Comic book featuring Harry Potter and Batman raises $165k for Orlando victims
A special comic book raising funds for victims of the Orlando Massacre raised more than $165,000, it has been announced.
DC Comics and IDW Publishing released the special ‘LOVE IS LOVE’ comic book last month, featuring one hundred short comics penned by one hundred writers and artists, to benefit the fund for Orlando survivors maintained by LGBT charity Equality Florida.
The book featured a number of poignant tributes to LGBT equality in memory of the 49 innocent people who died in the gay bar shooting.
One artwork featured characters from the Harry Potter universe. The artwork was created by celebrated comic book artist Jim Lee after JK Rowling gave her personal blessing.
One of the 49 people killed, Luis S. Vielma, worked at Harry Potter World at Universal Studios, where a poignant wand-raised vigil took place following the horrific attack.
Lee’s powerful image evoked the scene, featuring Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Albus Dumbledore conjuring a combined rainbow Patronus, while bearing a poignant quote from Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire.
The quote is one of the endless wise lines uttered by gay Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore: “Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”
Other strips from the book feature DC’s most famous characters – including Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, with a focus on LGBT equality.
Today it was announced that the book has raised more than $165K from digital and print sales for the OneOrlando Fund.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said: “Words cannot express how grateful we are for the outpouring of generosity our community has received.
“People from around the globe continue to contribute funds to OneOrlando to deliver the critical help and healing the victims’ families and survivors need to aid in their recovery.”
Comic creator Marc Andreyko said: “I am overwhelmed by the response to LOVE IS LOVE. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that this project would not only raise so much money, but touch so many lives around the globe.
“In these divisive and difficult times, seeing the outpouring of love and support for victims of hate by people of every race, creed, orientation and nationality shows me that there is much good in the world. We just need to keep fighting the good fight and love will win.”
The graphic novel is currently in its fourth printing, with a further fifth printing announced to meet demand.
Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida, said: “Equality Florida is so grateful for this project – it has been such an inspiring and powerful way to respond in the face of tragedy.
“We must uproot the hatred that breeds discrimination and violence, and having top storytellers and illustrators combine their talents makes LOVE IS LOVE a potent and accessible tool.”
