GRANBY CT, JULY 10, 2009: Free Lunch Studios announced today that they will serve as host for the Rusty Haller Benefit Auction and Gallery event. On Sunday, July 19, 2009, the CT-based creative studio will open its doors to the public for the purposes of celebrating the life and career of cartoonist, Rusty Haller, and raising funds to help their fellow artist through a challenging time in his life.

In January of this year, Rusty lost his mother. She was his number one fan and support. They helped each other in many different ways. Since her passing, Rusty has fallen on tough times. Rusty Haller has been a professional Cartoonist and Illustrator since 1987. During his career, he has worked for major comics publishers Marvel, DC, Disney and Archie comics illustrating comic book series such as THE FLINTSTONES, LOONEY TUNES, ALF, TINY TOON ADVENTURES, COUNT DUCKULA and many others. He has also worked for numerous independent and small press publishers.

Mr. Haller is a member of the Comicbook Artists Guild, an organization of independent comic creators with chapters nationwide. He is also a regular guest at the annual multi-genre convention Connecticon. In 2009, Mr. Haller became an Associate Artist with the new independent comics publishing venture Atlas Unleashed!

Owners of Free Lunch Studios, Matt C. Ryan, Steve Kanaras and Steve Kuster are proud to have the support of local and nationwide members of the comic book industry, as well as various vendors of pop culture collectibles. The fundraising event will feature a silent auction and various raffles, while displaying a collection of Haller’s artwork. The studio will be open from 2pm to 6pm.

Sponsors of the event who have also donated items for the auction include:

• Buried Under Comics
• Frank Policastro
• Mike Rinaldi
• Jim Parente
• Tom Fiore
• Cybertronian Artifacts/Mike Hodgkins
• Flying Monkeys/Ed Bradley
• Atlas Unleashed
• SJS Promotions
• Freelance Ink/Robert J. Sodaro
• Jolly Rogue Studios
• MediaConnectionOnline/Modern Observer Group/Eric Lopkin
• Immortal Gothic Angel/Shawnti Therrien
• Novastar Studios/James Rodriguez
• Guild Works Publications/Keith Murphey
• Comicbook Artists Guild
• Brianna Benn
• POW Entertainment
• Connecticon
• Hector Rodriguez
• Free Lunch Comics

Free Lunch Studios is located at 518 Salmon Brook Street (rear entrance) in Granby CT. For more information on the Rusty Haller Benefit Auction and Gallery, please contact Steve Kanaras at skanaras@freelunchcomics.com.