Dark Horse Comics, the publisher of Neil Gaiman’s graphic novels and comic books, has announced the cancellation of his upcoming works following allegations of sexual misconduct against the author.
The publisher had been set to release more entries in the Anansi Boys series, which is a spin-off of Gaiman’s novel American Gods.
This series follows the adventures of two children of Anansi, the African trickster god.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Dark Horse Comics stated,
“Dark Horse takes seriously the allegations against Neil Gaiman, and we are no longer publishing his works.”
This statement confirmed the cancellation of the Anansi Boys comic series and its planned collected volume.
Neil Gaiman, a celebrated writer known for his fantasy and science fiction works, has denied the allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by eight women.
He stated, “I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”
The Anansi Boys series initially began as a novel before being adapted into various formats, including a BBC Radio 4 six-part show and a Prime Video TV series in 2022.
Dark Horse Comics had been releasing comic book versions of the series, but these plans have now been discontinued due to the controversy surrounding the author.
The allegations against Gaiman came to light on January 13, when New York Magazine published a cover story detailing accusations made by eight women, four of whom had previously spoken out.
Some of these women had earlier accused Gaiman of sexual misconduct during an episode of the Master podcast by Tortoise Media in July 2024.
One of the more disturbing allegations involved a woman who claimed that Gaiman had invited her to take a bath in his garden while babysitting his five-year-old child.
She alleged that he later joined her in the tub naked, asked her to sit on his lap, and then sexually assaulted her.
Other accusations detailed claims that specific BDSM activities had occurred without prior consent or discussion, raising questions about boundaries and mutual agreement.
In response, Gaiman’s representatives defended consensual BDSM practices, stating that such activities are lawful between consenting adults.
However, Gaiman himself denied the allegations in a blog post on January 14.
He wrote, “As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I don’t, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen.”
While acknowledging that he had been “careless with people’s hearts and feelings,” Gaiman rejected the claims of abuse.
The fallout from these allegations has had significant repercussions on Gaiman’s career and creative projects.
Prime Video’s Good Omens, based on his work, will now conclude its third season with a single 90-minute episode, with Gaiman no longer involved in the project.
Similarly, Disney has paused production on its film adaptation of Gaiman’s novel The Graveyard Book.
In addition to these developments, a police report was filed against Gaiman in New Zealand in January 2023, accusing him of sexual assault. However, the investigation was ultimately dropped.
Despite this, the controversy continues to cast a shadow over Gaiman’s extensive body of work, which includes iconic titles like Good Omens, The Sandman, Stardust, American Gods, and Coraline, many of which have been adapted into acclaimed TV shows and films.
As the allegations against Gaiman continue to unfold, the future of his work remains uncertain.
For now, the cancellations and pauses on various projects suggest that the industry is taking a cautious approach, prioritizing the serious nature of the accusations over the continuation of his creative contributions.
