The comic strip “The Father of Orphans”

What does a comic book hero look like to you? Comic book heroes come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and have a wide variety of superpowers and abilities.

Aside from the superhero spectrum, Our Lady of Victory (OLV) has a somewhat different type of model for comic book hero status – one that has an important connection to Buffalo. The superhero in question? Well, it’s none other than Father Baker, a Catholic priest who spent 60 years of his life sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and giving hope to the more deprived. It’s a tall order for almost anyone, but Father Baker dedicated himself to this mission, which is now commemorated in comic book form.

The action-packed, full-color comic strip – Father of Orphans: The Story of Nelson Baker (Voyage Comics) – recently debuted at the OLV National Shrine and Basilica. 3,600 copies of the book, intended to inspire people and connect children to Father Baker’s work, have already been sent to Buffalo schoolchildren.

SYNOPSIS: After converting to Catholicism at the age of nine, Nelson was determined to follow God’s will in his life, under the watchful care of Our Lady of Victory. At first, he became a successful businessman, but God had bigger plans for Nelson. God called him to open his generous heart to the poor and disadvantaged youth of Buffalo, becoming a father to the orphans and establishing a “City of Charity” for the poor and most helpless in society. Readers will be captivated by the heart of a loving pastor who spent his entire life for others, becoming a true apostle of charity.

“We want his legacy to be known to all generations, so this was a way to engage young people today who may not know, and probably many do not know, Father Baker,” said declared the Reverend Mgr. David LiPuma, Pastor and Rector, OLV National Shrine and Basilica.

“Father Baker’s life is very relatable to everyone,” said Tom Lucia, creative director of OLV. “He was a normal person and he had a life before becoming a priest. He was a veteran, he was a small business owner, and there were a lot of things we wanted to bring out. So to be able to do that in 25 pages in a format that we think kids can relate to, that’s something that I think we’ve done a really good job with.

Order your copy today by visiting www.voyagecomics.com – a portion of the profits from every book sold goes to OLV to support Father Baker’s legacy of kindness.