LOS ANGELES, Calif., - March 27, 2002 - ACTOR (A Commitment To Our Roots),
the non-profit organization dedicated to helping older comic creators in
need, is pleased to announce that writer/artist Sam Kieth is making a major
donation to the fund. Kieth will donate all the original art from two books'
worth of his current Wolverine/Hulk Marvel Comics mini-series to ACTOR. The
other two books of the four-issue series will be donated to the Comic Book
Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF).
"I've always thought there are four pillars of the comic book industry,"
Kieth said. "The publishers, distributors, retailers and creators. The
publishers and distributors are often large organizations, but retailers and
creators stand by themselves on the front lines. By making this donation to
ACTOR and the CBLDF, I hope I can help support the creative and retail
pillars."
Kieth will use his usual art agent, Albert Moy Original Art, to turn the
artwork into money. Albert Moy Original Art will sell the art via conventions
and its Website at www.albertmoy.com starting Thursday, March 28 and
continuing throughout 2002.
ACTOR Executive Committee member and Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Joe
Quesada said, "I love Sam Kieth's art, and I'll probably buy some myself.
Not a lot of people know this, but when we auctioned Sam's Hulk piece in the
Twin Towers Fund 'Heroes' auction, it was so popular that three other people
commissioned an identical piece from Sam. I was one of them. I'm sure this
sale will raise a lot of money for ACTOR."
ACTOR Disbursement Committee Co-chairman and CrossGen Senior Artist George
Pérez said, "What a truly awesome contribution! As an artist I know that Sam
could have netted a substantial amount of money selling this artwork. After
all, the Hulk and especially Wolverine are two of the greatest comic book
icons in print today and Sam's rabid fan following would have assured him an
enormous personal payday. The fact that Sam has decided to donate all that
money to ACTOR speaks volumes not only for Sam's character and integrity, but
the worthiness of ACTOR and all it represents. It's people like Sam that make
me proud to be in this business.""
About ACTOR.
ACTOR (A Commitment to Our Roots) is dedicated to providing relief and
support to many of the talented creators who helped found the comic book
industry. Many Golden Age or Silver Age creators toiled in comics' earlier
days for low pay and with a nonexistent pension plan. Today, many of these
people who laid the groundwork that today's industry works on may be in
financial need. Be it due to age, health, or just low salaries with no
retirement plan, they may need a hand. ACTOR provides a safety net for former
comic creators in need. ACTOR is dedicated to helping creators with emergency
medical aid, financial support, and entrance back into paying work.
ACTOR's 501 (c) (3) paperwork, making it an official non-profit organization,
was approved by the federal government in February, 2001.