The Witchblade perfumes from the world-famous Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab are available for online order NOW! And with every sweet-smellin' bottle ya buy, Hero gets paid! So get thee to the site and improve your olfactory profile!
Jim McLauchlin
So the calender on my phone—I can scarcely believe I just typed that—reminds me to be at the mighty Reggie's Rock Club just for blocks from Chicago's C2E2 convention on Sunday, April 18 from noon ’til 2 PM. Why?
’Cause the crazy cats at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab are having one of their world-famous "Meet and Sniff" events, which I just gotta check out. Fans of the many BPAL fragrances bring their perfume and cologne oils, gather, and take a whiff of new scents they may not have tried yet. Trading takes place—a new one of yours for an old one of mine—and a splendid time is had by all. Plus, Reggie's has whiskey and beer. Why wouldn't I go?
Of SPECIAL note: C2E2 weekend, April 16-18, is the debut of four new Witchblade-themed scents from Black Phoenix. For every one bought, the Hero Initiative gets $5! Doesn't matter if you buy at the Black Phoenix booth at the con, the Meet and Sniff, or the website—we get our dough! So get! You'll smell great, and it goes to a good cause.
Jim McLauchlin
Yep, we'll try just about anything. Fortunately, so will Brian Stringer!
Brian runs a tattoo operation called Ink Fusion. And if you visit the Hero Initiative or Ink Fusion booths at Chicago's C2E2 show this weekend (April 16-18), you could win a custom tattoo designed by Marvel Comics all-star artist Ron Garney!
Raffle tickets are $5 each and will be available all day Friday and until 12:45 on Saturday. Drawing takes place at the Hero booth Saturday at 1 PM, and and guess what? Ron will be signing at the Hero Initiative booth from 1-3 PM on Saturday to draw the winning ticket himself. He’ll also be creating the winner’s design. At 4 PM, Ron will truck over to the Ink Fusion booth, getting himself a tattoo from Brian.
The raffle winner will get his (or her) tattoo from Brian Stringer at 11 AM on Sunday.
Note that the winner must be at least 18 years old and have a valid state issued ID. A single character head shot, bust, pin-up, or action pose works best for the tattoo (no logos or text), and the tattoo will be designed in black and grey, with any color at Brian’s discretion based on design, placement, and skin tone. The tattoo’s maximum size is 5"x7".
All this, and Reggie's Rock Club, too. Should be a fun weekend.
More examples of Brian's handiwork below!
Jim McLauchlin
Hero Initiative at Wondercon! Get ’em while they're hot! Via the mighty PopCons.com!
Jim McLauchlin
C2E2…and party at Reggie's!
First off, if you're buying tickets to Reed Exhibitions' C2E2—and you should!—you'd better do it through the Hero Website. Just click on the link you see over on the right side of the page, and use promo code: WL2X2. Do this, and Hero gets a cut of your ticket purchase at NO extra cost to you! Seriously, I'll be at the convention, and if you don't do this, I'll feel obliged to kick the crap outta you.
Okay. Now that you're at he con, make sure you spend your evenings at Reggie's Rock Club, 2109 S. State St.! It's only about four blocks from the convention center's North end, but FREE shuttle buses (with demons and skulls on ’em) will be running between the con and Reggie's! If you DARE leave the con for a lunch (or want to grab grub beforehand) it's the place to be all day long. The Bus from Hell will also be making courtesy runs to a few hotels and is happy to take to you the con.
Super-cool events include:
Saturday night only, 7:00 PM, the two most dangerous bands on Earth 1 perform: KIRBY KRACKLE and THE FUGLEES! Kirby Krackle features comic store owner and convention promoter Jim Demonakos, while the Fuglees are fronted by artist Andy Kuhn! They BOTH kick ass, and you MUST check them out! $5 cover at the door for this event, and worth every last penny, because after that, the party continues with live art and more DJs than can possibly fit on two turntables! And, oh yeah, the SHOJO SHOWGIRLS will be dancing around too. The party don't stop til the break o' dawn (actually 3AM, but you gotta shower sometime).
Sunday it gets even crazier with monster surf-band DAIKAIJU and ABSTRACT ARTIMUS!
All of this awesomeness takes a toll, hence you may feast on Hangover Brunch buffets and Bloody Marys all weekend from 11AM to 1PM, and prizes, parties and mischief all day Saturday.
On Sunday, the Custom PopCult Art Show features the work of SHAWNIMALS, JIM MAHFOOD, JOSH BLAYLOCK, STEVE SEELEY, JOEY POTTS, MIKE HUDDLESTON and a host of others, all doing their own custom versions of Drippy, the PopCult mascot. 25% of the money goes to Hero, and the rest to the hard-working artists, so buy up!
Everyone's favorite parody news source, THE ONION will be on hand with their Pop Culture trivia, and harvesting photos of volunteers for use in their articles. Yes, YOU could be "Area Nerd" in a future The Onion piece.
And Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab will hold a "Meet-’n'-Sniff"! Yup, the scent-makers at BPAL will be debuting a NEW Witchblade scent at C2E2, and even if you can't make the scene at the con, swing by to meet up with other Black Phoenix fans, and sniff and trade scents! Sunday, Noon to 2:00 PM.
Stay up to date at www.PopCultour.com as times may be subject to change. Life's crazy like that, y'know.
Jim McLauchlin
All,
A few quick notes we'll bundle together:
A wake for Dick Giordano will take place Tuesday, April 6 at:
Lohman Funeral Home
220 Palm Coast Parkway SW
Palm Coast, FL
386-449-1100
Funeral will take place Wednesday, April 7. Please contact Lohman Funeral Home for times and further information.
Flowers and Mass cards are welcome and can be sent to Lohman Funeral Home at the address above. Interested parties can also omit flowers in lieu of donations to United Way or Hero Initiative.
A new Hero Initiative video featuring Ed Hannigan talking about Hero is up and running on YouTube.
And another new Hero vid featuring Stan Lee chatting about Hero is also up on YouTube.
Jim McLauchlin
WonderCon takes place April 2-3-4 in the SFO, and as part of said festivities, Hero Initiative has a bountiful bevy of Ed Hannigan-centric stuff going on, including a panel at the con, the Ed Hannigan: Covered book, and a mega-star blowout party at the Cartoon Art Museum.
Add to alla that, please, one more Ed goodie: this great limited edition print of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #64, perhaps Ed's most famous cover.
Best of all, this baby is a limited edition of only 150 pieces, EACH ONE signed by Ed! Available for only $25, first come-first served, at the Hero Initiative booth at WonderCon.
Get thee there.
Jim McLauchlin
Like all good things, this, too, muct come to an end.
The fifth and final week of Tom Brevoort's "Take My Trade" books are now up on eBay, all autographed by Stan Lee—and some autographed by John Romita as well. And for the grand finale, we have a coveted Fantastic Four #1 autographed by Stan the Man himself up on the block. Check ’em all out!
And while you're at it, we always encourage you to check out Tom's blog as well. It's always worth reading, chock full o' insight and crunchy goodness!
Jim McLauchlin
As the calendar turns into the Purel-fest that is "convention season," we at Hero Initiative wish to direct you to the super-cool PopCons.con. You will often see pics from our con appearances and super-cool parties here on the blog, but we're gonna archive ALL our pics on the Hero page over at PopCons.
Already for 2010, we have Seattle Emerald City pics, Orlando MegaCon pics, AND a great preview of the Ed Hannigan: Covered exhibit at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco! So get your happy ass over there, huh?
Trust us, much, much, much more to come.
Jim McLauchlin
We had a great time in the beautiful city of Seattle, Washington and Emerald City Comic Con!
Hi, everyone. I have never "blogged" before, and I guess it's about time I entered the world of the future. I really need to say "thank you" to a lot of people, and I guess this is a poor attempt at doing just that.
Thank You are two little words that do not hold nearly enough weight and perform so weakly when it comes to the gratitude and honor I hold for all the people of the Hero Initiative, both behind the scenes and those "in front of the camera".
I was a guest at Mega Con in Orlando this last week, and it was a special trip for me. Very special. I used to be a writer, and while I still write a little -- I will have a page in the new Hero Comics, drawn by the wonderful SR Bissette!, a dear, helpful friend -- but I mostly struggle along against a debilitating cancer and try to be a single Dad to a five year old boy named Leo. You see, I am around him 24/7 and honestly do not have much truck with adults outside of doctors, and I can only marvel at the kindness, the graciousness and undeniable good will of the people of the Initiative, of MegaCon and of the "business" at large.
Chris Klamer, Diana, Joe, Tabitha, the great George Perez and everyone else were so kind and wonderful to me as I sat there, pretty much out of my element, and often in a great deal of pain due to this particularly nasty cancer, feeling like a lump behind the table at Booth 525, The Hero Initiative Booth at Megacon. I have not been to a convention in a long time, and was amazed at the talent represented there. I am "not worthy" as Wayne and Garth would say.
Everyone should support The Good Work The Hero Initiative does, and I wonder if people know just how important the idea behind the Work is, especially to me. I overheard George Perez say it best when a Mega Con goer commented he had not heard about The Hero Initiative. George said, "Comic book creators do not have a safety net or healthcare or pensions and we are here to help when creators fall on hard times." The person replied, "That's a Good Cause" and donated something.
A Good Cause it is, an amazing one, especially to me.
I want everyone to know The Hero Initiative saved my very life with it's good will, generosity and kindness. They allowed me to seek some medical help and enabled me and my son to put a roof over our heads -- I was homeless with that little boy in my van last year. The Initiative gave me the breathing room to get some Medicaid and food stamps, and while we are always in danger of losing our home, electricity and belongings at any moment, I will always be grateful from the depths of my heart for the past six months of fairly solid home life I have had with my little boy.
I was treated by the Iniitiative folks with a respect and decency I am simply not used to, having to endure at the mercy of Government Officials, as I to go through the Social Security Disability application process to secure a monthly income, and live off food stamps and $200 a month State assistance. It is an amazing thing The Hero Initiative does -- and they do it with a respect and kindness that makes those two words, Thank You, so ineffective.
There was an article in the Orlando Sentinel about me, and while they got some things wrong (why they showed the cover of a Thundercats comic I did not write -- I wrote a bunch but not that one -- is one of those things) and I hope, with all my heart, that it helps bring more attention to the Initiative.
I'll be honest here, and it's not a comfortable subject; I am going to die -- we all are "going to die" but I have recently found out death is charging me like a knight with a lance, like a panzer tank, like the Thing smashing out an engine block in that old Kirby FF. There is a chance, I guess, I might make it to the next MegaCon, but it's pretty slim. I wish there is something substantial I could do for the Hero Initiative -- if anyone has any idea along those lines feel free to email me.
I would LIKE to spent the rest of my life writing as many comics as I could, but it's a tight market and "the kids" run the show -- this new generation of comics creators are amazing artists, but let's face it, no one has anything over George Perez, nor does any younger writer compare to Marv Wolfman or Chuck Dixon. Old guys. Not that I am in their league -- but I am their age.
What these fellows have over me, besides talent, is a healthful life and many more years to create wonderful stories and images. I envy that, honestly, and urge everyone to support their works. I urge everyone everywhere to DONATE to the Hero Initiative, because life can change with frightening rapidity, and like George Perez said to that MegaCon goer -- "Comic creators have no safety net."
So thank you, Hero, thank you again - you were my net and gave me a chance to spend at least another year here among all you fine, outstanding people.
Thank you ... two little words. Not enough, if you ask me.
Steve Perry
They're up and running!
The fourth week of Tom Brevoort's "Take My Trade" books are now up on eBay, all autographed by Stan Lee—and some autographed by John Romita as well. Five weeks are slated, meaning we're almost at the end. The final week WILL contain a coveted Fantastic Four #1 autographed by Stan the Man himself. Check ’em out!
And while you're at it, we always encourage you to check out Tom's blog as well. It's always worth reading, chock full o' insight and crunchy goodness!
Jim McLauchlin
Folks,
You should absotively, posilutely attend our kickin' Ed Hannigan party at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco on April 2. But just in case you can't make it to the SFO or your cable car runs late, you can bid via proxy on some GREAT art from Ed Hannigan: Covered that artists have donated!
At least five pieces will be up for auction, including the Andy Smith/Joe Rubinstein Thor #329 cover recreation above, AND…
This stellar Jim Valentino/Keith Champagne DC Sampler #1 recreation:
And this great Claude St. Aubin tribute piece:
And this Tom Lyle Avengers #223 recreation!
So how to put in your proxy bid in advance? Just contact Joe Davidson at: yensid4disney@gmail.com . All proxy bids MUST be in no later than Midnight on April 1! So act fast!
Jim McLauchlin
In honor of the alcohol-sodden greenfest that is Saint Patrick's Day, the Incredible Hulk urges you to THINK GREEN!
Matriculate on over to Hero's merchandise page at AtomicComics.com, and you can save a whoppin' 50% of either hardcover or softcover versions of The Hulk 100 Project! And if that wasn't enough to send you into a gamma-irradiated buying frenzy, you can ALSO save 20% on most other Hero merch as well.
Like ol' Green Genes says, "Act fast." Sale lasts through March 18, just in time for hangover shopping. And prices are also good at Atomic's four Phoenix-area locations!
Jim McLauchlin
It's up. It's running.
The third week of Tom's "Take My Trade" books are now up on eBay, all autographed by Stan Lee—and some autographed by John Romita as well. Five weeks are planned, leading up to a coveted Fantastic Four #1 autographed by Stan the Man. Check ’em out!
And while you're at it, we always encourage you to check out Tom's blog as well. It's always worth reading, chock full o' insight and crunchy goodness!
Jim McLauchlin
Holy goosh. The clock on the wall sez the traveling circus is ready to start again! Just so you know where to find us, here's a list of conventions Hero will be at in 2010, with a few highlights and the standard proviso that "schedules are subject to change" and whatnot:
March 12-14: Orlando MegaCon: look for George Pérez, Joe Benitez, and an 11-man "100 Wolverines" signing!
March 13-14: Emerald City Con, Seattle. Super-cool Hero Members party!
March 26-28: Wizard World Toronto. Again, a super-cool Hero Members party!
March 27-28: Planet Comic Con, Overland Park, Kansas
April 2-4: WonderCon, San Francisco. Look for our amazing Ed Hannigan party at the Cartoon Art Museum!
April 16-18: C2E2, Chicago. Look for amazing Hero events at the con, AND at Reggie's Rock Club! More on that soonly.
May 22: Spokane Comicon, Spokane, WA
June 4-6: Heroescon, Charlotte, NC
July 23-26: San Diego. Plan is that we'll have access to a hotel suite all weekend, and will be running LOTS of great events such as last year's Jim Lee meet-and-greet!
August 19-22: Wizard World Chicago. Still in the planning stages, but in addition to con stuff, we're looking to have a gourmet meal cooked by Karl Kesel that you can attend! Would we lie?
August 28-29: Baltimore Comicon.
October 8-10: New York Comicon.
October 29-31: Long Beach Comic Con, Long Beach, CA (or as we locals like to call it "the LBC.")
November 6-7: Mid-Ohio Con, Columbus, OH
In many, many cases, you can even buy tickets and help Hero out at NO additional cost to you! So keep checking the blog, check the website, and we'll see ya on the road!
Jim McLauchlin
Recent clinical trials show that Tom Brevoort is the Best Bearded Marvel Editor With Double Vowels in Name. We wouldn't lie about such a thing. He's also a heckuva nice guy, who's "Take My Trade" program was a heckuva lotta fun for a lot of fans, and also provided some great items for Hero Initiative.
The second week of Tom's "Take My Trade" books are now up on eBay, all autographed by Stan Lee—and some autographed by John Romita as well. Five weeks are planned, leading up to a coveted Fantastic Four #1 autographed by Stan the Man. Check ’em out!
And while you're at it, check out Tom's blog as well. It's always worth reading, chock full o' insight, news-y bits, and unvarnished opinion. ’Cause, y'know, unless you're refinishing an old door, who needs varnish?
Jim McLauchlin
Hero Initiative will be at the Orlando MegaCon Mar. 12-14, with Joe Benitez and George Pérez as the main men holdin' down our booth. If you're looking to go, best get your tickets NOW! And best to get ’em via Hero!
Just go to www.HeroInitiative.org, and check out the MegaCon logo on the right side of the page. Start your ticket purchase by clicking there, and Hero will get a cut of your ticket purchase at NO additional cost to you! Giving has never been so easy.
So why you still here? Hop to it!
Jim McLauchlin
Our pals over at Newsarama.com were kind enough to give some electronic ink to Five Bone-Simple Ways to Help Hero Initiative. So get over there, read the article, and ACT!
Jim McLachlin
The Ed Hannigan: Covered exhibit is now up and running at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco! The exhibit opened to the public just before Valentine's Day, and will run through June. And pssst! If you happen to be in the SFO and/or are trucking in for WonderCon, keep eyes peeled: We'll be having a swanky-special VIP party to celebrate on Friday, April 2, sponsored by San Francisco's kickass store, Comic Outpost!
Oh, yeah. Above, we're displaying the entire original art from Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #64 by Ed and Al Milgrom.
A variety of Ed's covers and layouts are on display. Clockwise from top, Marvel Team-Up #121, Incredible Hulk #260, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #76, and Green Lantern Corps #208.
The museum also has a display case where many of Ed's cover layouts are shown side-by-side with the actual comics. Above, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #17 and Ghost Rider #58.
And did we mention the entire original art from Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #64? Yeah, I think we did. More above!
And of course, Ed's Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #70 cover, generously loaned to the museum for this exhibit by our pal Weston Allen.
There are MORE pics on Hero's PopCons.com page, and you can find out one metric buttload more about the whole sheebang on our Ed Hannigan Hub page. More party details to come soon!
Jim McLauchlin
The Hero Initiative
11301 Olympic Blvd., #587
Los Angeles, CA 90064
818-776-1918
Want to donate NOW? Do it through PayPal!
