About Us
Hero Initiative: Helping Comic Creators In Need
Hero Initiative helps comic book creators when life hits hard—because heroes deserve heroes, too. They gave you your favorite stories. Now you can be the one who gives back when they need it most.
Who We Are
A Safety Net for Comic Creators in Crisis
Through direct aid and community support, we help artists and writers weather life’s toughest moments—with dignity and hope.
Our mission
Hero Initiative supports comic book creators in need with emergency medical aid, financial help, and career support—giving back to the people who gave us our heroes.
Our Vision
We believe no creator should face hardship alone. Hero Initiative builds a community of support for the storytellers behind the comics we love.
How We Show Up for Creators in Crisis
Empathy
Life comes without guardrails. Medical or financial difficulties can come from anywhere. Hero Initiative understands.
Responsiveness
Need is sometimes urgent. Hero Initiative has often responded to creators’ needs and fixed problems within 24 hours.
Protection
Some creators dance on the line of being employable or not, and fear being labeled a “charity case.” Hero’s aid is publicized only on the recipient’s permission.
Hero Initiative has been like a secret big brother I could call when things got hard. They helped me with medical equipment and even my mortgage, giving me real peace of mind.
Dexter Vines
Artist/Inker | Avengers, Hulk
When I required cataract surgery, my insurance coverage was thousands of dollars short. I contacted Hero Initiative, and within a week, I had the money needed.
Carl Potts
Artist/Writer | Punisher War Journal, Moon Knight
Hero Initiative has come to my rescue, kept me from being homeless when I was physically unable to work, and has quite literally saved my life more than once.
Tom Ziuko
Colorist | Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman
I had a painful hernia. I had no insurance, dwindling returns, and was a single dad of a special needs kid. Hero Initiative backed me financially to get the operation I needed.
Rags Morales
Artist | Identity Crisis, Hawkman
Milestones
Hero Initiative Through The Years
With help from fans like you, Hero Initiative has grown and saved the very lives of comic creators.
2000
Hero Initiative founded
Hero Initiative was founded in year 2000. No similar organization had ever existed for the comic book industry
2016
Over $1 million in aid disbursed
Hero Initiative crested over $1 million in aid given to needy comic book creators.
2017
“Hire This Artist” program
Hero Initiative proactively started making connections for writing and art jobs for comic creators in need.
2018
Ongoing Support
Hero Initiative has a number of creators on ongoing assistance including skilled nursing care, food support, medical assistance, and housing aid. This totals $10,883/month, or $362.77/day.
Now & Tomorrow
New benefits programs
Hero Initiative has new ways to help and benefit comic book creators in the works. Help us grow and see us grow.
Staff and Committee Members
Our Team
Hero Initiative’s staff and committee members are seasoned professionals from across the comic book industry—writers, artists, editors, and publishers who’ve lived the highs and lows of creative life. They know firsthand how tough this business can be, and they’ve come together to make sure no creator is left behind. Their leadership, insight, and heart help guide every decision we make and every life we touch.
Jim McLauchlin
Hero Initiative Co-Founder
President
Jim McLauchlin has been a journalist for 35 years, including an 11-year stint on Wizard magazine. He was also the editor in chief of Top Cow Productions, and helped found the Hero Initiative in 2000.
Christina Arrobio
Development Director
Fundraiser, Administrator
Christina Arrobio has been involved in fundraising for 35 years with organizations in the health and education sector, and has been Hero’s director of development and administration since 2009.
Steve Borock
Executive/Fundraising Committee
Senior Consignment Director, ComicLink.com
A key figure in collectibles, Steve Borock was CGC’s first Primary Grader and Restoration Detection Expert. He has extensive experience in the grading and auctions business, and is now Senior Consignment Director for ComicLink.com.
Megan Hutchison
Executive/Fundraising Committee
Artist/Creator
Megan Hutchison is the artist of the YASLA-nominated An Aurora Grimeon Story: Will O’ the Wisp for Archaia Entertainment, and the co-creator and illustrator of Image’s Rockstars, as well as a cover artist for Boom!, Archie and Valiant.
Laura Martin
Executive/Fundraising Committee
Colorist
If you’ve read mainstream comics in the last 30 years, you have probably seen Laura Martin’s award-winning color work. Laura’s best known titles include Star Wars, Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Astonishing X-Men, and Thor.
Brian Pulido
Executive/Fundraising Committee
Creator/Writer/Producer
Brian Pulido created the Chaos! Comics universe including Lady Death, Evil Ernie, Purgatori, Chastity, and dozens of other characters. He has published or written Lady Death, Evil Ernie, A Nightmare on Elm St., Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Megadeth, Insane Clown Posse, and many more.
Joe Quesada
Executive/Fundraising Committee
Editor/Writer/Artist
Joe Quesada started as one of comics’ most successful independent artists and publishers, and parlayed that success into a 10-year run as Marvel Comics’ editor in chief and later chief creative officer. In 2024, he started a new publishing company, Amazing Comics.
Michael Savage
Executive/Fundraising Committee
Life Coach/Wealth Mastery Expert
Michael Savage studied art at the Ringling School of Art and Design and later opened and operated multiple comic stores in Florida. He’s on the National Board of Certified Counselors, and if a life coach with a specialization in wealth management.
Mark Waid
Executive/Fundraising Committee
Editor/Creator/Publisher
Mark Waid is a New York Times bestselling author whose many works include Kingdom Come, Superman: Birthright, and years-long runs on such popular titles as Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Flash and Justice League. As a publisher, he runs Thrillbent.com, and is a tireless advocate for creator rights.
Howard Chaykin
Disbursement Committee
Comic/Television Creator
Howard Chaykin pioneered the graphic novel form in the United States, and later created the award-winning and ridiculously influential American Flagg!, as well as deconstructing a number of mainstream characters, notably The Shadow and Blackhawk. He has served on staff as a writer/producer on several television series, rising to the level of show runner in episodic television.
Klaus Janson
Disbursement Committee
Artist
Klaus Janson started as an artist in the early 1970s, and quickly became known as one of the top inkers in the business. He enjoyed a lengthy 8-year run on Marvel Comics’ Daredevil in the 1970s and ’80s, and later inked the landmark Batman: The Dark Knight Returns for DC in 1986. Janson remains a sought-after talent to this day as both a penciler and inker. He’s written two how-to books on comics, and teaches at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Ann Nocenti
Disbursement Committee
Writer/Editor
Ann Nocenti started as a comic writer in the early 1980s, and has written titles such as Longshot, Daredevil, Kid Eternity, and Catwoman. Nocenti also enjoyed a long stint as an editor at Marvel Comics, shepherding Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, and many other titles. Nocenti also has extensive background in charities, helping to operate Ciné Institute, a free film school in Haiti.
Walter Simonson
Disbursement Committee
Comic Creator
Walter Simonson has written and/or drawn a bevy of comics since the early 1970s including the New York Times bestselling Alien graphic novel, Manhunter, Batman, Thor, X-Factor, Fantastic Four, and many more. Walter is currently writing and drawing Ragnarok, a new creator-owned title from Act 4 Publishing.
Roy Thomas
Disbursement Committee
Writer/Editor
Roy Thomas has worked as a writer and editor in comics for 60 years, starting in 1965. In 1972, he became Marvel’s editor-in-chief, and he’s also will known for his long stints as writer of Marvel’s Conan, Avengers and X-Men titles; and as DC Comics’ “Earth-2 editor” during the 1980s. Roy also edits Alter Ego, the famed superhero fanzine he helped to found more than five decades ago.
Jim Valentino
Disbursement Committee
Creator/Publisher
Jim Valentino is the creator of such diverse series as normalman, A Touch of Silver, and ShadowHawk, as well the creative force behind Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. A co-founder of Image Comics, he served as the company’s publisher from 1999-2004, changing the face of the company to one of the most stylistically diverse in the industry. Currently he heads his own division of Image, Shadowline, Inc.
Wanna Join The Team?
Hero Initiative’s lifeblood is people. You can be part of it, too! Lend your time and expertise, or help by volunteering at an event.
FAQs
Here are answers to common questions about our services and how we support comic creators.
How was Hero Initiative started?
In 2000, a group of comic book industry leaders, seeing a need, came together to form an organization to help creative professionals in the field.
How are my Hero Initiative donations used? Where does the money go?
Your donation goes directly toward helping comic creators who are facing difficult times. Hero Initiative uses the funds to provide grants for essentials like rent, groceries, and utility bills, as well as to cover emergency medical expenses for creators without other support. In some cases, we even assist creators in finding new work opportunities so they can get back on their feet. Every dollar you give helps provide relief and stability to a creator in need – for example, donations from fans have added up to over $1 million in aid distributed to creators since our inception.
Why should I donate to Hero Initiative? Why can’t I just pay an individual directly on GoFundMe?
You could, and we absolutely encourage everyone to follow their heart and their own direction. But crowdfunding can be a “popularity contest,” and Hero Initiative is based on need, not popularity. Many creators also need long-term aid such as skilled nursing and hospitalization, not well suited to a crowdfund model.
How does someone get help from Hero Initiative?
We are a need-based organization, and upon applying and demonstrating need, Hero Initiative’s Disbursement Committee, made up of long-tenured creative professionals who truly understand the needs and nuances of the creative community, vote on all issues.
Seriously, what’s the best thing I can do to help Hero Initiative?
It sounds reductive, perhaps, but when the rubber meets the road, these are monetary issues. Donate today. It’s fast, easy, it helps!
Now It’s Your Turn To Be A Hero
You’ve seen how Hero Initiative steps in when creators need it most. Now, you can be the one who makes that possible. Give back. Get involved. Change a life.
