Meltzer Begins Effort to Save Siegel Home

As reported across the web and in today’s New York Times, Brad Meltzer has launched a campaign to raise funds to renovate and preserve the boyhood home of Jerome Siegel, co-creator of Superman. Starting today, a four week auction of items will begin with winners gaining original artwork, VIP seats to the Colbert Report, walk ons in comic books, novels and even an episode of NBC’s Heroes.

Meltzer’s The Siegel & Shuster Society has launched and can be accessed at Ordinary People Change the World, a charitable website Meltzer founded. In addition to the auction, other items such as an Chip Kidd-designed t-shirt can be purchased or cash donations made.

The goal is to raise at least $50,000 for the necessary work on the exterior of the home, still occupied by an older couple. The website says, "It’s the right thing to do. In return, The Siegel & Shuster Society has the right to buy the house when it eventually goes up for sale.”

His latest novel, The Book of Lies, in a nice bit of synchronicity, goes on sale today.  Based on the robbery that led to Murray Siegel’s death, Meltzer’s book explores a thrilling What If? scenario that may have had more to do with Jerry Siegel conceiving Superman than the pulps he read as a child.

At the website, Brian Michael Bendis notes, "I think sometimes people take things like this for granted because it started in cartoon form, but this is a house were modern mythology was created. Mythology that will never die away or disappear. There is no difference, to me, between this house and Mark Twain’s house. We have to honor and exalt such creation."

The line-up of people auctioning their goods or services is as follows:

Week 1: Sept. 2 – Sept. 9, 2008: Brian Michael Bendis , Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Jim Lee, Allen Bellman, Dan Brereton, Travis Charest, Greg Rucka, Ian Churchill, Ernie Chan , George Perez
 
Week 2: Sept. 9 – Sept. 16, 2008: Brad Meltzer, Ed Brubaker, Joe Staton, Gene Ha, Judd Winick,  Ivan Reis,  Bill Morrison,  John Romita Jr.,  Dave Johnson, John Cassaday, Andy Kubert
 
Week 3: Sept. 16 – Sept. 23, 2008: Joe Quesada, Stephen Colbert , Tim Sale, Geoff Darrow, Ron Garney, Ralph Morales and Mike Bair , Frank Cho , Eric Powell , Geoff Johns, Amanda Conner, Alex Ross
 
Week 4: Sept. 23 – Sept. 30, 2008: Jerry Siegel, Heroes Walk On Role, Jason Palmer, Renato Guedes, Michael Turner, Ivan Reis, Walt Simonson, Murphy Anderson, Adam Kubert, Chris Bachalo, Eric Wight, Mike Mignola