Top tier comic retailers Discount Comic Book Service and Things from Another World have joined the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund as corporate members, the organization announced this week.  They are the first retailers to join at that level since the organization’s founding in 1986, a landmark that reflects the increasing scale of North America’s largest comic retailers.  Both companies have both brick and mortar and e-commerce operations. 

Both TFAW and DCBS will also initiate new on-going fundraising efforts via a series of exclusive variants. 

The membership and ongoing fundraising build on the companies’ past support of the CBLDF.  TFAW has helped raise over $100,000 for the Fund by soliciting artwork for the annual San Diego Comic-Con auction for the past five years; and DCBS has distributed thousands of pieces of literature on behalf of the Fund since 2010.

TFAW CEO (and CBLDF Advisory Board Member) Mike Richardson emphasized his company’s long-time support of the CBLDF.  "As a longtime friend of the CBLDF and their efforts protecting the First Amendment rights of publishers, creators, retailers, and the comics community as a whole, I can think of no organization more deserving of our support," he said.

DCBS co-owner Christina Merkler expressed her support for the Fund.  "We are very excited to fully support the CBLDF in all of their work," she said. 

Co-owner Cameron Merkler noted the importance of the higher level of support.  "All retailers understand the importance of the work done by the CBLDF, and as an ongoing supporter of the CBLDF, we felt it was time to make the maximum commitment possible," he said.