Gail Simone auctions George Perez’s art for his final Wonder Woman story for #BlackLivesMatter
George Perez is considered by many to have written and drawn the most iconic run of 'Wonder Woman,' starting with the series' reboot in 1987. Before retiring from comics permanently, he returned to draw Wonder Woman one final time in the 'Wonder Woman' #600 anniversary. Gail Simone, who wrote the story, is auctioning off the final page from that run for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Simone is a prominent 'Wonder Woman' writer herself, and got on Twitter to tell the story of how she got to write George Perez's last 'Wonder Woman' story in the anniversary issue. Simone received a call from her editor, saying that Perez himself was demanding that she write his final story.
"So what I didn't find out til LATER is something no one told me, George never even mentioned it. It hadn't been the editor's idea for me to write the story. George had told them he would ONLY do it if I was the writer. He never even mentioned that. Found out ages later," Simone wrote in her thread.
Simone wrote a story about a major character from Perez's run graduating, and who had been hurt by Diana's inability to spend enough time with her. It ends with Diana saying, "Vanessa, the seeds grow, and the leaves fall. But I will never be away from you. Because circumstances change...but the love endures."
Perez loved the story enough to ask Gail to not change a single word when she first e-mailed him the script -- and later, sent her the original art for the last two pages -- and now she is putting the last page up for auction.
"It's ridiculous to call this a 'sacrifice,' when people are putting their health and safety and security on the line. But all the same, it feels like we SHOULD be giving up something it stings to lose," she writes. "I want this to be clear. I wouldn't sell or trade either of these pages if I was down to having a dime to my name. I have said many times, and meant it, they are the first things I would grab out of my house if it was on fire, after my husband, son, and dog."
In addition to this art, which is signed by George Perez and will also be signed by Gail Simone if requested, Simone is offering up both signed original scripts featuring Star Blossom, which was drawn by Coleen Doran. The package will also include a 'Wonder Woman' omnibus, which contains some of the best stories from Simone's own highly acclaimed run.
Those interested in the auction can reply to the thread, here, and include the hashtag #WonderWomanLot with their bid, which, at the time of this writing, has gone up to $2100. The bidding will continue for two days. 100% of the proceeds for the charity will go towards the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
In closing, Simone also challenged her fellow creators to auction off something that is personal to them in support of the movement, in the wake of the George Floyd protests.