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How the Shadow Army Mobilizes to Protect the Powerful
An early incident involving Neil Gaiman illustrates the almost unconscious way a group will come together to protect an icon from his own actions.
As reported last week in New York Magazine, the story of the sexual assault allegations against Neil Gaiman only gets darker and more stomach-turning1. I’ve been following the saga since it broke last summer with an increasingly sinking feeling, not because I’ve ever been much of a fan, but because I wish somehow he could have been called out — if not stopped — sooner.
When a person starts to acquire power and wealth in any field, a shadow army accrues around them, not just insulating him from the consequences of his actions but also reflecting a distorted reality back to the world outside and isolating anyone who would do him harm. This army grows larger and more complex as its focal point amasses more power. It includes both the insiders who depend on him for a living and the adorers whose faith in his benevolence isn’t easily be shaken.
The allegations against Gaiman seem detailed, consistent, and credible. I would take them seriously on that basis alone, even if I didn’t already have an inkling of how he operates. I’m pretty sure I saw an early version of his…
