Gail Simone asked that I cross post this as she had difficulties with registering with either this site or the Zeus site.
Just a brief but important clarification.
I just got the newest issue of Wizard, and in it is a very nice little write-up about Lea Hernandez’s horrifying house fire and the efforts of the comics community to help her family recover.
It’s a nice piece by a fine and well-intentioned writer who meant only the best, but the wording, at least as I read it, seemed to give me more credit than I deserve for some of the benefit efforts.
First, the benefit auctions on Ebay. I certainly have been beating the brush and hassling very sweet and generous creators for donations and doing follow-up and such, but the entire idea and execution was Jeffrey Lajaunie (aided by his equally wonderful wife), a reader of Lea’s who did what he did out of sheer
kindness and deserves all the credit for the amazing success of the auctions, which aren’t even finished and will continue as long as we have donations. The list of creators and readers who donated these wonderful pieces is ridiculously long, but I hope we can have a full account so they all get the kudos they deserve as well.
Second, Eisner-winning Dallas store ZEUS COMICS put on an incredible live show benefit, completely spearheaded by the incredible Richard Neal and Chris Williams, with help at the event by store employees and artists as diverse as Scott Kurtz, James O’Barr,and Lea herself. They raised a BUTTLOAD of cash, 100% of it going to Lea. I had nothing to do with this event at all, it’s completely some terrific folks who saw a friend in need and went balls-out to help. I’ve said it many times, but Zeus is one of the best stores in the country and Richard and Chris are just too awesome to even discuss.
I’ve done what I could and I’m glad if it helped, but Jeffrey, Chris and Richard really deserve to loudly get credit for what they did.
There’re a ton more people who helped, as well. I just didn’t want anyone to take credit away from the folks who really deserve it due to misunderstanding the article.
Best wishes and thanks for reading,
Gail
