Is Comics Media Soft-Pedaling the Ed Brubaker Scandal?

Comics writer Ed Brubaker may be in serious trouble, but much of the comics media appears eager to look away. A former production assistant, Ijaaz Noohu, has filed a 12-count lawsuit against Brubaker, Amazon MGM Studios, Big Indie Pictures, executive producer Phillip Barnett, and other defendants connected to the upcoming Prime Video series Criminal. The complaint alleges sexual harassment, racial and religious harassment, retaliation, assault, battery, and defamation. These are allegations, not proven facts, but they are too serious to dismiss as a routine workplace dispute. The most disturbing claim says Brubaker pointed a functional firearm at Noohu’s face and pulled the trigger. The complaint does not provide every detail about that incident, and no court has found the allegation true. Still, this is not a minor accusation about a rude comment or a tense production meeting. If the claim is supported by witnesses or other evidence, it could have major consequences for Brubaker, Amazon, and the future of Criminal. The lawsuit also describes alleged unwanted touching, questions about Noohu’s sex life, jokes about rape, ethnic stereotypes, and repeated comments calling him Indian e...