With various creators and publishers raising money to benefit U.S. comic shops via the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), those funds are now being organized into a distinct relief effort called the Comicbook United Fund – with DC and Oni Press/Lion Forge in on the ground floor.
“We are grateful and humbled to work with industry leaders Oni-Lion Forge and DC. By working together to create the Comicbook United Fund, Oni-Lion Forge and DC are demonstrating their dedication to comic retailers across the nation,” said BINC Executive Director Pam French. “BINC is honored to help carry out their philanthropic vision. The outpouring of support and innovative ideas we’ve seen from across the industry has been inspiring and gives us great hope for the future.”
DC and Oni Press/Lion Forge have signed on as foundational partners in BINC’s Comicbook United Fund, which will include funds raised in several previous and ongoing charity efforts including DC CCO/Publisher Jim Lee’s #60sketchesover60days auctions, at least half of the combined #Creators4Comics auctions’ proceeds, and DC’s own $250,000 donation earlier this month.
“The comic industry has a long history of banding together to protect and promote the art form we all love. We hope that this incredible action from DC will inspire a new wave of generosity and support for the great number of individuals and shops struggling through these times,” said Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group President/Publisher James Lucas Jones. “Comics is an expansive community that still feels like a close-knit family, and these efforts feel like we are helping family members.”
In 2019, Lion Forge started the Forge Fund with BINC to raise funds for comic book stores in need, and to date has raised $100,000 – with 5% of the proceeds from some of Oni/Lion Forge’s titles since also being donated to the fund. That money is also being rolled into the Comicbook United Fund.
“If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s how precious and fragile the things that bring us happiness are, so we must protect the lifeblood of our industry,” Lee said in the announcement. “Oni-Lion Forge saw the need for this type of relief before there was a crisis, which is why DC is proud to now stand alongside them in this time of need for our retailers.”
Anyone can donate directly to this fund at this secure link: https://secure.donationpay.org/bincfoundation/ComicBookUnited.php
Open to U.S.-based brick-and-mortar comic shops only, retailers can apply for assistance at this link: https://www.bincfoundation.org/application-for-comic-book-store-assistance/