The Hero Initiative unveils its Marvel Apes #1 variant penciled by the late Mike Wieringo. The variant is limited to only 3000 copies worldwide and available NOW at AtomicComics.com.

"This drawing is one of the initial inspirations for the entire miniseries—chances are the comic would have never happened without it—so this cover brings everything full circle," says the event’s writer and ’Ringo cover inker Karl Kesel. "And it's only fitting that it helps The Hero Initiative, because Mike was a big believer in giving back to the comics community, and that's exactly what The Hero Initiative is all about." Retail price is $8, and the book will also be available at the Hero Initiative booth at the Baltimore Comic-Con (Sep. 27-28), Mid-Ohio Con (Oct. 4-5), Adventure Con (Oct. 25-26) and Wizard World Texas (Nov. 7-9). (For more details on what Hero’s got cookin’ at those cons, see below.)

Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, Michigan-based artist Scott Rosema provided pencil and ink work on titles such as Marvel’s X-Men Adventures, Valiant’s Solar: Man of the Atom, DC’s Tiny Toons and many, many more. A pro for almost 30 years, read his first-person testimonial on how your donations have benefited him directly.

I’m not usually one to have my problems out on my sleeve; especially considering, as an artist, I would need an incredibly long sleeve to do so. Plus, I’m terribly independent-minded and tenacious as a rhino. I regard most problems I face as either something to be muscled through or thought through to the solution, particularly with my art.
And with my art, it honestly has never occurred to me that some sort of problem would or could come along that I couldn’t solve in some way or another, not in any real sense. Now, I’m not stupid or naive so I have always been aware of the possibility of insurmountable problems happening, but it’s always been something of a distant possibility, a lightning-striking sort of thing.
Late last year, it was if Thor or Storm had my number.
Out of the blue, I developed a fast-growing, sight-robbing cataract in my right eye with a lesser one in my left eye.
"By spring," the eye doctor said, "you’ll probably, for all intents and purposes, not be able to see very well at all."
What the…???!!??
"You won’t be able to drive, read or, unfortunately, draw."
WHAT….??????
"You’ll be able to make out basic shapes but that’s about it."
Now just wait a minute!! I draw for a living!! What the ….?!?
"That’s the bad news; the good news is…"
I could use some!
"…your condition, though very fast developing, can be fixed with surgery."
Really? That’s sounds better.
But not until it gets much worse. Probably right up until it gets the worst."
So, I’ve got to wait until it gets much worse before we can make it better. What can I do or expect in the meantime?
"Not much; you’ll have a harder and harder time drawing, and you’ll probably get severe headaches from your changing vision. Plus, the operation costs are in the thousands of dollars."
So there I was…my sight slowly slipping away because of a problem that was keeping me from earning the money I needed to fix the problem.
I think the British call that a sticky wicket.
Well, I could only weather the effects of the cataract until the surgery. Hey, you take life’s lumps as you get ’em, right? But, I didn’t nearly have the money needed for the surgery. And no health insurance.
So, what to do?
Thanks to my agent Scott Kress, who suggested The Hero Initiative as a possible source of help.
"But," I said, "…isn’t that just for the retired comic art veterans? I’m no spring chicken but I’m far from retirement age…"
"If you can’t see," he said, "…you’ll never become a retired comic art veteran."
Wham.
So, after a few calls and some figuring, the INCREDIBLE folks at Hero Initiative were able to cover most of the expenses for the operation and my vision is nearly back to 100 percent.
But if it weren’t for Hero Initiative, I very well might have been selling pencils out of a cup instead of drawing with them.
Being an artist and doing art for a living has its ups and downs and none of us are guaranteed an easy road of it. It’s something we love doing and lots of things can get in the way…and some things just can’t be helped.
But for the things that can be helped, the things that a charitable mind and a loving heart and a giving hand can change, then those things CAN be helped. Those roadblocks can be moved, those snags can smoothed along, and something close to what I now would call miraculous can be achieved.
In August 2007, I noticed a slight blurriness in my vision. By November, it grew into a cloudy fuzziness. By January ’08 it was like having a gauze bandage over my eyes. And by late February, thanks to Hero Initiative, I was able to afford the surgery that’s brought my sight back from a damned scary place.
Drawing, doing art, creating comic art is my life. You can believe that that statement has a new definition for me.
And Hero Initiative has provided that definition.
Please give as much as you can, as often as you can. They really are heroes.

You can learn more about Scott Rosema, including how to purchase his original art and commissions, at ComicArtistsDirect.com/rosema.html.

In 1967, Stan Lee had no Internet, so he did the next best thing: he created his own way to speak to his audience. Each month inside Marvel’s titles, "The Man" rapped rhapsodic about whatever was on his mind in "Stan’s Soapbox." Topics would range from tackling bigotry, addressing a controversial price hike and even hawking the latest "Marvel masterpiece." And, by doing so, Stan endeared himself to Marvel’s entire audience, a sentiment that lasts to this day.
With special thanks to the fine folks of Marvel Comics, The Hero Initiative collects all of the "Soapboxes" from their start in 1967 to their end in 1980. In addition to Stan’s savvy scribbles, Stan’s Soapbox: The Collection not only provides historical perspective, but comic pros such as Paul Dini, Joe Quesada, Roy Thomas and more fondly recall their favorite "Soapbox."
At 144 pages and $14.99, reserve your copy at your local comic book retailer. Heck, even stingy Stan himself might buy one!

Get your one-of-a-kind Hulk #1 sketch cover by today’s hottest artists and the icons of yesteryear! Check out this full-color piece from veteran Hulk artist Herb Trimpe (giving a nod to his Hulk #181 issue debuting a certain Canadian mutant). All you gotta do is head over to eBay and place your bid! Click here and see what’s available!

The good bloke that he is, Steve Dillon (Preacher, Punisher) is coming to America, thanks to the folks at ComicPRO, where proceeds will benefit The Hero Initiative.
From Sept. 22 to Oct. 1, the English star artist will appear at several East Coast comic book stores associated with ComicPRO.
"It’s very nice to meet the fans in the United States, and I know that when I’m hosted by ComicsPRO stores, it’s a first-class affair the whole way," said Dillon. "Raising funds for The Hero Initiative is also a top priority, so this should be a pleasure all the way around."
If you’re in the area, stop on by and say hello to Steve. For more information on the tour, head on over to the ComicPRO website. And, hey, keep your eyes peeled for early 2009 as ComicPRO and Hero Initiative team up again to do a similar tour with Jimmy Palmiotti and Darwyn Cooke!

Hero Initiative maple-leafed right on over to Toronto’s Fan Expo Canada the weekend of Aug. 22-24, and we had as much as could be had without a can of Molson’s in our hands. (The Molson’s flowed after hours, trust us.) And we can prove it—just take a look at the pic below.

Thanks to Ethan van Sciver, who was Hero's artist-in-residence at the recent Fan Expo Canada in Toronto! Ace volunteers Richard and Nancy Zajac were on hand, and raised over $3,000 for Hero!

Hero Initiative will be at the Baltimore Comic-Con Sept. 27-28, and you should, too! After all, big-shot talent such as Tim Sale, Stuart Immonen, Matt Wagner, and more will be signing at our table throughout the weekend. This con is also the first place you can snag a full-color print showing the cover to Captain America #116 by Gene Colan; signed by Gene and Stan Lee, all proceeds go directly to Gene! Get the full scoop on the con right here!

We’ll also be pitching our tent, so to speak, at the Mid-Ohio Con Oct. 4-5 in Columbus, Ohio. We’ll bring Wolverine co-creator Len Wein, you bring the beer, bub! Con details can be found here!

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!