Benefit Auction Starts May 23

Just a friendly reminder to anyone who may be interested in browsing the gallery of some of the items that will be available for the Josh Medors benefit auction, starting this Saturday! If you know any collectors of original comic book art, be sure to let 'em know about this... there are several one-of-a-kind pieces and commissions from well-known artists that are very valuable, but hard to find.

Plus: I am working on several pieces to be listed in my etsy shop that are part of my charitable contribution. So feel free to buy/commission something from there too!

benefit auction

Last year, I had the great misfortune of telling you that one of our friends, Josh Medors, was afflicted with cancer and needed your help. The fine folks at the Hero Initiative pulled out all the stops and were able to host a fantastic fundraiser that helped Josh and his family cope with the ever-mounting medical bills.

And now it is with an even heavier heart that I ask for your help again. Josh's cancer has progressed to an untreatable level. He has, however, found some 'alternative' (meaning not western medicine) treatments that may help extend his life and will surely improve the quality of it. Like everything else in America, this treatment comes at a steep price and once again all of us comic book geeks are banding together to help a brother out.

Dave Kopecki and Andrew Mangum are hosting an eBay benefit auction starting on May 23rd, which I will be donating to (Ryan will as well), so tell your friends! There's a preview of a few items that will be sold here. And if you're not an art collector, maybe you'd just like to send a few dollars -- remember, every $1 helps! -- or use your birthday candle wish or pitch a penny in a wishing fountain. We need all the good energy we can get!

Send donations (of any size!) via PayPal to: jmedors3@columbus.rr.com
Read the full article on Comic Book Resources.

I will also be making an ongoing series of arts and crafts and I will donate 100% of the proceeds to Josh and his family. Stay tuned!

support our heroes

Call us nerds, dorks, or geeks, but comic book people take care of their own. The comic book industry is unlike a lot of others. There is no guild, no union, no club. There are no 401ks, pension plans, or vacation days. For most creators, their salaries (which are not as glamorous as most people seem to think) are not the driving force in staying in this field. It's the love of the art, dedication to the medium, preservation of the culture, and the interaction with the fans (who appreciate all of the above) that keep them going. Which is a wonderful and noble thing.

A lot of people are surprised when they learn about how the industry works on the inside. How the majority of creators are freelance artists. Even though some creators may have contracts or steady work with major publishers, they are not privy to the same benefits as the average office worker - no benefits, no over time, pay-per-project work, etc. Which allows many creators incredible flexibility in their careers and personal lives and can be a great opportunity.

That is, until retirement age has approached, and/or passed. Until a tooth aches or a child is sick. Then what? In a largely freelance field, there is no safety net. That's where the Hero Initiative comes in.

Ryan and I were very touched to learn that one of our friends, Josh Medors, who is bravely fighting a rare form of cancer, was recently selected by the Hero Initiative for support. Several auctions have been held - and will continue to be held - to help with the expense of treatment and convalescence.

We hope that you will check out their events and auctions and support all of our Heroes, including Josh.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. For more information, call 310-909-7809 or visit http://www.heroinitiative.org/