ABOUT THE AUCTION

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and COMICON.com founders Rick Veitch and Steve Conley have assembled an auction of more than 36 striking pieces of original art and rare merchandise from members of the COMICON.com community and broader comics world to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The auction will run throughout December and will put money into the Fund's war chest for its legal work in 2004.

The auction starts December 9th on eBay where Fund supporters can bid on a great selection of original art, including JLA/Avengers art by George Perez, Batman art by Jim Lee, Greyshirt art by Rick Veitch, rare stories by Neil Gaiman, plus art by Frank Miller, Judd Winick,Frank Cho, Phil Jiminez, Howard Cruse, Peter Bagge, Tim Truman, and much more!

In the weeks to come, these items, plus signed editions by Stan Lee, signed scripts by Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, Marv Wolfman, and many more items will beauctioned to help the Fund be even stronger in the coming year.

Veitch says, "Steve and I built COMICON.com to be the on-line focal point of the comics community. But out on the streets we all depend on the Fund to come to the aid of retailers and publishers when a legal crisis strikes. Let's get behind this auction as a community to help the Fund do its job."

Every week that the auction runs, COMICON.com will showcase the items with banner ads and on the COMICON.com message boards. "2003 was one of the Fund's busiest years," explains CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. "We closed the Jesus Castillo case, fought laws in Arkansas and South Carolina, and became involved with nearly a dozen amicus briefs that have important consequences for the future of free expression in comics. Right now we're gearing up for 2004, which we expect to be even busier. The proceeds of this auction will go into paying for our legal retainer fees, membership in Media Coalition, and putting money into the war chest to help pay for any legal crisis that hits comics in this upcoming election year."

Veitch adds, "We hope the community is generous when bidding during this auction. Many very talented creators have donated some great art to support the Fund's much needed work. Without the Fund there to back this field up, dozens of retailers, cartoonists, and publishers may have lost their livelihood. Now it's our turn to back up the Fund."

The CBLDF/Comicon auction begins Tuesday, December 9.