MEGAN HUTCHISON, LAURA MARTIN, MICHAEL SAVAGE
Hero Initiative, the charity dedicated to helping comic book creators in medical or financial need, has announced changes to its Board of Directors.
Artists Megan Hutchison and Laura Martin and retailer Michael Savage have joined the Hero Initiative board. Former comic retailer Mike Malve and former MegaCon owner/operator Beth Widera have resigned their positions to focus on activities outside the comics field. Malve is now national sales director at San Tan Brewing & Distilling Company, as well as president and founder of Captured Planet Studios, a video production company that provides content for comic book publishers, while Widera is enjoying an active retirement.
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Megan Hutchison is the artist of the YASLA-nominated An Aurora Grimeon Story: Will O’ the Wisp for Archaia Entertainment, and the co-creator and illustrator of Image’s Rockstars, as well as a cover artist for Boom!, Archie and Valiant. She is currently the co-creator and illustrator on Image’s new series Flood with her husband, Donny Cates.
If you’ve read any mainstream comics in the last 23 years, you have probably seen Laura Martin’s award-winning color work. Laura’s best known titles include Star Wars, Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Astonishing X-Men, and Thor. Her current projects include Ragnarök from IDW Publishing and X-Men and Fantastic Four from Marvel.
Handed his first comic book at 6 years old because “Spider-Man’s costume was now black,” Michael Savage developed a love of art and comics which led him into study at the Ringling School of Art and Design. He and a partner operate Uncanny Heroes 1 & 2 in Central Florida, with both stores carrying a full and diverse line of books.
“The contributions Mike Malve and Beth Widera have made to Hero Initiative are incalculable,” said Hero board member Brian Pulido. ”In its infancy, Beth literally provided Hero a place to develop at MegaCon. Her insights and her ability to foster Hero are the bedrock we stand on today. Mike Malve’s contributions are no less important. His intuitive marketing insights, fun and gregarious manner are the template we follow.”
“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.”
Art attached: Photo of new Hero Initiative Board members, l-r, Megan Hutchison, Laura Martin, Michael Savage
About The Hero Initiative
The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.
Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $1 million to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today.
For more information, please visit us at www.heroinitiative.org.