Last year, Jack Kirby’s granddaughter Jillian told you about the Kirby4Heroes campaign to raise money for the Hero Initiative, a nonprofit group that’s devoted to helping comic book creators, writers, and artists in financial or medical need. On Wednesday, August 28th, what would have been Jack Kirby’s 96th birthday, Jillian is holding another donation drive. As we told you last year, over the years, comics creators, who would usually be paid in a work-for-hire arrangement, got frozen out of royalties for the use of the characters they created. That left many of them in tough financial straits. And that’s what the Hero Initiative is meant to address.
Here’s how you can show appreciation for the people who create the art you love: Go to participating comic book stores across California on August 28th and make a donation. Or donate at heroinitiative.org (type “Kirby4Heroes” in the slot for “special instructions”), or by mail at Kirby4Heroes Campaign, c/o The Hero Initiative, 11301 Olympic Blvd., #587, Los Angeles, CA 90064. Do it on or before August 28th to be part of this year’s fundraising drive.
