Fresh back from his book tour promoting his recently released “The Book of Lies,” New York Times bestselling novelist Brad Meltzer checked in with CBR News to thank everyone who supported the star-studded, comics industry-fueled online auction he led in support of the restoration of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel’s boyhood home in Cleveland, Ohio.
"I just wanted to thank you for what you unleashed -- especially in the efforts to save the house where Superman was created,” said Meltzer. “As you know, the goal was to raise $50,000 just to work on the outside of the house. Instead, we raised $101,000."
The initiative eclipsed the $50, 000 target set back at the beginning of the drive on September 1, giving the Siegel & Shuster Society the funds needed to proceed with work on the interior of the house as well as the exterior.
“This has been one of the most incredible, humbling, spectacular experiences I’ve even been a part of,” said Meltzer, who relaunched “Justice League of America” in 2006 to critical and commercial acclaim. “Of course, now the hard work begins as the Siegel & Shuster Society does the real fixing of the house.”
Meltzer also shared a note from Jerry Siegel’s wife and daughter: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone involved in this massive undertaking. We have great admiration for you and what you are accomplishing with the auction. We deeply appreciate the love and care you put into it. The amount of money that's already been raised to restore Jerry's house is a magnificent tribute to Jerry's memory.
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| Volunteers at the Siegel house |
“We thank you and everyone who made this effort possible for honoring Jerry in this very special way.
“Sincerely,
Joanne Siegel and Laura Siegel Larson”
The charity auction, featuring items from everyone from Richard Donner and Jeph Loeb to Neil Gaiman and Mark Millar, raised $94,330.57. An additional $4,430.29 came from cash donations and the collector T-shirts designed by Chip Kidd generated $2,984.
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Keywords: brad meltzer, jerry siegel, superman, joe shuster, dc comics