For anyone who isn’t aware, comics professional Seth Kushner passed away earlier this year from complications with Lieukemia. As it seems these things far too often do, he has left behind a wife and child. To help support those he has left behind, several comic professionals have come together to design some “stamped cards for sale, with the profits going to the Kushner family.
Larry Hama has also provided signed sketch cards as well.
Check out A Drawn Word for all of the details, or to buy your set to support the Kusher family. A full press release can be seen below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Graphic NYC Autograph Cards to Benefit Family of Seth Kushner, Photographer and Comix Writer
As a benefit and tribute to the late comic book writer/photographer Seth Kushner, a set of 13 Graphic NYC cards have been published to directly benefit Seth’s wife and son. Published by Hang Dai Editions through Christopher Irving’s The Drawn Word, the cards also feature creator signatures in a limited run.
Irving has decided to offer a limited number online at $15 per unsigned pack, and $25 for a pack with a single creator signature.
“I wanted a way to honor Seth’s work while also showcasing the friendships he cemented with creators during our Graphic NYC project,” Irving says. “I actually started with the intention of 10 cards, but had more creators wanting to participate. I also worked with the printer to find a stock that best replicated that used in our book, Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics. It’s the most touching tribute I can think of for my old friend, and a great way to benefit his wife, Terra, and son, Jackson.
“It’s also a way to celebrate the release of Seth’s graphic novel memoir Schmuck, which isavailable now for pre-order through Amazon, provided you’re not able to have your local comic shop pre-order it for its September 15 release date.”
Twelve creators are showcased in the set, with the thirteenth a Seth Kushner card, using a photo portrait by Seth’s longtime friend Carlos Molina.
The creators are Neil Gaiman, Becky Cloonan, Art Spiegelman, Chris Ware, Dean Haspiel, Molly Crabapple, Larry Hama, Scott McCloud, Jimmy Palmiotti, Brian Michael Bendis, David Mack, and Alex Ross. Currently, most of the creator signature packs are available, with Gaiman’s signature only in one of five fully signed packs to be auctioned in the near future.
“Seth would have gotten a real kick out of seeing some of his photographs realized as classic trading cards, the kinds we used to flip and swap during lunchtime in the schoolyard,” says Haspiel. “The only thing missing from this set is a stale stick of bubblegum!”
100% of the proceeds go directly to Terra and Jackson. Only five fully-autographed sets will be auctioned off, with details to come. The Graphic NYC Cards will be sold at the Hang Dai booth at both SPX and the Baltimore Comic Con, along with Hang Dai’s three graphic novel releases by Kushner, Haspiel, and Gregory Benton. Remaining stock, if any, will continue to be sold through Irving’s The Drawn Wordwebsite.
Direct contributions can also be made to the Kushner family through their gofundme page.