Synopsis
The comic book industry pulls together to support fellow creators who lost homes to the tragic 2025 Los Angeles fires with this benefit anthology special.
Winner of the 2025 Clampett Humanitarian Award!
In January 2025, powerful wildfires devastated Los Angeles county, leaving loss and heartbreak in their path. In the aftermath, the team at Mad Cave Studios, like so many around the world, wanted to help the people of Southern California L.A. Strong was born of this desire, bringing together dozens of creators from around the world with the goal of making as much money as possible doing what we do best -- Making comic books! Filled with reflective stories from some of the best and brightest in the comics industry, L.A. Strong is a love letter to the City of Angels, a meditation on home, an invitation to empathy, and so much more. Together, as a community, we stand L.A. Strong!
Like any great Hollywood production, L.A. Strong features cameos from an all-star lineup, including Barbara Kessel, Brian Azzarello, Brian Michael Bendis, Christos Gage, Dan DiDio, Daniel Kibblesmith, Frank Tieri, Greg Pak, Jimmy Palmiotti, Jody Houser, Marv Wolfman, Paul Cornell, Rob DenBleyker, Sina Grace, Stephanie Phillips, Steve Orlando, Alex Cormack, Alison Sampson, Amanda Conner, Christian Ward, Geraldo Borges, Ian Churchill, Michael Avon Oeming, Nico Leon, Rian Gonzales, Salvador Larroca, Sami Kivelä, and many, many more. Don't miss special appearances from comic stars like The Pedestrian, Cyanide and Happiness, and Tectiv, as well as local SoCal comic shops like Golden Apple Comics, Collectors Paradise, and Revenge Of!
100% of the profits will be donated to relief efforts.
About the Author
Amy Chase (she/her) is a writer from Southern California who specializes in horror, fantasy, and lots of puns. Her body of work includes official stories for beloved properties like Dungeons & Dragons, My Little Pony, Archie Horror, and Ghostbusters, in formats ranging from comics and prose to tarot decks. Outside of writing, Amy is an avid tabletop gamer, a frog mom, and a roller derby player by the name of Tuffy the Vampire Skater.
Dan DiDio joined DC in January 2002 as Vice President of Editorial and quickly ascended into the role of Senior Vice President/Executive Editor of DC Comics one year later. In that position, he directed the creative development and helped contemporize the superhero line of titles to bring increased relevancy and diversity to the line. He was also responsible for attracting some of comics’ top talent to DC and locking them into exclusive contracts to ensure quality books for years to come. DiDio was also an accomplished writer at DC Comics, having created and redeveloped several comic series at DC, including Sideways, OMAC, Phantom Stranger, and, Metal Men. In 2010, DiDio was named Publisher of DC Entertainment alongside Jim Lee. As Publisher, he directed and oversaw DC Entertainment’s entire publishing business under its key three imprint—DC, Vertigo, and MAD. Currently, Dan is partnered with comic and media legend, Frank Miller, and together they started their own publishing line, Frank Miller Presents, for which he created and writes the new series, Ancient Enemies.
Rich Douek is an acclaimed comic book writer known for his compelling storytelling and dynamic narratives. Known for harrowing horror tales like Sea of Sorrows, and the Bram Stoker Award finalist, Road of Bones. Beyond his independent work, Rich has contributed to the Eisner-nominated Superman: Red and Blue, Marvel's Wastelanders, and the GLAAD Media Award winning Young Men in Love, among several other acclaimed anthologies. Rich was born and bred in NYC, and lives just outside of it now with his family and two cats. His work has been featured on The Hollywood Reporter, SyfyWire, Nerdist, Rue Morgue Magazine, and elsewhere. Rich is also an award-winning Copywriter and Creative Director, having developed advertising campaigns for clients such as Snickers, FedEx, and Foot Locker.
Richard Ashley Hamilton is the award-winning, Cuban-American (no, really) writer best known for his storytelling across DreamWorks Animation’s How To Train Your Dragon and Guillermo Del Toro’s Tales of Arcadia franchises.
But in his heart, Richard remains a lifelong comic book fan and has created titles for Dark Horse, Aftershock, Insight, Papercutz, and more. He currently writes SCOOP and TECTIV for Mad Cave Studios/Maverick, and his middle-grade horror story, FEARBOOK CLUB, was named a Junior Library Guild Official Selection.
Richard lives in Glendale, CA, with his wife, their two sons, and a Husky named Lulu.
Freelance writer, educator, and Knower of Self.
Steve Orlando has written for every major American comic book publisher. He’s received Eisner Award Nominations for OUTLAW TERRITORY (Image Comics), SWEET PAPRIKA: BLACK, WHITE, AND PINK, and RAINBOW BRIDGE (AfterShock Comics), as well as participating in the Eisner-Winning LOVE IS LOVE (IDW Publishing). He’s received a Ringo Award Nomination for RAINBOW BRIDGE (AfterShock Comics), and wrote for the Ringo-Winning DC PRIDE (DC Comics). As well, his MIDNIGHTER and MIDNIGHTER AND APOLLO were both nominated for GLAAD Media Awards. As a localizer, Orlando contributed to SWEET PAPRIKA, winner of a 2022 Harvey Award.
Jimmy Palmiotti is a multi-award-winning writer and comic artist and the co-founder of Event Comics, Black Bull Media, Marvel Knights, and most recently Paperfilms, where he currently partners with Amanda Conner and Justin Gray. Together they have created and co-created: Monolith, 21 Down, The Resistance, and The Twilight Experiment for DC Comics as well as The New West, The Pro, Gatecrasher, Beautiful Killer, Ash, Cloudburst, Trigger Girl 6, Splatterman, Thrill Seeker, Trailblazer, Ballerina, and the TV series, Painkiller Jane. Palmiotti’s other comics work includes Powergirl and Jonah Hex for DC Comics, The Last Resort for IDW, Back to Brooklyn for Image Comics, Spartacus for Devils Due, and Time Bomb for Radical Comics. He currently has New West in development at New Regency films and writes All-Star Western for DC Comics' the New 52.
Stephanie Phillips is an American writer known for comics and graphic novels such as HARLEY QUINN, WONDER WOMAN: EVOLUTION, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, SENSATIONAL WONDER WOMAN, WE ONLY KILL EACH OTHER, BIRDS OF A FEATHER, and THE BUTCHER OF PARIS. Her stories and comics have appeared with DC Comics, AfterShock Comics, Dark Horse, Mad Cave Studios, Oni Press, Image Comics, Heavy Metal, Black Mask Studios, A Wave Blue World, and more. Stephanie is currently the writer for the ongoing Harley Quinn series at DC Comics with artist Riley Rossmo.
Stephanie also holds a PhD in rhetoric and composition and an MA in English from the University of South Florida. She has taught writing and communication courses at the University at Buffalo, the University of South Florida, and the University of Tampa.
Mark Sable is a writer for comics, film and television, best known for such creator-owned comics as Image Comics "Graveyard of Empires" and Boom! Studios "Unthinkable.",Artist on Miskatonik (Aftershock), Dylan Dog (Bonelli), and Last of the Gladiators (Dynamite).
Eisner losing writer of TV, video games, comics, and bad checks. Voted “The Most Beloved Man in Comics” 12 years in a row. Leave the gun, take the cannoli.
Has written Wolverine, Godzilla, Harley Quinn, Marvel Vs Capcom, etc.
Amit Tishler is an Israeli-born, LA-based creative director, software designer, animator, and writer. He has brought his diverse talents to shows, games, and immersive experiences for entertainment brands such as Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers, HBO, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and more. A prolific writer and content creator, Amit is developing multiple, original graphic novels and comic book titles with publishers such as Mad Cave Studios and Humanoids Publishing, as well as a slate of original TV shows for networks, studios, and streamers worldwide.
Jennie Wood is a non-binary author, musician, and animal rescue volunteer. They created the acclaimed graphic novel series Flutter with artist Jeff McComsey, hailed by The Advocate as one of the best LGBTQ graphic novels of its time. Their 2023 graphic novel Paper Planes earned a Next Generation Indie Book Award and an IPPY Bronze Medal. Earlier, their YA novel A Boy Like Me was named one of Foreword Reviews’ 10 Best Indie YA novels (2014) and was an INDIEFAB and Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist. Wood has also contributed to high-profile anthologies, including the best-selling FUBAR series and the Eisner-winning anthology Love Is Love. They live in Boston with their partner Natalie and their rescue dog Moxie. For more, visit jenniewood.com.
Geraldo Borges is a Brazilian comic artist active in the international comics market since 2007. He has been working for some of the most important American companies like DC Comics (Justice League, Aquaman, Nightwing, Batman & Robin Eternal, Superman, Wonder Woman, Mortal Kombat X), Marvel (Wolverine, Darth Vader: Dark Visions, Star Wars: Tie Fighter, X-Men Gold, X-Men Black: Apocalypse, Nova), Dark Horse (Angel, Ghost), and Dynamite (Pathfinder).
Stefano Cardoselli is a Bram Stoker Awards Winner, artist, illustrator and scriptwriter. His works have been Published with Heavy Metal Magazine, 2000 AD, Simon and Schuster, Source Point Press, Antarctic Press, and Scout Comics. He works for cinema as a character designer and storyboard artist. He lives in Orbetello-Tuscany, Italy.
Pierre-Alexandre Comtois is a creator, author, and artist with over 20 years in animation storytelling. He has previously self-published Shard and worked on various projects like Addams Family, Sonic Prime, and Peanuts Specials. Sunder is a personal passion project, combining his love for storytelling with his admiration for European comics and long-form manga.
Alex Cormack is a Bram Stoker Award nominated Illustrator whose work includes BREATH OF SHADOWS, SEA OF SORROWS, ROAD OF BONES, THE CRIMSON CAGE, SINK, GHOSTS ON THE WATER, KILLING HOPE, WEED MAGIC, and a bunch more. He lives in Vermont with his wife, son, and his two cats.
Nicola Izzo is a Turin-based comic book artist whose vivid, bold style infuses genre storytelling with cinematic energy and emotional depth. A graduate of the International School of Comics (2020), Izzo has quickly become a sought-after talent, delivering bold cover art and engaging visual narratives for Italian and Canadian publishers alike. His credits include Bad Omens: Concrete Jungle (Sumerian Comics), multiple covers and series work for Massive Publishing (Liquid Kill, Astrobots, The North Valley Grimoire), and Boom Studios’ neo-noir thriller Blow Away. Izzo brings both technical precision and raw creative flair to every project. Nothing keeps Nicola from drawing, not even a broken wrist in a skateboarding accident. True story.
PJ Holden is a Belfast based comic artist, whose work has appeared in 2000ad since 2001. Best known for Judge Dredd for 2000ad, PJ has also drawn quite a few war stories with Garth Ennis.
Andrea Mutti began his career illustrating the superheroes comic 'DNAction' for Xenia Edizioni. He then illustrated horror comics for Fenix. He moved over to Star Comics, where he drew stories with 'Lazarus Ledd' and some episodes of 'Hammer'. Since then he's worked with DC/Vertigo, Marvel, Mad Cave Studios, and IDW.
Eisner and Harvey nominee creator and co-creator of graphic novels like Filthy Rich, Rashomon, Bad Girls, Against Hope or Violent Love. His work has been published in countries like the USA, Spain, France, Italy and recently China and Japan. He has collaborated with companies like Netflix, Fnac, Porsche, the Corvus Belli game company and artists like Deadmau5. His Polar quadrilogy, published by Dark Horse, has been adapted as an original Netflix movie production with Mads Mikkelsen and Vanessa Hudgens with a sequel in the works, while a number of his other works have been optioned and are in different stages of development. He is also currently working on new different IPs created by him for mediums like comics, TV and cinema.
Dave Sharpe is an artist and currently a letterer for various featured comic publishing companies within the industry. He graduated from the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc. in 1990, and immediately went to work at Marvel. As of 2009, Dave has been lettering for DC Comics on a number of titles currently: Green Lantern, Green Lantern War Journal, and ACTION COMICS! Dave also letters LOTS of other books and titles for various publishers. Dave plays bass guitar and is way more approachable than he looks.
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