Pop Culture — Free Comic Book Day is nigh

Free Comic Book Day is nigh

by Glenn Given

Geeks line up for gratis swag, could-be fans take a gander

May 7 will mark the fourth annual Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), meaning comic shops around town will be doling out multi-panel goodies to hungry fans. Special issues of many of the flagship titles of  a wide array of comic publishers will be given away.

A joint promotional campaign intended to heighten the profile of the comic art form and reinvigorate the comic-book-shop industry, FCBD has been a rousing success. Often coinciding with the release of a major comic book movie, like 2003’s Spider-Man, the goal has been to bring new customers into a flagging industry.

Comic book retailers have suffered poor sales and bad image since the mid-’90s. In the early ’90s there was a bubble market for collectible comics, sparked in part by DC’s decision to “kill” Superman and news that a mint copy of Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics could support a $150,000 price tag.

Fair-weather comic fans trooped into stores in record numbers to buy up multiple copies in hopes of making a killing on the collectors’ market. In response to this perceived interest, the major comic publishers cashed in with gimmick titles and “collectible” features such as trading cards, as well as holographic and variant covers. When the speculators’ market crashed, members of the new market were left with multiple copies of low-value comics and many die-hard fans quit buying out of sheer disgust.

Since then the industry has been slowly but steadily recovering. The influx of comic films over the last decade have had a net positive effect in growing interest in comics. Still, it has been difficult to physically get people into the store. Often characterized as socially maladjusted curio shops, many comic stores eke out an existence with a combination of collectible cards, comic books and specialty video sales. FCBD aims to clear that up like Oxyclean on acne.

This year, readers can expect to find a wide selection of comics from the major publishers. Dark Horse will provide its comic adaptation of Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith to coincide with the film’s release on May 19. DC will be giving away it’s youth-targeted Batman title Batman Strikes and Marvel will be providing a compilation book called Marvel Adventures. Betty & Veronica, Disney’s Uncle Scrooge and The Simpsons comics will be available as well.

Those of a more discriminating palate should keep an eye out for Beckett Comic’s Roninhood of 47 Samurai, Alternative Comics’ sampler FCBD 2005 EDITION, and Fantagraphics’ Funny Book sampler. New Hampshire’s own Jetpack Press will be delivering an issue of Johnny Raygun and personal favorite Oni Press is sure to excite with Hysteria.  Many more titles will be available but the selection will vary by location.

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

Slake your comics thirst. And remember, bring a friend, it’s free after all.

Double Midnight Comics

245 Maple St., Manchester

(603) 669-9636

 

Neo Tokyo

168 Amherst St., Manchester

(603) 860-6720

 

The Comic Store

300 Main St., Nashua

(603) 881-4855

- Glenn Given

2005 HippoPress LLC | Manchester, NH