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Here's the official Press Release from ACTOR as a result of their auction at MegaCon hosted by Jim McLauchlin and Mark Alessi
ACTOR ORLANDO MEGACON AUCTION NETS $45,000 Yoshitaka Amano headlines as Kevin Smith auctioneers
LOS ANGELES, Calif., February 27, 2002 - ACTOR (A Commitment To Our Roots), the non-profit organization dedicated to helping older comic creators in need, announced today the outstanding results of its latest fund-raisers at the Orlando MegaCon convention from February 23rd through 25th. ACTOR raised $50,000 over the weekend, with a major Saturday night auction as the centerpiece.
The auction totaled $45,000 with 183 lots donated by comic artists and writers, plus special lots donated by Miramax/Dimension Films and CrossGen Comics. ACTOR President Jim McLauchlin and Kevin Smith, writer and director of Miramax/Dimension's "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," served as auctioneers. Auction highlights included:
Yoshitaka Amano Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer painting: $5000
Jerry Ordway Fawcett Collectors of America painting: $1600
Frank Cho Wizard Edge cover: $1600
Charles Vess Rose #3 cover: $1400
Greg Land/Drew Geraci Sojourn #3 2-page spread: $1150
CrossGen USS Theodore Roosevelt autographed prints: $1100
Jim Lee unpublished Fairchild painting: $1000
A full list of auction results will be available on ACTOR's Website at http://www.ACTORComicFund.org within one week.
Kevin Smith had the winning bid on the Cho Wizard Edge cover, which featured Cho's "Brandy" from Liberty Meadows, Fone Bone from Jeff Smith's Bone, and Smith's own creation, Silent Bob. Smith also auctioned off film-used props from "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," his latest movie. "Not only did we raise a bunch of money, but we had a blast doing it," Smith commented. "The folks who actually coughed up the dough enjoyed the hell out of themselves as they did it, too."
This marked the second year ACTOR held a major fundraiser at MegaCon. "MegaCon is proud to host an outstanding live event that benefits such a great cause," said CrossGen Comics President Mark Alessi, who also owns and operates MegaCon. "CrossGen was happy to provide both its support, and the beautiful set of prints autographed by the entire crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which is currently stationed in the Persian Gulf."
ACTOR Disbursement Committee Co-chairman and CrossGen Senior Artist George Perez contributed his time by spending two entire days at ACTOR's MegaCon booth, doing drawings for donations. Perez's efforts netted over $2000 for the cause. "Many people may marvel at the marathon drawing sessions I contribute for ACTOR," said Perez. "But when you compare the number of hours I've worked to line my own pockets in the past 27-plus years, the hours I spend working for ACTOR are merely the first drops of water in a huge rain barrel's worth of payback. It's the least I can do to thank those creative pioneers who've allowed me to make a good living doing what I love to do best, creating comics."
