The workers of popular graphic novel publisher Dark Horse Comics, which is behind numerous popular Star Wars, Cyberpunk, and Avatar: The Last Airbender comics among others, are petitioning to form a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), as announced by the group today.
In a press release, the group (known as Dark Horse Workers United) said that 59 eligible employees had signed onto a letter sent to interim CEO Jay Komas, requesting that he voluntarily recognize the union by June 1st [Note: elsewhere on their website it says the deadline is June 3rd, we’ve reached out for clarification], or they will petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.
In its announcement, DHWU refers to company founder Mike Richardson, who left the company earlier this year in the wake of its acquisition by Embracer Group in 2022. DHWU says it hopes to “improve conditions for workers and maintain Richardson’s legacy of publishing creator-owned comics.”
“The looming uncertainty from recent layoffs, wage/hiring freeze, change in leadership power, emergence of artificial intelligence, and return-to-office policies (despite their economic impact on employees) have fueled us to organize and collectively address our concerns,” the announcement continues. “These are just a few examples of why we are seeking a democratic workplace.”
DHWU has published a public petition for the union’s voluntary recognition, and is asking supporters to sign it. Kotaku has reached out to Embracer and Dark Horse Comics for comment.