New York Times bestselling writer Geoff Johns and veteran artist Gary Frank reteam to support homeless vets with a special edition of a creator-owned series, Junkyard Joe. Image Comics will publish a black and white issue of Junkyard Joe called Junkyard Joe #1: Black & White. Proceeds from this limited series will be donated to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) in honor of Johns’s grandfather and to Veterans Aid in honor of Frank’s grandmother and grandfather. Frank’s grandparents each served respectively in the Royal Marines and the Women’s Royal Navy Service during WWII.
How Does Junkyard Joe Support Homeless Vets?
The character of Joe is a part of a larger world that Johns and Frank created in their creator-owned series for Mad Ghost Comics, and Image Comics called Geiger. Geiger follows a group of secret operatives called the Unnamed who work in secret and emerge at times of war. Geoff Johns Gary Frank created a cast of bizarre characters with intriguing stories.
For every issue of the title sold, Mad Ghost Productions will donate $2 to both Veterans Aid and the NCHV. Both organizations commit themselves to ending homelessness amongst veterans in the United States and the United Kingdom. They hope this comic raises awareness of the problem. Geoff Johns reflects on his grandfather serving in WWII:
My grandfather served during World War II and it changed his life forever. Junkyard Joe felt like an opportunity to raise not only visibility for these two amazing veteran organizations, but real financial support. It’s an honor to be working with the NCHV and VA.
Frank added:
There are people out there who risk everything to protect us and, all too often, find that society isn’t there for them when they return. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help raise awareness of the work done by some of the people and organizations who remember and repay our debts to those who serve.
Dr. Hugh Milroy, CEO of Veterans Aid, said:
This news came out of the blue as Veterans Aid has no connection with the world of comic book heroes, but having connected with Gary and Geoff it is clear that they have a passionate commitment to the support and wellbeing of veterans. Indeed many of the virtues embodied in Junkyard Joe – comradeship, loyalty, mutual support etc – resonate strongly with our work. We are proud and honoured to be included in this collaboration and to be sharing the benefits of it with the greatly respected National Coalition of Homeless Veterans. It is certainly set to be a highlight of our 90th Anniversary year.
Johns and Frank previously worked together on celebrated titles such as Superman: Secret Origin, Batman: Earth One, Doomsday Clock, and Geiger (which Junkyard Joe shares a world with). They both hope to highlight veterans’ perspectives through the lens of a comic book but also to “raise awareness and money to support those who have sacrificed so much for all of us.”
Junkyard Joe and Junkyard Joe: Black & White Veterans Edition lands in comic book shops on Wednesday, October 5.
