Injustice Comic Writer Cancels Convention Appearance in Protest of U.S. Immigration Policy Changes

The comics industry feels the effects of the travel ban.

By Joshua Yehl

Australian comic book writer Tom Taylor has canceled his Emerald City Comic-Con appearance and will not be attending anymore conventions in the U.S. for the foreseeable future because of President Trump’s recent immigration policy changes.

Taylor made a name for himself writing Injustice at DC Comics, a comic that he’ll be returning to later this year when Injustice 2 launches, and has gone on to write Justice League vs. Power Rangers, All-New Wolverine, Superior Iron Man and more. He also wrote the all-ages graphic novel The Deep: Here Be Dragons, which has been adapted into an animated TV show.

“America, through no fault of most of its citizens, doesn’t feel like a safe or welcoming travel destination at this moment,” Taylor said in a statement posted to Facebook. “There have been reports of interrogation, phone data downloads, requests for social media accounts, returns and five-year travel bans and everyone from children to the elderly being detained. All of this has many people I’ve spoken to reconsidering or cancelling their US travel plans.

“However, there is something else which bothers me more than all of this, and ultimately decided me in talks with my family. And that’s the idea that I have nothing to worry about. The idea that I could be let in without the extra scrutiny, without incident, without a care in the world… purely because I’m a straight white guy. I don’t want to happily visit a country that is in the process of denying entry to so many, purely because of where they were born or what they believe. And so, I won’t.”

Taylor said that even though he’s canceling his U.S. convention appearances for the foreseeable future, he will still continue to write comics for U.S.-based companies from afar.

Taylor isn't the first comic creator to protest the immigration policy. Industry veteran George Perez (The Infinity Gauntlet, Teen Titans) and best-selling artist Humberto Ramos (Amazing Spider-Man, Extraordinary X-Men) have taken similar stances, among others.

Via Newsarama.

Joshua is IGN’s Comics Editor. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

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