The Hero Initative has revamped its website! More info in less space!

Wanna know what conventions Hero's going to? See what auctions we're hosting on eBay? Or what cool, exclusive products we're producing? Our new site makes it easier than ever to find out. Heck, you might even learn somethin' you weren't expecting!

To check out our new site, click HERE!

The East Coast's biggest convention hits New York City's Jacob Javits Convention Center the weekend of February 6-8…and Hero's gonna be there! Are you? We hope so, 'cuz you can help Hero by attending the NYCC Pre-Party at Dave & Buster's Times Square on Thursday, February 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For a donation of $10, you will receive five raffle tickets for pretty swanky swag; additional raffle tickets can be purchased for $2 each. All proceeds collected from the raffle will be donated to The Hero Initiative!

For more information on the Pre-Party, go HERE.

And during the con, stop by the Hero booth where you could get a sketch for a small donation. Here's our schedule:

FRI., FEB. 6 (HOURS 10AM-7PM)
10:00-11:00: Leinil Yu
11:00-1:00: George Pérez
1:00-2:00: Leonard Kirk
4:00-6:00: George Pérez

SAT., FEB. 7 (HOURS 10AM-7PM)
10:00-11:00: George Pérez
12:00-1:00: Tom DeFalco
1:00-1:45: Matt Fraction

SUN., FEB. 8 (HOURS 10AM-5PM)
11:00-12:00: George Pérez
12:00-1:00: Leonard Kirk
1:00-2:00: Tom DeFalco
3:00-4:00: George Pérez

And don't forget our massive art auction happening at the con! Hosted by living legend and Hero Initiative Chariman George Pérez, it will take place on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Room 1A14. Check out the gallery of art being auctioned HERE and the auction details HERE.

If you're not present, you can still bid by proxy by contacting Joe Davidson at yensid4disney@gmail.com. All proxy bids MUST be in no later than Wednesday, Feb. 4, 12 p.m. PT. Just be sure to print out the auction catalog you can find HERE.

If you're targeting an all-new Punisher #1 by Rick Remender and Jerome Opena, why not set your sights on Hero's exclusive variant version? This black-and-white sketch cover is limited to 2,000 copies and goes for $8. All proceeds toward this variant benefits The Hero Initiative.

"The Hero Initiative is one of the best causes in comics, and Atomic Comics is one of the best shops," said Rick Remender. "This variant is a chance to not only get a great, rare edition of the book, but it puts money in a good place as well."

Go HERE and buy yourself a copy!

At the Phoenix Cactus Comic Con on the weekend on January 23-25, Hero raised $2,400 with special guest Karl Kesel! Karl signed and helped sell the Hero-exclusive variant to his Marvel Apes #1 with art by the late Mike Wieringo.

Our thanks go out to both Karl and the Phoenix Cactus Comic Con for their tremendous support! Check for updates regarding next year's dates for the con at http://www.phoenixcomicon.com/!

The Orlando Mega-Con kicks off February 27 to March 1, and we'd love to see you there!

George Pérez and Dan Jurgens will both be in pitching in for Hero, and there'll be tons of signing events tied into Hero's Hulk 100 Project, a book that showcases over 100 of the industry's greatest artists drawing their version of the green goliath. (Buy a copy right now, right HERE!)

Start the new year off right and officially join the Hero Initiative! Offered for the first time ever, membership has four levels to choose from: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Excelsior!

BRONZE MEMBERSHIP: $29 and includes a personalized membership card (which will arrive approximately 4-5 weeks after you sign up), a quarterly newsletter and a Hero Initiative sketch card from a randomly selected artist. Artists include Dan Jurgens, George Pérez, Joe Quesada, John Romita Sr. and more!

SILVER MEMBERSHIP: $99 and includes all of the Bronze perks, plus a Hero Initiative T-shirt (your choice of Dawn or Hero Hand), a copy of the Marvel Then and Now DVD and a copy of The Unusual Suspects graphic novel.

GOLD MEMBERSHIP: $250 and includes all of the Silver perks, plus a 1-year Premium Membership at ComicsPriceGuide.com, and an invite to Hero Initiative’s VIP Members-Only party at 2009’s Wizard World Chicago.

EXCELSIOR! MEMBERSHIP: $500 and includes all of the Gold perks, plus your flat item (maximum size 11" x 17"), signed and personalized by the one and only Stan Lee.

"I’m always amazed and happy to see the support that fans have shown Hero," said Hero Initiative President Jim McLauchlin. "Hopefully, this will be a new way they can show affinity, and get some nice goodies in the process."

Membership to Hero was put into place with the fans foremost in mind and on consultation with GeekInTheCity.com, a website that covers all things geek, from comics to movies to games. As such, GeekInTheCity’s Aaron Duran is member #1, Jen Duran is member #2 and Stan Lee is member #3. Creator Paul Dini (Detective Comics, Madame Mirage) is also a member already, as is Mid-Ohio Con promoter Roger Price.

Membership has even more perks, as Hero has partnered up with ComicArtFans.com. The website has offered a savings of $10 for folks who join both organizations. Already a CAF or Hero member? If you join the other organization, CAF will recognize that and still discount you. How 'bout that?

To become a member of The Hero Initiative, fans can sign up at www.atomiccomicsstore.com/heroinitiative.html or on-site at The Hero Initiative booth at the following upcoming comic book conventions: New York Comic Con, Feb. 6-8; WonderCon, Feb. 27 – March 1; and Orlando MegaCon, Feb. 27 – March 1. To become a member of ComicArtFans.com, fans should visit www.comicartfans.com/hero!

T-shirts! Sweatshirts! Hats! Journals! Coffee mugs! You-name-it! All available HERE! So what are ya waitin’ fer? Order up!

And if your taste runs to Frank Cho and monkeys (and why wouldn’t it?) a bountiful bevy of merchandise awaits your perusal HERE!