"COMIC BOOK FANS AND CREATORS JOIN FORCES TO DO GOOD
AT THE 1st ANNUAL “HEROES HELPING LEGENDS”
A weekend celebrating comic books while helping artists and writers in need
CHICAGO, IL (September 6, 2006) — Question: Who does a Living Legend turn to when in need of help? Answer: The fans. Everyone knows that they are the lifeblood of any creative endeavor. The fans have always “got your back.” The 1st Annual “Heroes Helping Legends” event allows Chicago’s comic book fans to give back to creators that have already given them so much joy and entertainment. Many of the art form’s earliest writers and artists find themselves unable to make ends meet in their retirement and often lack adequate resources to cover medical expenses.
Now it is the loyal readers’ turn to play the hero by attending a two-day mini-convention, Saturday, September 16th and Sunday, September 17th, 2006 at the Mercury Café, 1505 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago. Fans will be able to hunt for literary treasure through a massive comic book sale, chat with local writers, get a unique sketch by local artists, and bid on range of one-of-a-kind art and collectibles all while enjoying the music of local bands. All proceeds benefit The Hero Initiative (www.HeroInitiative.org), formerly A.C.T.O.R. Comic Fund (www.actorcomicfund.org) – a national non-profit that provides financial assistance and a critical network of support to comic book industry veterans that have met with hard times.
This event is meant for fans of all ages and will be appealing to any collector on a budget. Most comics will be sold at the price of 5 comics for one dollar. To encourage sustained perusing, hint sheets will be sold to lead fans to prizes that are hidden in select issues. Local artists like Skottie Young and Andrew Pepoy will be on hand to draw sketches while bands with a comic book affinity like Daemon Familiar and Recent Photo will ensure that the Mercury Café is rockin’. The event will represent the diverse range of the comics medium so fans of underground slice of life stories will be as much at home as the fans of the capes and spandex set. The imagery and iconic power of comic book characters permeates every aspect of our culture and it is often the most enduring relationships that we will have with fictional characters in all of literature. It is up to all of us to make certain that those responsible for these beloved characters and stories are not left out in the cold once they have moved on from the limelight.
Avid and novice readers alike are welcome. There is a suggested $5 entry fee donation and the organizers are still soliciting donated comic books if you need to make some room among your collection. Contact them at heroeshelpinglegends@yahoo.com or go to www.myspace.com/heroeshelpinglegends for more information, including a preview of some of the artwork that will be available for sale.
The Hero Initiative, formerly A.C.T.O.R. Comic Fund, is the first federally recognized non-profit organized to assist comic book industry veterans. Through The Hero Initiative, a safety net has been created. Financial aid is available for comic book creators who may need emergency medical operations, necessities of life, or sometimes a helping hand finding a re-introduction back into active work within the comic book industry. For more information, please visit www.HeroInitiative.org."