WINCHESTER — Some of the industry’s top comic book illustrators have donated their talents to help Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area.
Original comic book covers created by local and national artists are being auctioned by Four Color Fantasies, a retailer at 80 Weems Lane in Winchester that has been selling comic books and graphic novels for 32 years.
Store manager Steve Kleffman said the business, based in a blue building that has become a local icon, was created by Mike Kwolek “to create a community for people in Winchester.”
That sense of community inspired assistant manager Erik Jones to conceive a fundraiser to support a local nonprofit. Since comic books and graphic novels have evolved into a respected literary form, Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area, which promotes and supports adult literacy initiatives, was the ideal beneficiary.
“I gave comics to my niece and nephew when they were kids to try to get them to enjoy reading,” Jones said.
Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area Executive Director Mark Sieffert said he is enthusiastic to be involved in a very unique concept.
“In fundraising, you usually just repurpose somebody else’s idea — you do a gala but you try to do it better, or you do it one town over,” Sieffert said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been affiliated with anything close to something as fun and innovative as this.”
Today’s comics are far beyond those of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. A growing number of authors are using the visual medium to tell complex, challenging stories for people of any age.
“They’re as varied as books or movies or television shows,” Kleffman said.
Last autumn, when Jones came up with the idea of auctioning off original comic book covers for charity, he and Kleffman started reaching out to customers and friends who might be interested in sharing their artistry. Everyone who agreed to participate was given sketch paper provided to Four Color Fantasies by national comic book publishers including Marvel and DC Comics.
“The original goal was 40 to fill the wall,” Kleffman said.
Jones and Kleffman then went to a comic book convention in North Carolina and took along a stack of sketch paper just in case they met any illustrators who would be willing to contribute.
“The worst they could say is no,” Jones said. “Everyone I asked said yes.”
One of them was Jeff Lemire, a Canadian author and cartoonist whose impressive body of work has included the high-profile titles “Extraordinary X-Men,” “Old Man Logan” and “Bloodshot Reborn.”
“He’s one of our favorite creators, so getting him to do it was unreal,” Jones said.
Other top artists who put pen to paper for Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area were Jim Mahfood (“Clerks,” “Spectacular Spider-Man”), Mike Perkins (“Captain America,” “Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’”), Matteo Scalera (“Black Science,” “Deadpool Team-Up”) and Jeremy Vinar (“Roll Your Way,” “Perils Ahead”). Additionally, Steve Lieber drew an original cover for an issue of “The Superior Foes of Spider-Man” that he had illustrated for Marvel Comics.
“We lucked out on local talent as well,” Kleffman said as he pointed to covers drawn by high school students, store customers, business managers, friends, even a 10-year-old boy. “A lot of local folks stepped up to the plate.”
In total, there are 57 covers up for auction. Bids are being accepted in the store and through Four Color Fantasies’ Facebook page, with starting bids for each item set at $10 or $20.
Bidding started a week ago and has already attracted more than $1,000, sailing past Kleffman’s goal of $700.
So far, the highest single bid is $150 for a Mike Perkins cover of “The Ultimate” featuring Captain America, “and that’s going to go up,” Kleffman said.
Bidding wars are also anticipated for covers by Lemire and Scalera, he said.
The winning bids will be announced May 4, which is national Free Comic Book Day.
“Hopefully we’ll get even more bids on that day,” Kleffman said.
Sieffert said Jones’s idea for raising money through comic book covers is so unique, he wouldn’t be surprised if it is copied by other Literary Volunteers chapters across the country.
“It’s a natural partnership,” Sieffert said. “I think this type of thing will take off.”
For more information about Four Color Fantasies and its auction of original comic book covers, visit facebook.com/FCFComics or stop by the store at 80 Weems Lane, Winchester. Learn more about Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area at lvwa.org.
