Heroes for Hope
Heroes for Hope: Starring the X-Men | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
Format | One-shot |
Genre | |
Publication date | 1985 |
No. of issues | 1 |
Main character(s) | X-Men |
Creative team | |
Created by | Jim Starlin Bernie Wrightson |
Written by | |
Artist(s) | |
Penciller(s) | |
Inker(s) | List |
Letterer(s) | List
|
Colorist(s) | List
|
Editor(s) | Chris Claremont Ann Nocenti |
Heroes for Hope: Starring the X-Men is a 1985 Marvel comic book designed to raise awareness about hunger in Africa. Proceeds from the comic went to the American Friends Service Committee, to assist in their work on behalf of African famine relief and recovery. Published in the form of a "comic jam" or exquisite corpse, the book featured an all-star lineup of comics creators as well as a few notable authors from outside the comic book industry, such as Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Edward Bryant. It also saw a rare Alan Moore Marvel Comics credit outside his early Marvel UK work.
Heroes for Hope featured some memorable artist/writer and penciler/inker pairings, including Stan Lee and John Buscema; Stephen King and Bernie Wrightson; Moore and Richard Corben; Harlan Ellison, Frank Miller, and Bill Sienkiewicz; Mike Baron and Steve Rude, Howard Chaykin inked by Walt Simonson; and John Byrne and Terry Austin reuniting on the X-Men.
Speakeasy magazine reported in April 1986 that Heroes for Hope had raised $150,000 for the American Friends Service Committee.[1]
Publication history
Heroes for Hope came about in response to the devastating
One night, a few months ago, artist
Berni Wrightson had suggested to him — that Marvel Comics publish a special issue of The X-Men, a benefit book for famine relief in Africa. Jim and Berni wanted to do the book as a "jam", with as many artists and writers contributing, which would enable us to bring a small army of outstanding talents together on the project, making it a real event. I thought it was a great idea. The next morning I pitched it to Publisher Mike Hobson and President Jim Galton. . . . Jim and Berni recruited the artists. Chris Claremont . . . quickly volunteered to recruit writers, and to help . . . coordinate the entire project.[3]
In addition to the contributors donating their work for the project, so did logo designer Janet Jackson and Marvel's production staff; while
Plot
The comic book opens with Rachel Summers poking her head out of the X-Mansion to grab the mail, only to be confronted with a horrible sight. The X-Men rush to the entrance to see that the mansion has somehow been transported to the middle of a barren desert.
After retrieving the comatose mail carrier, Wolverine senses that all is not right, and claws him in the face. But it turns out that it was all an illusion. The X-Men go back to business as usual after this fiasco, but then things begin to go wrong. One by one, a series of psychic assaults is launched on each member of the team, as they are subjected to their greatest subconscious fears.
First
Courtesy of Rachel's powers, the X-Men track the psychic presence that's been harassing them to the continent of Africa. They fly the
That night,
The X-Men finally defeat the entity and return to their campsite, where they resume the enormous task of feeding the starving refugees. They realize their battle with the entity was a metaphor for the fight against famine, and indeed any human struggle. Kitty expresses fear that the entity survived the battle and is ready to strike again, but Wolverine comforts her with words of hope.
Contributors
Heroes for Hope featured a story by Chris Claremont, Ann Nocenti, Bernie Wrightson, Jim Starlin, and Jim Shooter. The editors were Nocenti and Claremont; the assistant editors were Pat Blevins and Terry Kavanagh. Front cover was made by Arthur Adams and back cover by Starlin. Logo design by Janet Jackson.
Awards
Heroes for Hope producers Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson were co-recipients of the 1986 Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award for their work on the book.[4]
See also
- Heroes Against Hunger
- 9-11 (comics)
Notes
- ^ "Newspeak: X-Men Benefit Book Raises $150,000", Speakeasy #61 (Apr. 1986).
- ISBN 978-0756641238.
Horrified by the plight of starving children in Africa, writer/artist Jim Starlin and illustrator Bernie Wrightson convinced Marvel to publish Heroes For Hope. It was a 'jam' book...and all of Marvel's profits were donated to famine relief in Africa.
- ^ a b Shooter, Jim. Afterword, Heroes for Hope: Starring the X-Men (Marvel Comics, 1985).
- San Diego Comic-Con International. 2013. Archivedfrom the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
References
- Heroes for Hope at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Heroes for Hope at the Grand Comics Database
- "The X-Men in: Heroes For Hope!". Retrojunk.com. August 16, 2006. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014.