HERO INTIATIVE AUCTIONS OFF 100 SKETCHED COPIES OF ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #100

[MattBrady]

Press Release

The Hero Initiative, the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need, has teamed with Marvel Comics and the industry’s top talent to create 100 covers for Ultimate Spider-Man #100.

More than 80 talented artists were tapped to do a sketch on the blank cover of Ultimate Spider-Man #100 created specifically for The Hero Initiative. Reaction from the artistic community was so overwhelming that some artists insisted on doing two covers.

“The artists have created some amazing pieces of work for this fundraiser,” said Jim McLauchlin, President of The Hero Initiative. “It’s great to see some of the industry’s top talent participating, and I’m sure comic fans will love the covers as much as we do.”

Proceeds from auctions will continue to support Hero’s effort of providing a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work.

To best showcase the work, the fundraiser has been split in four different parts: a gallery showing at Secret Headquarters in Los Angeles on February 3 that will start the ball rolling by auctioning off one book; a showing and auction at MegaCon, in which 20 more of the books will be auctioned off; and the remaining 79 covers to be shown at the New York Comic-Con, with 20 more auctions taking place. The then-remaining 59 covers, including some of the prize pieces, will be auctioned off on eBay in March.

February 3 from 8-10 pm in Los Angeles

A gallery showing of all 100 covers will kick off the worldwide tour at The Secret Headquarters, located at 3817 W. Sunset Boulevard in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles. This special event will be the only showing of all 100 covers, as one masterpiece will be auctioned off on site by one of the local artists in attendance!

February 16-18 at Orlando MegaCon

The remaining 99 covers will be showcased at MegaCon, with 20 covers auctioned off on February 18. Don’t miss bidding on one of the following amazing pieces:

1 Chris Bachalo

2 Joe Benitez

3 Mike Deodato

4 Derec Donovan

5 Dick Giordano

6 Staz Johnson

7 Leonard Kirk

8 Ed McGuinness

9 Luke Ross

10 Joe and Tim Vigil

11 Billy Tan

12 Sergio Aragones

13 Jim Hanna

14 Andy Kuhn

15 Tim Seeley

16 Alex Saviuk

17 Mike Wieringo

18 Marie Severin

19 Jim Starlin

20 Mike Vosburg


February 23-25 at New York Comic-Con

79 covers will be showcased at New York Comic-Con with the following 20 covers going up for auction on February 25.

1 Alan Davis

2 Kyle Baker

3 Joe Bennett

4 Ron Frenz

5 Ron Garney

6 Michael Golden

7 Fred Hembeck

8 Scott Kolins

9 Larry Lieber

10 Joseph Michael Linsner

11 John McCrea

12 Al Milgrom

13 James Owen

14 Joe Quesada

15 Frank Quitely

16 John Romita Sr.

17 Arthur Suydam

18 Jim Valentino

19 Alan Weiss

20 Mark Buckingham

The remaining 59 will be auctioned off via eBay.com in the beginning of March. Remaining covers will include such artistic talent as J. Scott Campbell, Jim Cheung, Frank Cho, Greg Land, Michael Lark, Jae Lee, Todd McFarlane, Terry Moore, and Bill Morrison. Even writers and ace doodlers such as Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman have joined in with covers of their own.



The “Ultimate 100,” as it’s come to be called, was largely the brainchild of Hero Board Member Brian Pulido and Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley. Pulido, an innovator of exotic variant covers (including Chromium, leather, velvet, and die-cut), conceived the initial concept. "What's cooler than an edition limited to 100, featuring 100 custom drawings of an A-list character?,” Pulido asked. “Each one is a unique edition.” Marvel’s Buckley approved the project and shepherded it through Marvel.

“Half the fun in this was tracking down some of the great Spidey artists of the past,” said McLauchlin. “Tom Lyle is now teaching at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and Frank Springer is enjoying semi-retirement in Maine. Both guys thought the comic world have forgotten them, but we certainly remembered.”

"This is project is an amazingly unique opportunity and nothing like it has ever been achieved and most certainly will never be again. One hundred, let me repeat that, ONE HUNDRED, custom hand drawn Spider-Man covers on a seminal issue of Ultimate Spider-Man, drawn by the very finest artist working in the field today and some of the most legendary past greats who have ever grace a comic’s page. It’s a sight worth seeing and bidding on and to make it even better, it's all for an incredible cause," noted Hero Board Member and Marvel Editor In Chief Joe Quesada.

The Hero Initiative would like to thank Mike Malve, Beth Widera, Joe Prado, Mike Conroy, Lee Parker, Adam Rosenblum and Brian Pulido for their help in managing this fundraising venture. Dan Buckley and Joe Quesada at Marvel are also to be thanked for lending their considerable powers and talents to the project.

About The Hero Initiative (www.HeroInitiative.org)

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. For more information, visit www.HeroInitiative.org or call 310-909-7809.

[donkeypuncho]

WHY MUST THEY TORTURE MY WALLET WITH SUCH AWESOMENESS. WHY. WHAT DID I EVER DO TO DESERVE THIS.

[TsunamiWave7]

That's pretty freaking cool.

[LaughingJak]

Can McFarlane still draw....? Yup.

[michaelman9]

This is an awesome idea. If I thought it was anywhere near my budget, I'ld be spending like crazy! This should raise a mess of cash for the Iniative

[Tom Daylight]

Bendis wanted 17 variant Wolverine covers for WHA HUH, so I bet he's pretty thrilled with this

Although I think it's funny that all the variants depict Spidey in costume, even though he doesn't wear it throughout this issue...

And I'm glad I'm not someone who collects all the covers for every issue, cus boy, those people are going to be really unhappy with this one...

[Eddie Young]

Where can we see all 100 covers?

I NEED TO SEE ALL 100 COVERS!

[Colonsus]

Wow- that's pretty cool

That McFarlane cover is going to fetch a FORTUNE since it's been ages since he's drawn Spider-m... well, anything, really!

For a good cause, though!

[BillReed]

Aragones! Quitely! AWESOME

[bebopeva88]

Wow, great idea -- I'd love to see pics of every cover, especially the Jae Lee, Frank Cho, Frank Quitely, John Romita, Joe Q, and Chris Bachalo ones. That Campbell one is pretty badass, got me pumped for his upcoming Spidey project.

*sees McFarlane's cover* WHAT?!?! *faints*

[calvin!]

this is one of the coolest things i have seen in a long time. i hope it pulls in a ton of money for the organization.

love mcfarlane's cover hehe

[tim seeley]

Here's mine. It's an honor to get my ass smoked by McFarlane and Campbell:
http://www.timseeley.com/plugins/p17...17_imageid=198

[Sean McKeever]

This is cool as hell.

[artiepants]

tha'ts an insanely cool idea for an auction.

and a mcFarlane Spidey??? Get out!

[Punchy]

This is awesome.

MacFarlane Spider-man!

[pfunk70]

Well, I'm not impressed with McFarlane's work here. Looks like the same stuff he did when he actually had a Spiderman book. In fact, I can't recall what issue, but it looks very similar to something I know he's done before. Anyone have an idea of what I speak?

[Lucifer]

Got to start saving for the Quitely auction

[Ken B.]

so...no Mark Bagley original? Come on.

[Bricktop]

At somepoint they should publish a book with all 100 covers in it for those of us who can't really afford the auction route... and it would add an addition stream of donations.

[GOSD]

What a great idea.

Hope they do well with these auctions.

[sephiroth617]

Damn it, I want one of these....

I also want a book of all the covers or something. This is AWESOME....

[xdemon]

Originally Posted by Eddie Young

Where can we see all 100 covers?

I NEED TO SEE ALL 100 COVERS!

Maybe marvel will have thenm in the collected edition of the Clone Saga TPB.

[s*p rules]

Originally Posted by tim seeley

Here's mine. It's an honor to get my ass smoked by McFarlane and Campbell:
http://www.timseeley.com/plugins/p17...17_imageid=198

Don't sell yourself short; that's a sweet-ass cover.

I wish I was rich

Can't help but think of the coin they would have brought in if Ditko had been talked into doing a cover. Still, though, this is going to raise a lot of money. Great idea!

And I hope Newsarama gets to post all the covers, too. In fact, if you want to make more money, set up a poll, let the newsrammers pick their top 10, and convert them to posters. I see three at least I'd buy right now.

[Philminder]

Originally Posted by pfunk70

Well, I'm not impressed with McFarlane's work here. Looks like the same stuff he did when he actually had a Spiderman book. In fact, I can't recall what issue, but it looks very similar to something I know he's done before. Anyone have an idea of what I speak?

It kind of reminds me of ASM #300, but maybe you're thinking of something else? Still looks great, though.

[s*p rules]

Originally Posted by pfunk70

Well, I'm not impressed with McFarlane's work here. Looks like the same stuff he did when he actually had a Spiderman book. In fact, I can't recall what issue, but it looks very similar to something I know he's done before. Anyone have an idea of what I speak?

I have an idea that this is the wrong thread to be dumping on one of the artists that gave up their time for a great cause.