Tops to Offer 1st Syracuse U Comic Book
Tops Markets LLC, the official supermarket of Syracuse Athletics, will offer the first 500 exclusive copies of Syracuse University’s (SU) first-ever comic book, “The Adventures of Orangeman and Orangewoman.” The publication features moments in Syracuse Athletics men’s basketball history as told by the adventures of superheroes “Orangeman” and “Orangewoman,” along with SU’s famous mascot, Otto the Orange.
While supplies last, select central New York Tops locations will each carry 100 copies of the exclusive comic book at s cost of $5 each, with net proceeds benefiting the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation. Customers who buy one of the first 500 copies available at Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops are automatically entered to win a Yosemite Expedition backyard playground set or a Douglas Pro 646 adjustable basketball hoop and system.
“In an effort to raise funds for the Jim and Juli Boeheim foundation, we developed the idea of retelling the history of Syracuse University men’s basketball through a comic book,” explained Mike Bristol, marketing manager for theSyracuse, N.Y.-based Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation. “The foundation provides much-needed financial support to children in need in the central New York community, so we thought it would be a great idea for the children to see that they can overcome obstacles and become great just like our superheroes, Orangeman and Orangewoman.”
New York Times best-selling comic book author Mike Raicht helped develop a storyline highlighting Syracuse’s greatest basketball moments. Throughout the story, Orangeman and Orangewoman face obstacles reminiscent of past Syracuse men's basketball challenges, and overcome them.
The comic book also features messages from former Syracuse athletic men’s basketball legends, among them Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Coleman and Billy Owens, and includes a page for autographs from Syracuse athletes.
3,000 additional copies will be available for purchase at the Syracuse men’s basketball game against Louisville on Saturday, March 3 at the Carrier Dome. Future additions of “The Adventures of Orange Man and Orange Woman” will star Syracuse athletic legends from various other sports. A second edition is expected to come out in late 2012 in tandem with the Syracuse football season.
Employing more than 14,000 associates, Tops operates 133 full-service supermarkets -- 127 company-owned and six franchise locations in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania.