April 21 (Reuters) – Like Batman forming the Justice League of superheroes, or Iron Man serving to assemble the Avengers, comedian guide editor Scott Dunbier wanted to place collectively a group of stars.
The decision went out and Dunbier shortly signed up the largest names within the U.S. comedian guide trade to collaborate on a particular anthology to boost cash for Ukrainian struggle refugees.
The result’s “Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds,” a 96-page guide produced by the perfect writers, artists, colorists, letterers, designers and editors that Dunbier may discover.
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Proceeds, estimated to achieve $200,000 to $500,000, will go to Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based catastrophe reduction company elevating cash for Ukrainian struggle refugees. Over 5 million Ukrainians have fled overseas since Russia invaded on Feb. 24.
By Thursday, three days after launching, it had raised $78,000 on the Zoop crowdfunding site. The publication date stays unsure, relying on how a lot is raised via pre-orders after a month, Dunbier stated.
As many comedian books do, the Ukraine undertaking has an origin story.
“It was mainly me being glued to my TV watching the horror, the atrocities unfold, and simply feeling like I needed to do one thing. And, you already know, then it clicked. I assumed in some small method, perhaps this could assist,” Dunbier stated.
The undertaking makes no pretense of being unbiased, depicting Ukraine as David confronting the Russian Goliath.
Scott Dunbier, who has gathered comedian guide artists from world wide to create a guide concerning the struggle in Ukraine as he helps elevate cash for Ukraine refugees, appears on from his residence in San Marcos, California, U.S., April 19, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Russia calls its incursion a “particular navy operation” to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine.
The entrance of the hardcover version, promoting for $60, was painted by Alex Ross, one of many trade’s best-known cowl artists, with a blue-and-yellow-clad Ukrainian standing as much as a faceless big brandishing a hammer and sickle.
Three completely different gentle covers, on sale for $40 every, had been designed by three different heavy hitters: Arthur Adams, Dave Johnson and Invoice Sienkiewicz.
“If I can put my finger within the eye of an authoritarian, or step on the bully, and journey them, I like that sort of stuff,” Sienkiewicz stated. “I despise Putin.”
His cowl reveals a Ukrainian wielding a protect and a sword earlier than a large bear, nostril bloodied, who’s stunned to fulfill resistance. The sword has impaled a teddy bear resembling Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Others donating work embody Brent Anderson, Sergio Aragones, June Brigman, Kurt Busiek, Howard Chaykin, Joshua Dysart, Mark Evanier, Emil Ferris, Dave Gibbons, Rob Guillory, John Layman, Gabriel Rodriguez, Stan Sakai, Louise Simonson, Walter Simonson, Chris Sprouse, Jill Thompson, Matt Wagner and Mark Waid.
Whereas a few of the tales are set in Ukraine, others are allegorical.
Sakai is creator of the Usagi Yojimbo comedian, a couple of rabbit warrior set in feudal Japan. His story depicts villagers being run off by an evil warlord, Dunbier stated.
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Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, Calif.; Extra reporting by Rollo Ross in Los Angeles and Norma Galeana in San Marcos, Calif.; Modifying by Richard Chang
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