In 2013, Bleeding Cool reported on comic book creator Tess Fowler tweeting a series of statements about being sexually harassed by a specific and high-profile comic book creator. She spoke to Bleeding Cool about the incidents and their impact, but chose not to name him at the time.
A week later she changed her mind, naming Brian Wood, Marvel's then-X-Men writer. Wood apologised for his actions, though disputed her account of them. Fowler also recounted and that a number of other people has contacted her with their own, comparable, experiences with Wood.
Nowadays, Brian Wood mostly writes Aliens comic books for Dark Horse and Robotech for Titan, while Tess Fowler – after a high profile stint on Rat Queens – has been drawing Kid Lobotomy, written by Peter Milligan, for Black Crown/IDW.
Today Laura Hudson, former founder and editor of the Comics Alliance website, and a well-read commentator on entertainment, technology and culture, added her voice, inspired by accusations against Alexis Kennedy, founder of Weather Factory and Failbetter Games over similar matters. In 2013, she had interviewed and reported on Wood about his work on X-Men for Wired. After Tess's statements, she wrote a wider piece about harassment in the comics industry and beyond.
But on Twitter, she posted the following personal account.
So here's what happened. You're a young, vulnerable woman coming up in comics and you get into a bar with your hero. Holy shit. You're losing your mind bc here he really is.
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
His name was Brian Wood and I worshipped him at the time (he wrote so many strong female characters!!!). If you think this is going to go badly, you're correct. I went into a bar with him and he grabbed me he forced me into a kiss
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
I have a very clear memory of going to the bathroom and looking him up on Wikipedia afterwards to see if he was married, which he was. I believe his wife was pregnant at the time, but I'm not certain. If she wasn't, she was later. He didn't care.
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
I would later find out that he had done this to other women. Many. Tess Fowler has spoken openly about this and Wood has acknowledged it. And I'm sorry, Tess, that I wasn't ready to stand up at the timehttps://t.co/j56FYm4ucF https://t.co/j56FYm4ucF pic.twitter.com/M05fUb2K0f
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
He texted me for weeks afterwards, telling me his wife didn't understand him the way I did. Wanting me to come out and fuck him. I refused. I was scared. How the fuck are you supposed to react? I didn't know what it meant to say no to my idol and I had no power at the time
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
That's why the Alexis Kennedy accusations (games #metoo) should chill you to the bone. He and Brian specifically sought out young, less powerful women and exploited and used them because that's easy, and that's what predators do.
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
He cared more about his dick than he did my humanity or the power he held over me
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
The day Tess started talking, he knew I liked rock climbing and for No Reason started sending me emails the Exact Same Day (we're not friends and don't talk) about his niece and how much she loves rock climbing. Def not bc I had status and he was afraid I could hurt him now pic.twitter.com/kPheWm6bbK
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
Brian can say whatever he wants, about how this all an inexplicable lie I told for no reason and invoke his wife he has cheated on repeatedly or the fact that HE HAS A DAUGHTER and I: don't care. pic.twitter.com/rPefk2VCR6
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
I'm only saying all of this so that so no other young woman ever trusts him or puts herself into a vulnerable situation or has to hold her head in her hands for weeks because her hero treated her like garbage
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
I've carried this shit around for a decade like a broken bone bc you couldn't think any more of someone who adored you and was vulnerable to you as anything other than something that was easy to f-ck.
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
Great news: I learned how to think more of myself. I got bigger. You're small to me now. And I hope every woman you've treated this way feels the same way, because I know I'm not the only one.
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
Great news: I learned how to think more of myself. I got bigger. You're small to me now. And I hope every woman you've treated this way feels the same way, because I know I'm not the only one.
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
I guess that's why I'm saying that now. You can't hurt me. I'm bigger than you. And bc the world is unfair not every woman you've hurt gets to say that. But if I can't say it, who can?
F-CK YOU
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
Tess Fowler added her own thanks.
Thank you.
Just…holy shit.
Thank you for this.
— Tess Fowler (@TessFowler) 30 August 2019
i believe and support you on every level and if you ever want to talk outside of twitter let me know
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
I've taken a lot of heat over the intervening years and my skin has gotten pretty thick. I just didn't realize how much it would help to have somebody else tell the truth out loud too. 2013 me owes you big.
Yeah. We should chat sometime. ♥️
— Tess Fowler (@TessFowler) 30 August 2019
With Laura adding,
Also! I'm experiencing a lot of support right now but you know who took a ton of shit for telling the story the first time, not only from fans but from pros? @TessFowler. She is the original hero here. Tell her she's great (she is)
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) 30 August 2019
Too true.
