Fans who supported the record-breaking Kickstarter campaign to create aGood Omensgraphic novel are being given a last chance to back out.Good Omens, based on a novel byNeil Gaimanand the late Terry Pratchett, was created without Gaiman’s involvement, but following abuse allegations against the author, backers expressed concern about him profiting from the project. Now, a Kickstarter update says he won’t get any money from it.
TheGood OmensKickstarter project has posted an updateclarifying Gaiman’s status with the project,as well as offering a full refund to backers who don’t feel comfortable funding the book, despite the confirmation that the author will not profit from the project.
The crowdfunding campaignearned almost $1.5 million, blowing away its initial goal by several magnitudes of order. Written by Eisner winner Colleen Doran, theGood Omensgraphic novel adaptation had garnered a great deal of good will, which has now been tarnished given the horrifying accusations against the franchise’s creator.
The “Good Omens” Graphic Novel Kickstarter Clarifies Franchise Creator Neil Gaiman’s Involvement, Following Abuse Allegations
Gaiman Will Not Profit From The Adaptation
Neil Gaiman, best known for creatingthe Sandmanfor DC, has been one of the most visible figures in American comic books for almost forty years. In July of 2024, a podcast,Mater: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman, from Tortoise Media, featured interviews with women whocame forward to say Gaiman had been sexually abusive and aggressive toward them. Fans were understandably shocked, since Gaiman had cultivated an image of kindness, gentleness, and allyship with women and other marginalized groups. Also understandable has been the immediate and severe impact on the author’s current active projects.
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That includes theGood Omensadaptation, and the Kickstarter project’s administrators for the book have taken necessary steps to address Gaiman’s involvement. They posted:
Finally, we had locked refunds of the Good Omens graphic novel in mid-November due to where we were in the production process, however will no longer maintain this freeze in light of new articles and allegations. While we cannot speak further on the subject at present, we have chosen to reopen a short refund window for those who would no longer like to support the graphic novel, until Friday 7th February 2025. Please contact us via email or Kickstarter message.
“It has also been agreed that Neil Gaiman will not receive any proceeds from the graphic novel Kickstarter. Given the project management, production and all communication has always been under the jurisdiction of the Estate on behalf of Good Omens at large, this will not fundamentally change the project itself, however we can confirm the Kickstarter and PledgeManager will now fully be an entity run by, and financially connected to, the Terry Pratchett Estate only.”
Though the adaptation is not written by Gaiman, the Kickstarter did offer a number of rewards signed by the author. His cooperation with the campaign, coupled with his years-long working relationship with author Collen Doran, gave some fans the impression he was fairly involved in the project. While some other Gaiman projects have been delayed, or canceled,Good Omensis working to disentangle itself from the franchise’s creator, so backers will feel comfortable maintaining their contributions.
The “Good Omens” Kickstarter Adaptation Is Trying To Do The Right Thing Amid Backlash Against Neil Gaiman
Rewards Signed By The Franchise’s Creator Can Be Swapped Out
Notably,theGood OmensKickstarter admins noted that they want to accommodate those backers who do not seek a refund, but also do not want to receive the Neil Gaiman-related rewards that they had previously paid for. The admins wrote:
A number of tiers also come with author merchandise and books; we have been working on a system in the back end to remove or swap out particular rewards from tiers, should you wish to continue with the project, but not receive these specific items.
This is, without a doubt, a logistical nightmare for the project, but it is essential for theGood Omensgraphic novel to move forward. As of now, the question is how many contributors will opt out by February 7th, the deadline to request a refund.
It remains to be determined what the short and long term future of Colleen Doran’s adaptation will be, but…theGood OmensKickstarter’s administrators are at least attempting to address the situation surrounding franchise creator Neil Gaiman.
TheGood Omensgraphic novel follows on the success of theGood OmensTV adaptation, starring,Michael Sheen as Aziraphale and David Tennant as Crowley. The graphic novel adaptation has been highly anticipated because of its announcement, appealing to both longtime fans of the book and newer fans brought on by the show. It remains to be determined what the short and long term future of Colleen Doran’s adaptation will be, but in the immediate future, theGood OmensKickstarter’s administrators are at least attempting to address the situation surrounding franchise creatorNeil Gaiman.
