As the comic book industry continues to figure out how to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic which has created a stoppage in shipping, a group of comic book creators are coming together to help support comic book retailers during this trying time.
More than 120 creators will be auctioning comic books, artwork and one-of-a-kind experiences through Twitter using the hashtag #Creators4Comics. The auctions will run from Wednesday through Monday and will benefit the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, which is accepting applications from comic book shops and bookstores for emergency relief.
This fundraiser was organized by the comic book writers Sam Humphries (Harley Quinn, Dial H of Hero) and Brian Michael Bendis (Superman, Young Justice, Action Comics), along with Kami Garcia, Gwenda Bond, and Phil Jimenez. Humphries will be auctioning “How to Break Into Comics by Making Your Own Comics,” which are video-chat sessions with aspiring writers mirroring his own comic book secret origin story, according to an email response he released concerning this fundraiser.
This is not the first fundraiser that creators in the comic industry have done so far. On April 1, Jim Lee, chief creative officer and publisher of DC Comics, began posting a sketch daily to auction in support of comic book stores. One sketch — depicting a vampire version of Batman — sold for $17,300 on April 12.
Comic book creator, Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, has been using his superhero, La Borinqueña, in support of a GoFundMe campaign called Masks for America. So far they have raised about $118,000 so far to manufacture and ship masks for health care workers and has the support of actors like Mark Ruffalo, who currently plays the Incredible Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe tweeted last month:
The artist Phil Jimenez will auction this original art, which features a formidable assemblage of DC villains, to benefit comic book stores.
More information can be found at the Creators 4 Comics website.