/ / /

TSA Detains Author Over Weird Script; Both Sides Behave Reasonably and Rationally

June 27, 2009 at 1:22 PM | by | Comment (1)

An interesting TSA-related incident happened at LAX last month that underscores the tricky balance between security and liberty. A comic artist named Mark Sable was detained for additional screening by TSA agents who were alarmed at the content of a script they found in his bag, the latest in a comic (or graphic novel, if you like) series called Unthinkable. As SFScope points out, the script follows members of a shadowy government group that dreams up "unthinkable" 9/11-type catastrophes that begin coming true. Not surprisingly, the agents thought this was a reason to give Sable and his belongings further scrutiny.

As Sable describes it:

"The minute I saw the faces of the agents, I knew I was in trouble. The first page of the Unthinkable script mentioned 9/11, terror plots, and the fact that the (fictional) world had become a police state. The TSA agents then proceeded to interrogate me, having a hard time understanding that a comic book could be about anything other than superheroes, let alone that anyone actually wrote scripts for comics.

Sable "cooperated politely" and took the time to explain his work to the agents, noting that the story is based on a real-life government think-tank that comes up with worst case scenarios. In the end, rationality and good sense prevailed and Sable was allowed to continue on his journey to a signing at Jim Hanley's Universe in New York.

So is it right for TSA agents to scrutinize any printed materials you might be carrying, or interrogate you for a fictional work that happens to include terrorist acts? Maybe not, but you probably do want to stop the guys carrying plans for an actual terrorist attack, bomb-making diagrams, and that kind of thing. How to tell the difference? Practice, I guess. As Sable puts it, "I feel my privacy is a small price to pay for educating the government about the medium."

Well said.

[Photo: SFScope]

Related Stories:
· Comics Writer Mark Sable Detained for Unthinkable Acts [SFScope]
· Mark Sable Detained by TSA for Unthinkable Script [Comics Alliance]
· GroundedComic.com [Official Site]
· TSA Coverage [Jaunted]

Comment (1)

Post a Comment

Return to » TSA Detains Author Over Weird Script; Both Sides Behave Reasonably and Rationally


I guess education is good

but c'mon, the TSA agents had never heard of... fiction? What's next, getting secondary screening because you have a copy of "Cloverfield" which suggests you want a weird monster to come and destroy NYC?
egw on June 28, 2009 at 1:13 PM #Permalink

Return to » TSA Detains Author Over Weird Script; Both Sides Behave Reasonably and Rationally

Join the conversation!

Not a member? .
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy (Revised 08/01/2011). © Condé Nast Digital. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast Digital.
Ad Choices