This whole affair really just points to how stupid and immature the "professionals" who work in the comics industry are (if not, indeed, how stupid and immature our entire society has become), and I'm referring to both sides of the argument, although one side seems to come off more poorly than the other in the public communication that I've seen.

In a sensible world, people would talk things out (wo)man to man and resolve their differences professionally, in private.  I suppose they could even get lawyers involved if they really felt it was necessary, though the desire of everybody to sue everybody else about anything at the drop of a hat is just another sign of the decline of society IMHO.

But to hash this stuff out on Twitter (TWITTER, for God's sake!  Even the name points to what a stupid, infantile means of communication it is!), fan boards, and comment threads on gossip blogs?  Really, this is the best, most professional way that adults could find to approach this situation?

Whether she's got a point or not, this stuff that Stephanie Buscema posted on Twitter to start this whole situation rolling sounds like stupid high school drama moreso than a disagreement about professional courtesy. 

nice, right? Im fuming right now. Crooks.

…If at WonderCon, I urge you to go to this panel and ask Hermes Press why they are such blatant crooks.

…Not even having the decency to notify the artists widow about publishing a book about her husband. They should be ashamed.

…I want to thank everyone for the kind, supportive words & retweets, you’re all incredible. My family & myself thank you with all our heart.

…I know, some people. Aww thanks, I have a feeling karma will get them

Accusations that are presented with no evidence to back them up, and just blatantly playing to the crowd and fishing for sympathy - it's ridiculous, and it sounds like a bunch of high school drama.  Here's a thought - if there's really a problem here and not just some entitlement butthurt (and I've got to say that the situation sounds a whole lot more like an oversight or miscommunication than anything done with malicious intent), then why not knock off the "tweeting" and message board posting and go do something productive to resolve the situation (like actually talking to the author and the publisher) instead of trying to stir up a bunch of fans who have nothing at all to do with the situation, in order to win some pointless battle in the court of fanboy opinion?

JRjr