In the face of ongoing immigration enforcement by ICE and the federal government in Minnesota (and elsewhere throughout the country), a group of writers, illustrators, artists and creators in the Twin Cities has teamed up to form Superheroes for Minnesota, a charitable organization looking to help vulnerable communities.
To that end, this weekend the group is hosting a special charity auction featuring all kinds of fun comic goodies, donated by the likes of Bill Sienkiewicz, Fabian Nicieza and the Hildebrandt estate.
Want an original Sienkiewicz Spider-Man sketch? A David Nakayama sketch cover commission? A sketch card from letterer Janice Chiang? Power Girl comics signed by Leah Williams? Check out the auction site, and bid bigly, because all proceeds will be going to a variety of charitable organizations in Minnesota and elsewhere.
Check it out here, and read the full press release for all the details below.
SUPERHEROES FOR MINNESOTA
LAUNCH CHARITY AUCTION FROM THE COMIC BOOK COMMUNITY
ORIGINAL ART, COMICS, AND COLLECTIBLES UP FOR AUCTION
ITEMS FROM BILL SIENKIEWICZ, DAVID NAKAYAMA, GREG & TIM HILDEBRANDT, FABIAN NICIEZA, LEAH WILLIAMS, ERICA SCHULTZ, AND MORE AVAILABLE
February 18th, Minneapolis, MN – Superheroes are needed now more than ever. Superheroes for Minnesota is a group of writers, illustrators, artists, and creators who think that now is the time for us all to act, together, to support vulnerable communities. This auction is a direct outcome of our desire to support both immigrant communities and our neighbors being impacted by ICE raids and harmful federal actions in Minnesota and throughout the United States. Proceeds from this auction will support organizations providing legal aid, emergency assistance, food, and community resources to those in urgent need.
Comic industry veterans like Bill Sienkiewicz, Fabian Nicieza, and the Hildebrandt estate have donated items alongside modern day comics talent like artists David Nakayama, David Talaski, Greg Stegbauer, and Chris Fenoglio, plus writers Leah Williams and Erica Schultz. Voice actors from X-Men ’97, Star Wars: Rebels, Fallout, and creators behind X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97 all donated outstanding items, and letterers Janice Chiang and Ariana Maher donate their talents for auction.
The silent auction is currently in preview mode with bids starting on Friday, February 20th at 12:15am CST and ending Monday, February 23rd at 7:00pm CST. Visit the auction and bid at https://www.32auctions.com/superheroesformn
Daryl Lawrence, the head of the Superheroes for Minnesota initiative, says, “When confronted with such a sizable challenge to how the world can and should work and, frankly, the horrors of what is being visited upon my home state, my immediate reaction was to find a way I could help. I was so inspired by the Publishing for Minnesota auction, and I knew the comics and fandom communities could do something along the same lines- they just needed a nudge. So, I started talking to people, they talked to others they knew, and now we have so many wonderful items donated for a great cause. I’m proud of each of our donors who, like me, want to do something to help. Our friends in the publishing world started the ball rolling, now it’s time for us to add to their efforts and show the world what we can do, too!”
How fans can support this cause:
- Register to bid on the website.
- Place a bid- or more than one!
- Win!
- After you win, donate your total winning amount to one of the listed organizations.
- Send proof of your donation, along with what auction you won, in response to a message you will be sent from one of us after the auction closes.
- You will then be sent your item! (US shipping only)
Winning bids will have 48 hours to show confirmation of donation to one of the following organizations. Any winning bid over $100 may be subject to verification by us with the receiving organization prior to item shipment.
Shipping to the United States only; no international shipping is available.
ABOUT SUPERHEROES FOR MINNESOTA
Superheroes for Minnesota is a geek-community charity auction benefiting non-profit organizations in Minnesota. We have gathered donations to offer a one-time only silent auction to benefit those affected by ICE in Minnesota.
THE AUCTION BENEFITS:
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: ILCM is a nonprofit organization that provides free immigration legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Women’s Foundation of Minnesota: IRRF is a coalition of philanthropic leaders rooted in communities most impacted by immigration-related harm. IRRF ensures that resources move quickly, responsibly, and with community accountability to trusted organizations responding to immigration-related emergencies across Minnesota.
Midwest Immigrant Bond Fund: The Midwest Immigration Bond Fund pays out bonds for residents of, and people detained in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and fights for the abolition of immigration detention.
Dios Habla Hoy Church Food Distribution (South Minneapolis): DHH Operation is a community outreach effort led by DHH Church to provide food and urgent assistance to families in need. This church is located in South Minneapolis, and they’ve been doing incredible food distribution to folks who are staying home and avoiding public spaces due to fear and uncertainty caused by immigration enforcement.
Community Aid Network MN: Community Aid Network (CANMN) is a grassroots volunteer-led organization located in the Bancroft neighborhood of Minneapolis, MN. We work to build solidarity with our neighbors, organize volunteers and redistribute resources to ensure everyone has the means for dignified survival.
Central Area Neighborhood Development: The Central Neighborhood Care Team (Central Care Team), is one of six strategically organized groups within a larger group of Central Neighborhood residents organizing with a twofold mission: relationship building and resistance. This GoFundMe raises funds for critical rent assistance as families stay home.
For support across the country:
Immigrant Defense Project: IDP fights to end the current era of unprecedented mass criminalization, detention, and deportation through a multipronged strategy including advocacy, litigation, legal advice and training, community defense, grassroots alliances, and strategic communications.
HandsOffNYC: Provide resources for neighborhood groups as they stand against ICE kidnappings. Whether it’s training over 1,000 people at once at our borough trainings or making sure that local spotters have basic supplies like whistles and handouts, your donation will directly impact our ability to build and expand the movement.
Austin Gorton also reviews older issues of X-Men at the Real Gentlemen of Leisure website, co-hosts the A Very Special episode podcast, and likes Star Wars. He lives outside Minneapolis, where sometimes, it is not cold. Follow him @austingorton.bsky.social.
