Comic creators and the Hero Initiative

On The Beat, Heidi MacDonald points us to the latest on the effort to raise money for comics legend Gene Colan.* The issue she notes--the lack of royalties for creators throughout much of comics history--is an important one to highlight, as the radically different market conditions can be hard for folks growing up today to comprehend.

Another thing I find myself explaining to disbelieving students every year: that the tax system doesn't allow you to take a deduction for donations made to individuals, however well-deserving. However, folks who want to help out beyond the Colan fundraiser AND get a tax deduction are in luck--they can make tax-deductible contributions to the 501(c)(3) Hero Initiative. The Initiative also makes much-needed revenue from selling signed comics, but remember: you can't take a deduction for the price of things you buy unless the charity documents that you've paid more than market value.

*Heidi's featured Colan cover was one of my favorites when I was collecting comics as a little tyke--for a while I bought literally every copy I found. Besides the picture, never underestimate the power of "SPECIAL ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME ISSUE!!" on a nine-year old.