75 Comments

I'd love it if in the future this move was commonplace, and known as "The Willingham."

Expand full comment

Bill, there's a few times in my life where I too was strong-armed, either by a colleague or a manager who attempted to prop themselves up by blaming their failures on the hard-working people underneath them. It was always so obvious to me how comical these endeavours were since we all know shit rolls downhill. Unfortunately many workplaces favour the ruthless and though it's far nobler to refuse to join them, or treat them in kind, the only option still remaining is to find your way out of the corner they backed you into. Props to you for such a ballsy move, sir. ✊

Expand full comment

I applaud this. I know that was a challenging decision to make. I doubt DC learns any lessons, but I hope it puts them on notice. Congratulations, and hope you get your money from the game.

Expand full comment

You’re one of a kind, Mr Willingham. A true Bigby-Wolf-Bad-Ass with ferocious integrity. Best of luck getting what you are owed. You may need some wicked witch magic!

Expand full comment

Demons run when a good man goes to war.

Expand full comment

Epic move, and not an easy one to take; but if this is what it takes to protect the Characters we love, to release them from an ideological prison, then it must be done.

Thank you for making the hard choice💖

Expand full comment
Sep 14, 2023·edited Sep 14, 2023

I'm an amateur who writes for my own pleasure, having given up years ago on being published. I've never written any kind of "fan fiction," but I find what you've done here to be inspiring and I want to participate in furthering your goals. So I'm going to write something in the Fables universe and send it your email address to see what you think. I realize you will be inundated, so I won't hold my breath on a reply, but what the heck; no guts, no glory.

So I guess step one is to start rereading FABLES, as it has been a while. But I own most of it, so I'll start this weekend. And once I get back in the swing, I'll start click-clacking away. All I hope for is to get a chuckle or three out of you. And thank you again for doing this.

Expand full comment

Several years back my wife unilaterally decided to get a puppy.

Granted, it was adorable. Bouncing around with endless energy and a goofy

canine grin with the extended tongue cluelessly..innocently exploring the house

while we discussed the implications of unilateral decisions of this nature.

A minute into the discussion a hiss and a yowl sounded from my home office

quickly followed by intense yelping from the new resident.

The pup had cornered our once feral adult female cat.

Since the only exit she could take was through the harmless pooch she took it,

and his left eye.

I can see parallels in Bill's story to this one.

While DC can't claim innocence it sure sounds as if he were cornered.

Never, ever push an intelligent, creative man into a corner.

Best of luck in this endeavor and in yoru legal dealings moving forward Bill.

Expand full comment

so much love for you, Bill! this is a kick-ass decision and I hope you get what you are owed

Expand full comment

Holy crap. Scorched earth. Much respect to you, Mr Willingham

Expand full comment

Thank you for your in-depth explanation of the situation and your thought process. Most of all, thank you for taking this inspired and inspirational leap into creating a better future. May it also lead to your being treated with the respect you deserve - and that includes the long-overdue monetary issue.

Expand full comment

Massive respect to you for doing this. I think your views on copyright and trademarks are laudable. I hope that you get every cent that you're owed out of DC, and that Fables will flourish in many loving hands.

Expand full comment

I was there in the forums back in the day—one of the lucky few to get a Blue handkerchief mailed to me!—and my first thought was: now we're allowed to speculate in the main threads! 😂

Many thanks for all the stories and for sharing your stories to the public domain!

Expand full comment

Solid move. Thank you for this, and for all the stuff you have done since I found you existed via an AD&D module. Pulling for you to get the money and recognition you are owed.

Expand full comment

This is a bold move. I applaud so hard.

I've know big companies have their stock holders to answer to but where did the honor and integrety went....

It's the lack of that caused out current day problems. The hollywood strike, decreasing quality in comics

Expand full comment

This is one way to fight the good fight! May great things come from this!

Expand full comment