By TARA CHISLETT

chislett.taralynn@dailygleaner.com

Attention capital region comic book lovers: if you’re looking to pick up a unique addition to your collection while helping a worthy cause, the manager of Strange Adventures is hoping to see you at the shop this weekend.

The comic book and collectible shop, located downtown on York Street, will be auctioning off about three dozen comics with one-of-a-kind covers designed by Maritime artists Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. as a fundraiser for the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital Foundation.

Store manager Jason Arnold said the idea for the auction came in December, when the store received a number of comics with blank covers from Marvel Entertainment.

A relatively recent development in comic publishing, Arnold said the idea behind the blank, cardstock covers is that fans can purchase the comic and take it to conventions for their favourite artists to draw on. But, with Christmas around the corner, Arnold said he started wondering if there was a way the blank covers could benefit the community.

‘I started thinking about the kids who have to spend Christmas in the hospital and how miserable that would feel,’ he said.

‘It’s the little things that help out, whether it’s the decor in the rooms or the toys they’re supplied with or even the equipment that makes their stay shorter. Auctioning off comic books felt appropriate to me.’ Among the blank-cover Marvel comics Strange Adventures has available for the fundraiser are the first issues of two new Fantastic Four titles, Uncanny Avengers, Avengers, All-New X-Men and Deadpool.

After putting out the call to artists in December, Arnold said there’s a lot to choose from in the final collection. Most of the artwork was produced by local artists, but he said there have been covers donated by Nick Bradshaw, a Moncton artist known for his work on the Wolverine and the X-Men comics, and Kate Letch, an employee at the Strange Adventures Halifax location who is known for her comic, Kate or Die.

‘It’s a wide range from professional to amateur work,’ he said. ‘I’m not surprised we have this much talent in the region at all.’ The store has already started accepting bids for the comics online at its website, through Facebook and via phone and email, but the live, in-store auction will take place in the afternoon.

Arnold said 100 per cent of the money raised at the auction will go to the children’s ward at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.

‘The store doesn’t keep a cent and there are no administration fees on the hospital end,’ he said. ‘It’s a great chance to get a oneof-a-kind piece of art while helping a good cause. It’s a win-win. Everyone comes out a winner in this one.’ For more information, visit strangeadventures.com or stop by the store at 68 York St.