Update, March 6, 2024:
In apparent response to the allegations, Scout have announced a partnership with Element Media Group, which will relaunch the company this summer. Scout president James Haick mentions one of their ensuing new initiatives will be Scout Launch, “which will bring new paying jobs to writers, artists, colorists, and more.” Publisher Richard Rivera adds, “I’m excited for the possibilities that will come from the re-launch this summer and confident that our amazing creators and important retail-partners, the local comic shops, will benefit from a streamlined, reliable publishing schedule. It will shake things up, but in a great way, and Scout is eager to get everyone on board with the new vision.”
Original article is as follows:
Per Popverse, Comic Book Club, and other sources, Scout Comics have been accused by multiple comics creators of not paying them on time, not releasing comics, not responding to requests for communication, and even threatening to blacklist them. Scout responded in a statement acknowledging one creative team’s frustrations, saying “We dropped the ball by failing to respond in a timely manner. We take full responsibility for our lack of response at that time due to internal miscommunication. Regardless, we will continue to strive to do better and improve communication with all of our creators.”
The floodgates were opened on Wednesday, February 28, when Jarred Luján, who wrote the one-shot “All the Devils Are Here” (published by Scout last year), tweeted he had been withheld payment for the past year, and that editorial director Andrea Lorenzo Molinari & CEO Brendan Deneen had been ghosting him. Other creatives chimed in with their own issues with the publisher, while Matthew Erman and Lisa Sterle, whose breakout series “Long Lost” was released by Scout, announced they had terminated the company’s right to publish the comic.
Since Luján went public with his issues, he and Scout have resumed discussions, and are “close” to dissolving their contract (something he believes was also indicated by their public statement.) Deneen told Popverse, “We are talking to Jarred and currently reaching an amicable solution. Any creators with questions or concerns are always free to reach out to me directly, and we will work with them to rectify any outstanding issues.” Scout’s statement also directs concerned creators to contact chief operating officer Lesa Miller.
Scout Comics was founded by Deneen, a writer and veteran movie/TV executive, as Ardden Entertainment in 2008. It rebranded in 2015, with publisher James Pruett joining the company a year later. Pruett left Scout in 2021, before returning the following year, and then leaving once again in 2023 for Silverline Publishing. It is the third creator-owned comics publisher to face similar accusations in as many years, following Action Lab, which is being sued by the creators whose titles are being held onto by the company, and AfterShock Comics, who have ceased acquiring the rights to new books while attempting to pay off their debts.
This is a developing story, so stay tuned for updates on the future of Scout and its titles. Until then, Popverse, Bleeding Cool, and the ScriptHeroesPod podcast will be conducting their own investigations into freelancers’ experiences with Scout, which we’ll certainly share when they’re published. We also encourage readers to check out what those who have worked with Scout have shared on Twitter.com (something that fledgling cartoonist Sky Hawkins has helpfully collated at League of Comic Geeks, here and here), and to help hold the publisher accountable, whichever way you feel you can.
