Rick Olney: Still does not pay freelancers or anyone else.

[HamsterRage]

For those unfamiliar with Rick Olney, please see the countless amounts of documentation below about his cons, lies and thievery. He's an unstable dangerous and volatile man. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH HIM!

Classic thread:
http://forums.comicbookresources.com...d.php?t=156451

Previous thread at CBR:
http://forums.comicbookresources.com...d.php?t=304938

For those unfamiliar here's the Tony Isabella's Letter about him:

Dear Creative Professional,
If you are approached by an individual named Rick Olney or a representative of this man, if you are approached by Olney or anyone else representing entities known as The Mighty Mini-Con, TightLip Entertainment, ORCA, Adirondathon, or Adirondack Comics Fest, we strongly urge you to run in the other direction.
There is a very long, very well-documented history of non-payment, deceit, emotional manipulation, and fraud in connection with this man and his projects. Despite searching and publicly requesting evidence for over three months, nobody has been able to produce any evidence of any artist ever having been paid in full for their work for TightLip. Many attending professionals to his conventions were promised reimbursement of their expenses, but while some were provided with lodging, none are known to have received full compensation for travel and meal costs, and many have been the subject of vicious personal attacks as a result of having inquired about the promised reimbursement. In addition, Mr. Olney has a considerable history of erratic and unprofessional behavior on many message forums and mailing lists on the internet, several of which have banned him due to his frequently racist, sexist, and homophobic rants, as well as his willingness to hurl vicious insults in response to legitimate questions about his business practices.
As far as we can tell, nearly everyone who has ever had any professional contact with TightLip, the Mighty Mini-Con, or Rick Olney, has a “war story” to tell about being misled, cheated, and used.
You can find more details here:
Happy Birthday Rick Olney, Happy Birthday To You! – http://www.bleedingcool.com/2009/06/...rthday-to-you/
EXCLUSIVE: Rick Olney Pays Back $100, $35,502.76 To Go… - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2009/10/...5502-76-to-go/
The Tenth Annual Rumour Awards – BEST LACK OF PAYMENT - http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/f...k-payment.html
Rick Olney Trying To Organise Veteran’s Day Weekend Comic Con In New York - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/06/...n-in-new-york/
So Who Is Actually Going To Rick Olney’s Comic Con In November? - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/08/...n-in-november/
Now Matt Busch Turns Against Rick Olney Over Indiana Jones - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/...indiana-jones/
Rick Olney Cancels Adirondack Comic Con - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/...ack-comic-con/
Sending Rick Olney A Cease And Desist Letter - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/...desist-letter/
Rick Olney Sells Indiana Jones World Map Without Matt Busch Or Lucasfilm’s Permission - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/10/...lms-permission
Lucasfilm Tells Rick Olney To Cease And Desist Over Indiana Jones World Map - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/10/...nes-world-map/
Rick Olney Demands Apology Before He’ll Hand Over Charity Maps And Donations - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/11/...and-donations/

Please, do not attempt to do business with Olney. In fact, please pass along this warning to any comics professionals, aspiring comics professionals, retailers, exhibitors, media guests, and fans you know.
Do business with Olney at your own risk.
We would prefer to not do this in such a public manner, but, with Olney again advertising a convention and claiming that he is still planning to publish comic books, the greater good demands we speak out.
Thank you for your attention,
the Undersigned
Shelly Kennedy, Webmaster Unscrewed!
Danny Donovan, Various independent Comics, 911 Emergency Relief by Alternative Comics, Radio Free Comicks
Dave Rothe, Ant #’s 6-9 from Image Comics
Tom Stillwell, Writer/Creator of The Honor Brigade from Spinner Rack Comics
Kurt Busiek, Astro City, Superman
Paul D. Storrie, Revisionary, Gotham Girls, Robin Hood
Scott Reed, Web’s Best Comics
Tony Isabella, Black Lightning, Tony’s Tips
Chuck Dixon, DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Bongo, Wildstorm
Joanne Ellen Mutch, Rummblestrips, Potlatch, LOTR sketch card artist,
Kevin Huxford, ShotgunReviews.com/Newsarama Contributor
Timothy J Tobolski, UNSCREWED! editor-in-chief
Jim Taylor, The Wraith
Mike Bullock, Lions Tigers & Bears, The Phantom
Blake M. Petit, Comixtreme.com
Scott Shaw!, CAPTAIN CARROT, THE SIMPSONS, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Jeff Austin, AC Comics
James Ritchey III, Green Lama, Team Defiant!
Danielle Sylv Taylor, Hollow
Colin McMahon, New Dimension Comics-McMurray
Wil Radcliffe, Noggle Stones
Larime Taylor, Writer/Creator of HOLLOW, Archaia Studios Press
Mercedes R Lackey, Valdemar Series, DAW Books
Larry Dixon, DAW, Baen Books
Jim MacQuarrie, MonkeySpit.net
Alice Woodside, The Daredevil Anniversary Art Quilt Project
Sean McKeever, writer
Steven D. Forbes, Writer of Bullet Time, Co-Writer of Fallen Justice, EiC of Paper Dragonz
Koben Kelly, Newsarama.com, Best Shots, ShotgunReviews.com
Sarah Beach, editor, writer – Shooting Star Comics Anthology #1, Unscrewed! anthology
Lance Boucher, Inter-Fan Productions
Colleen Doran, A Distant Soil
Nat Gertler, About Comics
Johanna Draper Carlson, Comics Worth Reading
Joe Zierman, artist – Big Bang Comics
Martin R. Oakley, formerly of Bloodstained Productions, writer/artist
Kneon Transitt, Gemstone Publishing
Gail Simone, Birds of Prey, Villains United, Gen13, Welcome to Tranquility, Atom
Frank Dirscherl, The Wraith
James A. Owen, Starchild, Mythworld, and Here, There Be Dragons
Richard Neal, Eisner winner Zeus Comics
Brian Pate, Comic Book Conventions.com
Cully Hamner, BLUE BEETLE, DC Comics
Erik Burnham, Shooting Star Comics
Scott McCullar, Shooting Star Comics, DC Comics, West End Games
Butch Guice, Marvel Artist
Brian J. Crowley, Graphic Designer DDP
Gerry Alanguilan, Superman: Birthright, Batman/Danger Girl, Silent Dragon (Wildstorm)
Michael Netzer, DC & Marvel artist

http://www.unscrewedcomic.com/letter/index.php


and here's the open letter from Michael Netzer about him
http://michaelnetzer.com/rEvolution/content/view/113/

An Open Letter to Rick Olney
Comics
Written by MN (Michael Netzer)

Wednesday, 06 December 2006

Hello Rick,

As a friend whom I've known for several years and a supporter of my efforts on behalf of the comics creators, I'd prefer not to rebuke you publicly as I'm about to, regarding the recent controversy with your lateness of payment to comics creators whom you contracted for work, and the subsequent open criticism of your actions by Rich Johnston and others. I do this, however, because of our friendship, in hopes that you'd take heed of the damage you bring upon yourself by your conduct.

I was sorry, as surely anyone who knew you was, at hearing about the passing away of your mother, may she rest in peace. I was also sorry, however, to hear your repeated complaints regarding your personal problems and the persistent touting of your misfortunes as an excuse for your failures. Since I've known you, you've been of the more outspoken big talkers in the comics community, wherein every convention and event you've attempted to organize appears to have been afflicted by one unfortunate circumstance after the other. The problem is that we come to hear and remember more about your personal difficulties than the failed endeavors you organize. You might have saved us all one needless sorrow by complaining less and doing a little more, but such is apparently beyond you.

Everyone suffers personal difficulties that can otherwise destroy endeavors they undertake. Most good people, however, choose to shed less crocodile tears and carry on with their lives. Your misfortunes are the title of your inevitable biography and it is a saddening one because you use them to conceal your ineptness and hypocritical ulterior motives, as you persist in falsely espousing a regard for truth and justice in your conduct. There is no truth and justice in how you're conducting yourself now, Rick. It's time to take a good look at your actions and consider the repercussions they bring.

The creators, Chuck Dixon, Val Staples and others, who've stepped forth asking for payment for their work, are not at fault here. They trusted you by producing work for you. You are the one who owes them and you're the one who's avoiding them, as they've stated openly. Your response, to pursue litigation procedures against them for violating non-disclosure agreements, reveals you for the deceitful man you are. All your hypocritical rantings regarding justice for the creators, over the years, are now washed down the drain, as you reveal yourself to be no better than others who've taken this course before you.

Tight Lip Entertainment/Rich Johnston and others have been more than fair with you, in the face of your belligerent threats to pursue legal actions against creators whom you owe money to. Have you no shame? No conscience? No inclination of the stain you bring upon your reputation? Is your wallowing in the publicity of this affair blinding you to the damage it inflicts upon you and others?

Is the outstretched tongue in your logo meant to reflect your disregard for the creators you hire, while you conceal it with the false and hypocritical mask of love-struck eyes?

You say that: " Since this has began we've nearly completed Tales of The Spooky ..2, hired and placed 4 new artists of note, in motion. And anchored our June 07 Mighty Minicon."

Well Rick, if you can do all this now, why can't you simply pay the creators whom you owe money to, before continuing on with business as usual? Are you using your misfortune, and now theirs, to evade paying them and then sueing them for taking you to task for it, Rick?

Are you doing the same thing to these comics creators as you did to the web hosting service which asked me to intervene on their behalf two years ago, due to your evading paying them for services they gave you? Is this your modus operandi; to use personal tragedies and misfortunes in order to abuse the goodwill of others, while promising to pay for them, and never doing so?

You understand I'm at liberty to disclose your withholding of payment to the web hosting service because I never signed a non-disclosure agreement about it with you. In all fairness though, I'm willing to sign one now, retro-actively, so that you can sue me also for violating it. Just send me a copy and I'll sign it, if this is the way you choose to conduct your affairs.

Or change your ways, Rick Olney. Stop avoiding those you owe money to and compensate them for their work. Stop making excuses by publicly complaining about your misfortunes and get on with your work. Do not begin new endeavors while you have previous unfulfilled obligations. Apologize to everyone whom you've defamed with your accusations.

Straighten your ways, Rick. All the lawyers in the world can't wipe away the stain that covers you now.

and the judgment against him:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2009/10/...5502-76-to-go/


Plus here's some of the other links:
http://www.unscrewedcomic.com/conten...y_thread_index
http://www.unscrewedcomic.com/conten...bout_Unscrewed
http://rickolney.blogspot.com/
http://rickolney.tumblr.com/
http://rickolney.typepad.com/blog/
http://isitfactorisitfiction.blogspot.com/
http://torrentialspirit.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/RickOlney
https://twitter.com/#!/RecklessRicOlie
https://twitter.com/#!/OlneyTheLonely
http://rickolney.posterous.com/warning-rick-olney
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/moha...03GDU#comments
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74827
http://theofficialguidetodeadbeats.b...-deadbeat.html

http://renaissancegeek.blogspot.com/...eddie-met.html

http://www.bleedingcool.com/?s=rick+olney

http://www.journalfen.net/community/...on:+rick+olney

http://troublewithcomics.com/post/96...ith-rick-olney

http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/02/28...y-at-it-again/

http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/0...-aim-at-olney/

The thread where Rick pretends ORCA is legit:
http://www.comicon.com/ubb/ubbthread...=453164&page=1

Plus all of JR's documentation:
http://iblogalot.com/category/rick-olney/
http://iblogalot.com/2011/12/01/rick...vs-matt-busch/
http://iblogalot.com/2011/12/01/rick...s-val-staples/
http://iblogalot.com/2011/12/01/rick...s-jim-tournas/
http://iblogalot.com/2011/12/01/rick...vs-scott-reed/
http://iblogalot.com/2011/12/01/lyin...th-rick-olney/
http://iblogalot.com/2011/12/01/a-wa...ut-rick-olney/

[SallySensational]

Do we HAVE to? It always makes us feel so DIRTY.

[Hurricane]

I don't know who Rick Olney is, but fuck him!

[THE_DAREDIVA]

I know who he is. He tried to pull the fast one on me, trying to get me to come to the Mighty Shitty Con, promising to pay my air fare up until the last minute. Told him I had to have the ticket in my hand. He wanted me to fly on up and he'd reimburse me. You know where that would have left me these many years down the road, so I'm glad I didn't do it.

[Hurricane]

I know who he is. He tried to pull the fast one on me, trying to get me to come to the Mighty Shitty Con, promising to pay my air fare up until the last minute. Told him I had to have the ticket in my hand. He wanted me to fly on up and he'd reimburse me. You know where that would have left me these many years down the road, so I'm glad I didn't do it.

Yikes. So I was right in my fucking him then. I mean... I didn't fuck him, but I said...

Oh hell... I think you know what I mean.

Oh look, NINJAS!

[Ray G.]

Who is this clown?

[sk716]

Who is this clown?

I'll let Tony Isabella explain:

http://www.unscrewedcomic.com/letter/index.php

[t.c.johnson]

Who is this clown?

A really short explanation: he has conned a lot of comicbook artists (most starting out, a few established) into doing work for his company, "Tight Lip Comics" or something, and almost nobody has ever been paid nor has any comics ever been published. What he owes to various people comes to about 6 figures at best estimate. When you complain about him he threatens legal action or physical violence (neither has ever happened.)

But read SK's link for more details.

(Editing to make more sense...the spell check on my Iphone can do some strange things sometimes)

[bert]

I'll bet his blog will be open soon. . the idjut has to crow about how the mighty Tamryn was booted from CBR!

[HamsterRage]

My favorite thing will be the inevitable Bendis and the Bendis board Vs. Olney battle... that will be epic.