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: Phoenix Cactus Comic-Con, Jan. 23-25; 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!

Ever want to see artists such as J. Scott Campbell, John Cassaday, Frank Cho and Terry Dodson draw the Hulk? There's only one place they all do: Hero Initiative's Hulk 100 Project!

With the launch of Hulk #1 early this past year, Hero contacted over 100 of the industry's greatest artists to draw their version of the green goliath on a blank sketch cover. The results of which are collected exclusively inside this book!

At 136 pages, this $10 book can be all yours right now. Or, if you prefer owning only books in hardcover, there's a limited edition hard-back version available for $19.99 (limited to 500 copies, so buy early!).

Gotta love the comic book community! It rallied together to raise over $3,500 for Marvel legend, "Gentleman" Gene Colan!

Lee Hester, owner of California's Lee's Comics, hosted an in-store signing and fund-raising effort for the Iron Man and Daredevil artist, who's had serious health issues over the past year with no medical coverage. That's where Lee's, Hero Initiative, Comic Art Museum and Desert Wind Comics come in, raising $3,500 to help Gene. Read more about it right HERE!

But you can still help Gene and his family out by purchasing exclusive Colan-illustrated lithographs reprinting the classic covers to Iron Man #1 and Daredevil #47 and Captain America #116. Never fear—when you buy these, all proceeds go straight to Gene! To purchase, head over to www.atomiccomicsstore.com/heroinitiative.html.

Two comic stores hosted signings and sketchings to benefit Hero Initiative's Hulk 100 Project last month! All proceeds went toward Hero Initiative.

Toronto's Paradise Comics hosted contributers Dale Keown, Leonard Kirk and Agnes Garbowska. Get the full scoop with more photos HERE.

L.A.'s Comic Bug, in turn, hosted more contributers: Joe Benitez, Scott Koblish, Bill Morrison, Tone Rodriguez, Aaron Sowd and Joe Rubinstein! Check out info and photos HERE.

A big shout-out of thanks to both stores and participants.

Did you know you could support Hero Initiative with toilet paper and a can of Spam?

’Tis true! If you live near a Ralphs grocery store, you could contribute by just using your Ralphs Rewards card. You get a discount from your grocery bill AND donate to the charity of your choice—all at a cost of nothing! Every time you use your card, Ralphs—nice folks they are—kick in some dough to good causes. Here’s all you need to do:
1. Click on this link.
2. Enter our NPO # (non-profit organization #), which is 80680. It’s under our corporate name, "A Commitment To Our Roots." It’s okay, don’t let that throw ya!
3. Fill out the rest of your info.
4. Now celebrate with a pie.
This applies to Ralphs, Foods Co. and Food 4 Less stores in Southern California, Nevada, Illinois, and Indiana. So sign up today! It’ll do us both some good!

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!