Free Comic Book Day 2008

[doc123]

Special time sensitive interview, our usual format will return with the next episode. Interview with the Founder of Free Comic Book Day, Joe Field owner of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California. Mr. Field talks about his store's 20th Anniversary, the history of Free Comic Book Day, meeting and later working for Stan Lee of Marvel Comics, Issue 286 of the Fantastic Four and how Joe Field with Marvel tied it to Stockton California. The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retail Award is discussed, as is ComicsPro, the Comics Professional Retail Organization. A Thankyou to Bob Borden of Fantasy Books and Games and Craig Culpepper of Kings Comics and Games. website www.heroesofsciencefictionandfantasy.com voicemail 1-206-333-1297 email doc@heroesofsciencefictionandfantasy.com

[mattk]

I understand that Free Comic Book Day is not aimed at the majority of the iFanboy readership/viewership as most of you already buy comics on a regular basis. But for someone who's just beginning to dip their feet into monthlies I had to share my experience.

i went to a different shop than I normally do - I'm sick of my usual shop selling out of books before I get there Wed. afternoon - as I wanted to pick up Green Lantern #29 and 30 (amazing) and DC Universe 0 (pretty interesting).

I got a grab bag of free stuff which i could care less about including Sonic, Transformers and Simpsons and also a Carey X-Men story I'm looking forward to reading. But the shop also had a table of 15-20 books that were intermixed of the FCBD stuff and just other stuff that people might be interested. Since I bought books I got to grab three - and all three were ones i was really interested in. I got Secret Invasion #1 (variant w/ the blank cover) which I wasn't going to buy because I haven't been following any Bendis Avengers stuff but after reading through this and thinking that I could probably piece together what can happen, I might buy the rest of the main line as the story is definitely intriguing. I also got a Red 5 Comic that had an Atomic Robo story in it (eh...) and a NeoZoic story (pretty cool) that I never would have checked out and I got an issue of Mantenance from Oni that i've been dying to test drive for a while now.

The store was packed, there were plenty of kids getting books, it was just fun and great to discover stuff. I think its a great idea that should happen more than once a year. I think it's a great way to get the casual reader into more books...

[cormano]

I was a big fan of the Sonic comic book in like ninth grade. My friend, Ethan, let me borrow about 30 issues and then I started reading it monthly, along with Thor and Spawn. I stopped reading it about a year later when I stopped reading comics in general, but if my memory is at all accurate… don't write it off, it is a decent book, despite being a licensed property aimed at kids. It has a lot characters exclusive to the book, all with their own personalities and an ongoing storyline which you may not suspect, based on the source material.

Anyway, this was the first year of the past four that I was not able to participate in FCBD because of work scheduling. I'm sure Marvel will release a $4 version of the X-Men book eventually, which I will no doubt buy, though .

[labor_days]

Hope you dudes picked the FCBD issue of Atomic Robo. Kahuna I am looking in your direction.



Hell yes. Any Robo is good Robo.

[tad]

My store handed me the Atomic Robo specifically since they knew I was waiting for the trade... out in June, I believe. I liked it.

My store let you take 12 whether you bought anything or not. The all ages books were at the front of the counter where little hands could pick them up themselves. In addition there was a "take all you want" area made of leftover books from last year.Of course my favorite of the day was the Hellboy comic with all new content.

The store had a good sized crowd when I was there but they said there was a huge line when they opened. Bigger than anticipated and chock full of kids.

[mattk]

I read the atomic Robo and have to say although the art was fun and the writing was solid - the humor felt a little forced. Could be the issue... Maintenance however was very funny.

[kahunablair]

Originally Posted by Labor_Days

Hope you dudes picked the FCBD issue of Atomic Robo. Kahuna I am looking in your direction.

Sadly, I was to busy rocking out to Iron Man and running errands the rest of the day to get to the shop.

I'll see if they still have any copies left over when I hit it up on Wednesday. My comic guy always orders a crapload so he can give them out whenever a "new guy" comes around. Hopefully he'll have one of these.

[cammyknoxville]

Although my comic store wasn't celebrating FCBD (sad face), my friend's was and he picked me up the Hellboy issue. Hey, at least I got something right?