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Webcomic Artist Yale Stewart Does Everything Wrong

Yale Stewart, the creator of the webcomic JL8,is at the center of not one but two scandals right now… and it’s kind of amazing when you parse it out. I mean, we are literally spanning the gamut of artistic integrity to dick-pics here.

It’s kind of incredible.

Before we get started down this bizarre road of the full spectrum of inappropriate behavior, we should probably explain who the heck this guy is in the first place, and what he does.

As stated just a mere set of sentences ago, Yale Stewart is the artist and writer of JL8. JL8 is an unlicensed fancomic that presents the members of the Justice League as kids. He makes no money from it, but its success has led Stewart to licensed work and some independent stuff. In relation to JL8, Stewart often produces and sells computer wallpapers that use DC characters (again, without permission) to raise funds for charity.

While some have said Stewart does this for self promotion more than goodwill, it wasn’t really an issue with anyone until he produced the following in regards to the events in Ferguson, MO:

jl8offensive

Cartoonist Ulises Farinas took offense to this (as I kind of do too), and took to Tumblr, saying (minus the censorship on the obscenity):

Putting two images of SPACE COPS as your “SUPPORT FERGUSON” wallpaper, and offering it for a DOLLAR, is f***ing gross. And i hate that we can’t distinguish between support and capitalism.

You know the only reason the dollar is going to the ACLU, is he because the product he’s selling isn’t a wallpaper, its himself.

So yeah, there’s been a bit of outrage.

If that was all that happened though, I probably wouldn’t be writing this article. You see, after the accusations of crass, unthoughtful self promotion were floating around, some information came out that moved public opinion on Mr. Stewart from “insensitive jerk” to “wow, what a creep.”

Earlier this week, rumors began to spread that Stewart had sent unsolicited photographs of his junk to women. A, umm, photo surfaced of this which I won’t link to (but you can find via The Outhousers article I just mentioned). Once this came out, others in the comics industry seemed to confirm it:


The general response to the accusation from people seems to have been “Oh yeah, he does that kind of stuff.” In fact, in just July, there had also been accusations of it as well — only back then we didn’t have the visual evidence.

So yeah, I mean, while no one has come forward about the “dick pics,” it seems likely that Stewart seems determined to act in a creepy, opportunist way.

Stewart has written a response on his Tumblr, in which he said the following about the photograph of his genitals:

Have I sent intimate photos of myself to women before? Yes. I’ll absolutely admit to that. As a 26 year-old bachelor with a relatively healthy sex life in the internet age, these things happen. However, every photo sent was in direct response to either a photo received or a specific request.

Or so I thought.

Two years ago, I was engaged in two separate relationships with women whom I was sexually active with. Given the nature of these relationships, my experiences in past relationships, and various dialogues with these women, I thought it had been established within each relationship that intimate or explicit photos were acceptable, possibly even desired.

I GROSSLY misread the situation.

It has been brought to my attention that both of these women were uncomfortable with my behavior, and needless to say, I’m absolutely disgusted with myself. How I could so horribly misinterpret the situation confounds me, but that confusion pales in comparison to the shame of knowing that I did the very thing to these two women that I openly chastise people for on a regular basis. Also, beyond that, that these women felt this way for TWO YEARS without me knowing and attempting to make amends, which is wholly unacceptable in its own right.

A couple of things here — one, apparently if you’re squicked out by a guy and avoid talking to him, you’re secretly telling him “everything’s cool.” Secondly, he’s under the weird impression that the rest of us have all taken dick pics.

I haven’t, for the record. And that’s the sort of thing you don’t guess that it’s okay to do — that’s something you should only do if it’s asked for. And while Stewart claims he was in a relationship with the recipients, others have called that into question.

Stewart also said that people have been calling and harassing his mother, which is something you shouldn’t do. Hell, you shouldn’t be harassing Yale Stewart. This is a “reasons to never hire a guy” situation, not a “threaten him and his family at home” situation — the latter which is only acceptable if someone has kidnapped your child or something. Or if he sent a dick pick to you — then go ahead I guess, but leave the dude’s mom alone. I guess the unwilling dick pic recipients have decent cause.

But the rest of you? If you’re directly harassing the dude, stop and leave the creep alone.

In the end, at the very least, Stewart appears to function on a level of crass tone-deafness, be it professionally or personally, and the real question is “will he dig this hole any deeper?”

Via The Outhousers, The Comics Reporter

Trae Dorn

Trae Dorn has been staffing conventions for over twenty-five years. They also wrote and drew the now completed webcomic UnCONventional, and produce the podcasts BS-Free Witchcraft, On This Day With Trae, Stormwood & Associates, The Meatgrinder, and The Nerd & Tie Podcast. This leads many to ask how the heck they have the time to get it all done. Trae says they have the time because they “do it all quite poorly.”

8 thoughts on “Webcomic Artist Yale Stewart Does Everything Wrong

  • And to think there used to be a time where articles didn’t have to tell people to stop harassing someone.

    Reply
  • Joseph Opsahl

    I now want to sell photos of my junk to support breast cancer awareness… now where did my macro lens go…?

    Reply
  • This was only really a problem when Farinas decided to start bitching and wanting to make his name more known. No one should have a problem with good will banner when all they do is raise money, shows you how petty and misguided farinas is. He takes his anger out on a webcomic artist with no power and then uses it to make his name more known. Its a pathetic situation when you think about it. The guy is complaining about charity banners that raise awareness to a problem because he can’t take his anger out on anything else. Thats what bitch boys are made of.

    Reply
    • I disagree entirely. The image was tone-deaf and ill advised at best.

      Reply
      • I’ll advised? Its ill advised to make a charity banner to raise awareness and money that was not gonna touch his pockets? okay.
        What I find funny in this article is how “SPACE COPS” is in all cops, makes me believe that if that he had used Staticshock and Superman Farnias would have no problem with it. Which is weird seeing as how GL’s are seen as superheros more than cops no matter what they actually are in comics. The banner was made with good intention and bitching about it just shows that farinas doesn’t have the slightest clue at what he’s mad at. Next time I see a good will banner made with superheros I’ll be sure to link them to his twitter so he can bitch at them for “selling out”. The only gross thing about that whole mess was that man would honestly take his anger out on a fucking charity banner. By the way last I saw YALE put this up on his Facebook,Tumblr and twitter so its not like he plastered it everywhere and said LOOK AT MY WORK. He marketed it towards his fanbase to gain support for ferguson. That capitalism line is pure bullshit because Yale doesn’t need to sell himself to people who already bought in to him

        Reply
        • xero42

          Whats more do to the way there powers work they have to handle criminals without killing (excluding the war of light which even then was spesific and limited)

          Reply
  • Paul Langland

    I just want to say, I never took a dick pic either primarily because women aren’t interested and that stuff can go viral easily. But a girl once asked me for one and so I sent a picture of Dick Chaney. But yea this dude is a creep.

    Reply
  • xero42

    So wait i dont get how the most culturally diverse cops in literary history who themselfes are unpaid and COMPLETLY INCAPABLE OF KILLING ANYONE being on an image in support of the people of furgison is in bad taste

    police should try to be more like the corps imho

    Reply

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