Free Comic Book Day

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:27 pm

I was actually impressed by the offerings this year.

Dark Horse, for once, had a really good comic. Both the Star Wars and Conan stories were good. The SW art was amazing (Why in the hell don't the SW titles look like this when I flip through them on the shelf?!) and the Conan story was good enough I'll actually give Truman a chance on the title (I was gonna going to drop it in two months).

The Bongo Comics issue was just about perfect. If I knew they were this damn funny I would've picked up their stuff a while ago.

Marvel had some interesting previews but nothing long enough to really entice me to buy. But all the art was quality, I was especially impressed that they put an outstanding realistic artist on their Avenger Adventures title which had a story that didn't seen too "kiddied down." I could actually give that to a kid and expect them to like it.

DC's JLA Unlimited left scratching my head again. Why do they always begin these series with issues that are mainly about bland dialog and (simple) deductive reasoning instead of action and adventure? And why does DC think they can slap any old cartoonish artist on these titles and expect kids to like it? The cover is hidious and the interior guy could be better too. Kids know when they're being fed crap.

Kino · Post by **Kino** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:22 pm

I may have to check out Bongo.

Have you readh Arch Enemies ? Simple plot where one villain and one superhero share same apartment and they dont even know each other.

dellamorte · Post by **dellamorte** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:30 pm

Damn was today free comic book day? I missed it damn damn damn.

Have you readh Arch Enemies ? Simple plot where one villain and one superhero share same apartment and they dont even know each other.

ArchEnemies was a good read.

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:42 pm

Free Comic Book Day SUCKED here in good old Sierra Vista... AGAIN.

Brother J · Post by **Brother J** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:46 pm

I didn't bother with free comic day here. These FCBD comics are always worthless and none of the local shops have any special deals on back issues, so why bother?

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:55 pm

At least here there was a 25% off everything in the store... so I picked up a box of trading card sleeves and some LOTR TCG cards for my son (which were already 65% off (so yep, add another 25% to that).

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Sun May 07, 2006 8:57 am

Brother J wrote:I didn't bother with free comic day here. These FCBD comics are always worthless and none of the local shops have any special deals on back issues, so why bother?

Because you can actually read the free comics

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Sun May 07, 2006 11:45 am

Bongo issue was Fun and Phillis Novin worked on it

-Brian

Brother J · Post by **Brother J** » Sun May 07, 2006 1:02 pm

Todd Luck wrote:
Brother J wrote:I didn't bother with free comic day here. These FCBD comics are always worthless and none of the local shops have any special deals on back issues, so why bother?
Because you can actually read the free comics

Heck, I haven't even read 50% of the comics I've paid for!

You know, like when you find those sweet bargain boxes at a show and end up filling a long box with good stuff, sometimes I'm lucky to find time to even bag and board the stuff, much less read it.

I will have to give credit to FCBD for at least one book I enjoyed. It was the only way to get the first issue of the Ballad of Sleeping Beauty, which was a real good read while it lasted.

childres · Post by **childres** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:07 pm

Free Comic Book Day was pretty much a JOKE in my town. The local Hastings (dvd's, books, and mag. seller) is the only place within 65 miles that supports it. Usually they get 5 or 6 different issues, A small selection, but still a selection. I usually go with my niece, and nephew. I pick up a couple of free comics, buy a few off the rack, and the kids pick out a few they think they will like from the free selection. That usually gets them interested in comics for a few weeks at least.

This year Hastings received a box of free comics (all the same) Swarm which was a Marvel comic that seemed to be promoting the M&M candies. The kids looked at it, took one copy to share, and later showed no interest at all. As my niece said " No wonder its free, its just a big ad. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't It might have been a fun issue to read, I don't know, it didn't look that interesting to me, so I didn't pick one up. The store didn't seem to have luck giving the issue away. I cheered up the kids later by giving them some comics they liked from my reading issues.

I heard several people at the store asking where the good comics were that were on the Free Comic Day Poster above the free Swarm issue. I figure some people who drove in to see the "free"comics won't bother going back. This program started as a great idea to promote reading & comics. Maybe it works sometimes, but it didn't appear to this year.

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:56 am

MAN, childres... THAT is a sad story. Maybe I am just moody tonight but this kind of got to me. Being that the fact of the matter is... comics bummed those kids out. I remember a time in my childhood where comics were the ONLY thing in my life. Now granted Pong had just come out and I found it amazing but COMICS, that was true entertainment.

Lately, it appears that yes, comics are turning into one big add for this and that, coupled here this weekend that the comics were 'free' but this should have been a day when the 'top three' could have put something of worth on the stands for the 'kids' (at least in your area, it was not much better here). After all, why shouldnt the 'top three' invest in the next generation of comic book readers ? Kind of sad huh ?

My uncle bought me my first comic... The Amazing Spider-Man #158 (Doc Oc and the 'ghost' of Hammerhead). I remember it to this day (still looking for a good copy of this issue as well as my copy albiet WELL read, went to comic book heaven) and for THAT reason (a $.25 cent reason) I went even further with my comic book 'hobby'. And all it took was one book.

So why not invest in the future ? I guess ask the 'top three' why not...

That leaves US.... the ones who can now afford this ever price raising hobby to make sure that our little people will continue to carry the torch and ensure the future of comic books. Because, I feel that if 'we' don't do this... comics may very well one day disappear. And how sad will that be ?

OK... I am done musing and I am off to take a Midol or something.

childres... THANKS for giving those kids something to excite them about comic books. I would bet a paycheck that in the years to come, they will remember this, think fondly of it... and hopefully, pass on some comics to yet another generation of little people.

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:13 am

I forgot all about FCBD...

-slym

Shadowmatt · Post by **Shadowmatt** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:32 pm

My favorite FCBD books were Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule #1 and the Adventures of Ironside Tom. I knew nothing about these books going in and I loved 'em both!

childres · Post by **childres** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:50 am

Knightt wrote: they will remember this, think fondly of it... and hopefully, pass on some comics to yet another generation of little people.

Hope so Chris. It makes me feel good when I see any kid show an interest in comics.
The thing is, kids use to be able to actually see comics, and they got their attention. When I was a kid I would see them in supermarkets, gas stations, drug stores, etc.
Today, unless you go to a comic store, you don't see them in any numbers. A grocery store in my town changed hands, and the new owners dropped selling comics. That was the last place in a town of around 4300 that used to have 6 places that sold comics. A nearby town of around 25000 has 3 places to buy new comics ( Hastings is the best with a semi filled spinner rack, another carries about 15 titles, the other place carries about 5 titles) and 2 places that sell used comics(one has about 20 books total). This town had 21 places that sold comics before the 90's crash. Yeah, I know that was over saturated, but what you see locally isn't enough to get many kids interested. They can find a lot of places that sell video games however. I see this as the big kid collecting area today, as comic markets tend to shrink. If they don't see comics, kids won't get a chance to get interested in them.

(Sorry for sounding so depressing, but I don't see collecting in this area making a comeback anytime soon, and it bums me out when I think about it. Hopefully other areas of the country are experiencing better interest levels in our hobby.)

FCBD has a chance to bring collectors into the hobby, I hope it does, but what I saw locally wasn't too encouraging.

-Joe

tarheelmarine · Post by **tarheelmarine** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:16 pm

The Conan and SW flipbook were really good.

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:32 pm

slym2none wrote:I forgot all about FCBD...

-slym

I forgot about it also, even though the local Hasting's store even ran an ad in the newspaper I work for! By the time I got out there to get any leftovers, all that was there was that stupid Marvel M&M's book and some Manga-crap Digest...<sigh>

Anyone want to trade for a SW/Conan flipbook?

steverino · Post by **steverino** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:33 pm

childres wrote:
Knightt wrote: they will remember this, think fondly of it... and hopefully, pass on some comics to yet another generation of little people.

Hope so Chris. It makes me feel good when I see any kid show an interest in comics.
The thing is, kids use to be able to actually see comics, and they got their attention. When I was a kid I would see them in supermarkets, gas stations, drug stores, etc.
Today, unless you go to a comic store, you don't see them in any numbers. A grocery store in my town changed hands, and the new owners dropped selling comics. That was the last place in a town of around 4300 that used to have 6 places that sold comics. A nearby town of around 25000 has 3 places to buy new comics ( Hastings is the best with a semi filled spinner rack, another carries about 15 titles, the other place carries about 5 titles) and 2 places that sell used comics(one has about 20 books total). This town had 21 places that sold comics before the 90's crash. Yeah, I know that was over saturated, but what you see locally isn't enough to get many kids interested. They can find a lot of places that sell video games however. I see this as the big kid collecting area today, as comic markets tend to shrink. If they don't see comics, kids won't get a chance to get interested in them.

(Sorry for sounding so depressing, but I don't see collecting in this area making a comeback anytime soon, and it bums me out when I think about it. Hopefully other areas of the country are experiencing better interest levels in our hobby.)

FCBD has a chance to bring collectors into the hobby, I hope it does, but what I saw locally wasn't too encouraging.

-Joe

"YOU BA$TARDS! YOU KILLED COMICS!

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Tue May 16, 2006 6:09 pm

sorry ? Not tracking with you on this...

steverino · Post by **steverino** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:41 pm

Knightt wrote:sorry ? Not tracking with you on this...

I've been griping about the state of the industry for a coupla years now. I think I know who killed comics.... Wizard!

When comics was in their heyday, Wizard started to do something other than report on comics, they started to tell the industry what to do. Told them what made a good comic. What a good storyline was and what wasn't. What made a good character and what didn't. And the industry listened and here we are.

It was easy enough to tell what a good comic was and wasn't by simply monitoring sales, but Wizard took over the fan feedback, started telling everyone what their opinions were.

Then they commanded the transition to a fan based industry to a collector based industry: CGC . This was, in my mind, the final insult. It was the finalizing of the dictatorship over fans and the cannibalism of collectors. I have never liked CGC and will never have a graded comic by them in my collection.

Yes, I realize that they provide a service and somewhat of a guarantee of the condition of a comic, but knowing their origins, I would prefer a different grading company.

Seriously, if you take a close look at almost every bad idea in comics, it will surely originate from Wizard, with only Marvel's distributing through their own distribution company being omitted.

That's who I believe killed comics.

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:01 pm

Don't forget 'feeding the speculation frenzy/market'...

On the other hand, they hyped Valiant books with their 'price guide' but still this not only led to killing comics but VALIANT comics as well.

steverino · Post by **steverino** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:21 pm

Knightt wrote:Don't forget 'feeding the speculation frenzy/market'...

On the other hand, they hyped Valiant books with their 'price guide' but still this not only led to killing comics but VALIANT comics as well.

Truthfully, I've been wanting to gripe about Wizard and CGC for quite a while now, but I didn't know how well such criticism would be recieved. After all, a lot of people here deal with CGC books.

Man, they did a lot of damage. And they still get better distribution that the majority of comics, including major titles.

BTW, has anyone noticed that when something major is happening, like Identity Crisis, Civil War, etc.. you can't find these issues on the newstand. They're NEVER within easy access for a common joe like myself who lives about 80 miles away from the nearest comic shop. It $ucks royally. And these are the issues that could potentially bring in new readers, and they're keeping them away from them.

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:39 pm

steverino wrote: BTW, has anyone noticed that when something major is happening, like Identity Crisis, Civil War, etc.. you can't find these issues on the newstand. They're NEVER within easy access for a common joe like myself who lives about 80 miles away from the nearest comic shop. It $ucks royally. And these are the issues that could potentially bring in new readers, and they're keeping them away from them.

Actually, I found INFINITE CRISIS at Borders bookstores and Waldenbooks (though they're called Borders Express now). OTOH I don't think they have the lead-ins/specials (like OMAC PROJECT) there until it was a TPB.

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:56 pm

Too many of these 'summer events' end with a whimper instead of a blast. So, as a rule I shy away from them because 'just how many summers in a row can the XXXX Universe be turned on it's collective ear or can the world be saved'. Summer to me in comics is just another excuse to soak some kid out of his summer lawn cutting business money (well that is what I used to do so that I could afford comics... but then again at $.25 cents a pop I could afford a few then... (tip of the hat to steverino) that is if I was luck to get them at the drug store or supermarket because we didnt have an LCS near where I lived (Michigan kinda sucked like that - back then).

The whole comic bidness is just so disappointing at times. I will be honest, I REALLY enjoyed comics in the early 90s. Through it's speculation, enhanced covers and more X-Titles than you could shake a stick at... it was FUN (for me). The excitement of Valiant was there and I even enjoyed the numerous X-Titles. I will even go out on a limb here and admit I ENJOYED IMAGE COMICS !!! WildCATS... dug it. Cyberforce... dug it. Deathblow... dug it. Youngblood... hated it, Rob Leifeld is a turd but that is another story. But during those times, it was fun... for a while. Then things took a definate turn South. But now... I mean what is there REALLY to get excited about ? Spider-Man getting a new costume/armor or whatever the hell that red/gold thing with SPATS is ??? Yes, I enjoy reading comics... read 'em every week. But have you seen the prices of these books these days ? I am within six months of retiring from the Army with 20 years of active service, make good money as a Senior NCO and I still feel that I need to go out and get a grass cutting job just to be able to afford my monthly comics !!! (<--- pretty hard job to get here in Arizona because IT'S CALLED A DESERT !!!

) But to be a young man again and be 'into comics' these days... well $hit, it is no wonder kids are more into 'card games' ABOUT comic characters than 'into the actual comics'.

Sheesh...

do I need to take a midol or what ? After reading my own post I want to say to myself "Hey Chris, does your vagina hurt THAT bad ?"

But I am sure some of you know where I am coming from.

Richv1 · Post by **Richv1** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:52 am

I enjoyed FCBD it was great. Lots of free comics, a guy in Batman costume, local writer and artist at the shop. It was nice.

steverino · Post by **steverino** » Wed May 17, 2006 7:51 am

Knightt wrote:Too many of these 'summer events' end with a whimper instead of a blast. So, as a rule I shy away from them because 'just how many summers in a row can the XXXX Universe be turned on it's collective ear or can the world be saved'. Summer to me in comics is just another excuse to soak some kid out of his summer lawn cutting business money (well that is what I used to do so that I could afford comics... but then again at $.25 cents a pop I could afford a few then... (tip of the hat to steverino) that is if I was luck to get them at the drug store or supermarket because we didnt have an LCS near where I lived (Michigan kinda sucked like that - back then).

The whole comic bidness is just so disappointing at times. I will be honest, I REALLY enjoyed comics in the early 90s. Through it's speculation, enhanced covers and more X-Titles than you could shake a stick at... it was FUN (for me). The excitement of Valiant was there and I even enjoyed the numerous X-Titles. I will even go out on a limb here and admit I ENJOYED IMAGE COMICS !!! WildCATS... dug it. Cyberforce... dug it. Deathblow... dug it. Youngblood... hated it, Rob Leifeld is a turd but that is another story. But during those times, it was fun... for a while. Then things took a definate turn South. But now... I mean what is there REALLY to get excited about ? Spider-Man getting a new costume/armor or whatever the hell that red/gold thing with SPATS is ??? Yes, I enjoy reading comics... read 'em every week. But have you seen the prices of these books these days ? I am within six months of retiring from the Army with 20 years of active service, make good money as a Senior NCO and I still feel that I need to go out and get a grass cutting job just to be able to afford my monthly comics !!! (<--- pretty hard job to get here in Arizona because IT'S CALLED A DESERT !!! ) But to be a young man again and be 'into comics' these days... well $hit, it is no wonder kids are more into 'card games' ABOUT comic characters than 'into the actual comics'.

Sheesh... do I need to take a midol or what ? After reading my own post I want to say to myself "Hey Chris, does your vagina hurt THAT bad ?" But I am sure some of you know where I am coming from.

I completely agree with ya, since I'm starting to feel age creeping up on me as well (although I'm only 28, soon to be 29. Hell, I haven't even hit my prime yet).

But about the Spider-man costume. I believe it's simply a plot point to the Civil War story, and so far I'm digging it. But I know they'll change it back. They always do.

What I'm really wondering about with Civil War is the Hulk. He's a gladiator on a distant planet after being shot into space by the Illuminati (Reed Richards, Tony Stark, Thunderbolt, and a few others). I'm betting he becomes a major part of the climax. But one problem I have with the Hulk is: when did he start killing people? I understand that he's supposed to be a raging monster and all, but why is his rampages suddenly leaving a body count? For years he was a hero of sorts, even was a member of the Avengers and a couple of other teams. Why is he now a mass murderer. He's now a villian, plain and simple. It stinks. :x

Marvel character may have the same name as the ones we grew up to love, but they are not the same. Shame on Marvel.