Last September, we reported that Skybound teamed up with The Hero Initiative for a charity project where artists would create new original covers to commemorate The Walking Dead #100. A gallery show and benefit auction have now been announced and we have all the details:

"Robert Kirkman's Eisner Award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead, celebrated its 100th issue last July and the issue became the top-selling comic book of 2012. Last year, Skybound and The Hero Initiative gave the comic industry's leading artists and visionaries over 100 blank covered issues of The Walking Dead #100 to create a set of remarkable artwork originals to commemorate this special issue of the groundbreaking Skybound/Image Comics series. Regular The Walking Dead series artist Charlie Adlard is among the contributors and now, for the first and last time ever, all 106 of the original sketch covers will be on display together -- but for one night only. All of the artists came together to benefit The Hero Initiative, the comic book industry's non-profit corporation helping comic creators in need. While The Walking Dead continues to break records in every form of media, it all started with the comic book and that will be celebrated at this special gallery show and auction.

To enhance the experience for attendees, The Walking Dead #100 original sketch cover artists Sina Grace (Not My Bag), Todd Nauck (Invincible Universe), and Jason Reeves (F-OO Fighters) will be in attendance to answer questions about their covers.

On Friday, May 31 at GUSFORD | los angeles from 6:00 - 9:00 PM, 7016 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, all comic fans are welcome to witness history in the making and in some cases, take a piece of it home. In addition to the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing all The Walking Dead #100 original sketch covers together for the first time ever, four covers will also be auctioned to benefit the industry's favorite charity at the same time. Two covers will be auctioned via eBay during the course of the event, and attendees can bid via their own mobile devices. Another cover will be auctioned live, on-site for attendees. And in an unprecedented move, a fourth cover will be created live that night by artist Todd Nauck for auction during the event. All attendees at the GUSFORD event can watch Nauck, a comic master, live at work during the event as he creates the final and 106th original sketch cover.

The remainder of the covers will be auctioned off via eBay starting June 4.

Amazingly enough, there is no cost to attend this comic lover's dream event. It's free and open to the public but if you feel like more celebrating, there will also be a cash bar in place and zombie-styled treats courtesy of event collaborator and neighboring shop, Golden Apple Comics. We want you to save your money to bid on the covers instead of an entrance fee. The event is a gift from GUSFORD | los angeles and Skybound to benefit The Hero Initiative and the fine work they do as the first-ever federally chartered non-profit corporation dedicated to helping comic legends in need and providing a safety net for them.

For information on the event and auction, please visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626/676-6354. You can always find information for everything related to The Walking Dead atwww.Skybound.com and www.TheWalkingDead.com"

  • Jonathan James
    About the Author - Jonathan James

    After spending more than 10 years as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his interest in horror and sci-fi. Since then, it has grown into an online magazine with a staff of writers that provide daily news, reviews, interviews, and special features.

    As the Editor-in-Chief of Daily Dead, Jonathan is responsible for bringing the latest horror news to millions of readers from around the world. He is also consulted with as an expert on zombies in entertainment and pop culture, providing analyses of the zombie sub-genre to newspapers, radio stations, and convention attendees.

  • Jonathan James
    About the Author : Jonathan James

    After spending more than 10 years as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his interest in horror and sci-fi. Since then, it has grown into an online magazine with a staff of writers that provide daily news, reviews, interviews, and special features.

    As the Editor-in-Chief of Daily Dead, Jonathan is responsible for bringing the latest horror news to millions of readers from around the world. He is also consulted with as an expert on zombies in entertainment and pop culture, providing analyses of the zombie sub-genre to newspapers, radio stations, and convention attendees.