Heroes Among Us Part I
There has been a great disturbance in the twit-o-sphere as of late. According to the recorded time, Rob Liefield spent a good deal of his day on Saturday writing snide comments about his colleagues, people who he should be happy to address as such, and the titles they create and continually perfect.
Me? I was in Aurora, along with Mike Mignola, Steve Niles, Moritat, Matt Fraction, some local artists, and a few saucy Suicide Girls. None of these people were paid to be there, just as Batman isn’t paid to help out when he is needed. Their tweets throughout the weekend and afterwards prove the necessity for heroes, and that they are not just created in stories but live here, right outside the page. Steve Niles tweeted, “Sitting here thinking about #AuroraRise and I’m struck by how strong all the people I met are after what they experienced. Inspirational.”
Kahlil Schweitzer, boyfriend and fellow writer for ComicBloc, attended the event on the second day, when it was apparently busier and packed with people who had stories and scars to bare. A man who’s son fell victim to the shooting appeared, picking up all his sons favorite comics that he would have been getting signed himself. Someone showed up in a leg brace, having been shot. Several witnesses and attendees to the midnight screening were there, as were their friends and family, beyond grateful for the kindness and sincerity of those who were there dedicating their time and efforts. 
As human beings, we shine when helping one other.
Matt Fraction stated that he himself had gone to the midnight screening in Portland. All his friends and friends of friends, they had attended the same event as these people in Aurora. To him, it wasn’t about generating popularity or doing what he was told to do. He wanted to go and do what he could to support a community, weakened by a blow but certainly not struck down.
Heroes inspire. That’s what they are made to do. Villains weaken, diminish, and do their best to frighten others. A statement on Twitter may be a small gesture when looking through the actions that take place in 24 hours, but so is signing a comic book for a mans dead son. Everything we do has an effect, and to use a moment to attempt to belittle instead of support? That’s villainy, and there’s no room for it. Any space that’s being made for negativity is eating away the spirit of goodness. The heroes I saw in Aurora were the writers and artists, as well as the patrons themselves. This has not destroyed the spirit of these heroes, but has in fact made it stronger.
No effort is too small. To donate to Aurora Rise, please click here.