Totally Missed It: Roc Upchurch Dismissed From Rat Queens Following Domestic Violence Charge

I have to imagine everyone in the world had this news much closer to it happening last week, so my apologies both for not having it and for not being able to figure out who had it first.

According to a statement by writer Kurtis J. Wiebe, the artist Roc Upchurch will no longer be performing art duties on the Image book Rat Queens following an arrest on a domestic violence charge. That's a fun Image comic about a group of characters, all of whom are women, adventuring in the kind of fantasy world recognizable to just about anyone who's consumed genre media since 1980. It has a devoted fan base that has responded strongly to its humor, its depiction of friendship and the resulting displays of cooperative excellence. I believe the overall numbers have been solid to good; there has been expressed interest in an animated version and the series was nominated for an Eisner Award.

I have no idea at this time if Upchurch if this is simply a change in creative assignments or if any change in potential ownership status may occur. I used the word "divestment" on a first draft of this, and Stefano Guadiano reminded me via e-mail that that's a hideous choice of words because of the implication of force and the fact you simply can't divest people of ownership of things as a basic human rights issue. What I meant is I don't know if Upchurch is involved as a part-owner -- I'm told he is, but I haven't confirmed -- and if that status could change due to something additionally being worked out.

Our hearts go out to the victim and any loved ones involved. We wish them a just outcome and as much support as is possible in getting there. This is a welcome example of a frequently silent crime not being silent, but it's still a crime and only becomes news with personal cost added to the already significant amount of harm arising from the act itself.

Issues surrounding domestic violence can be difficult to process in a hundred different ways. There has been such a systemic failure by the culture and the institutions of the culture in regards to certains kinds of crimes and awful behavior that we must now not only find what's right in the circumstances facing us but do so while keeping an eye on the forces and beliefs that have hindered just outcomes in the past. It's necessary work, though. I think we'll get better at this in the months and years ahead, and one hopes for all the speed and care in the world in getting us to a moment where best possible outcomes becomes an aspirational concept rather than an ameliorative one.
 
posted 10:15 pm PST | Permalink
 

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