Supporting HERO INITIATIVE

I’ve mentioned many times on this blog, on my Facebook and anywhere I can, how impressed I am with the HERO INITIATIVE and the work they do. Here in Canadaland, I live with universal healthcare and although Canadians might complain about how long they wait in Emergency Rooms (longest wait times in the First World, apparently), and how long they wait for a specialist, the truth is that we wait that long because EVERYONE in the country gets to be in that line…not just the ones who can afford insurance.

I had to wait in one of those lineups recently, when I spent the night in an ER with a kidney stone…within twenty minutes of entering the hospital, I was hooked-up to an IV drip with some morphine, and going from the worst pain of my life to happy sleepland. When I was finally back awake and able to form coherent thoughts, I mentioned to my wife repeatedly how lucky we are to be Canadians, that we don’t even have to think about it…  I was in pain, she asked me if I wanted to go to the hospital, we went…and I was treated and sent home eight hours later, recovering and happy. And it only cost us the gas it took to drive the car there, and the fee for parking in a hospital parking lot.

Which always leaves me leaves me thinking about American creators who don’t automatically have the same access to health care, which I have. If you’re not familiar with the organisation, Hero

“…is the first federally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators, writers and artists in need. Founded in late 2000 by a consortium of comic book and trade publishers, including Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Wizard Entertainment, CrossGen Comics and Dynamic Forces Inc., the 501(c)(3)charity aims to assist comic creators with health, medical, and quality-of-life assistance.”

Hero does many auctions and fundraising events throughout the year–one of those is going on right now!! I did a cover for Fantastic Four #600 for Hero, and so did 99 other artists! Check out the auction for my cover, check out the auction for all the items currently up for sale by HERO INITIATIVE, and check out their website for more information. You can donate $$ directly to them, through their website, that they can use to help the men and women who have made the comics you love.

Ty the Guy!

Bonus moment–over the years, I’ve contributed other pieces to Hero Initiative. One I really enjoyed was WAKE UP AND DRAW earlier this year, which was done in honour of Jack Kirby:

Woke up and Drew for the King and for HERO

Jack Kirby, controlling the universe with a pencil.

Back on August 28 (Kirby’s Birthday, and inter-galactic holiday) the fine and dandy folks at Hero Initiative worked with Kirby’s family to make the day about raising money to support comics creators in need. Hero asked artists to “wake up and draw” something to do with Jolly Jack, as a birthday card to the King, and as a piece of quickie artwork that can be auctioned off to raise funds for those creators who need Hero Initiative’s help.

I love to throw my two cents into Hero Initiative whenever I can–and when I heard about the campaign, I jumped in with a Kirby drawing of my own.

Here’s my woke-up-and-drew sketch of Bashful Ben sucking back on his beloved cheroot…’cause if you’re paying tribute to Jack, it should at least smell like Cuba’s on fire.

click here to be taken to the auction

The blurry-eyed morning doodle is up for auction on Comicartfans. There are lots and lots of other sketches by lots of wonderful generous creators who rolled out of bed and drew before they’d even properly woken up! Check ’em all out! The bidding ends on Wednesday October 16. Give money to Hero Inititiave and take home a piece of art drawn by one of us in our underwear before our morning coffee.

Ty the Guy OUT!

And here’s your BONUS Kirby Sketch Moment:

The rarely seen Jack Kirby sketch of what Doctor Doom REALLY looked like under the mask. Stan had other ideas, but Jack believed it was a really teeny scar.

—————————————————————————————————

This week’s award-wishing BUN TOONS featured Mr. Kirby, and some flash in the pan painter from Europe. Click here to read it.