The fundraising hashtag #Creators4Comics came to a conclusion for now, yesterday, with a few stragglers along the way. It looks like it may have raised a high six-figure or low seven-figure sum, when all the money is totted up, to be spent on helping comic book stores in need. However, the chosen agency for doing that, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation or BINC, only plans to help comic stores in need in the USA. A number of participating creators from other countries were a little surprised to discover this when it was pointed out, and it wasn't an issue the organisers were willing to address.

Well, it appears the Canadians have stepped up to address this initially. The legendary Kaare Andrews has got in touch, talking about helping the struggling Emerald Phoenix Comics who had announced they were closing because they were unable to make their rent this month. The store is less than an hour's drive from Kaare and he is auctioning off the cover art for Green Arrow #43 on Instagram to help the store survive, paying for some moving, storage, and rebuilding costs as they plan to stay in the industry and resurrect themselves.

As well as this, he is joining a new Canadian retailers initiative with the hashtag #Canucks4Comics with another piece of original art from Life Of Captain Marvel #5. The funding is being managed by the Canadian non-profit Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund, which will be pivoting their mission to help comic book stores in Canada deal with the current global crisis. Kaare is being joined by a throng of others. Here's a smattering of examples.

Here's a direct link to Humberto Ramos' eBay auction of the Extraordinary X-Men 12 cover to help out Emerald Phoenix Comics. Auction ends on Thursday. https://t.co/sJJ3w2L0kz #Canucks4Comics pic.twitter.com/TyTgBCWW4z — CLLDF (@clldf) April 21, 2020

Some of my best shows have been Canadian @Calgaryexpo @FANEXPOVAN @FANEXPOCANADA @TorontoComics Fans bring me ketchup chips, crunchies and those cheese doodle things. I miss that! What can I auction off to help- a videochat? A script review? A panel cameo? #Canucks4Comics https://t.co/0TTbacvqLF — 🔥A M Y C H U🔥#donutkiller (@AmyChu) April 21, 2020

#Canucks4Comics – I'll auction a 6×6 sketch of the winner's choosing (example attached) & 1 hr videocall where I'll answer questions, review your art, give tips, anything you want!

-opening bid $300 CAD

-bidding ends 4/29 12pm

-payment goes to @clldf pic.twitter.com/0HZCBKwvVn — Cameron Stewart (@cameronMstewart) April 21, 2020

You can enjoy Kaare talking about the auction and fundraising below, part of his new Making Comics With Kaare Andrews YouTube channels. Anyone else, Canadian or otherwise, like to step up?