Daniel Trotta

(Reuters] – Scott Dunbier was tasked with assembling a star team, much like Batman forming the Justice League for superheroes or Iron Man building the Avengers.

Dunbier responded quickly to the request and soon signed up top comic-book industry figures to help fund a special anthology.

“Comics for Ukraine – Sunflower Seeds” is the result. It’s a 96 page book that Dunbier gathered together from some of his best letterers, editors, writers and artists.

The proceeds, which are estimated at $200,000-$500,000, will be donated to Operation USA in Los Angeles, an agency that provides disaster relief to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, more than five million Ukrainians fled to other countries.

Two days later, the Zoop crowdfunding website had raised $67,000. Dunbier stated that publication dates are still uncertain depending on the amount of preorders received after one month.

Like many comic books, the origin story for Ukraine Project is interesting.

It was me just being there, staring at the TV, watching all the horrible things unfold and feeling the need to take action. It clicked. Dunbier stated, “I thought in a small way that maybe this would help.”

This project portrays Ukraine as David facing the Russian Goliath.

Russia refers to its incursion in Ukraine as “special military operations” that aims at demilitarizing and “denazifying” the country.

Alex Ross was the artist who painted the cover for the hardcover edition. The image features a Ukrainian woman in blue and yellow standing up against an unidentified giant with a sickle, hammer, or other implement.

Three different soft covers, on sale for $40 each, were designed by three other heavy hitters: Arthur Adams, Dave Johnson and Bill Sienkiewicz.

Sienkiewicz stated, “If I can stick my finger into the eye of an autoritarian or step on the bully and trip them up, that’s what I love.” Putin is a hateful person.

A cover of his shows a Ukrainian man holding a knife and shield before a large bear. The giant, bloodied beaver is stunned to see the resistance. A teddy bear that looks like Russian President Vladimir Putin has been impaled by the sword.

Anderson, Sergio Aragones (June Brigman), Kurt Busiek and Joshua Dysart are some of others that have given their work.

Some stories take place in Ukraine while others can be found elsewhere.

Sakai was the creator of Usagi Yojimbo, a comic that depicts a warrior rabbit set in feudal Japan. Dunbier explained that the story portrays villagers being taken hostage by an evil warlord.