Hero Initiative book featuring Wolverine set for November
The Hero Initiative officially has announced the Wolverine 100 project, which will feature 100 original covers of Marvel Comics’ most famous mutant. The Hero Initiative is a charity that helps comic-book creators in medical or financial need.
Marvel Comics has donated 100 blank-covered cardstock copies of the Wolverine: Weapon X #1 to Hero. Artists including Neal Adams, J. Scott Campbell, Frank Cho, Gene Colan, Ron Garney, Dale Keown, Adam Kubert, Leinil Yu, and John Romita Sr. and Jr. will create a cover for the issue.
“Marvel fully supports the Hero Initiative and its mission, and is proud to offer one of our premier characters in Wolverine to help their efforts,” said Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley in a release. “The amazing outpouring of support and creativity we see from the artists in this is a wonder to behold as well.”
All 100 original Wolverine covers will be published in a book set for release in November. A public viewing of all covers will also be held.
“Fasten your seat belts. From what I’ve seen, this is the craziest 100 project to date,” said Hero Initiative Board member Brian Pulido in a release. “The artists are very good at what they do and what they do is very awesome! They are pulling out all stops to deliver the goods on Marvel’s marauding mutant. You won’t be disappointed.”
Marvel is also hosting an informational video on the Hero Initiative, which you can see here.
- Matt Price
Signed “Berserker” comic will benefit CBLDF
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A special signed edition of the “Berserker” comic will be distributed to comic-book retailers who sign up to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund through Diamond Comics. The promotion was announced by Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik at the ComicsPRO annual meeting of direct-market retailers.
The issue will be signed by Milo Ventimiglia (”Heroes”) and the creative team. Ventimiglia brought the project to Top Cow; the team creating “Berserker” is made up of writer Rick Loverd (”Friday Night Lights”), artist Jeremy Haun (”The Leading Man”) and cover artist Dale Keown (”PITT”).
The preview issue of “Berserker” is available now; the first issue is set to ship in June. Sablik said the violent series should appeal to fans of “Wanted.” In the story, the two lead characters discover they have incredible strength when they become filled with rage.
– Matt Price
Embedded below is a “Berserker” promo video, which debuted at New York Comicon.
CBLDF outlines board changes; Powell named president
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Comic Book Legal Defense Fund executive director announced changes to the board of directors for the Fund while speaking at the ComicsPRO annual meeting.
Chris Staros of Top Shelf is stepping down as president of the board to focus more time on his publishing company, Brownstein said. Larry Marder, creator of Beanworld,” will join the board. Chris Powell of Lone Star Comics was named the new president of the CBLDF board.
Powell, also a member of the board of ComicsPRO, spoke to the assembled retailers.
“We value everybody in this room as one of the groups we’re here to protect,” Powell said. “The Fund is vital, because we don’t just protect you; we protect your customers and we protect your suppliers.”
Powell spoke to ways retailers could continue to support the fund: through memberships that are solicited through Diamond Comics Distributors; through eBay auctions that designate some funds to the CBLDF through MissionFish; through a donation jar on the counter; or through signings and events benefiting the Fund.
“Besides monetarily, one of the things you can do … is to help us continue to get the mission out,” Powell said.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community.
– Matt Price
Hero Initiative announces Wolverine, American Flagg! projects
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marvel’s most popular mutant is set to become a fund-raising hero.
Steve Borock of the Hero Initiative, speaking at the ComicsPRO annual meeting, said a “Wolverine” project similar to the “Spider-Man” and “Hulk” 100 Covers project is in the works. About 100 top-level artists will be approached to create Wolverine covers that will be printed in a book to benefit the Hero Initiative. Borock indicated that creators including Frank Cho were interested in being involved with this project.
Borock also announced “Hero Comics,” a benefit comic book organized by Scott Dunbier, which will include a new “American Flagg!” story by Howard Chaykin. This 32-page anthology will also feature contributions from Gene Colan and Josh Medors.
The Hero Initiative raises funds for comic-book creators in need. The Initiative has benefited more than 50 creators, Borock said, with more than $500,000 cumulatively.
The Hero Initiative also provided an informational DVD to the attending retailers with information about the Hero Initiative. The one-minute version of the video is embedded below.
– Matt Price
Image Comics plans CBLDF benefit comic, variants
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Image Comics will release a second “Liberty Comics” to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, announced Joe Keatinge, the public relations and marketing coordinator for Image.
The first “Liberty Comics” raised more than $30,000 for the fund.
The second “Liberty Comics” is planned for October.
In addition, Keatinge announced a series of variant covers that will be tied to some of Image’s biggest releases. These covers, which will cost $1 more than the standard cover, will raise money for the CBLDF.
– Matt Price
Jeff Smith to sign for ComicsPRO store; Amos items hit eBay for fund
Jeff Smith will sign at Flying Colors Comics in Concord, Calif., after retailer Joe Field bid $4,650 in an auction for the appearance. The auction was held on the ComicsPRO retailer forum and benefits the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Also announced by the CBLDF is a benefit auction of Tori Amos items on eBay. Full release after the break.
Auction raises $100,000 for Siegel house
As reported on Nerdage last month, author Brad Meltzer is spearheading a drive to raise funds to save the boyhood home of Jerry Siegel, where Superman was created. He gives an update to CBR:
“I just wanted to thank you for what you unleashed — especially in the efforts to save the house where Superman was created,” said Meltzer. “As you know, the goal was to raise $50,000 just to work on the outside of the house. Instead, we raised $101,000.”
Now, work will begin on the renovations.
– Matt Price
Auction to benefit injured retailer
BOOM! Studios and iFanboy.com are running auctions to benefit David Pirkola, the comic-book retailer recently shot during a robbery.
Artist Jeffrey Brown (”Clumsy”) is a friend and customer of Pirkola, of Kentwood, Michigan. Brown is auctioning off Warhammer 40,000 tribute art to benefit Pirkola here. Brown is offering the piece in conjunction with iFanboy.com and BOOM! Studios.
Brown directed Death Cab For Cutie’s “Your Heart Is An Empty Room” musical video and has also appeared on NPR’s “This American Life.” His latest book, “Little Things,” was released last month
“I became a father a year and a half ago, so it’s been a while since I’ve had the time to field my Ultramarines force or let my epic scale ork gargants rampage across the battlefield,” said Brown in a release. “I keep up with the comics, novels, and White Dwarf magazine, but spend more time playing with buses and trucks now. It was a great experience to work on this page and get back to the game that I love, and it was even better knowing I could help David by doing it.”
In addition to the artwork, iFanboy.com will also auction several rare BOOM! comics.
“This is why I love comics,” said Chip Mosher, BOOM! Studios’ Marketing and Sales Director, in a release. “They are exciting, escapist fantasies that take us to new worlds, but in a split second used to help people in ours. Hopefully this page will raise money to aid Mr. Pirkola and give fans of WARHAMMER 40,000 something exciting to look at as well.”
The auction starts today at http://www.ifanboy.com/content/articles/David_Pirkola_Charity_Auction. So far, fundraising campaigns have raised $7,000 for Pirkola’s medical and business expenses.
– Matt Price
Hero Foundry seeking donations
The nonprofit organization the Hero Foundry, which helps provide comics and graphic novels to libraries and other organizations, has a new fundraiser planned and is seeking donations. From the e-mail:
This year we are launching a new reading program that we think will complement our endowments of graphic novels but also allow schools and libraries to directly influence youth with the power comic books. In order to help The Foundry Titan Comics, and The Hero Foundry are joining forces to put on a Live Art Show, Art Auction and Music Event.
To accomplish this though we are looking for artists who would like to participate in the live art show and/or donate some of their art for the auction. Can you draw, are you creative, do you paint then we need your help! We are looking any artists that create comic books or create fine art on the canvas then we want you to come help a worthy cause during a night of creative philanthropy or people who own original art and want to generously donate a piece from their private collection for the cause.
If you are interested in helping spread the word or participating in the Live Art and/or donating original art for the auction then please email Brian Warthen at brianwarthen@theherofoundry.org or Paul Milligan at thesuperleezard@yahoo.com.
“Pulp Tales” to benefit artist
From Boom!’s Mark Waid, via Warren Ellis’ Bad Signal:
This September, Boom! — in partnership with Dan Taylor — is releasing a one-shot anthology, PULP TALES, 100% of the profits of which will be donated to artist Josh (30 DAYS OF NIGHT ANNUAL, FUSED) Medors, who’s fighting a losing, health-insurance-light battle against cancer. Steve Niles, B. Clay Moore, Josh Fialkov and Tony Fleecs are just a few of the artists and writers who’ve donated their time and effort to this project, and they’re all bringing their “A” game.
Mike Wieringo snuck up on us. The suddenness of Michael Turner likewise surprised us. Josh isn’t as well-known as those two guys, but he’s a talented man with a good heart who’s done well by us all and has been a great spokesperson for comics with the way he treats his fans–and while our donations can’t make his cancer go away, they can make life easier for Josh and his family in a way we didn’t get a chance to provide to others.
We’ve got two editions of this book shipping–a $3.99 edition with a Ben Templesmith cover and, for those readers who’d like to kick in a bigger donation to the cause, a $9.99 cover by Josh himself. I’m a terrible shill and a lousy salesman, so I’m not going to hard-sell anyone on this–but if whoever’s reading this can help us make a difference to a fellow professional and his family while we still can, while it still counts, I’d be very grateful. Thank you.
