Just now getting back from the weekend, which was wild for sheer surrealness, starting with the visit to the house where Superman was created. Last time I was there, the paint was peeling, the roof was dumping water into the bedrooms, the whole place was a mess. Today, the outside is pristine. It's the Norman Rockwell painting I imagined in my head. And of course, we took an early sneak peek at the Superman fence that now marks the spot (now that the house is no longer red and blue, it needed something). And for the ultra geeks, it's the original S. Go see it here(WSJ)...click slideshow...
Had a beautiful time catching up with all the Siegel & Shuster Society members, who are the dearest people around. And then, it was onto the roomful of real Siegels and Shusters. I mean, it. All of them. A hundred or so relatives, each with their own personal story of Joe drawing on butcher's paper, and Jerry telling stories. Natch, the pinnacle was meeting the real Lois Lane, Joanne Siegel, who was...how does this not sound odd...stunning. Really stunning. And so full of life. Like you look at her and know that she should've inspired the most famous reporter. Her daughter and the rest of their family are so appreciative of all of your work and I bring back love and hugs and mushy stuff for all.
Then onto Thrillerfest, where I got to spend time with pals (dicky name-drop time) Harlan Coben, David Baldacci, Sandra Brown, Steve Berry, Jon Land, and loads of others that I rarely get to see but always love seeing. The Thriller writers get it so right. A full conference just to discuss (and help other writers with) the craft.
And then back home, where my son says to me, "I hate to read." Perfect ending to a weekend of literacy love. We're now (and me we, I mean Jason Sherry, who did the first video, and the film CUBES) putting together a new video so you can see the new house for yourself. I can't thank you enough for putting the word out and telling people and doing what each of you individually did. As I said over and over, it wasn't me. YOU were the reason it really got done.
Off to Cleveland later this week for the final unveiling of the newly restored house where Superman was created. Let me be clear: it is only restored because of you. All the people who passed the news around...who talked it up...who forwarded the video. All the writers and artists who donated stuff. All the Siegel & Shuster Society people who did the true heavy lifting. And all the members of the Invisible Army, who are sneaky and amazing. Love you like family. If I were Oprah, I'd buy you all hovercars.
The ribbon cutting (which I have to miss because of a previous promise to Thrillerfest) is Saturday at 10am at the house, so please do come if you're near Cleveland. Address is 10622 Kimberly Avenue. For me, the real thrill will be Friday night, when we sit down for dinner with the Siegel and Shuster families. Will of course bring back a full report.
Also, the Buffy writing is underway. That is all.
Also also, the fourth geocache has been hidden (for the promotion we're doing with the Freemasons). The clue is here.
The number one email we've gotten over the past few months is: What's happening with the Superman House?
And so, finally, a true update (and you can see more on Newsarama):
As some of you know, our goal was to raise $50,000 to work on the outside of the house. In the end, we raised $101,000. So work is now going on in the inside as well. It's just beautiful.
So let this be my invitation to all: On Saturday, July 11, 2009, in Cleveland, we'll have the official ribbon-cutting and unveiling of the redone Siegel house. The roof, the siding, the cement...so much has been done to this place. They even repainted it back to historic colors (honestly, I kinda liked the red and bright blue), but history won in this one. The only thing that made me crazy was the dark green trim. Green on Superman's house? A bunch of us screamed bloody kryptonite, but again, it's good to have the history. And from what I hear, we'll have a great showing by the Siegel family for the big unveiling. So if you're anywhere near Cleveland, hope you'll join us.
Finally, the one thing people really need to know is how much work the Siegel & Shuster Society put into this. We all helped raise the money, but they did all the heavy lifting. The people of Cleveland did that. We owe them forever for getting it done.
And finally, finally, based on the success of the Siegel house, we've actually turned our attention to a new cause. So now, if people go to www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com (or on Facebook too), they'll see us raising money for City Year, an organization that my wife and I recently helped bring to Miami -- but is one of the premier service organizations around the world. It's like a Peace Corps for the United States and it empowers kids 17 - 24 years old. All we're asking is for people to give one dollar. Just one. Watch the video. (YouTube link)
So to all: thank you. The government never cared about the Siegel house. Politicians didn't care about it. It was the writing and art community that did this. And it proves to me, once again, why I believe in the heroes I believe in.
After twenty-two cities, a full month of touring, a silly amount of plane flights, and even a hurricane (yep, right at the heart of our Houston signing), I’m finally home, and just wanted to say thank you for what you unleashed. First, of course, I appreciate what you did with The Book of Lies, talking it up to whoever would listen and pushing copies on unsuspecting family and friends. It was one of the most outrageous launches we’ve ever had and I know -- as I’ve always known -- that it only happens because of your neverending help.
But most important, thank you for what you also did to save the house where Superman was created. As you know, the goal was to raise $50,000 just to work on the outside of the house. Instead, we raised $101,000. 101. Thousand. Which now means we’ll be working on the inside of the house as well.
So let me be clear: whatever we accomplished with this book and with the house, you did this. When I was worried about getting the word out there, you stepped forward without hesitation. You are a clear troublemaker and I love you for it. Make no mistake: what you did -- from passing the videos along, to facebooking, to myspacing, to all the rest -- made a huge difference. So thanks for the trust and the faith and of course for putting the word out there from day one.
After seven books now, I have to say, there’s only one thing that’s clear to me: and that is how many people are pulling for us from all sides, from so many different places. Family, friends, readers, booksellers, all the people who you say “You gotta read my friend’s book” to -- it’s the only reason this happens. And maybe it’s because of what we went through this year, maybe it’s because I’m getting mushy these days, but it matters. When you help someone -- it always matters.
I’m signing off and taking a break. But I’m sending so much love and thanks your way.
Many people have said that they want to be a part of the “rebirth” of the Siegel House. Here is your chance.
Tracey Kirksey of Glenville Development Corp. has organized a day for volunteers to help the neighborhood where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster grew up and created our favorite hero.
The invitation is below, the day is tomorrow, Saturday, September 27 at starting at 9:00am.
No skill required. Be a part of history and give back to the neighborhood.
Sorry for the late notice. I just heard myself. :)
YOU’RE INVITED TO Join Northeast Ohio’s ServiceNation Day of Action
September 27, 2008 10622 Kimberly Avenue
9:00 – 9:30am Registration 9:30- 10:00am Welcome 10am Volunteers deployed and engaged in service
As a part of ServiceNation Day of Action, Glenville Development Corporation, the Siegel & Shuster Society and Hands On Northeast Ohio have planned a day of service centered around the restoration of the former home of Jerry Siegel, one of two Glenville High School teens who created Superman.
Projects for the day included painting seniors homes, painting Charles Lake Elementary, landscape projects, and minor exterior repairs on Kimberly Avenue.
ServiceNation is a campaign for an America in which, by 2020, 100 million citizens will volunteer time in schools, workplaces, and faith-based and community institutions each and every year (up from 61 million today), and that increasing numbers of Americans annually will voluntarily commit a year of their lives to national service.
Please join over 100 volunteers as we represent Cleveland’s commitment to others.
On a plane right now headed to Pasadena and LA, home of Kaysu Ya, my favorite sushi place (which I have the publisher pay for, which is good since I eat it twice a day).
The third week of the Superman auction was amazing, and baseball caps off to Frank Cho, whose Supergirl pin up proved just how much the world loves, in his words, those big corn fed Kansas girls. We raised over $7,000 alone just from that, with a week 3 total of $17,766 .
I know we've put the word out in week 1, but in this final week, I would love if you could help us push the auction and site and video one last time on facebook, myspace or even just via antiquated email.
Headed to Cleveland tomorrow. Can't wait to see reactions at the signing based on the e-mails I've been getting from Clevelanders.
Best part of last night's signing in Chicago? My first unrequited crush from elementary school came to visit. I wrote about her in my Terra story. She reminded me why I love old friends -- and why I should have given her a "Great" instead of a "Yuk" in the slam book.
Also, week one of the auction to save the house where Superman was created is officially over.
Insane. In the membrane. I said to my wife that I figured week one would get $10K (being over-optimistic). Shows what I f'ing know.
The closing auctions for week one were as follows:
Winning Bids: Brian Michael Bendis $5,850.00 Neil Gaiman $1,125.00 Dave Gibbons $810.00 Jim Lee $14,101.00 Allen Bellman $150.00 Dan Brereton $587.88 Travis Charest $7,877.77 Greg Rucka $545.00 Ian Churchill $560.00 Ernie Chan $227.50 George Perez $2,625.00
That's $34,459.15 for week one auctions. And that's not including how many amazing people have made direct donations that came through OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.Com. With so many people donating just $10, $25...that's all we need. We just need more people to do it.
Also, don't forget the coolest T-Shirt that Chip Kidd has ever designed. The official Siegel & Shuster T-Shirt, with all profits going to save the house where Superman was created.
And so we begin the second week of the auction, the one where you can get your name as a character in my next novel.
Let me say, right now, that I'll give you a good spot. You won't be some waiter who disappears after one line (unless you have a really bad name, in which case I'm going to kill you early).
Also, the best part of this has been the outpouring of new items we've gotten for the auction. So many more coming. But this week, let's throw some love at J.H. Williams III, Jimmy Palmiotti and Mark Waid, who has given us CURT SWAN! (check out the art below)
Plus, just heard from Mark Millar, Jill Thompson, Mark Waid, and so many others. To all creators: we tried to reach out to everyone when we started, but it's clear we didn't reach everyone. We want you! If you have a truly awesome item, please email me through the site or facebook or myspace or anywhere because this is for all of us.
First, for those who asked specific questions about Brian Bendis and Jim Lee's auctions, answers below... And c'mon, that's gotta make the bidding go higher.
Q:When you say drawn on the cover to an issue of Powers, would it be possible to have "me" wearing a shirt that says my name on it so it's "obviously" me and there's no mistaking it? Also, will we get a chance to own the original art?
A:Yes to both.
Q:How large will Jim Lee's drawing be? Will it be pencil or ink? Can Jim draw Superman and Batman, instead of the winner?
A:11 x 17. Pencil and ink. It can be Batman or any other existing character from Marvel or DC or Wildstorm.
So, the first week of the tour is done. Beyond the highlight of meeting everyone, especially the Invisible Army members, was doing the local TV noon news in Miami with the firefighter band that was playing "Superman" while the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders came over to say hi. I swear, I tried to take a picture. Only in Miami.
We've added two additional cities to the tour. Stop by and say hello if you're in New Jersey (Hoboken, represent!) or Connecticut.
For those of you who have not seen the information on The Siegel & Shuster Society, here is the video and the FAQ. Remember, ordinary people can change the world.
As you can tell from the video, the goal of The Siegel & Shuster Society is to save the house where Superman was created.
The most important thing to do is to mention and link to the auction, encourage people to buy a shirt, and post the video on all the places you frequent (blogs, MySpace, Facebook, message boards, e-mail, etc.). The video shows the state of the house and tells people about the auction that started this week. As you'll see from the list of people involved, this isn't about DC or Marvel. This isn't about competition. It's about the comic community as a whole, pulling together for a place that launched so many of our best dreams.
I just hope you know how much I and everyone working on this project appreciate you being involved with it. And while we know it's just a house, it matters.
FAQ
What's this all about again? Today is the official launch of The Siegel & Shuster Society, with a celebrity charity auction that'll raise money to preserve the home of Jerry Siegel, creator of Superman. When you go to Brad Meltzer's charitable website www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com, you can:
bid online for original Superman and comic book art and items by top writers and artists
buy a Siegel & Shuster Society t-shirt (designed by the legendary graphic designer Chip Kidd)
All proceeds of the auction go to the restoration of the Siegel house.
Who's involved in the auction? This is a coming together of an entire community. The full list includes: Stephen Colbert, Jim Lee, Brian Michael Bendis, Brad Meltzer, Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, Joe Quesada, Neil Gaiman, Alex Ross, Dave Gibbons, Jeph Loeb, Murphy Anderson, Ed Brubaker, John Cassaday, Gene Ha, Greg Rucka, George Perez, Michael Turner, Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert, Judd Winick, Frank Cho, Eric Powell, Tim Sale, Walt Simonson, Joe Staton, Eric Wight, Dave Mandel, Mike Mignola, Rags Morales, Bill Morrison, Ivan Reis, John Romita Jr., Jason Palmer, Amanda Conner, Geoff Darrow, Ron Garney, Renato Guedes, Heroes, Dave Johnson, Chris Bachalo, Mike Bair, Allen Bellman, Dan Brereton, Ernie Chan, Travis Charest, and Ian Churchill, YOU, and even Jerry Siegel (see below).
How did this come about? While researching his new novel, The Book of Lies, Brad Meltzer visited the boyhood home of Jerry Siegel in Cleveland, Ohio, where Superman was created. As Meltzer says, "The house where Google was founded is preserved. The garage where Hewlett Packard was founded is protected. But the house where Superman was born? I was in shock." After contacting dozens of comic book creators -- and thanks to the hard work of many in the city of Cleveland -- The Siegel & Shuster Society was created and is dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the creation of Superman in Cleveland by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. "I think sometimes people take things like this for granted because it started in cartoon form, but this is a house were modern mythology was created," Brain Michael Bendis adds. "Mythology that will never die away or disappear. There is no difference, to me, between this house and Mark Twain's house. We have to honor and exalt such creation."
What are the items in the auction? You can win a walk-on part on Heroes, VIP seats to the Colbert Report, original Superman art (go see the art!), have your name in Bendis or Brubaker or Rucka's comic, or Meltzer's next novel. There's a rare original pre-Superman movie script from Geoff Johns, signed by Richard Donner. And Joanne Siegel told Meltzer that before Jerry Siegel died, he signed six Superman t-shirts that no one ever knew existed -- and then told her that if their family ever needed money, she should sell the shirts. Instead, she donated one of them to be auctioned off here. The signature is on a Superman: Quest For Peace(!) t-shirt. C'mon, baby, it's Jerry Siegel on a Quest for Peace shirt!
What can you do? Forward and digg the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25R2kcJxQuc). Go buy a Siegel & Shuster Society t-shirt. They're cool. They're designed by Chip Kidd. They can't be bought anywhere else. Bid on some of the auctions and spread the word by sharing the video, sigs, and www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com auction with your facebook, myspace, and live-breathing friends.
How much is the Siegel And Shuster Foundation trying to raise? Depends on how successful we are. Phase 1 involves working on the exterior of the house: securing the roof, making sure the paint isn't rotting, doing the concrete work. That will hopefully protect the place from the outside. Joe Shuster's house (a few blocks away) was in such disrepair, it was torn down. The first goal is to collect $50,000 to deal with the outside. If we do that, then we'll go and tackle the much-needed-repairs on the inside.
Who lives there now? The house is located in one of the tougher neighborhoods of Cleveland and is currently occupied by an African-American couple who have lived there for approximately 20 years, who have put up with all of us who have come visiting, but who don't have the money to do these repairs. Rather than kick anyone out on the street, the goal is to repair this place for them. Why? It's the right thing to do. In return, The Siegel & Shuster Society has the right to buy the house when it eventually goes up for sale.
Is there a long-term goal to make a museum? The long-term goal is still being decided, and that's why you're invited to join The Siegel & Shuster Society and help us with those plans. Meetings are held monthly in Cleveland -- when you buy a shirt, they'll have your name. But one of the dreams is that one day, buses full of students will drive from all over Ohio, from Michigan, from any nearby state, and come to the fully-restored house -- covered and decorated with children's artwork inside -- and see where one of the world's greatest dreams was born. Go to www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com to make it happen.
Just now back from a quick trip to Cleveland for a return visit to the house where Jerry Siegel created Superman. So so much to report, all of it coming soon with The Book of Lies. And this time, we took the videocamera.
