Diversity & Comics Fulfills Promise – Donates Proceeds of Iron Sights to Charity!

John F. Trent |

Sep 22, 2018

YouTuber Diversity & Comics aka Richard Meyer aka Ya Boi Zack fulfilled his promise to donate the proceeds of his latest IndieGoGo for Iron Sights to charity.

First Diversity & Comics donated $10,000 to the Trevor Project. He then followed that up with a $4,000 donation to The Hero Initiative.

He confirmed his donations via Twitter where he showed his receipts.

Just donated $10,000 to The Trevor Project, a suicide hotline for gay and trans youth.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Indiegogo campaign that helped make this happen!

All proceeds will go to great charities like this one! pic.twitter.com/jT0W2kIxG4

— Diversity & Comics (@DiversityAndCmx) September 15, 2018

$4,000, which is the remainder of proceeds from the recent IRON SIGHTS campaign, has been donated to The Hero Initiative, a federally-chartered not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators in financial need.

Thank you all for helping make this happen. pic.twitter.com/dU7YyLKc7y

— Diversity & Comics (@DiversityAndCmx) September 21, 2018

A number of people praised Diversity & Comics’ charitable works.

Awesome!!!

— Captain Bloodofkirby (@bloodofkirby) September 21, 2018

Good man. ?

— DAJB (@DavidAJBerner) September 21, 2018

Awesome to see this! Mad respect Bro!

— Sporkman:Goes to Japan “Sept 9” IndyGOGO (@sporkmanstudios) September 22, 2018

Respect, sir

— Comix Villain (@ComixVillain) September 21, 2018

However, there was at least one detractor who hinted that Diversity & Comics had been played by Marvel’s Joe Quesada.

Cosplayer Renfamous, who most recently had been targeting Grand Rapids Comic-Con to “warn” them about artist Mike S. Miller, would insinuate that Joe Quesada manipulated Meyer into donating to The Hero Initiative based off a Tweet that Quesada would also be raising funds for the charity.

So I’d heard rumor that Joe Quesada had a plan to leverage #comicsgate’s redemption tour for a good cause, but I’m genuinely surprised that Dickie took the bait this quickly ?? pic.twitter.com/UK0ZDq6fs3

— Renfamous⭐️ (@renfamous) September 22, 2018

She would double down on this theory saying Quesada has “magical powers” while also suggesting another charity that could use some donations.

Hey @JoeQuesada if you’re taking requests, can you use your magical powers to get a comicsgater to kick some cash toward @TonysPlaceHTx??

— Renfamous⭐️ (@renfamous) September 22, 2018

Tony’s Place describes itself as “a drop-in center focusing on LGBT+ youth up to 25 years of age who are unstably housed, couch surfing or experiencing homelessness.”

Howeer, it appears Renfamous’ timeline is missing a few pieces.

A week ago Meyer confirmed he would not only be donating $10,000 of his Iron Sights proceeds to charity, but any overage as well.

ALL of the proceeds from this Indiegogo campaign will go to charity.

These are the over-print books that I *would* have been selling by mail-order over the next few months.

The Grand Nagus would be furious at me for turning profit into loss.https://t.co/zjgij71LqN pic.twitter.com/wn8rqPAJfr

— Diversity & Comics (@DiversityAndCmx) September 14, 2018

He would confirm that multiple times.

ALL of the proceeds from this Indiegogo campaign will go to charity.

These are the over-print books that I *would* have been selling by mail-order over the next few months.

The Grand Nagus would be furious at me for turning profit into loss.https://t.co/zjgij71LqN pic.twitter.com/wn8rqPAJfr

— Diversity & Comics (@DiversityAndCmx) September 14, 2018

Just donated $10,000 to The Trevor Project, a suicide hotline for gay and trans youth.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Indiegogo campaign that helped make this happen!

All proceeds will go to great charities like this one! pic.twitter.com/jT0W2kIxG4

— Diversity & Comics (@DiversityAndCmx) September 15, 2018

Meyer would then reach out to his followers asking them which charity he should donate the rest of the proceeds to.

IRON SIGHTS is closed due to selling out!

First $10,000 was given to The Trevor Project, a suicide hotline for gay and trans youth.

What charity should get the remaining money?

It will be about $4000 once fees and refunds are subtracted. pic.twitter.com/2ElpttLVs2

— Diversity & Comics (@DiversityAndCmx) September 21, 2018

A number of them recommended The Hero Initiative.

Something for old comics pros. Hero Initiative maybe?

Or Wounded Warrior.

— The (Quantum Level) Doktor (@ScienceJesus) September 21, 2018

Hero Initiative?

— Matt Moylan (@LilFormers) September 21, 2018

A charity for vets, or a charity for comic pros who have fallen on hard times.

— DAJB (@DavidAJBerner) September 21, 2018

There are charities for retired comics pros

— Larry Bernard (@karasoth) September 21, 2018

https://t.co/tYgFLlE1MJ

— Larry Bernard (@karasoth) September 21, 2018

The Hero Initiative

— Amanda Lamela (@Lghtngfan) September 21, 2018

Isn’t there a comic book old timer charity?

— John Michael Bua (@zenturian2000) September 21, 2018

For those unfamiliar with The Hero Initiative, the charity “creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work.”

They’ve helped out Gene Colan, Josh Medors, Ralphe Reese, Steve Gerber, Russ Heath, Tom Ziuko, Chris Wozniak, Chris Ivy, and more.

One user even recommended asking Joe Quesada, Gail Simone, and Mags Visaggio for advice and to see if they would match Meyer’s donation.

Why not ask @JoeQuesada @GailSimone @MagsVisaggs to give you an Idea and ask them if they will MATCH your Donation to place they choose.

— Señor Grey (@mkgeiger1968) September 21, 2018

While it doesn’t appear they’ve taken up the challenge, Joe Quesada is also a supporter of The Hero Initiative and it looks like he will be raising money for the organization at New York Comic Con.

Check out these insanely beautiful Challenge Coins I got sent by the @heroinitiative. I got a whole box full of these babies to give away to fans, now I just need to come up with a cool enough contest before NYCC! pic.twitter.com/ykTVEPrmCv

— JoeQuesada (@JoeQuesada) September 20, 2018

It’s not the first time Quesada has worked with The Hero Initiative. Back in 2010 and 2011, he put together a number of sketches that were auctioned off to raise funds for the charity.

FINALLY! An open couple of days on my schedule. Time to do those sketches I’ve owed the Hero Initiative… for over a year.

— JoeQuesada (@JoeQuesada) August 20, 2010

Here are all the amazing Hero Initiative auctions http://t.co/JufFRZ0

— JoeQuesada (@JoeQuesada) July 12, 2011

There doesn’t appear to be any kind of manipulation by Quesada as Renfamous suggests. As a matter of fact, it looks like two comic book creators both doing good work and promoting a charity that has helped out a number of other comic book creators when they’ve fallen on hard times. This should be a cause to celebrate, not to create division. Kudos to both Richard Meyer and Joe Quesada for supporting The Hero Initiative.