NEW YORK — Neil Gaiman, the renowned British author, has lost one of his publishers amidst rising allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him. Moreover, his name has been removed from the client list of an agency that has represented him for speaking engagements for several years.
Dark Horse Comics announced over the weekend via social media that it would cease its publication of the illustrated series inspired by Gaiman’s novel, “Anansi Boys.” The seventh installment of the eight-part series was released earlier this month.
In a statement, Dark Horse asserted, “We take the allegations against Neil Gaiman very seriously and will no longer be publishing his works,” although they still showcase his existing books on their website.
The allegations concerning Gaiman, the author famous for works like “Coraline” and “The Sandman,” initially surfaced last summer on a podcast by Tortoise Media. This year, a detailed article in New York Magazine presented accusations from eight women highlighting claims of assault, abuse, and coercion. Gaiman subsequently addressed these accusations in a blog post, maintaining his innocence.
He stated, “Similar to many people, I’m learning and striving to engage in the necessary work, recognizing that such growth is not an instantaneous process. While reflecting on my past and reassessing the actual events versus what has been alleged, I do not concur that there was any abuse.”
On Monday, Gaiman’s representatives, including his literary agent, did not provide immediate commentary when contacted.
Throughout his career, Gaiman has collaborated with various publishing houses. Two notable ones, HarperCollins and W.W. Norton, have both declared that they will not be publishing his future works. Meanwhile, other publishers, like Bloomsbury, have chosen not to issue any statements as of now.
While Gaiman continues to list the Stephen Barclay Agency on his official site as his point of contact for appearances, his name is conspicuously absent from their published client roster. The Barclay Agency has not replied to inquiries for further details.
Additionally, Disney has put a halt to its planned film adaptation of Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book,” although Netflix is still slated to release the second season of the series based on “The Sandman.”
