Ways to help Gene Colan
Fans, friends and organizations are working to help out Gene Colan, the classic artist of books including ”Daredevil” and “Tomb of Dracula” who is was hospitalized for liver failure earlier this month.
Writer Clifford Meth is running a benefit auction; more information at his blog.
The Hero Initiative is making available a series of prints and posters to benefit Colan.
From the Hero Initiative release:
The Hero Initiative in conjunction with Marvel Comics is launching a series of Gene Colan-themed products, starting with a limited edition print of Gene’s cover art to Invincible Iron Man #1, available at Wizard World Philadelphia, May 30-June 1. Only 200 prints will be available at the show at a cost of $25 each. Net proceeds from sales of these prints by The Hero Initiative will benefit Gene Colan. Another 50 prints will be available at a later date, with plans to have them autographed by both Gene Colan and Stan Lee.
Also at Wizard World Philadelphia, guest writers and artists at the Marvel Comics booth will be signing and sketching two large poster-sized boards, which Hero will auction benefiting Gene at a later date.
And that’s just the start. Wizard World Chicago, June 26-29, will see the release of a second print featuring the cover art to Daredevil #47, the legendary “Brother, Take My Hand” story by Stan Lee and Gene Colan. A third print will be available later in the year, along with other products.
For August, a Gene Colan Tomb of Dracula poster will be available for order via Marvel Previews with proceeds routed to Gene; and in September, a special book reprinting some of Gene’s greatest stories will be made available. In addition to these items, The Hero Initiative will take additional steps to help Gene in his convalescence.
“Gene Colan,” said Roy Thomas, longtime Marvel Comics writer and Hero Initiative Board member, “is one of the most amazingly talented comic book artists in the history of the field. When I was scripting one of his stories, there was no one-not even Neal Adams or John Buscema-whose pencils could make me feel more strongly as if I were looking into a real world. He combines often-photographic realism with dynamism worth of a Kirby…and that makes him unique.”
– Matt Price
Help Gene Colan
Brian Cronin at CBR points out some ways to help longtime Marvel and DC artist Gene Colan, who is hospitalized without health insurance.
Clifford Meth will be handling a tribute with proceeds going to Gene Colan:
Aardwolf Publishing will be publishing Meth, Colan & Other Theologians, the proceeds of which will go directly and immediately to Gene and Adrienne Colan. The new book will include everything that was in Perverts, Pedophiles & Other Theologians (the short-fiction collection that Gene and I did together for Aardwolf in 1997) plus two never-before-published stories illustrated by Gene. This will be a limited edition (aprox. 100 pages) of only 500 copies, all signed and numbered. You can order it NOW by sending (via PayPal) $20 plus $3 shipping to: sales@aardwolfpublishing.com
Daniel at 2oth Century Danny Boy provides an address for postcards and Get Well Cards:
Gene Colan
2 Sea Cliff Avenue
Sea Cliff, NY 11579
USA
Colan’s work on “Tomb of Dracula” made for one of the best comic-book runs of the 1970s. Colan was also involved with “Daredevil,” “Batman,” “Captain America” and dozens more.
– Matt Price
Fund-raising to help injured retailer
The Grand Rapids Press reports that comic book retailer David Pirkola, owner and operator of Apparitions Comics and Books in Grand Rapids, Michigan was robbed at his store and then shot by the robber.
According to the Grand Rapids Press, Pirkola is in critical but stable condition in a local hospital.
iFanboy.com has set up a Paypal account to accept donations to help cover the cost of Pirkola’s medical treatment and to help keep his store going. iFanboy is also in the process of setting up auctions and other fund-raisers to help Pirkola.
To donate, go online to iFanboy.com.
ComicsPRO meeting: Notes from DC, Top Cow, Hero Initiative, CBLDF, Cartoon Books
From Friday’s The Oklahoman:
By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor
WORD BALLOONS
LAS VEGAS — Comics publishers gathered at the 2008 ComicsPRO annual meeting to share information about upcoming plans with comic-book retailers.DC Comics’ vice president of sales Bob Wayne talked about DC’s upcoming crossover “Final Crisis,” and the prelude to the series, “DC Universe Zero.”“DC Universe Zero” is a 50-cent comic set for May release that is written by Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison, with art by George Perez, Tony Daniel and J.G. Jones.“When you finish reading ‘DC Universe Zero,’ you’re going to say, ‘Wow, I really wish I had ordered more copies of this,’”
Wayne said. “It does set up some of the things that appear in ‘Final Crisis,’”
Wayne said.“Final Crisis” is a seven-issue miniseries, with issue No. 1 set for a May release.
Wayne said “Final Crisis” is “Grant Morrison telling stories the way Grant does.”“It starts with Anthro and goes to Kamandi. From the first boy on earth to the last boy on earth, and everything in between,”
Wayne said.In addition,
Wayne announced a sequel to “Plain Janes,” the best-selling title in their “Minx” line of young adult graphic novels for girls.
“Plain Janes: Janes in Love,” from Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg, is shipping in September.“The comic shop market has surpassed all of our expectations at DC on how many copies you would be able to sell of these titles,”
Wayne said.
Wayne talked about DC’s newest weekly comic book, “Trinity,” following in the footsteps of “52” and “Countdown.” The lead story of the book each week will be written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Mark Bagley.“Mark Bagley has shown he’s a guy who has consistently been able to produce a high number of pages,”
Wayne said, “and we feel very comfortable that Mark can continue to do this on this particular project.”
The first issue of “Trinity” is 40 pages for $2.99. Back-up stories for “Trinity” will be written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with rotating artists.
ComicsPRO is the largest organization of comic-book retailers in the world, with more than 100 members. Other representatives at the conference included Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Cartoon Books, Top Cow, the Hero Initiative, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and Graphitti Designs.
More notes from the ComicsPRO conference:
* Top Cow outlined plans for their “Witchblade” property, including keeping the creative team of writer Ron Marz and artist Stjepan Sejic on the book for 34 issues.
“This creative team is going to be on the book until issue 150,” Top Cow’s Filip Sablik said. “We’ve heard that you want consistent shipping, you want a creative team you can rely on, you want a book that can turn and make money for you month in and month out. We’re going to do that for you with ‘Witchblade.’”
* The nonprofit organization, the Hero Initiative, which helps comic-book creators in need, will collect the “Stan’s Soapbox” columns from Marvel Comics as a fund-raiser.
* The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is planning a retailer resource guide, to help comic-book retailers to be aware of good retailing and legal practices.
* In May, “Stupid Stupid Rat Tales” and “Rose” will come back into print from Cartoon Books.
Gamers battle hunger
A recent press release indicates that STAT Gamers, a local group of gaming enthusiasts, will be hosting a charity event on January 5th, 2008 at Game HQ, 1620 J SW 89th St., to support the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. From the release:
A Thrall Harvest is a charity event in support of a local food bank/pantry. The event is a fantasy table-top miniatures tournament using the popular WARMACHINE and HORDES game systems.
As an entry fee, players bring donations of canned and staple goods to be donated to the local food bank/pantry. A unique tournament format is used to encourage donations during the event. Privateer Press, the creators of the WARMACHINE and HORDES game systems and miniature lines, provides unique award support for the event including special prizes for the tournament winner and the most generous donor. Additionally, a prize will be award to the location that hosts the most successfully event in terms of goods donated.
The Thrall Harvest is national in scope with charity tournaments happening all across the country annually from November to January.
More information about STAT Gamers is available at http://statgamers.7.forumer.com/.
