COLLABORATIVE GRAPHIC NOVEL ‘HELP: THE HERO INITIATIVE ANTHOLOGY’ LAUNCHES ON KICKSTARTER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE HERO INITIATIVE
Over 100 comic book creators come together to contribute to anthology about what “help” means in the pandemic era and aiding comic professionals
Omar Spahi, comic book writer and CEO of Creation Station, and Hannah Means-Shannon, comic book editor and journalist, spearhead the project
HELP: The Hero Initiative Anthology, a groundbreaking graphic novel featuring one-page stories by over a hundred creators about what “help” means during the COVID-19 pandemic, launched this morning on Kickstarter with the goal of raising funds for The Hero Initiative, which aids comic professionals in need. Those interested in backing the project can check out the Kickstarter page now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heroinitiative/help-the-hero-initiative-anthology
The HELP anthology project started when state lockdowns for COVID-19 began, forcing many comic shops to close and creating a ripple effect throughout the comic industry, resulting in widespread business and job loss and book cancellations. HELP became a way for creators to donate their time and skills to tell one-page stories on the theme of helping others, while ultimately serving to raise money for those in the community in need of help during the pandemic.
Comic book writer Omar Spahi (Getting It Together) and editor Hannah Means-Shannon (former Managing Editor at Heavy Metal and former Associate Editor at Dark Horse) teamed up to create the HELP anthology and partnered with The Hero Initiative to raise money for comic professionals. This marks the first time The Hero Initiative has ever been involved in a Kickstarter campaign.
“The Hero Initiative has always been the real hero of the comics community and I’m honored to help bring creators to their first Kickstarter,” said Omar Spahi, co-creator of HELP: The Hero Initiative Anthology.
Even as conditions improve and publishing schedules become more robust, many people in the comic book industry have been affected by business and job loss, and the impact of that loss will linger. The hope is that even after this initial Kickstarter campaign is complete, this project continues to encourage charitable giving to help support the comic community.
Spahi and Means-Shannon brought together comic creators from all across the industry, including writers and artists from DC, Marvel, and other high-profile publishers, while also giving a voice to many from within the indie comic community. The response to a call for submissions for HELP was overwhelming in its kindness, inventiveness, and determination. Many of the contributors crafted their stories during the first half of the pandemic, even though everyone was busy figuring out how to adapt to a “new normal” with work and family life.
Along with Spahi and Means-Shannon, contributors include Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Once & Future), Dennis Calero (X-Factor, Legion of Superheroes), Tim Seeley (Grayson, Hack/Slash), Magdalene Visaggio (Kim & Kim, Vagrant Queen), Sina Grace (Ghosted in L.A., Iceman), Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs), and many more.
“This project comes from the heart for all of our collaborators and they’ve produced some of their finest work to support The Hero Initiative and their fellow comic creators,” said Hannah Means-Shannon, who edited and co-created HELP: The Hero Initiative Anthology.
The stories submitted for the anthology were open-hearted, examining what it means to help and how we experience aid and value it in comics. These stories span from fiction to non-fiction, some taking silent approaches, and some engaging in intimate monologues. This collection captures how comic creators felt, and continue to feel, about giving and receiving help within their community and world in a heartwarming and kind way, despite living through a time of crisis.
The Kickstarter campaign allows backers to choose from a number of tiers for rewards, including: $10 for a digital copy of HELP: The Hero Initiative Anthology, $25 for a softcover printed copy, $55 for a hardcover printed copy, with additional tiers onwards up to $1000 for original artwork from select creators of the anthology along with a hardcover copy of the book. Those interested in backing the project can check out the Kickstarter page now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heroinitiative/help-the-hero-initiative-anthology
All proceeds from the sale of this graphic novel will support The Hero Initiative’s mission to help comic book creators in medical or financial need.
More about HELP: The Hero Initiative Anthology:
HELP: The Hero Initiative Anthology was conceived by Omar Spahi (Xenoglyphs, Getting It Together), edited by Hannah Means-Shannon (former Managing Editor at Heavy Metal Magazine and Associate Editor at Dark Horse), and designed by Dezi Sienty (Production Coordinator at Heavy Metal). With a Cover by Charlie Adlard, the anthology features the following contributing creators:
Serg Acuna, Ted Anderson, David Baillie, Nick Barber, Corinna Bechko, Steve Becker, John Bivens, David M. Booher, Conor Boyle, Lizzie Boyle, Nick Brokenshire, Mark Bouchard, Scott O. Brown, Erik Burnham, Caio Cacau, Dennis Calero, Jim Campbell, Mario Candelaria, Richard Case, Peejay Catacun, Michael W. Conrad, Gab Contreras, Joe Cooper, Joe Corallo, Alex Cormack, Jorge Corona, Marcelo Costa, CRANK!, Frank Cvetkovic, Nenad Cviticanin, Tony Donley, Siike Donnelly, Rich Douek, Dave Dwonch, Matt Emmons, Taylor Esposito, Scott Ewen, Eduardo Ferigato, Nick Filardi, Bob Fingerman, Tony Fleecs, Michael Jan Friedman, Antonio Fuso, Alfie Gallagher, Dillon Gemmill, Kieron Gillen, Sina Grace, Frank Gogol, Simon Gough, Mathew Groom, Gabriel Hardman, DC Hopkins, Matt Horak, Mike Isenberg, Van Jensen, Rich Johnston, Justin Jordan, Zack Kaplan, Joseph Keatinge. Gideon Kendall, Dearbhla Kelley, Lovern Kindzierski, D.J. Kirkbride, Adam P. Knave, Sean Konot, Piotr Kowalski, Ilias Kyriazis, Jonathan Lang, Christine Larsen, Janet Lee, John Lees, Fabian Lelay, Shawn Lee, Cath Lobo, Marissa Louise, Andrew MacLean, Andy MacDonald, James Maddox, Ariana Maher, Ryan Maniulit, Shaun Manning, Shanna Matuszak, Hannah Means-Shannon, Oliver Mertz, Joe Mulvey, Andrea Mutti, Micah Myers, Mike Norton, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Eric Palicki, Chas! Pangburn, David Pepose, Cris Peter, Troy Peteri, Fred Pham Chuong, Curt Pires, Sebastian Piriz, Ahmed Raafat, Cardinal Rae, Livio Ramondelli, Frank Reynoso, Sean Rinehart, Rafer Roberts, Fabrice Sapolsky, Erika Schnatz, Tim Seeley, Dezi Sienty, Brad Simpson, Arune Singh, Omar Spahi, Mark Stafford, Dave Stoll, Dane Styler, Dave Swartz, Keana Taire, Bryan Talbot, Fred Van Lente, Magdalene Visaggio, Kelly Williams
Work on the anthology is already complete and the book will be heading to the printer soon. The campaign has a guaranteed contribution that will make sure it is fulfilled and printed, and all proceeds will therefore benefit The Hero Initiative.
About The Hero Initiative:
The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s 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. Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $1 million to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.
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- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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