat, reported that Swiderski, Gerding and Baggett were removed for "standing up for writers" and "pushing back against" changes Valnet instituted.[12] MacDonald wrote that "writers were being asked to do more work while shrinking the pay-per-view rates. The situation was described to me by one person as 'working writers to the bone', saying "The situation is so dire that in addition to the three editors, I'm told two HR people were laid off, who also objected to the demands that management was making on writers, who, as a reminder, are contractors, not employees". Graeme McMillan, for Popverse, commented that Valnet's culture does not permit "its contributors and employees to question corporate decree" which has led to layoffs of people who have spoken out "about potential issues over Valnet's management and business practices" at CBR and other Valnet-owned sites.

In June 2023, McMillan of Popverse reported that there was a continuing "editorial exodus" at CBR.[13] In August 2023, Rich Johnston of Bleeding Cool commented that there appears to be "serious internal tensions" at CBR and highlighted that former CBR Comics News Editor Sean Gribbin stated between May and August ten News Editors have either left CBR or been laid off.[14] Johnston reported that CBR Managing Editor Jon Arvden pushed back on speculation that CBR was eliminating its news section.

Comic Book Idol

Comic Book Idol, also known as CBI, is an amateur comic-book art competition created and hosted by comics writer J. Torres, and sponsored by CBR and its participating advertisers.[15] Inspired by the singing contest American Idol, CBI is a five-week and five-round competition in which each contestant is given one week to draw a script provided by guest judges. These invited comic-book professionals comment on the artists' work in each round. The contestants to move on to subsequent rounds are selected by fans who vote in a weekly poll.[15]

Reception

In 2008, the University at Buffalo's research library described CBR as "the premiere comics-related site on the Web."[22]

In April 2013, comics writer Mark Millar said he read the site every morning after reading the Financial Times.[23]

In 2014, an article by guest author Janelle Asselin criticized the cover of DC Comics's Teen Titans,[24] leading to harassment of and personal threats against Asselin in the website's community forums. Weiland issued a statement apologizing for the incident, condemning the way some community members had reacted, and rebooted the forums in order to establish new ground rules.[25] [26]

Heidi MacDonald, for The Beat in June 2023, commented that after CBR was purchased by Valnet in 2016 it "gradually became a more generic 'content farm' turning out less and less comics content and more and more listicles and inane click-baity articles".

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Press Kit . Comic Book Resources . . October 27, 2019 . October 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191027231842/https://www.cbr.com/press-kit/ . live.
  2. Web site: Arrant . Chris . DC Hires Jonah Wiland as VP of Marketing & Creative Services . . . October 27, 2019 . en . August 6, 2019 . October 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191027153202/https://www.newsarama.com/46393-dc-hires-jonah-weiland.html . live.
  3. Web site: Jorge Khoury . Comic Book Resources . 9 December 2011 . . October 27, 2019 . October 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191027153203/https://www.cbr.com/author/jorge_khoury/ . live.
  4. Web site: Timothy Callahan . Comic Book Resources . 21 November 2014 . . October 27, 2019 . August 24, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190824122403/https://www.cbr.com/author/timothy_callahan/ . live.
  5. Web site: Rich Johnston . Rich Johnston . How Comic Book Resources Employees Learned Their Site Had Been Sold To Valnet . Bleeding Cool . . 2016-04-04 . 2016-06-14 . 2016-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160611153801/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/04/04/comic-book-resources-sold-to-valnet-and-i-get-a-funny-feeling/ . live.
  6. Web site: April 4, 2016 . Comic Book Resources Acquired . August 23, 2023 . . en . August 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823034913/https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/34130/comic-book-resources-acquired . live .
  7. Web site: Heidi . MacDonald . CBR.com has new design, rebrand, no blogs . . . 2016-08-25 . 2017-01-12 . 2016-11-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161111170552/http://www.comicsbeat.com/cbr-com-has-new-design-rebrand-no-blogs/ . live.
  8. Web site: McMillan . Graeme . June 12, 2023 . CBR layoffs: What led to the firing of three-quarters of their editors (and what happens next) . August 23, 2023 . . en . June 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230618053920/https://www.thepopverse.com/cbr-layoffs-june-2023-comic-book-resources-layoffs-inside . live .
  9. Web site: Home - Valsef Group . July 13, 2024 . Valsel Group.
  10. Web site: McMillan . Graeme . May 30, 2023 . The comic & pop culture journalism website CBR just laid off its editor-in-chief . June 5, 2023 . Popverse . en . June 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605011457/https://www.thepopverse.com/cbr-editor-in-chief-comics-adam-swiderski . live .
  11. Web site: Johnston . Rich . June 4, 2023 . Firings, Quittings and Valnet Fallout at Comic Book Resources . June 5, 2023 . Bleeding Cool . en . June 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605011458/https://bleedingcool.com/comics/firings-quittings-and-valnet-fallout-at-comic-book-resources/ . live .
  12. Web site: MacDonald . Heidi . June 2, 2023 . Inside the CBR layoffs and bad week . June 5, 2023 . The Beat . en-US . June 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605012128/https://www.comicsbeat.com/inside-cbr-layoffs/ . live .
  13. Web site: McMillan . Graeme . June 28, 2023 . Three more editors leave CBR, continuing exodus pattern . August 23, 2023 . Popverse . en . August 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829223527/https://www.thepopverse.com/cbr-editors-leaving-company . live .
  14. Web site: Johnston . Rich . Rich Johnston . August 22, 2023 . A Deleted CBR Post Indicates Serious Internal Tensions . August 22, 2023 . . en . August 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823032104/https://bleedingcool.com/comics/cbr-post-deleted-fast-amidst-more-redundancies/ . live .
  15. Web site: Torres. J. Just the FAQs, m'am. Comic Book Resources . . February 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080428145020/http://cbi.comicbookresources.com/cbi3/just-the-faqs-mam/. April 28, 2008. September 5, 2007.
  16. Web site: Cronin. Brian. Idol Thoughts 9/26. Comic Book Resources . . February 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20090527005128/http://cbi.comicbookresources.com/cbi3/idol-thoughts-926/. May 27, 2009. September 26, 2007.
  17. Web site: Cronin. Brian. Jonathan Hickman on "Comic Book Idol… what!?!". Comic Book Resources . January 9, 2017. September 4, 2007.
  18. Web site: Cronin. Brian. Idol Thoughts 10/4. Comic Book Resources. Wayback Machine. February 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20090527005123/http://cbi.comicbookresources.com/cbi3/idol-thoughts-104/. May 27, 2009. 27 May 2009.
  19. Web site: Cardwell . Mark . Talking Doctor Who with CBI Finalist Dan McDaid . Comic Book Resources . Wayback Machine. October 27, 2019 . April 3, 2018 . October 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191027154545/https://www.cbr.com/talking-doctor-who-with-cbi-finalist-dan-mcdaid/ . live.
  20. Web site: Tarbys . Jason . Nick Pitarra Talks Conspiring with Hickman On 'Manhattan Projects'. Comic Book Resources . Wayback Machine. October 27, 2019 . January 22, 2013 . October 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191027154543/https://www.cbr.com/nick-pitarra-talks-conspiring-with-hickman-on-manhattan-projects/ . live.
  21. Web site: Comic Book Idol Finalists Announced; Winner to Draw "Popgun" Story for Image . Comic Book Resources . Wayback Machine. October 27, 2019 . October 12, 2017 . October 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191027154542/https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-idol-finalists-announced-winner-to-draw-popgun-story-for-image/ . live.
  22. Web site: Comic Books: Internet Resources. University of Buffalo Libraries. November 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20081211080454/http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/comics.html. December 11, 2008.
  23. The Third Degree: Mark Millar. Jupiter's Legacy. 1. 1. April 2013. Image Comics. 27.
  24. Web site: Asselin. Janelle. Anatomy of a Bad Cover: DC's New 'Teen Titans' #1. Comic Book Resources. Wayback Machine. January 10, 2017. April 11, 2014. January 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113171258/http://www.cbr.com/anatomy-of-a-bad-cover-dcs-new-teen-titans-1/. live.
  25. Web site: Out With the Old: Introducing the New CBR Community. Comic Book Resources. Wayback Machine. January 10, 2017. April 30, 2014. January 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113170028/http://www.cbr.com/out-with-the-old-introducing-the-new-cbr-community/. live.
  26. Polo . Susana . CBR Overhauls Forums In Wake of Widespread Discussion of Treatment of Women in Comics . The Mary Sue . 2014-05-01 . 2016-02-27 . 2016-02-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160221182349/http://www.themarysue.com/comic-book-resources-new-forums/ . live.
  27. Web site: 2001. Eagle Awards. Wayback Machine. February 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20110206165337/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/2001/. February 6, 2011. February 6, 2011.
  28. Web site: 2008. Eagle Awards. Wayback Machine. February 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20111130205251/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/2008/. November 30, 2011. November 30, 2011.
  29. Web site: 2000s. San Diego Comic-Con. Wayback Machine. November 6, 2017. en. December 2, 2012. April 11, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080411234840/http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_07win.shtml. dead.
  30. Web site: 2010. Eagle Awards. Wayback Machine. February 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928202503/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/2010/. September 28, 2011.
  31. Web site: 2011. Eagle Awards. Wayback Machine. February 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20111130205312/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/2011/. November 30, 2011. November 30, 2011.
  32. Web site: 2010-Present. San Diego Comic-Con. Wayback Machine. November 6, 2017. en. December 2, 2012. February 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140213024118/http://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present. live.
  33. Web site: Your 2013 Harvey Awards Winners. The Comics Reporter. Wayback Machine. March 23, 2015. September 8, 2013. September 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222608/http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/your_2013_harvey_awards_winners/Winners. live.
  34. Web site: 2014 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Winners. San Diego Comic-Con. Wayback Machine. March 23, 2015. en. July 26, 2014. April 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150401182733/http://www.comic-con.org/awards/gallery/2014-will-eisner-comic-industry-award-winners. live.
  35. Web site: 2021-08-27 . Tripwire Awards 2021 Results In Full . 2024-03-23 . TRIPWIRE MAGAZINE . en-GB.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Comic Book Resources".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.