Here's one of those rare opportunities to get yourself a great piece of artwork and do a good deed at the same time. The late Russ Manning was a fine artist and a fine gentleman. Most comic fans know his work drawing the comic book of Magnus, Robot Fighter, and the comic book and strip of Tarzan, and the newspaper strip of Star Wars. He only did the last of these for a brief time before failing health forced him to hand it off to others.
Fewer know that Russ was equally proud of his community work. He lived in an outlying, rather rural section of Orange County in California where he was an officer in the local Volunteer Fire Department. It was not uncommon when you were talking to Russ on the phone to suddenly hear an alarm going off in his end of the call. He'd immediately say, "Gotta go" and hang up on you, then dash off to go rescue some neighbors' property. Not uncommon at all. And I don't know about you but I respect the hell out of a guy who does stuff like that.
Russ passed away in 1981. Recently, his widow (a very sweet lady) has been having medical problems and therefore financial problems. Friends and family members have been helping out and you can help. At the Comic-Con next week, there will be several originals from the Star Wars newspaper strip in the Art Show and they'll be up for auction or even direct sale. They were drawn by Russ with the help of talented aides, especially Rick Hoberg…and they are extremely rare. He didn't do that many and the few that have been let out went swiftly into private collections of rabid Manning (and Star Wars) fans. So this might be your only chance to get one…and like I said, you can also do a good gesture at the same time.