Comics have often received a bad name from many media outlets, with many blaming them for things such as teen violence. However, comics have long provided a powerful escape outlet for readers and a wonderful tool for social commentary. In fact, a group of comic creators producing a unique creative universe decided to become a platform for social change in the homeless community.
This change centers on “Junkyard Joe,” a new comic in the “Unnamed Universe” series. A limited-edition copy will help fund relief for homeless veterans, a problem very near to the hearts’ of its creators. Understanding why they’re taking this step and what you can do to help may inspire many readers to get out there and do their part in the fight against serious homelessness.
Veteran Homelessness is a Devastating Problem
The days of veterans returning home as conquering heroes is a thing of the past. While the spite and rage America felt (fairly or unfairly) at Vietnam Veterans has mostly gone, people now mostly feel a vast sense of indifference to returning veterans. Even worse, many troubled veterans are left behind and find themselves homeless and unable to find work.
This situation occurs when veterans are not given proper transitioning help or training to learn a trade outside their military career. It can also happen when mental health problems, such as severe trauma, affect veterans and make it hard for them to stay stable. Thankfully, a new comic by legendary creators are looking to help these individuals to lift themselves out of their troubled times.
How Junkyard Joe May Help
“Junkyard Joe” writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Franks have a long history of working together, as well as a tight connection with the veteran world. They have family members who fought in wars and see the homelessness pandemic in the veteran community as an intense tragedy. The two brainstormed a fantastic idea: creating a special, limited-edition release of “Junkyard Joe” dedicated to helping these veterans.
Sales on this gorgeous and once-in-a-lifetime comic will go toward helping homeless charities focused on veterans. These groups help veterans find a place to live and support them for mental health issues and addiction problems. The idea behind this approach is for the sale of a military-themed comic to support real-world military members who need a little boost in life.https://www.youtube.com/embed/20X9N-t972w
What to Expect From Future Junkyard Joe Editions
While this money-raising first issue is likely to be a huge seller, Franks and Johns have big ambitions for Joe. They were surprised at how much they identified with the character and how much humanity he brought to a series surrounding a depressing and destroyed world. For both creators, comic action is only as good as the soul of the characters going through that action.
So, while Joe is indeed a violent robotic soldier with a checkered past, both Johns and Franks believe that he represents many great things about humanity. They feel like the book will continue providing the bleak “Unnamed Universe” with a heart that will keep beating, no matter what. Gary Franks had this to say about the book and its place within the Gigerverse:
“To me, it’s a story about finding, or being given, a place to be, no matter who (or what) you are. It’s a very emotional story, so it’s important that everyone in it feels real in an emotional way. That sounds odd, given that it stars a robot, but Joe could be any of us even though he looks like none of us.
“I think he offers a blank slate so, with a few small gestures, he can be made to emote with the reader’s imagination doing some of the lifting. I usually enjoy trying to create expressions but this is a different challenge.”
If you’re interested in helping these creators boost the hearts and souls of the homeless veteran community, you can pre-order a copy of “Junkyard Joe” from the Image Comics website. Raise awareness of this topic by sharing this article with your comic-reading friends. Doing so can help ensure that at least some veterans get the help that they need in what can be a trying situation.
