Comic Legends Teaming up to Raise Money for Wildfire Victims with Artists for LA

By Nnamdi Ezekwe, CBR

As the negative impact and effects of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires continue to be felt, the comic book community is coming together to support its victims through a special fundraiser.

Led by AWA Studios’ Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Axel Alonso, Co-Chairman/CEO Matthew Anderson, and Marketing Director Nahuel Fanjul-Arguijo in partnership with Zoop, the ARTISTS for LA fundraiser initiative will feature original artwork donations and prints from acclaimed comic book artists. Participating artists include Denys Cowan (Black Panther, ILLuminati), Alison Sampson (Department of Truth, Women of Marvel), Bill Sienkiewicz (Daredevil, ILLuminati), Mike Deodato Jr. (Avengers, Expecting the Unexpected), and more. The original artwork donations are now available for purchase at the ARTISTS for LA website, www.ARTISTSforLA.org.

The ARTISTS for LA initiative, which has currently raised about $2,600, is still accepting art donations from artists. All forms of visual art, including original sketches, inked pages, digital artwork for prints, and paintings, will be accepted, with contributing artists credited for their work unless they choose to remain anonymous. Fans have the option of making donations without purchasing any art.

All proceeds from the ARTISTS for LA sale of these unique pieces will directly aid relief efforts through donations to the California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund and the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund, which will help rebuild lives and communities impacted by the disaster.

The Devastating L.A. Wildfires

The series of wildfires in Southern California, specifically in the Greater Los Angeles area, has caused at least 28 deaths, thousands of destroyed structures, evacuations, and widespread power outages. Over 100,000 homes have been lost, causing the displacement of more than 200,000 residents. The cost of the wildfires is estimated to be about $200 million to $275 billion.

The fires have affected a cross-section of the Los Angeles population, including many well-known figures within Hollywood. Mandy Moore, Anna Faris, Paris Hilton, Bozoma Saint John, Jeff Bridges, Billy Crystal, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, Cary Elwes, Diane Warren, Cameron Mathison, Ricki Lake, Jhené Aiko and Lou Adler all lost their homes.

AWA and Zoop’s ARTISTS for LA initiative, constituted to help the less fortunate members of the Los Angeles community affected by the fires, currently has artwork donations and prints from renowned comic book artists available for purchase.