[Groop] Still OT: Childern and Comics

[John T]

First of all Congrats to Greg and Sue. May Rachel's life be blessed with the best life has to offer.

This topic seems like a good segue into a e-mail I received the other day. It from Jimmy Gownley of Renaissance Press and the wonderful comic "Amelia Rules!" Mr. Gownley has an annual art auction ever year to benefit a charity. This year he is planning something different. I've copied and pasted the e-mail here and you can check it out on eBay. Seller: Tannerrocks. I very much agree with his philosophy. 

Also, check out Amelia Rules! It's lots of fun!

G.A.S.P. Wants You!

If you spend any amount of time in or around the comic industry you have
no doubt heard a great deal of lip service paid to the value of quality
comic books for kids. About how they are the best way to attract new readers
to the field. About how children's comics are an absolute necessity if the
industry is to continue past this current generation of superhero fans. And
indeed, the past several years have seen the emergence of many wonderful
kid's books. Akiko, Growing Up Enchanted, Patty Cake and Friends, WJHC and
other titles have all contributed greatly to this often neglected segment of
our market. Still, if you look at industry sales figures, none of these
books cracks the top 50 or even the top 100 in comic book shops.

I would like to change that.

Because of Amelia Rules! association with ibooks, and Simon & Schuster, we
have an almost unprecedented window of opportunity to have the media
spotlight shine on this corner of the comic book world. Our first trade
paperback is poised to enter it's third printing in eighteen months. Our
second is ready to go, and we have received major interest from book clubs.
We have even entered into an agreement with German publisher Eidelon for a
translated edition. These are opportunities that cannot be wasted.

It is my intention to spend the next eighteen months campaigning on behalf
of quality kids comics, and to try to attract as many young readers as
possible to the industry. To do this, we will have to look beyond our
traditional marketplace, and reach out to schools, to libraries, to scout
troops, to clubs and to any other place that has been neglected as the comic
book industry drifted into it's current state of isolation.

I believe there are tens of thousands of young readers who would love
comic books, but to reach them I need your help.

All campaigns need funding, and to this end, I have come up with the
following proposal. WE need fifty dedicated Amelia readers to become
full-fledged members of G.A.S.P. Members will receive:
-A full-color watercolor sketch of the Amelia character of your choice.
-One page of original Amelia art (our choice, but guaranteed to feature
Amelia)
-An autographed full color Amelia Rules! poster (18x24)
-A complete run of the Amelia 'Superheroes' series as it is published
-A membership card
-A personal letter of thanks from me.

The cost of this membership is $200, and will be limited to fifty
individuals. All proceeds will go towards financing the campaign, and be
kept in an account separate from the main Renaissance Press monies which go
toward the production of the book. This will replace our charity art auction
for this year. To become a member, send your check or money order, made
payable to Jimmy Gownley, to:


Amelia Rules!
PO Box 5060
Harrisburg, PA 17110

We have also decided to put ten memberships on Ebay for your convenience.

If you are a teacher, librarian, comic shop owner, fellow creator, scout
master, book seller, or just an interested individual, and want to be a part
of this campaign, please write. We will need help organizing events,
planning our strategy, and networking.

With your help, I believe we can shake this industry out of it's steroids
and spandex daze. We can rise above the Fantagraphics gloom. We can look at
the books on the comic shop walls and say: "Childhood is back...Comics are
for kids again..and you know what? AMELIA RULES!"


Sincerely,
Jimmy Gownley

Amelia Rules!
P.O. Box 5060
Harrisburg, PA 17110

"It's not enough to do well, you must also do good"


John Torregrossa
PO Box 28184
Providence, RI 02908-0184
eBay ID: Groo


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