Graham Crackers HERO Web Store

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Oh, we forgot to show you these?



Alphabetically, that's Adams, Arthur; and Adams, Neal.

The whole sheebang will shown via Marvel.com and a few other Websites in a few days. Auctions to start via eBay.com probable last week in October/first week in November.

Jim McLauchlin

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Stan Lee Day in L.A.!

The Hero Initiative arranged with our friends in county government to have Friday, Oct. 2 declared "Stan Lee Day" in Los Angeles County. This certificate the County presented Stan is just too cool for words.

Big ups, as the kids might say, to the mighty Harlan Wenig, who knows how to make the wheels of government turn.

Jim McLauchlin

Monday, September 28, 2009

All your Wolvies, one convenient place!


It's been a labor of love and shipping, but we have at long last assembled our 100 original Wolverine: Weapon X #1 covers and invite you to…The Danger Room at the Long Beach Comic Con!

The fest kicks off Friday, Oct. 2 at 5 PM at the con, room 204. Admission is a mere $5, $3 if you come in an X-Men costume, FREE if you show up dressed as the ol' Canuckelhead himself. Admission gets you one free raffle ticket to win a KICKASS (but empty!) wine bottle crafted by the amazing Karlton Hahn at Xena Etched Graphics. You can increase your chances by buying more raffle tickets on site.

And our friends from The Comic Bug will be on hand as well to spoil you with coupons and stuff.

This will be your ONLY chance to see all 100+ covers in living color and all their glory. ’Til the book comes out in November, that is.

And when will the covers be up for auction? Check eBay.com, late October!

Jim McLauchlin

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Meet Stan Lee in the LBC!


Long Beach Comic Con. And slide a nickel or two to Hero while you're at it, huh?

Jim McLauchlin

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

J. Scott Campbell print at Long Beach!



Eat it up like candy, kids. Limited edition, only 100 made, and available at Long Beach Comic Con. Price is $20. And J. Scott Campbell and Christina Strain will be at the Hero Initiative booth to sign ’em Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11 AM to 12 noon.

Jim McLauchlin

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Welcome to Week 5 Stan books!



Eat ’em up like candy, kids!

Hero's eBay page.
Jim McLauchlin

Monday, September 14, 2009

Mid-Ohio Tix = Hero dough!


And the hits just keep on comin'! The fine folks at the Mid-Ohio Con are also letting you slide a few nickels Hero's way when you buy tickets!

Just buy your tickets via Hero's Website. Start there, click on the Mid-Ohio logo top center, and buy your tickets. Remember: your path to purchase MUST start at Hero for us to get a cut of that ticket sale. So do it! And enjoy a fine, fine con experience.

Jim McLauchlin

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Long Beach tix = Hero dough!


The good folks at the Long Beach Comic Con are making it bone-simple for you to slide a few nickels Hero's way in a couple of different ways!

For starters, we HIGHLY recommend that if you're gonna buy tickets to the fest, you do so via Hero's Website. Start there, click on the LBCC logo top center, and buy your tickets. If your path to purchase STARTS at Hero, we get a cut of that ticket sale. So do it!

And regardless of where you start, there's an opportunity for you to make a $1 or $3 donation to Hero when you check out with your Long Beach Comic Con tickets purchase. So feel free to slide us some moolah there as well!

Jim McLauchlin

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Buy bologna, help Hero!


It’s that time o’ year again. On September 1, they wiped ’em clean, we need to build back from Ground Zero!

The Ralphs Rewards card is your standard grocery store “club card” that gets you discounts and whatnot. But you can ALSO register it with a Ralphs-approved charity, and EVERY time you shop and use the card, Ralphs will kick in a small percentage to the charity of your choice. It costs you, the consumer, NOTHING. It’s just Ralphs kicking in a couple bucks to good causes.

And yes, The Hero Initiative is one of those Ralphs-approved charities, and yes, we need YOU to re-register your card for Hero, which is easy as pie (tho’ not quite as tasty):


1) Sign in to Ralphs.com with your email and password
1a) If you have not created an account, create one now! Takes about 60 seconds!

2) Go to:
https://customer.ralphs.com/ManageCommunityRewardsStep1.aspx

3) Complete the three-step process; When signing up, our NPO # (non-profit organization #) is: 80680, and we're under our corporate name, "A Commitment To Our Roots." Don't let it throw ya!

4) Now go get a pie.

Seriously, folks, if you do this once, we get a few nickels every time you shop, and multiplied by a San Diego Comic-Con full of people, it’s the best, easiest way we’ve found to raise funds. Totally painless. And hot dammit, you need bologna and Q-Tips anyway!

This applies to Ralphs, Foods Co. and Food 4 Less stores in Southern California, Nevada, Illinois, and Indiana. So if you’re in those necks of those woods, hop to it. I thank you kindly.

Jim McLauchlin

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Stan Lee, Round three



Get thee to Hero's page on eBay, and the next 10 Stan Lee-signed books generously donated by New Dimension Comics! Hop to it, Clyde!

Jim McLauchlin

DragonCon Peanut Butter and Sketch Jam!

Well you will have to bring your own peanut butter if you want it with your sketch but at least show up for the sketch jam session to help raise money for the Hero Initiative thanks to the folks at the DragonCon show who have helped organize this.

The location will be in the Hyatt Regency V from 8:30-10:00 P.M. on Friday the 4th.

Now on to the good stuff.

Please drop by and if you like grab your favorite artist a drink and donate a set amount in his jar and get yourself a nice sketch for your troubles plus spend a little time talking and having some fun. Down below here is a list of artists that have said they could make it and of course things can change so keep that in mind.

MARK BROOKS
HUMBERTO RAMOS
JIMMY PALMIOTTI
AMANDA CONNERS
JEREMY BASTIAN
STEVE SCOTT
SANFORD GREENE
JOE BENITEZ
PETER STEIGERWALD
NATHAN MASSENGILL
and a late arrival Star Wars artist David Reddick

So drop by and have some fun with us and walk away with a few sketches to boot.
____________________________________________________________________

Also we will be located in artist alley in the Hyatt so drop by Booth# BT13 because we will have george Perez and Paul Jenkins signing and sketching with us all weekend. plus we will have Cully Hamner dropping by to do a few sketches with us on Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Now that's just freakin' cool!


Clayton Crain's "100 Wolverines" cover!

Jim McLauchlin

Monday, August 24, 2009

Stan Lee books, Round 2!

Get thee to Hero's page on eBay, and the next 10 Stan Lee-signed books generously donated by New Dimension Comics! Hop to it, Clyde!

Jim McLauchlin

Hero Comics, still available and crunchy-good!

Folks,
Good news: IDW informed me that within 48 hours of release, they already recieved 1200 reorders on Hero Comics.

Better news: Even after this, we STILL Have thousands of copies available for reorder! The printer, Try Vision Co. of Los Angeles, was VERY generous in printing overs on this. So if Your Local Store is sold out, tell ’em they can grab more!

Hero Comics is published by IDW Publishing, and order code is: JUN090950

For more general info on the book, check this out.

Jim McLauchlin

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Please Continue Drooling

J. Scott Campbell's "100 Wolverines" cover.

Jim McLauchlin

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Chicago Comic-Con 2009 Has Gone Bye-Bye

Well another Chicago Comic-Con has come and gone along with a lot of good times and some very speedy and sweet smelling events. As seen on another blog we had our speed dating event which seemed to go very well chased by a few libations here and there as seen in the following photo a few brave fellows showed up for maybe a nice girl and possibly wedding bells.

Now we also had George (The Sketching Machine) Perez at the booth and other than stopping to have a bite to eat and drink we couldn't hardly get him to leave the table

Of course George couldn't do it all by himself (even though he did try) but there were a few other guest appearances by artists at the table such as Skottie Young, Chris Samnee, Matt Wagner, Mark Texeira, J.S. Campbell, Bill Rheinhold and Gene Ha all made time to drop by and help out.

Now a special thanks goes out to my wonderful volunteers that really stepped up and made this all happen this because without all of these guys like Mike Fleming taking care of the lottery selling all of those tickets and Wendi, David, Arne, Benjamin, Cullen (Who was actually working on getting married soon) and then there was also Jim and Frank and they all volunteered and worked extremely hard to make it all come together and my thanks to all. Also a special thanks to our fearless leader Jim McLauchlin whom was always not to far away cracking a mean whip.
OOPS! sorry that was the booth next to us.
This is what it's all about helping out and raising money to aid the people that started the business that helps us have these really great weekends. Trust me I would rather be doing this than cleaning out my garage.
Well kudos to everyone on a great and successful weekend for the Hero Initiative.
So I will hopefully see everyone again next year.
Chris Klamer








Speed Dating and Sweet Smells!

And so it came to pass at the Chicago Comic-Con that the Sachs and Violens Speed Dating Party hosted by George Pérez was held! All to launch the kickass Sachs and Violens perfume oil and cologne oil by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab! (Available now, like we even needed to mention that.)
George, as he was called this evening, "The Doctor of Love," was on hand to preside.
Who sez comics is 90% male and 35% body fat? We had an equal number of men and ladies! In yer face, stereotypes!

The Doctor himself walked the floor to make sure all was copacetic.
Annnnnd…team photo time! Best of our knowledge, no marriages nor proposals have come forth as yet, but you never know. Buy some of that wacky perfume oil. Ya might get lucky!

(And all glory and honor to Dangerous Dan Reilly of the mighty Wizard Entertainment, who provided the pics!)

Jim McLauchlin

Commence Drooling…NOW!

David Finch's 100 Wolverines cover.
Words seem superfluous.

Jim McLauchlin

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Send Gene Colan your cards and letters!


Gene Colan’s wife Adrienne informs us that Gene was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York early in the morning on Monday, Aug. 10 by ambulance.

All is looking okay, and best guess is that Gene might be laid up in hospital for a few days. In fact, steady improvement could get him home by late Wednesday-early Thursday. He has pneumonia in his right lung behind his heart, and possibility of infection of some fluids. Some Encephalopathy-related difficulties may be going on, too.

As positive vibes are always a nice tonic, cards, letters and well-wishes are deeply appreciated, and can be sent to:
Gene Colan
2240 Burnett Street, #5D
Brooklyn, New York 11229

“Brother Take My Hand,” indeed.

(Psst! Order one here: http://tinyurl.com/4a8blu)

Jim McLauchlin

Friday, July 31, 2009

Speed dating…it's on!

Speed dating at Chicago Comic-Con, hosted by George Pérez. It's on!

First 20 men and first 20 women only, with goodies, drinks, and more! Details at:
http://qurls.com?i=47988
and
http://qurls.com?i=47989

Jim McLauchlin

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Meanwhile, in Chicago


All,
The Hero Initiative is proud to have helped John Ostrander over the past few years with some financial aid and drumming up some work. Now, Mike Gold and Adriane Nash are putting a mighty shoulder to the wheel as well. They've cooked up Comix4Sight, and are planning a killer auction at the 2009 Chicago Comic Con. Proceeds will go to John to help with medical and travel expenses as he battles glaucoma. And ya know what? If they raise funds above and beyond John's needs, those will kick over to pthe Hero Initiative. That's just the kinda great guys and gals they are.

So visit the auction and bid GENEROUSLY. Just don't bid on that American Flagg! page, huh? That sucker's gonna be mine.

Jim McLauchlin

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Smell like George Pérez (it's a good thing)


The talented folks at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab are foisting Sachs and Violens perfume oil upon an unsuspecting public! (Tho' now that you're reading this, maybe you ain't so unsuspecting.)

Official announcement and hoo-hah in a couple days. And a kickoff event at the Chicago Comic Con that, even by Hero's standards, will be quite wacky, fun, and bizarre.

Jim McLauchlin

Monday, July 27, 2009

Jim Lee party has cheese cubes, Catwoman


If we've said it once, we've said it, well…more than once, I'm sure.

The Jim Lee cocktail party at San Diego was a hit, and guess what folks? Jim was kind enough to do some sketches for the luck five folks who won the party slots (these folks pictured here)…


…including this GREAT Catwoman below!

That thing we always say? You gotta be at our events…


Jim McLauchlin

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Hero Comics on the way!



It'll be at the Hero booth, #907, at San Diego. And for our retail brethren, downloadable shelf-talkers for store use are also available at the Hero Website. Eat ’em up like candy!

Jim McLauchlin

Monday, July 13, 2009

100 Bullets in Pictures


The last dog is hung, the last glass is dry, and after 24 hours of recovery, the Hero Initiative/Meltdown Comics 100 Bullets farewell party is in the books. We'll figure out just how much the piano tuner charged us to tune a piano, but thanks to a DAMN vigorous auction, the night was both fun and profitable for Hero.

Take a look-see folks. All photos were taken by and are courtesy of Lori Matsumoto, who's available for all your photography needs! Up top: The Rev. Dave Johnson, Jim McLauchlin, Brian Azzarello.A major portion of the evening's festivities was a q-and-a with Azzarello and Johnson, hosted by Jeffrey Berman (above) of TheWriteEnvironment.com.
Music was provided by the amazing Nina Storey and Ryan Franks! L-R, that's Nina, manager Bill Bennett, ASCAP's Josh Briggs, Ryan, and a doofus with a drink.Several comic book-y luminaries showed up, such as Jim Lee (above).Paris Kennedy (l) and Sam Humphries (r) ran an auction which grossed $4900 on only seven items! The great Dave Johnson "Megan" piece above sold to BOOM Studios' Ross Richie for $1100.


Of course, none o' this happens without the efforts of MANY fine folks. L-R above: Hero Development Director Christina Zietsman, Sam's Afro, half-drunk doofus, and Hero volunteer Diana Knight.

More photos are at a Flickr page, and will continue to be updated, so keep checkin'.

Seriously, if you weren't there…what the hell is your problem?

Jim McLauchlin

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Has the trading ended?


Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort reaches the end of "Take My Trade" with a coveted copy of Fantastic Four #1! Or does he? Tune in, True Believers!

Jim McLauchlin

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Dan Brereton remains cool as all hell


Dan Brereton's Wolverine.
Man, I think that's all you need to know!

Jim McLauchlin

Friday, July 3, 2009

Vegas, Batwoman, Vegas!


It ain't just 99-cent shrimp cocktails and all the keno you can lose at! Vegas is also the place to get your Batwoman on!

The stellar creative team of Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams double-down with TWO Las Vegas store appearances on July 11 to promote Detective Comics. Early risers or late blackjack players should head to Alternate Reality Comics from 11 AM to 2 PM, while later shifters can shift to Comic Oasis from 4 PM to 7 PM. Either way, YOU win, and the stores are doing Hero Initiative fundraisers as well, so get ye there!

Jim McLauchlin

NEW Hero T-shirt debuts at 100 Bullets party!

And lo, there shall come…a new T-shirt design!

Folks smart enough to buy a VIP ticket to the 100 Bullets: Last Shot party July 11 at Meltdown in L.A. will get, as part of their VIP package, a T-shirt. And it's your choice. The 100B shirt seen above, or the NEW Hero T-shirt, uh, also above.

Crazy visual hyperkinetic you-gotta-be-there bonus: The Hero shirts will be pre-made and ready for you to pick up. The 100B. shirts will be live screened ON SITE . Tell ’em what size you need, and the crew from Blue Rooster Art Supplies will make it RIGHT before your eyes. It's kinda like going to the taco truck and ordering lunch. I like mine with lots of cheese, and just a smidge of guacamole.

VIP tix holders also get super-cool 100 Bullets shot glasses, and one hair plucked from the beard of Brian Azzarello. He's got a lot to spare.

And if you're so lame you don't make the scene, the new Hero shirts will also be available at The Beast Men Call San Diego.

Jim McLauchlin

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wolverines keep rolling: Bret Blevins!


The supremely talented Bret Blevins has made his contribution to "The Wolverine 100 Project!" Look on it, and drool!

Jim McLauchlin