Wonder Woman Day will be held this weekend in Portland, OR and Flemington, NJ. It’s part of a benefit for women’s shelters and a celebration of the character. Lots more details here.

In recognition of Wonder Woman’s legacy and the life-saving work done by these local non-profits, Excalibur Comics in SE Portland will host Wonder Woman Day on Sunday, October 25th from noon to 6pm. The free all-ages event will include local and national artists signing comics and special edition prints, as well as a silent auction of original art contributed by more than 150 of the world’s top artists. There will be costumed super-heroes on-site, raffles and prizes, rare memorabilia, and more.

Additionally, a second Wonder Woman Day benefit will take place on Sunday, October 25th, in Flemington, NJ, at Comic Fusion, as part of their “Super-Hero Weekend.” This East Coast event will benefit Safe in Hunterdon, a domestic violence shelter in New Jersey.

Luckily, America is not a socialist country, and healthcare is TOTALLY not rationed based on how much money you have or whether you are employed or not. What a ludicrous idea that is.

Because healthcare in the US is absolutely not the most expensive of any developed nation, Julia Wertz is having a fundraiser to pay for a hefty hospital bill. Since we have no healthcare worries in this country, just go for the laughs.

Here’s two more preview pages from the LIBERTY COMICS #2 anthology coming next month from Image.

Paul Pope

Chynna Clugston-Flores

In addition, Image has just released the Jim Lee Variant cover.

LEE and his story with NEIL GAIMAN, ‘100 Words’, lead off an all-star ensemble of industry greats in the all-new second volume of LIBERTY COMICS. Passionate comic book storytelling, all in service to an important cause, the incredible contributions list includes a Painkiller Jane story by JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JIM RUGG; a new Mr. Gum adventure from MIKE ALLRED, DAVE JOHNSON and JAMIE S. RICH; The Apocalypstix by RAY FAWKES and CAMERON STEWART, a return to Channel Zero by BRIAN WOOD; a preview of Choker by BEN MCCOOL and BEN TEMPLESMITH; and a special Martha Washington piece by DAVE GIBBONS, alongside exclusive material by PAUL POPE; KATHRYN & STUART IMMONEN; CHYNNA CLUGSTON; PAUL GRIST; and JASON AARON & MORITAT. LIBERTY COMICS already features two covers, one by Batman: The Long Halloween’s TIM SALE and a new Kick Ass image by creator JOHN ROMITA JR.

Liberty Comics #2 is an upcoming benefit anthology, proceeds from which benefit the CBLDF.

CBLDF Defenders of Liberty NEIL GAIMAN & JIM LEE lead off an all-star ensemble of industry greats in an all-new second volume of LIBERTY COMICS! Passionate comic book storytelling, all in service to an important cause, the incredible contributions list includes a Painkiller Jane story by JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JIM RUGG; a new Mr. Gum adventure from MIKE ALLRED and JAMIE S. RICH; The Apocalipstix by RAY FAWKES and CAMERON STEWART; a return to Channel Zero by BRIAN WOOD; a preview of Choker by BEN McCOOL and BEN TEMPLESMITH; and a special Martha Washington piece by DAVE GIBBONS, alongside exclusive material by PAUL POPE; GAIL SIMONE and JÖELLE JONES; KATHRYN & STUART IMMONEN; CHYNNA CLUGSTON; PAUL GRIST; and JASON AARON & MORITAT.

Alternate covers feature a new Kick-Ass illustration by JOHN ROMITA, JR. and a special noir image from TIM SALE.

All proceeds from LIBERTY COMICS will benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!

The book comes out on October 14th, published by Image, and we’ve been given a few EXCLUSIVE pages to preview here. Thanks to Joe Keatinge for arranging this. First up: The first NEW Channel Zero story by Brian Wood in several years. Click for a larger version.

Underground comics legend S. Clay Wilson is still recovering from serious injuries he sustained in a fall last year, and artists are still banding together to help raise money for him. Here’s another good cause:

S. Clay Wilson Benefit Bash August 22 Concludes San Francisco Underground Comix Exhibition

6 to 8 pm, Saturday August 22, 2009

Electric Works
130 8th Street
San Francisco, CA 
www.sfelectricworks.com
415 626-5496

Following a packed and rowdy opening night last month, San Francisco’s Electric Works gallery has excited and intrigued locals and tourists with “The Cresting Wave: The San Francisco Underground Comix Experience,” a group exhibition featuring San Francisco’s Underground Comix artists from the Sixties to the Eighties. Although the artwork is available for purchase through November, the show closes Saturday, August 22nd with an All-Star Benefit Bash benefitting local cartooning legend S. Clay Wilson, who faces a long recovery from serious injuries. All are invited to join artists and fans in a raucous celebration featuring the E-Z Blues sound of The Dave Walker Band, refreshments, a raffle and a silent auction, from 6 to 8 pm that evening.

Artists included in “The Cresting Wave”are Mark Bode, Vaughn Bode, Guy Colwell, R. Crumb, Jay Kinney, Paul Mavrides, Dan O’Neill, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Gilbert Shelton, Larry Todd, Randy Vogel, and S. Clay Wilson. Culling work from private collectors and the artists themselves, guest curator, Underground Comix writer, publisher and historian, Dan Fogel, has amassed important work from each artist that spans personal drawings, well-known comix pieces, including covers and original comps, as well as other rare ephemera from the heyday of the San Francisco scene. An illustrated price list is available for download from the gallery’s website.

In addition to offering exclusive signed and numbered prints by many of the exhibition’s artists, Electric Works is pleased to announce a new limited edition “jam print” by Mark Bode, Jay Kinney, Paul Mavrides, Spain Rodriguez, Randy Vogel, and S. Clay Wilson. This 24″ x 18″ piece is printed in an edition of 40, with archival inks on acid-free paper. The price is $100 per print. The original artwork for the print will be auctioned off. All proceeds go to the S. Clay Wilson Special Needs Trust. The prints may be ordered here.

The gallery’s bookstore is currently stocked with hundreds of Underground Comix and graphic novels, from rare first printings to the latest editions, merchandise, and memorabilia.

To become a sponsor of the Wilson Benefit Bash and/or the “jam print”, please contact Dan Fogel at comixpr@comcast.net 

For a while now, writer Gail Simone has been tirelessly collecting items for a benefit for writer John Ostrander.
Ostrander faces expensive treatment for glaucoma, which his insurance doesn’t cover. The alternative is losing his sight.

Simone has set up a benefit auction for Ostrander at this weekend’s Chicago Comic-Con.

At the 2009 Chicago Comic-Con, we’ve joined forced with Wizard Entertainment^th.  Our goal is to raise sufficient funds to help cover the costs of John’s treatments and it is John’s expressed wish that should we raise funds above his needs, that excess money is to be donated to The Hero Initiative to help them continue their great works aiding comic creators in their times of need. to hold a charity auction the evening of Saturday August 8

You can see four HUGE galleries of items that have been donated, and read more about it at the comix4sight.com site. Here’s a few pieces just to give you an idea of what’s available.

It’s a great cause, and if you’re going to Chicago Comic-Con, we urge you to participate.

Quiet since their first time running at MoCCA last year, the Friends of Lulu Awards are back with a new format, new awards, and a new top-notch panel of judges. Looks like they are totally back on track:

The Lulu Awards are given every year to the creators who have fostered the success of women in the industry (or enjoyed their own), to publications that displayed literary excellence, and to people and projects that helped to open eyes and minds to the amazing comic and cartooning work by women.

In a change from last year, the judges panel will provide the list of nominees, then the public will vote for the winners in each category.

The nomination process is open from now until September 14th.

Voting by the public will take place between September 14th and October 1st.

The winners will be announced at the end of October, in a very special Lulu Awards ceremony to be announced in a separate press release.

I.  Judges

We have brought together a diverse and knowledgeable team from a variety of interests, disciplines, and occupations from within the comic book industry and fandom.

The judges are:

Brigid Alverson – writer, editor, columnist, and blogger

Jennifer Babcock – comic book historian and creator

Abby Denson – writer, cartoonist, and teacher

Cheryl Lynn Eaton – blogger and writer

Chris Eberle – comics retailer

Karen Green – academic librarian and columnist

Robert Randle – purchasing assistant manager, Diamond Distributors

Again, the nomination process is open from now until September 14th. 

Note to publishers/comic creators wishing to submit review copies:

We have a list of judges who wish to receive review copies. Only works produced in 2008 will be considered. Please email us at info@friends-lulu.org for more information & their contact info. Lulu loves the environment: please try to send scans/pdfs whenever possible! Please note that individual publishers/comic creators assume all responsibility in getting said materials to the
judges, including cost of shipping & the delivery of electronic files in a proper format.

II. New Categories:

Leah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly Work:

Leah,
who passed away in 2007, was very active in Friends of Lulu and was also comics creator in her own right. She had a passion for children’s comics and this award is in memory of her. This award is for a kid-friendly work that best exemplifies the Friends of Lulu motto “Comics Are For Everyone.”

Best Female Character:

For a lead female character from an ongoing or limited comic book series or comic strip, original graphic novel or novella. Whether in print or online.

Click here for a list of all categories!

Lots of events, swag and great artists!

This week the pop culture world converges at Comic-Con International in San Diego, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund brings the goods with the biggest slate in the organization’s history!  The Fund is bringing you parties, education events, auctions, live art, exclusive premiums from Neil Gaiman, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and Amanda Palmer, as well as an astonishing selection of signed graphic novels, comics, prints, and original art. Read on for your insider’s guide to all of the amazing things the Fund has happening at Comic-Con!

CBLDF Master Sessions - Comics’ Greatest Artists Show You How They Make The Magic!

Get a view inside the creative process of comics’ most talented artists at the CBLDF Master Sessions. Created in collaboration with Comic-Con International, the CBLDF Master Sessions are a series of art demonstration events where top artists show you how they create masterful comics on the big screen in a large classroom style hall at the Con. Bring your sketchbooks to follow along, and your questions for the Q&A. Participants in this year’s Master Session series include: Dave Gibbons, Mike Mignola, Jeff Smith, Jim Lee, Jill Thompson, Charles Vess, Terry Moore, Camilla D’Errico, and David Mack. All art created during the CBLDF Master Sessions will be auctioned off to benefit the Fund at our Saturday night auction!  For full schedule and details, visit: http://www.cbldf.org/pr/archives/000405.shtml

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Via PR:

Prism Comics, which supports LGBT comics, creators, issues and readers is excited to announce its biggest slate of programming ever at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International (July 22-26, 2009), featuring four panels, a mixer and silent auction, creator signings, portfolio review, “Young Heroes” party, and the debut of the new Prism Guide!

“San Diego Comic-Con continues to be the best way for Prism to reach the LGBT comics audience,” said Ted Abenheim, Event Chair of Prism Comics. “Our presence has had a small but significant influence on the comics industry and it’s gratifying to see.”

Prism kicks off its schedule highlighting the biggest LGBT-related comic book event of the year—the arrival of Batwoman and The Question as co-lead features in DC Comic’s namesake book, Detective Comics.

Thursday, July 23, 4:00-5:00pm - The first panel, “Tipping Point for LGBT Portrayals in Comics” asks if the arrival of Batwoman and The Question in Detective–the first time any lesbian characters have headlined a mainstream publisher’s comic book–is an isolated event or a tipping point in the acceptance of LGBT characters. David Stanley (Prism Co-President) moderates with panelists Greg Rucka (Detective Comics), Marc Andreyko (Manhunter), Judd Winick (Pedro and Me), José Villarrubia (The Mirror of Love), Scott Allie (editor, Dark Horse Comics, Buffy Season , Mimi Cruz (retailer, Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City, UT), Perry Moore (Hero) and Matt Wagner (The Aerialist). Room 32AB.

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Via PR:

Please join the Cartoon Art Museum at booth #1930 for its Third Annual Sketch-A-Thon at the San Diego Comic-Con this summer.  Artists will be drawing for the museum all weekend to raise funds to support the Cartoon Art Museum as it gears up for its 25th anniversary celebration this December.  Special guests include Phil Foglio (Girl Genius), Jeff Keane (The Family Circus), Keith Knight (K Chronicles), Bobby London (Dirty Duck), David Lloyd (V for Vendetta), Ted Naifeh (How Loathsome), and many, many more.

Please visit the Cartoon Art Museum’s Facebook page or our Twitter page (@cartoonart) for scheduling updates.

–Andrew Farago, Cartoon Art Museum Curator

Thursday, July 23
12pm-1pm:  Phil Foglio
1pm-2pm:  Lisa Ann Wilson, Rudy Reyes
2pm-3pm:  Ted Naifeh
3pm-4pm:  Bobby London
4pm-5pm:  Zach Weiner
5pm-6pm:  Debbie Huey
6pm-7pm:  Brian Kolm

Friday, July 24
12pm-1pm:  Brian Kolm, Ron Yavnieli
1pm-2pm:  Anthony Hon    
2pm-3pm:  Susie Cagle, Keith Knight
3pm-4pm:  Bobby London, Scott Shaw!
4pm-5pm:  Dirk Tiede, David Lloyd
5pm-6pm:  Mike & Doug Gray

Saturday, July 25
11am-12pm:  Batton Lash
12pm-1pm:  Karen Luk, Brian Kolm
1pm-2pm:  Derek Kirk Kim, Jason Thompson
2pm-3pm:  Jeff Keane, Ryan Germick
3pm-4pm:  Bobby London
4pm-5pm:  Rick Parker
5pm-6pm:  Daniel Salcido
6pm-7pm:  Lanny Liu, Jason Thompson

Sunday, July 26
12pm-1pm:  Ron Yavnieli, Charlie Roberts
1pm-2pm:  Lisa Ann Wilson
2pm-3pm:  Charles Yoakum
3pm-4pm:  Daniel Salcido
4pm-5pm:  R. Sikoryak

Party Poop! Friday! Featuring the fairly amazin’ Amanda Palmer:

Amanda Palmer, the creative force behind Who Killed Amanda Palmer & The Dresden Dolls, is appearing at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to benefit the First Amendment work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!

On Friday, July 24 Palmer will appear at two events to benefit the Fund. On Friday night, she headlines a benefit show at the San Diego Women’s Club, appearing with Vermillion Lies. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Acclaimed graphic novelist Jill Thompson will be creating live art during the event. Vermillion Lies will also be performing. Tickets are available at: (http://casbah.frontgatetickets.com/choose.php?a=1&lid=32249&eid=38329)

Earlier in the day Amanda appears at Comic-Con for CBLDF Master Sessions: Who Killed Amanda Palmer, at 1:00. Bring your sketchbook and witness how illustrative masters Camilla D’Errico, David Mack, and Terry Moore draw from life as internationally renowned performer Amanda Palmer poses at this CBLDF Master Session! Palmer will establish the mood for the event, while the artists translate her dramatic poses into their own distinctive styles. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night at the CBLDF’s auction! Room 30CDE

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Something else cool to spend your money on! And it smells good, too.

Abstract Studio and Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab have teamed up to create a strictly limited, lettered edition of the Strangers in Paradise Omnibus, a set that promises to be the rarest of all SiP collectibles, all to benefit the CBLDF! This item is available now, concurrent with an eBay auction to own letter A of Z with one of a kind Black Phoenix collectibles!

Limited to 26 copies, the SiP Omnibus Lettered Edition includes: One set of the strictly limited three-volume hardcover SiP Omnibus edition, an original drawing by Terry Moore, and a bottle of “Parker Lily,” a fragrance based on Terry Moore’s beloved epic created by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and strictly limited to 26 bottles. All sets can be available for pick up at Comic-Con in San Diego, or will be mailed in the first week of August. Choose the option you prefer when you add this item to your cart.

If that weren’t enough, right now the Fund is offering the rarest SiP item of all on eBay — Letter A of this limited edition set, plus a bottle each of the two prototypes of Parker Lily! These prototype fragrances are the same ones sent to Terry Moore for approval and are a one of a kind offering! Bidding on this CBLDF exclusive is now open.

First published in 1993, Strangers in Paradise was created by Terry Moore. This long-running, mostly self-published series attracted graphic novel fans from all walks of life. Winner of multiple awards, including the Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series, the series concluded in 2007. The adventures of Francine, Katchoo, and their friends and enemies are continually popular, always in print, and have been translated into thirteen languages worldwide.

“We couldn’t be happier about supporting the CBLDF with this once in a lifetime offering,” SiP creator Terry Moore says. “We’re also honored to work with Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, who did an astonishing job capturing the spirit of SiP in the Parker Lily Fragrance. As a long-time supporter of the Fund and their ongoing fight for the comics community’s First Amendment rights, I’m thrilled to lend a hand!

We’ll be off to BookExpo America for the next few days so don’t expect too much posting here. (Follow us on Twitter!)

Yesterday’s show kicked off with a full day of programming. We caught only the “African Americans in Graphic Novels and Comics” with Kyle Baker, Carol Burrell, Shawn Martinbrough and Alex Simmons, moderated by Calvin Reid. Part of the yearly “African American Book Industry Professionals Education Program & Networking Reception,” the panel thankfully eluded all those “What’s it like to be a black comics creator” questions in favor of just general talk about the industry from five smart people. Baker and Burrell talked about upcoming projects: Baker’s biography of Obama for HarperCollins, which sounds highly readable, and Burrell’s adaptation of Octavia Butler’s Kindred. (Announcement of the latter drew applause from the attendees.) Martinbrough mentioned his upcoming Luke Cage mini and his past How to Draw Noir Comics and his current work with Verge Entertainment. Simmons recounted the history of his successful Kids Comic Book Convention and after the panel mentioned that the concept is probably gong to move to some other venues.

After that, we scarfed down a lot of very, very tasty turkey with spicy cranberry orange relish at the reception to power us for the night ahead and sped off to the CBLDF party at the very swanky Hudson Terrace. It was a really upscale venue for a comics confab, which made for a very relaxed vibe, even if a soda was $6. (We took the above photo at the beginning of the night.) Attendees included DC topper Paul Levitz and VP of sales and marketing Steve Rotterdam; writers Ivory Madison, Martha Thomases , Peter Sanderson, and Marc Bernadin; artists Nikki Cooke and Dennis Calero; editor/agent Denis Kitchen,, Marvel’s Alejandro Arbona, Dark Horse’s Michael Martens, and a sizable West Coast contingent, including Archaia’s Mark Smylie, Mel Caylo, and Stephen Christie, Top Cow’s Filip Sablik, and Image’s Joe Keatinge. There were a lot of folks talking about iPhones and downloadable comics and whipping them out and demonstrating their software, which was cool, and talk of 3.0. As someone pointed out, although people won’t pay for things on the Internet, they will pay for them on their phone.

The schmooze level at this party was incredibly high, and afterward, it turned out almost everyone ended up at the same Irish pub for yet another big comics summit, with talk of James Bond songs and so on.

Anyway we know we forgot some people in the above list, so apologies.

ComicMix’s Glenn Hauman, Image’s Joe Keatinge, Comixology’s David Steinberger and Billboard’s Evie Nagy all whip out their mobile devices and talk about apps.

MTV Splash Page’s Rick Marshall, Stacy, whose last name we don’t know, and Nikki Cooke.

Via PR, BookExpo festivities kick off tonight with a party for the CBLDF. Deets below:

This Thursday, kick off the summer convention season at the CBLDF’s Book Expo America Welcome Party! Enjoy free gourmet bites and a cash bar, while mingling with the best and the brightest authors and pros from the graphic novel world! The party runs from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Hudson Terrace, conveniently located near the Javits Center on 621 W 46th Street between 11th & 12th Ave

This event is open to all attendees of Book Expo and CBLDF supporters. The party is free for current year CBLDF members. A suggested donation of $10 is asked for non-members. Sign up for membership at the party and receive a CBLDF lapel pin!

What: CBLDF’s Book Expo Welcome Party
When: May 28, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Where: Hudson Terrace, 621 W 46th Street between 11th & 12th Ave
How Much: $10 suggested donation, and free to CBLDF members!
Dress: Business Casual

Via an email from Nick Barrucci, artwork that was purchased at a benefit for the late Mike Wieringo is now being auctioned on eBay for a cause which pet owner Wieringo would probably have approved of:

Saved Whiskers Rescue Organization, Inc. announced today that placing up for auction original art drawn by artist Walter Simonson, who had donated drawings of his signature characters Thor and arch enemy Loki characters - auctioned off in memory of one of the greatest and nicest artists who had ever lived - Mike Wieringo - back in September ‘07, and won by Dynamite President Nick Barrucci. Mr. Barrucci is now donating for a charity that he believes Mike Wieringo would have appreciated - Nick is donating his original Marvel’s Thor piece by Walt Simonson and Marvel’s Loki by Mr. Simonson as 2 donations of original pieces of art to the Saved Whiskers Rescue Organization, Inc. (S.W.R.O.). These piece will be auctioned through eBay at the following URL:

here and here

Saved Whiskers in a non-profit cat rescue organization.

Tonight, in PDX!

LISTING INFORMATION:

WHO: Over 70 artists including: Bryan Lee O’Malley, Farel Dalrymple, Nathan Fox, Vasilis Lolos, Jeffrey Brown, Tom Neely, Brandon Graham, Corey Lewis, Zack Soto and more!

WHAT: Kitty Pryde tribute show, fundraiser for Oregon Hemphilia Treatment Center

WHEN: Thursday, May 7th, 6–10pm

WHERE: Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave #101

A nice story, via pr, about Jean Schulz, widow of Charles M. Schulz, making a big donation to Ohio State’s Cartoon Library and Museum, with a promise of a matching grant if more funds are raised. Housing more than 400,000 pieces of art and 35,000 books, the OSU collection is one of the most important comics collections on earth.

The Ohio State University received a gift of $1 million from Jean Schulz, the widow of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz to support the renovation of Sullivant Hall, the future home of the world’s most comprehensive academic research facility dedicated to documenting printed cartoon art.

Along with her generous gift, Mrs. Schulz issued a challenge: She will provide an additional matching gift of $2.5 million if Ohio State raises the same amount from other sources, making the total impact of her gift $6 million.

“By helping to underwrite a state-of-the-art facility for the University’s renowned Cartoon Library and Museum, Jean Schulz advances the work of students, faculty, and scholars and deepens our understanding of the importance of the genre,” said Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee. “Her gift is an especially fitting way to honor the remarkable creative legacy of her late husband, Charles.”

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Via G. Willow Wilson, buy AIR and benefit a good CAUSE:

Whacky as it is, AIR is a book with a message. So, for every copy of AIR bought this May Day (Friday, May 1st), I will donate $1 to the Koru Foundation, a UK-based charity that helps impoverished communites the world over develop low-cost renewable energy projects, bringing climate-friendly electricity to villages without a single light bulb. Ironically, the people most threatened by climate change are those who had the least responsibility in creating it. I saw this firsthand in North Africa, where desertification is already destroying ancient farming cultures. By acting now, we can help ease the burden on our planet while bringing power to communities without it.

Here is what to do:

1. On Friday, May 1st, click here to purchase a copy of AIR: Letters from Lost Countries from Amazon.com
2. Email info [at] gwillowwilson [dot] com. Write ‘May Day AIRlift’ in the Subject line. In the body of the email, copy and paste your Amazon order number. Do NOT include any financial information, your address, or anything else! Just the order number.
3. Sit back, wait for your book to arrive, and feel good about having done something for our planet.

A copy of this email is available here on my website. Feel free to link to it, forward this email widely and/or post this message to your blogs. I appreciate your support.

Holy shit, have people really been PREDICTING this pandemic thing? You’d think so, based on this 12 page comic on preparing for a flu epidemic, produced by the Seattle & King County Public Health dept. The artist is David Lasky. The comic is FREE, but sorry, sufferers, you must be perishing in King County, WA in order to get one. You other losers are doomed to become just another statistic.

Worth a click: A number of artists have contributed drawings of the X-Men character Kitty Pryde as part of a benefit for the Oregon Hemophilia Treatment Center at OHSU. The results can be seen online here, but can in viewed in person at an exhibit on Thursday May 7:

WHO: Over 70 artists including: Bryan Lee O’Malley, Farel Dalrymple, Nathan Fox, Vasilis Lolos, Jeffrey Brown, Tom Neely, Brandon Graham, Corey Lewis, Zack Soto and more!

WHAT: Kitty Pryde tribute show, fundraiser for Oregon Hemophilia Treatment Center

WHEN: Thursday, May 7th, 6-10pm

WHERE: Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave #101

In case you haven’t figured it out, this is an organized way to help creator Len Wein, whose house was recently gutted by fire, taking much of his personal comics collection with it. Now, thanks to Mark Evanier and others, you can help rebuild that collection:

So did Len’s collection of books and toys and games and artwork and those things we accumulate that help define and enrich our lives. You have stuff. He had stuff. Insurance will fix the house but many things, including his comics, were not covered. Some of us thought it would be grand if his friends and fans pitched in to help him recreate those shelves of the comic books he’s worked on.

Here’s the plan: We’ve compiled a list of the comics Len needs to reacquire. We’re updating it from time to time as comics are pledged or received. You can view or download it from the link at the top of this page. (It’s a PDF file, which means you need to have Adobe Reader.) The list will be updated often.

Via PR:

On Friday April 17 2009, the Stumptown Comics Foundation is proud to present a chance-of-a-lifetime dinner event at which we would be honored to have you join us. Tailored for the discerning connoisseur of comic books, today’s most vibrant artistic and cultural movement, this is a relaxing evening of food, drink and conversation with an intimate grouping of the medium’s most respected and innovative storytellers. Held in the ArtBar & Bistro of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, located across the street from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, this is a joint fundraising benefit for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Portland, Oregon’s own Stumptown Comics Foundation.

Guests include: Jeff Smith, creator of Bone and Rasl and STCF09 special guest of honor; Craig Thompson, creator of Blankets, Good-bye Chunky Rice, and the forthcoming Habibi; Farel Dalrymple, creator of pop gun war and illustrator of best-selling author Jonathan Lethem’s Omega the Unknown; Matt Wagner, creator of Mage and Grendel; Gail Simone, creator of Unhinged and author of Wonder Woman; Brian Michael Bendis, author of Powers, Alias, The New Avengers, and many more; Derek Kirk Kim, creator of Same Difference and Other Stories as well as Lowbright; and Mike Dringenberg, co-creator of Sandman and contributor to the Tori Amos comics anthology Comic Book Tattoo. Directors of the Foundation and Fund will also be in attendance.

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Back in November, underground cartooning legend S. Clay Wilson suffered a severe brain injury that has left him incapacitated. While at first it was feared that Wilson would not survive, he has made a lot of progress — he’s laughing and drawing again but will need supervised care for the rest of his life.

That care will be expensive. Wilson’s longtime companion, Lorraine Chamberlain, has started the S. Clay Wilson 
Special Needs Trust, where folks can donate or help out:

Although he is still recovering in the hospital and beginning to draw again, (in his signature dense-pack style) his ability to earn a living in the future is in serious question. a depleted bank account and mounting bills make it imperative that his fellow man (and woman) come forward now and donate what they can to help this iconic artist develop a healthy, independent quality of life when he comes home to Lorraine Chamberlain, with whom he has lived for the past nine years.

He will need loving care for the rest of his life. Please help us do that for him.

You still have time to go get a ticket for MoCCA’s WATCHMEN benefit tonight. And if you come with a mask on, you get a discount!

Come to MoCCA’s Benefit Advance Screening of WATCHMEN on March 5th dressed as your favorite Watchmen character and get a ticket to the benefit, including the advance screening, VIP reception and after party for only $20! (That is $80 off the general ticket price.)

Call today to order your tickets: 212-254-3511

Tickets are limited, so order right away! Tickets available for Advance Purchase Only

This once-in-a-lifetime evening begins with a reception at MoCCA for The Art of Watchmen exhibition, continues with an advance screening of Watchmen at AMC 19th St., and concludes with an author signing of Watchmen: Portraits by Clay Enos.

5pm: Vip Reception & SILENT AUCTION at MoCCA
7pm: SCREENING at AMC 19th Street 890 Broadway
10pm: AFTERPARTY back at MoCCA with special guests and a signing of Watchmen: Portraits by Clay Enos

Tickets are $100 | $75 for MoCCA members | $20 for Masked Heroes
Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.moccany.org, in person at MoCCA or by phone, 212-254-3511, Tues. – Sat., 12-5pm.

All proceeds from this special event go to support MoCCA programming.

The exhibit is a notable one, with all 12 original WATCHMEN covers, loaned from Gareb Shamus’s personal collection, on display:

Wizard Entertainment Chairman Gareb Shamus has loaned from his personal art collection all 12 original Watchmen covers by artist Dave Gibbons. The covers will be put on display as part of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art’s special exhibit called “The Art of Watchmen.” The exhibit coincides with this Friday’s much-anticipated opening of the Watchmen film, which promises to be one of the biggest movie events of 2009.

“These covers haven’t seen the light of day together in more than 15 years,” said Shamus. “It’s a huge honor to be able to share them all at once with an audience discovering this groundbreaking story for the first time. Everybody in the world is finally learning about Watchmen, and this is a great place to see the exciting roots of this phenomenon.”

The 12 covers are among the most iconic ever produced in the medium, and included in Shamus’ impressive collection is the first-ever appearance of the Comedian’s blood-stained smiley-face button. It’s an image that has become synonymous with the millions of historic graphic novels sold over the past two decades.

Also featured at the exhibit will be original character sketches by Dave Gibbons, photographs by Clay Enos of the Watchmen movie cast and photos from director Zack Snyder’s collection. The exhibition starts on March 6 and runs through May 2. For more information about The Art of Watchmen exhibition, visit MoCCA online at www.moccany.org. For more information about Wizard Entertainment, visit www.wizarduniverse.com.

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In addition to their Drink ‘n Draw Welcome party on Friday, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has plenty of stuff going on at WonderCon:

Saturday: CBLDF Live Art Jam!

Witness live art created before your eyes at the CBLDF Live Art Jam! Jim Lee (Batman), Dave Johnson (100 Bullets), Jill Thompson (Magic Trixie), Wendy Pini (Elfquest), and Matt Wagner (Grendel) will create original art projected on the big screen! The Live Art Jam gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of these masters’ artistic processes and is not to be missed by fans and students alike. All art will be auctioned at the end of the event to benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. 3:30 to 5:00 PM, Room 220/224 at WonderCon.

CBLDF Studio - Booth #725

Stop by the CBLDF booth throughout the convention to witness your favorite artists sketching to benefit the CBLDF! Dave Johnson headlines a cast of artists who will be popping by throughout the show to make original art to benefit the Fund. All art will be put on display when finished, and available for your donations. Also be sure to browse our selection of premiums, which includes red-hot items like signed copies of Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book; Terry Moore’s Echo; 100 Bullets; Walking Dead, and much much more! Plus exclusive Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab and Neverwear items!

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