The Hero Initiative, a charity that supports comic book creators in medical or financial need, announced that will add three new members, Megan Hutchinson, Laura Martin, and Michael Savage, to its Board of Directors. Mike Malve, a former comic retailer, and Beth Widera, former MegaCon owner, have stepped down from their positions on the Board to pursue projects beyond the field of comics.

The three new Board members will be artists Megan Hutchison and Laura Martin and retailer Michael Savage. Megan Hutchison worked on art for the An Aurora Grimeon Story: Will O’ the Wisp by Archaia Entertainment (see "'An Aurora Grimeon Story: Will o' the Wisp'"), which was YALSA-nominated. She also is a cover artist for BOOM!, Archie, and Valiant. Laura Martin has done art for Star Wars, Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Astonishing X-Men, and Thor, and she is currently working on Ragnarok from IDW Publishing as well as Marvel's X-Men/Fantastic Four miniseries (see "Franklin Richards Is Stuck Between in 'X-Men/Fantastic Four'"). Michael Savage operates Uncanny Heroes 1 and Uncanny Heroes 2 in central Florida.

“Recognizing how the landscape of our business has changed and diversified for the better in recent years, we knew our board membership—and our industry—would be best served by input from new blood,” said Hero board member Mark Waid. “To that end, we couldn't be happier to welcome both Megan and Laura Megan to the team. As for Michael, there is no better and more qualified candidate to represent the voice of the retail community, and we're lucky to have him.”