Marvel Comics is releasing a benefit book called Heroes on October 17th. All proceeds from the book are being donated to various relief agencies. I encourage everyone to pick up a copy.

Here's a link to one of the pages; this page was drawn by Joe Quesada and Todd McFarlane: http://www.comicon.com/gallery/categories/Marvel_Comics/media/joeQMcFNY.jpg

Other comic companies are going to be doing similar books. I'll post the info once I can dig it up.

Or just donate the cover price yourself and eliminate the middle man. No offense to Marvel Comics, it's nice they'd do something like this, but they're only donating the profits. Part of that cover price is the manufacture of the comic. The profits aren't very big actually.

Now, if you're a fan of comics anyway, this is something you'd obviously want.

Sorry if this sounds crass btw, but I heard once that had all the purchasers of that "We Are The World" album simply donated the record price instead of buying the album, Hunger Relief would have received millions upon millions more dollars.

I think of that every time I see a benefit concept like this....

Again, I still think it's wonderful these benefits exist. And I commend Queseda and McFarland for donating their time and work.

-Andrew

"I heard once that had all the purchasers of that "We Are The World" album simply donated the record price instead of buying the album, Hunger Relief would have received millions upon millions more dollars."

But then the number of people donating would have been a small fraction of the number who bought the album. A lot of these things, whether they're books or records or concert tickets, are just ways for people to feel like they're "getting something" for their donations, which of course is contrary to the whole idea of the word "donation."

That said, I do agree with Bub. If a cause is worth donating money to, there shouldn't have to be an "incentive."

>Or just donate the cover price yourself and eliminate the middle man.

There is no middle man. The printer is donating their services, Diamond is distributing it for free, and all the artists and writers are working for free. From what I hear most comic shops are going to donate what they would normally make from the comic as well.

>If a cause is worth donating money to, there shouldn't have to be an "incentive."

Most of the people involved in comics live and/or work in the NYC area. Perhaps the folks at Marvel and their large staff of freelancers are simply doing what they can, with the talents available to them, to try and help alleviate the suffering caused by a tragedy that happened blocks from where they work and live.