Dexter Vines is one of the best inkers in the business. He’s worked with artists such as Steve McNiven, Leinil Yu, and Ed McGuinness. In fact, he works with Ed so much they’re known as the eDex team. But just a week ago, he went to his doctor to find out that he not only had two fractured vertebrae, but that they were “the result of Multiple Myeloma, a cancer that attacks the plasma of the blood.” Unfortunately, that means the long and expensive chemotherapy treatment process. However, Dexter’s friends set up Dexter Vines’ GoFundMe with a high goal: $25,000 to cover medical and living expenses for the next year. It seems insurmountable.
They surpassed it in two days. As of Monday night, they’re edging close to $30,000.
Dexter Vines’ Friends are Some Great People
Interior page of The Mighty Thor #15, Pencils by Olivier Coipel, Marvel Comics)
Not only did some of his friends help set up Dexter Vines’ GoFundMe, but his comic book colleagues have come out strong for him. Art Adams and Leinil Yu each contributed $1000. Then there’s a who’s who of top talent. Mark Bagley, Ed McGuinnes, Olivier Coipel, Skottie Young, Ryan Ottley, and Dave Johnson. This isn’t just a testament to how much the comic book professional community support each other, but also how much everyone in the business loves Dexter Vines.
Comic Fans are Divisive—But They Love Their Own
Amazing X-Men #3 from Team eDex, Marvel Comics
So far, just under 400 people contributed to Dexter Vines’ GoFundMe. Most of the donations are small, between $5 and $50. These donations are mostly from people like you and me, fans that want to support an artist they love. In fact, in the interest of full disclosure, I donated what I could. Other fans like “Robert K” and “Cyd the Magi” and “Anonymous” may have only donated $5 or $10 each, but we have numbers. And we have love.
And, of course, you can still contribute to help a great artist and an awesome person. It’s a much better cause than what others have used the platform for.