COMICS FOR UKRAINE: SUNFLOWER SEEDS BENEFIT CAMPAIGN EXTENDED FOR TWO WEEKS
Creators Come Together to Extend Relief Efforts in War-Torn Country with Additional Time for Maximum Impact
SAN DIEGO, CA – Last month, more than three dozen comic-book writers, artists, colorists, letterers, designers, and editors announced a collection of all-new comic-book stories to raise money to aid refugees in Ukraine. The benefit anthology Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds, edited by Scott Dunbier, will see all proceeds going to Operation USA’s relief efforts in Ukraine. Dunbier and ZOOP have added an additional two weeks of funding to the campaign for maximum impact to this important cause, with a new closing date of June 2.
The already successful campaign blew past an initial $35,000 funding goal just 12 hours upon launch and has since raised over $139,000 from over 1,100 contributors. The book will be full-color, 112 pages (up from the initially planned 96 pages), 8 x 12 inches, featuring all-new stories, and be available in both hardcover and softcover editions with multiple campaign exclusive awards available now.
Editor Scott Dunbier commented, “My sincere thanks to Zoop for allowing us to extend this campaign. The horrific circumstances perpetrated on the innocent people of Ukraine are heartbreaking and I urge everyone to either back this effort, or to donate to the charity of their choice. We all need to stand for Ukraine, to stand for humanity.”
The incredible roster of comics talent assembled for Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds is united under the mission of providing relief to a war-torn Ukraine, which has suffered attacks from neighboring Russia for nearly four months. There will be multiple versions available: a hardcover with a painted cover by Alex Ross, and softcover versions by Arthur Adams, Dave Johnson, and Bill Sienkiewicz. At press time, stories will be created by a virtual who’s who of writers and artists, including Brent Anderson, Sergio Aragones, June Brigman, Kurt Busiek, Howard Chaykin, Colleen Doran, Joshua Dysart, Mark Evanier, Emil Ferris, Dave Gibbons, Rob Guillory, Greg Hildebrandt, Joe Jusko, John Layman, Gabriel Rodriguez, Stan Sakai, Louise Simonson, Walter Simonson, Chris Sprouse, Jill Thompson, Matt Wagner, Mark Waid, and more. For a full list of creators, including colorists, letterers, and designers, please visit the campaign page.
“This campaign keeps moving in the right direction in terms of raising funds,” said Zoop CEO Jordan Plosky. “So, we had to ask the question of if we keep going or not, and since the goal is to provide as much funding as we can to the people of Ukraine, the answer was yes!”
Apart from hard costs (printing, credit-card fees, marketing, etc.) all of the funds raised by Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds will benefit the relief efforts in Ukraine in partnership with Operation USA, so while the initial funding goal has been met, continued support will maximize the impact on the lives of those deeply affected by the ongoing war—improving conditions for Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries via the provision of emergency grants and in-kind material aid.
Operation USA supports health and education programs to help children and families at home and abroad recover and thrive in the wake of disasters, disease, violence and endemic poverty. Every day, they strive to meet the needs of under-served and overlooked populations so that future generations may have the tools they need to create meaningful change in their own communities and lives. Working with partners around the world, they empower communities to recover, build resiliency and thrive in the face of pervasive obstacles during a time of unprecedented global need. Since 1979, OpUSA has delivered $450 million in aid to 101 countries. Learn more at opusa.org.
To contribute to these efforts and preorder your copy of Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds, please visit https://zoop.gg/c/
