Buddy Saunders of Lone Star Comics in Arlington, Texas saw the suggestion from Tim Davis that an industry-wide benefit product be undertaken to benefit hurricane relief (see 'Timothy Davis of Alternate Reality on Katrina Relief'), and feels that a portion of the money raised by such projects should go to those in the industry that are affected by the disaster, and for a loan fund for immediate help for retailers. 

 

Timothy Davis' suggestion of an industry-wide Katrina Relief comic is an idea that should be supported by everyone.  Getting such a project to the shelves would take time, in part because it should be an outstanding project representing the best our creativity community can deliver.  Both DC and Marvel could each produce a book, and the remaining publishers, either on their own or in concert, could do likewise. That these books would require time to produce should be no problem as the needs associated with Katrina relief will span far more than just a few months. 

 

However, I'd like to add a further suggestion--that a percentage of the funds raised, maybe 20%, be set aside for the direct relief of comic industry folk (retailers, creators, etc.) who suffered serious loss either in property of the opportunity to do business--this would include retailers such as Tom Ray of Ground Zero in Mobile, Alabama, who suffered no serious damage to his building and inventory, but could be put out of business by the after effects of the storm (see 'Tom Ray of groundZero on Katrina Relief').  There are other retailers like Tom in that same boat.

 

While getting such a project onto the shelves will take time (again, not a problem regarding general relief), something needs now to be done to help Katrina retailers keep their doors open until their communities return to normal.  DC, Marvel--and other publishers, I assume--are already doing their part.  When a relief comic or comics are put in the works, I suggest that, in addition to our helping individual retailers on our own as we are able, that a loan fund be set up against the future profits flowing from the relief comics (this could be administered through Diamond and be set as a fixed percentage of any profit).  Monies contributed to this loan fund should come as quickly as possible from other retailers, the idea being that such funds could be more rapidly dispersed to retailers trying to hang on and needing cash sooner than later.  Then, once the relief comic earns money, the loans could be repaid based on the percentage originally allocated to harmed retailers (although there could be no dollar-for-dollar guarantee of repayment).  Under this proposal, retailers who are already donating cash and goods to their limit, could reach a bit deeper for loan funds that would directly assist their fellow retailers.

 

I understand that what I've suggested isn't as simple as it sounds, but I at least wanted to plant the idea.  If there's enough of a will, there'll be a way to do it.  One way or another, we in the comics industry need to do our part, both for the wider community, and for our own folk.