Please Read.

[Gail Simone]

Early this morning, the Texas home of award-winning writer/artist Lea Hernandez, my friend and co-creator of the graphic novel Killer Princesses, caught fire and burned. Half her house is now gone, and the rest is smoke-damaged. In addition, she lost at least six of her family’s beloved pets, two dogs and four cats. If you knew Lea, you’d know how devastating that is.

She’s lost a great deal of her family’s possessions, including irreplaceable art. She doesn’t yet know the full accounting of what’s been lost at this time.

Most know Lea as the brilliant creator of such works as Rumble Girls and Cathedral Child. She drew the Marvel Mangaverse PUNISHER book, and has drawn for TRANSMETROPOLITAN, among many other accomplishments. She is also the co-founder and original editor for GIRL-A-MATIC, one of the most important venues for female-friendly comics created to date.

She’s also my friend, and it’s entirely possible I wouldn’t have a career in comics if she hadn’t asked me to write Killer Princesses for her to draw.

And finally, Lea is one of the last great firebrand hellraisers in comics.

Lea has two (wonderful, amazing) special needs children and right now they need a place to stay and some clothes to wear. More than that, they need
some help, and fast, in the form of donations to her paypal account. Lea’s a proud person so I’m going to ask FOR her. This is important, and a great chance to do a wonderful thing for a creator who has consistently enriched this industry we all love so much. Please, take a moment and send WHATEVER YOU CAN to Lea’s paypal account and help make this time a little bit less painful for someone who would do the same for you if the positions were reversed.

If you’re a retailer, I ask that you set up a donations jar. If you’re a creator, I ask you to think of how devastating this would be to your career and donate what you can. If you’re a reader, I’m asking you to take a moment and hit the paypal link. You’ll be doing something heroic and you’ll feel great about it, I promise.

Read what Lea had to post on a neighbor’s computer while wearing her pajamas at: Livejournal.com/users/divalea

Donate (PLEASE) to her paypal account at: divalea@gmail.com

Finally, if I understand the story correctly (as told to me by Lea’s good friend and current Girl-a-matic editor), it was Lea’s daughter hearing the smoke alarm that allowed the family to get out in time, so for God’s sake, do everyone you love a favor and CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS.

Thank you so much for helping. Really, any amount you can send will make a difference. That’s all I can say.

Sincerely and gratefully,

Gail Simone

[sto110]

Wow that is really messed up. My heart and prayers go out to her and her family.



on a lighter note, it is very disconcerting to see a serious post from Gail.... just odd.

I plan on donating though

[Smokinblues]

I can't do paypal from work, but replying to this so I can find the thread tonight when I get home.

[Cth]

Jeez.. very sad news to hear.

I'll see what I can do come payday to help out.

Thanks for the info! Best wishes to Lea and family for getting back on their feet and for their losses.

[ClintP]

Shit, thats terrible. I am glad to here everyone made it out ok. It would really suck to lose everything like that.

[Sy-Klone]

My thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.

I'll hit PayPal after work.

[xyzzy]

Sent $5. It's not much, but hopefully it's not the only one.

[Gail Simone]

Trust me, five dollars is a big help. It's not donating that helps no one.

You guys are awesome. Thank you so much and I'm proud to know you.

Gail

[Ray G.]

I don't have a paypal account, but I'll see what I can do about setting one up to donate as soon as possible.

[BronxRonin]

I get paid tomorrow and i'll be as generous and a father of two can be...Jose
ps.i'm gonig to glady donate my lunch money for a week.
good insentive to lose some weight.