The matter of creative rights is a hot topic in the comic community these days, not only for those in and close to the industry, but for fans as well. As such, the release of the new Avengers film has some fans uneasy. On the one hand, it has been receiving rave reviews, and is even written and directed by Joss Whedon, who has written his own fair share of well-received comics, on top of beloved shows such as Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. On the other, some fans consider it unethical to financially support a movie that does not credit many of the defining writers and artists who co-created the characters that make up the cast.
The matter is one that has comic fans divided. Some understand the situation, but rationalize that a good movie is a good movie, and that there is nothing an individual can do to combat the treatment of those who established the Avengers legacy. Others are vehemently boycotting the movie, or encouraging others to pirate the film rather than pay for it. Cartoonist and designer Jon Morris, though, seems to have a solution that strikes a clean middle ground:
So how about this: You’re probably going to go see The Avengers and, judging by the early reviews, you’ll probably enjoy it. How about – as a thank you to the creators who brought you these characters in the first place, who gave you something to enjoy so much – you match your ticket price as a donation to The Hero Initiative?
The Hero Initiative is an unfortunately much-needed institution, and your donation may help make sure the same thing that happened to the co-creators of the various Avengers does not happen to another creator. Be sure to read the entirety of Morris’s opinion on the matter, and consider making that ten or fifteen dollar donation — or even more — when buying your tickets for what is sure to be the biggest comic film blockbuster yet.
