Tariffs, publisher bankruptcies make for troubling times for comic creators in Canada

Caught between the bankruptcy of the world’s biggest comics distributor and the rantings of a tariff-hungry American president, these are scary times indeed for local comic creators.

“Things are very unsettled right now, between the uncertainty of our international issues and the bankruptcy of Diamond,” said Brampton-born, St. Catharines-raised and now Oakville resident and artist Mike Rooth (Swamp Thing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) at his booth at Toronto Comicon on the weekend. “The future is unclear.”

Diamond Comics Distributors filed for bankruptcy in January and that has sent shockwaves through the industry as publishers look for other ways to get their books out to the public.

The trade wars initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump has already proven to be a major issue, with most of North America’s books printed on this side of the border – notably in Quebec.

Mike Rooth

Thanks to Trump and his threatened 25 per cent tariffs, that may change as U.S. publishers may be forced to go domestic for printing and comic store owners worry the tariffs will drive up prices, with small publishers – as usual – the first to feel the pain.

Richard Fairgray, a New Zealand-raised self-published creator (Frankenstein, Haunted Hill, Frog Alley) who spent some time in Los Angeles before settling in Vancouver, believes it’s more than just the tariffs that has some creators nervous.

“I think people are scared,” he said, noting the change in political attitudes, especially south of the border. “I think it’s really important for queer voices, diverse voices to be loud right now.”

“I know I’m trying to make my books as gay and feminist as I can.”

Other creators are hoping the problem goes away sooner rather than later, with Brampton artist Jahnoy Lindsay (Green Lantern, Superboy) seeing only some product prices spiking a bit.

“There’s nothing else in the industry I’ve seen yet.”

Ramon Perez, the Oshawa-raised artist (Hawkeye, Stillwater, Jim Henson’s Tales of Sand) who runs the west end Toronto artist cooperative RAID, has been too busy to notice any effects from the tariff wars on his business – yet.

“It hasn’t been impacted, but who knows? That can change on a moment’s notice.”

‘Fearless’ Fred Kennedy

Fred Kennedy, writer for the Dead Romans series and Assassin’s Creed and creator of the Star Wars podcast Mud 79 (and better known in the GTA as radio DJ Fearless Fred) has seen plenty of fallout, however, citing stories of artists and creators turned aside at the U.S. border.

“It’s terrifying,” the Ajax personality said. “Even if you’re not going to a show to sell stuff, the guy at the border can look at your social media and in extreme cases, not let you across.”

“I don’t think anybody is winning here. We all want this to end.”

Rooth, who just finished a Savage Sword of Conan series and is now colouring Captain Canuck, just may have the last laugh on the whole issue.

The cover of one of the Captain Canuck books depicts our hero punching Uncle Sam and another sees the superhero wagging his finger in Trump’s face.

“It’s an appropriate comic for these times,” Rooth said. “And I expect the whole comic to be a humorous take on what’s going on.”

After all, if a comic book can’t poke fun at a narcissistic world leader threatening to annex a longtime ally, were all in bigger trouble than we realize.