SPECIAL AUCTION TO BENEFIT VESS FAMILY

Karen Shaffer, the wife of Charles Vess, was accepted into a new rehabilitation facility in Charlottesville, VA, two weeks after a serious injury which resulted from a car accident.

She successfully underwent surgery Tuesday, July 21st. Though she suffered a dislocated and fractured vertebra, her overall prognosis is excellent. Final word is pending, but her rehabilitation is expected to be swift and successful. She has already surprised her doctors with her recuperative abilities.

The day after surgery she insisted that she get back to work. The support the family has received from around the world has been spectacular. The response from Charles and Karen's friends and colleagues in the comics industry has been truly epic and help is arriving in many forms.

There will be a special benefit auction on Karen's behalf on Saturday, August 15 at 3 pm at the San Diego International Comic-Con. All proceeds will go toward the daunting medical and rehabilitation costs. The following is a partial list of items which will be available during the auction:

The original "Good Omens" manuscript from Neil Gaiman
Artwork by the Trilogy Tour II artists: Jeff Smith, Linda Medley, Stan Sakai, Jill Thompson, Mark Crilley, and Charles Vess
A Jim Starlin "Captain Marvel" cover
A "Shadow/Rocketeer" drawing from Michael Wm. Kaluta inked by Dave Stevens
A "Shadow" piece drawn by Michael Wm. Kaluta and inked by Bernie Wrightson
A specially painted "Star Wars" painting by Dave Dorman
Dan Brereton "L.E.G.I.O.N." cover
2 Brian Bolland covers
A Bruce Timm color drawing
A Glen Fabry color sketch of Jesse Custer from "Preacher"
A Walt Simonson drawing
Bluelines from Matt Hollingsworth

And from an anonymous donor:

Chris Achilleos -- "Drowning Lady Liberty"
A production drawing from "Bambi" (the shower sequence)
Ken Kelly -- "Hogart Lord of the Asyr"
Jo Clayton -- "Bait of Dreams"

Additional pieces have been promised from Jim Lee, Joe Chiodo, Kevin Nowlan, Simon Bisley, Jeff Campbell, Lurene Haines, Matt Wagner, Ray Lago, Scott Hampton, and Aaron Lopresti.

Additional donations of artwork for the auction are greatly appreciated. Art can be donated at San Diego at the Trilogy Tour II booth, at Charles Vess's Standing Stone. For more information, please contact Michael Wm. Kaluta.

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. Donations and inquiries should be directed to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

For additional information, call 413-268-7776 or e-mail the CBLDF staff.

271 Madison Avenue, Suite 1400
New York, NY 10016
800-99-CBLDF
info@cbldf.org

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