The Adventures of Lightning Squirrel!

HOPE: THE HERO INITIATIVE anthology to benefit The Hero Initiative

Ronin Studios' HOPE: THE HERO INITIATIVE – a 188-page comic book anthology benefiting The Hero Initiative – is available in comic book stores everywhere starting February 21, 2011.

This includes the first ever FULL COLOR Lightning Squirrel short story, "Sidewinding Saviors".

HOPE has 25 short stories and pinups by more than 80 creators from around the world. All have themes focused on heroes and the nature of heroism. The Hero Initiative 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.

"Working on HOPE: THE HERO INITIATIVE is a great experience. There’s a lot of super talent in this book," says HOPE editor Dustin Archibald. "The Hero Initiative is an amazing organization that truly helps people in need. Their efforts of aiding comic creators in need are something any comic reader can get behind."

The pieces in HOPE: THE HERO INITIATIVE were created by up-and-comers in the comics industry and established professionals including Tom Nguyen (52, Final Crisis), Jake Black (Batman: Brave and Bold, Smallville), Russell Lissau (The Batman Strikes), and Gerry Alanguilan (Ultimate Avengers, Hulk). Ray Anthony Height (The Amazing Spider-Man) drew the cover.
The book’s release is part of a fund and awareness raising campaign to benefit comic creators in need with all profits going directly to The Hero Initiative. HOPE shows that the comics community is willing to do its part.

Added Pain Killer Jane creator and Jonah Hex writer Jimmy Palmiotti: " Elegantly told and beautifully rendered, HOPE: THE HERO INITIATIVE is a must have for any collection. Comics done for the right reason. "

The full color softcover has a cover price of $19.95 and can be ordered from retailers with the Diamond Order Code DEC101038.

More information about HOPE can be found at http://ronin-studios.com. To interview the creators or editors, e-mail hope@ronin-studios.com.

MARCH 9, 2010 - The Adventures of Lightning Squirrel wins The Indie Jones Indie Surprise Award at Ain't It Cool News's 6th Annual [Comic Book] Awards!!

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/44215

Scroll about halfway down the page or so.

Congratulations to Victor, Eran, Brant, Ed, Mick, Bernie, and Dustin for reaping SOME reward for all their hard work.

October, 2009 - TAOLS #3 is HERE, offering "some of the wackiest indie comics have to offer" according to Ain't It Cool News!

Comic Man! Gick! Edward Spoonhands! And, the birth of Airhead!

11/25/09 - TAOLS #3 is now available for purchase, with #1 and #2, at IndyPlanet, www.indyplanet.com, but you can also contact me directly, or lobby your local comic shop to carry the book. Tell your LCS manager to visit www.comicsmonkey.com to order all 3 issues of TAOLS today! Just do a search for Lightning Squirrel at either site.

THE Cover!!

Issue 1 Credits!

The Adventures of Lightning Squirrel is a 6 issue miniseries chronicling the battles of a superpowered rodent against villainy in suburban Clifton, NJ. It stars the electrically-powered Lightning Squirrel, his gorgeous arch-nemesis Swimming Lady, and her genius inventor boyfriend Comic Man. LS’s foes include lots of killer robots and bunnies, a sewer monster, a homicidal ice cream vendor, and general Clifton criminality. LS also has a sometime partner, the valiant Ice Weasel, who also co-stars in Lightning Squirrel: Terror in the Ruins, a short story that appears in the Hope: New Orleans anthology from Ronin Studios.

The series is currently in black and white format with full color cover, and the 6 issues of explosive comedic mayhem will be brought to you by:

Pencils: Victor Cabanelas

Inks: Eran Aviani (#1-3)/Ed Obamsawin (#4-6)

Letters: Brant Fowler (#1- and 2)/ Bernie Lee (#3)/Adam Pruett (#4-6)

Cover Colors: Ed Davis (#1-2)/Mick Clausen (#3-6)

Story: Jeff Kipnis