17 Cartoonists File Lawsuit Against Cadence Comic Art
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Seventeen cartoonists have filed a lawsuit against Cadence Comic Art and its owner Paolo Belfiore claiming the gallery and art dealer of defrauding them of hundreds of thousands of dollars and refusing to return their artwork.
The plaintiffs, which include Rafael Albuquerque, Mahmud Anjum Asrar, Alessandro Cappuccio, Elena Casagrande, Danai Christina Kilaidoni, Yildiray Cinar, Becky Cloonan, Wesley Craig, Tyler Crook, Jenny Frison, Pia Guerra, Joelle Jones, Leila Leiz, David Marquez, Valerio Schiti, Jill Thompson, and Paolo Villanelli, allege that the Belfiore secretly sold or transferred their works without reporting the transactions, misappropriated and commingled sales proceeds with own funds, and withheld at least 49 unsold pieces despite repeated demands for their return.
The artists are demanding $473,000 plus interest, punitive and exemplary damages to be determined at trial, payment of their artist’s attorneys’ fees, and return of all unsold artworks.
History
According to the complaint, the artists began working with Cadence around 2008. In February 2024, several comic book artists cut ties with Cadence Comic Art. On September 10, the artists’ attorney sent a formal letter demanding the return of unsold artwork, inventory records and payment of all unpaid sales proceeds. A second letter was sent on November 8. Both letters were ignored, prompting the artists to file this lawsuit.
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