My Free Comic Book Day

So, how did I spend my Free Comic Book Day? I'm glad you asked!

Actually, I suppose my FCBD Began last Thursday, when my weekly DCBS package arrived. They tossed in several of the FCBD comics: X-Men/Runaways, Arcana Studio Presents, GI Joe: Sigma 6, Transformers, Image Future Shock, and Superman/Batman. Nothing too exciting, though the Marvel book contains a Runaways story and, more importantly, and Franklin Richards story; and the Arcana book has a 100 Girls story.

On Saturday I hopped in the car and motored over to Fun4All in Ypsilanti. F4A is a pretty decent store, doing its best to cater to both the mainstream and the indy crowds. I've only been to F4A twice before, both times on a Saturday: The first time I was the only person there, while the second time there was some sort of trading card game tournament going on and the place was quite busy. So I have no idea what typical Saturday foot traffic is like, but on Saturday I was in there for about 15-20 minutes and there was a constant stream of 10-15 people.

Set up right near the entrance were some local comic artists, selling their wares convention-style. Honestly their comics didn't look to be the sort of thing that interestes me, but I bought a couple anyway because they were nice guys and I like to support the local comics scene (and one of the comics had a monkey on the cover, and you know that I can't resist that!)

There was a huge FCBD sign in the window, but it look me a while inside to find the FCBD offerings. I was expecting a large table with the comics displayed for the taking, but instead they had sample issues displayed on a rack near the checkout with a sign saying to ask for your free comics at the checkout (limit 3 per customer). Not sure if that's the best way to go, but in thinking about it there are some advantages: No big mess from people rummaging through stacks for free comics; People coming up to the checkout will feel compelled to also buy something (although that wasn't required, as I saw at least a couple of people just ask for their free comics and go); and there's no danger of a kid walking away with something inappropriate and mom bringing the cops back later.

Fun4All seemed to have pretty much the entire gold & silver offerings, so I was able to get Scott Pilgrim, Amelia Rules, and Owly, three of the FCBD offerings that I really wanted. I also bought a copy of the Banana Sunday collection to give to a friend at her birthday celebration that evening. (Hey Oni: next year, get a Banana Sunday story for your FCBD book!)

Of course, no FCBD would be complete without me giving away some comics of my own as part of Free Comic Book Month, which I did--twice. And that evening at the party one of the people there cornered me about comics he should read so I spent about 20 minutes doing readers advisory (he took notes!)

So, all in all a pretty good FCBD. How was yours?

Why X3 Will Be Good

X-Men: The Last Stand will be good because Bill Duke is in it (as Bolivar Trask), and Bill Duke makes everything cooler.

FCBM2 Day 7

It's day Seven of the second annual YACB Free Comic Book Month!

Today's selected entry comes from Mike Thompson. The five comics that Mike listed are:

1. New Avengers
2. Conan
3. Daredevil
4. Ex Machina
5. The Walking Dead

Although he doesn't specifically say so, I'm betting that Mike is the kind of guy who likes his comics with lots of apes. So I'll be sending Mike the first issue of Revolution on the Planet of the Apes by Salgood sam, Joe O'Brien, Ty Templeton, Attila, and Bernie Mireault.

And like all the selected entries, Mike will be receiving a special Dark Horse promo-priced comic, in this case The Goon 25¢ Edition by Eric Powell.

Mike's comics should be in the mail soon. Enjoy!

There's still time to send in your entry for the YACB Free Comic Book Month; details are here.

Current FCBM Statistics:
47 entries
23 free comics sent so far
24 days remaining

Monkey Covers

Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover.

Apes vs. Humans! Denis Rodier draws the cover to Revolution on the Planet of the Apes #1.

(Standard disclaimer about apes not really being monkeys applies.)

Click on the image for a larger version.


Don't forget, Free Comic Book Month 2 is going on, and there's still plenty of time to enter!

FCBM2 Day 6.5

It's still day Six of the second annual YACB Free Comic Book Month, but seeing as it is Free Comic Book Day, how about I give away another free comic?

Today's second selected entry comes from Serene, who lists the following comics that she likes:

1. Dirty Plotte
2. Scott Pilgrim
3. Eightball
4. Demo
5. La Perdida

Serene is obviously an indy comix fan, so I'll be sending her Gregory Benton's Hummingbird to read.

And like all the selected entries, Serene will be receiving a special Dark Horse promo-priced comic, in this case The Goon 25¢ Edition by Eric Powell.

Serene's comics should be in the mail soon. Enjoy!

There's still time to send in your entry for the YACB Free Comic Book Month; details are here.

Current FCBM Statistics:
47 entries
21 free comics sent so far
25 days remaining

FCBM2 Day 6

It's day Six of the second annual YACB Free Comic Book Month!

Today's selected entry comes from Shael, who just in the past couple of years has gotten back into comics after a twenty year absence, and has been "visiting a lot of childhood favorites." The five comics that Shael listed are:

1. Astonishing X-Men
2. Star Wars Tales
3. Dorothy
4. Transformers Infiltration
5. Werewolves: Call of the Wild

I'll be sending Shael the first issue of X-Men: Kitty Pride - Shadow & Flame by Akira Yoshida and classic X-Men artist Paul Smith. And I'm also throwing in Jenni Gregory's DreamWalker vol. 2 #3, as a good comic that Shael may have missed during her 20-year hiatus.

And like all the selected entries, Shael will be receiving a special Dark Horse promo-priced comic, in this case The Goon 25¢ Edition by Eric Powell.

Shael's comics should be in the mail soon. Enjoy!

There's still time to send in your entry for the YACB Free Comic Book Month; details are here.

Current FCBM Statistics:
46 entries
19 free comics sent so far
25 days remaining

Free Comic Book Day!

Hey Kids! Free Comics!

ITEM! Don't forget to stop by your Friendly Neighborhood Comic Shop and say hi to the proprietor while picking up a couple of free comics. Maybe buy some stuff too :) The Free Comic Book Day Website will lead you to a participating store near you.

ITEM! Can't make it to a store? Andy Runton has put his FCBD offering from 2005, Owly: Splashin' Around, free online! (link via Mike)

ITEM! Today only, publisher TwoMorrows is giving away free copies of their magazines (Alter Ego, Back Issue, Draw, Write) on their Website.

ITEM! Of course here at YACB I'll be giving away more comics as part of Free Comic Book Month 2; there's still plenty of time to enter if you haven't already.

ITEM! More FCBM2 linkage, from Mike and Serene. Part of the fun in doing FCBM is watching the viral way in which word spreads throughout the comics blogosphere.