DC Comics has proven to be impacted by the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic as any other entertainment company, but are doing their part by donating $250,000 to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, in an effort to help support struggling comic book retailers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
BINC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose stated goal is to assist booksellers - including comic retailers - and their employees in times of need. From helping cover funeral costs after the death of a loved one, to helping a retailer with medical bills or rent, to even providing relief for a bookseller with a nasty bedbug infestation, BINC has seen and done it all. But due to the pandemic they've been getting more requests than ever before and need help now more than ever. With most retail stores having shuttered their doors to the public, countless book sellers and comic vendors are out of work at the moment and many are reaching out to BINC.
According to WarnerMedia, which released a press statement reading, "In response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and its impact on the comic book direct market, DC is donating $250,000 to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC) to provide support for comic book retailers and their employees during this time of hardship and beyond." But it's not just DC Entertainment as a whole trying to make a difference. Iconic artist and current Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics, Jim Lee recently announced on his Instagram that he'd be auctioning off an original sketch every day for 60 days straight, which he began doing April 1st. Proceeds will go to struggling brick and mortar comic stores and each day's winner gets to choose which DC character Lee draws next.
DC is far from the only media company trying to make a change. Nintendo recently donated nearly 10,000 ventilator masks to first responders across North America. Developer Rockstar recently announced it would be donating 5% of all revenue made from Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online to relief efforts. Even Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds recently announced that he and his wife Blake Lively had donated $1 million to the cause (while, in true Reynolds fashion, also taking taking a not-too-subtle swipe at frenemy Hugh Jackman).
DC's $250,000 donation will hopefully prove incredibly helpful and it will also be interesting to see what Lee's auctions add up to once the two-month marathon is over. Either way, while the likes of Batman and Superman are works of fiction, all of this goes to prove that DC's heroes aren't solely confined to the pages of their books. If you'd like to help support The Book Industry Charitable Foundation's efforts, please visit bincfoundation.org and click the "Support Booksellers" link on the landing page.
Source: WarnerMedia