The Naive Project is an in progress effort to produce Solestar, an upcoming charity comic book created to benefit the Brain Aneurism Foundation. After I interviewed Solestar’s creator and writer Siike Donnelly aways back and learned that he himself is a survivor, I volunteered my services towards the effort and have since been assisting the good Gene Hoyle with the editing.

So of course, the Lottery Party endorses the Naive Project 23 zillion %.

But what is Solestar? It is the near-future tale of the twilight of one of Earth’s greatest champions, himself a survivor of brain aneurisms. How long can the epic struggle for truth and justice endure, under the very real weight of such a debilitating illness? And how much fighting is ever enough?

With gorgeous art from a wonderful mix of alternative/indie artists and established professionals alike, all of whom are contributing their work for free as each and every penny of the proceeds will go to the cause, the Naive Project aims to help spread the word and raise funds for this thing that affects millions (including claiming the lives of TWO longtime personal family friends).

Read the first chapter for free right here: Solestar issue 1 Free! And help the campaign!

Other links of interest:

My interview with Siike

The Naive Project on facebook

The Naive Project on tumblr

The Nerd Nation podcast (hosted by Gene and co-hosted by Siike)

The Brain Aneurism Foundation’s website

The Comics Cure blog (run by Matt Bergin)

and some facts…

• An estimated 6 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm, or 1 in 50 people.
• The annual rate of rupture is approximately 8 – 10 per 100,000 people or about 30,000 people in the United States suffer a brain aneurysm rupture. There is a brain aneurysm rupturing every 18 minutes. Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal in about 40% of cases. Of those who survive, about 66% suffer some permanent neurological deficit.
• Approximately 15% of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) die before reaching the hospital. Most of the deaths from subarachnoid hemorrhage are due to rapid and massive brain injury from the initial bleeding which is not correctable by medical and surgical interventions.
• 4 out of 7 people who recover from a ruptured brain aneurysm will have disabilities.
• Brain aneurysms are most prevalent in people ages 35 – 60, but can occur in children as well. The median age when aneurysmal hemorrhagic stroke occurs is 50 years old and there are typically no warning signs. Most aneurysms develop after the age of 40.
• Women, more than men, suffer from brain aneurysms at a ratio of 3:2.
• Ruptured brain aneurysms account for 3 – 5% of all new strokes.
• There are almost 500,000 deaths worldwide each year caused by brain aneurysms and half the victims are younger than 50.
• 10 – 15% of patients diagnosed with a brain aneurysm will harbor more than one aneurysm.