Free Comic Book Day 2007

For six years, retailers world-wide have participated in the annual Free Comic Day event. Free Comic Day is becoming a huge event. In many cases, it's more than just a matter of getting a free comic or two. Retailers offering from a selection of free comics will benefit from the massively advertised day. But, Free Comic Day can be so much more.

If you lived in Arizona last year, you may have visited one of the four Atomic Comics, and had the opportunity to meet several key players in the Comic world, including Ed Brubaker (who successfully resurrected Bucky, and just recently killed Capt. America), artist Steve Dillon, and over a dozen others.
SpazdogComics.com, also in Arizona, not only helped their own cause, but helped the local library. Everyone entering the doors received 3 comics. But, by showing their library card, they received 10 comics. Thanks to that promo, the local library's registration for library cards more than doubled the busiest Saturday's registration.

Dallas enjoyed a huge Comic Party, thanks to CAPE (Comic and Pop-Culture Expo) last year. When I say huge, I do mean huge. Over 6000 people attended this event. Bryan Hitch, Gail Simone and 58 others attended this event for their fans.

These types of events occur all over the world. Comics Cave in Greece, and the Readers Den Comic Shop in South Africa are just two shops that participated. Reader's Den reported a record breaking attendance for their shop, with 700-800 people coming through. People came dressed in their favorite comic hero costumes.

Competitions, give-aways, signings, are all just creative ways comic shops are making Free Comic Day a huge success. Last year was a huge success, overall. This year, begs to be even bigger.

While there is no set guidelines as to what shops will do-- whether they even participate-- there are a few things we fans can expect to gain from this huge promotional day: Comics.

There are two levels of Sponsors, Gold and Silver Sponsors.
Participating shops will offer comics from the following lists:

Gold Sponsors:

Archie Comics: Archie Comics Little Archie 2007
Bongo Comics: Bongo's Free For All 2007
DC Comics: Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st century 2007
Dynamite Entertainment: The Lone Ranger/New Battlestar Galactica Flip Book 2007
Gemstone Publishing: Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse 2007
IDW: Transformers The Movie Prequel #1 2007
Image Comics: Astounding Wolf-Man #1 2007
Marvel Comics: Amazing Spiderman Swing Shift 2007
Tokyopop: Tokyopop Choose Your Weapon 2007

Silver Sponsors:

Antartic Press: Pirates Vs. Ninjas #1 2007
Ape Entertainment: Ape Entertainment’s Comic Spectacular 2007
Arcana Studio: Arcana Studio Presents 2007
Archie Comics: Sonic the Hedgehog 2007
Aspen MLT: Worlds of Aspen 2007
Blatant Comics: Last Blood # 1 2007
Boom! Studios: Hunter’s Moon / Salvador Flip Book 2007
CastleRain Entertainment: Jack the Lantern: Ghosts 2007
Comic Genesis: Comic Genesis 2007
Comic Shop News, Inc: Comic Shop News 2007
DC Comics: Justice League of America # 0 2007
Devil’s Due Publishing: Family Guy / Hack / Slash Flip Book 2007
Digital Webbing: Digital Webbing Jam # 1 2007
Drawn and Quarterly: Lynda Barry Sampler 2007
Fantagraphics Books: The Unseen Peanuts 2007
First Second Books: The Train Was Bang On Time 2007
Heroic Publishing: Liberty Comics # 0 2007
Impact Books: Impact University Volume 3 2007
Keenspot Entertainment: Keenspot Spotlight 2007
Legion of Evil Press: Comics Festival 2007
Maerkle Press: Love and Capes # 4 2007
Marvel Comics: Marvel Adventures Three-In-One 2007
Oni Press: Whiteout # 1 2007
Renaissance Press: Amelia Rules! Hangin’ Out 2007
Rude Dude Productions: Nexus Special 2007
Sky-Dog Press: Buzzboy / Royboy Red: The Buzz & The ‘Bot 2007
Too Hip Gotta Go: Wahoo Morris # 1 2007
Topshelf Productions: Owly & Korgi 2007
TwoMorrow Publishing: Comics 101: How to & History Lessons from the Pros 2007
Viper Comics: Viper Comics Presents: Josh Howard’s Sasquatch 2007
Virgin Comics: Ramayan 3392AD 2007
Wildcard Ink: Gumby Special 2007
Wizard Entertainment: Wizard’s “How to Draw” Sampler 2007

For more detailed descriptions, and cover art on the Gold Sponser comics, visit: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/sponsors_gold.asp
For Silver Sponser comics, visit:
http://www.freecomicbookday.com/sponsors_silver.asp

Not all shops will have purchased all titles. Some shops may offer only one per customer, some may offer several issues. At present time, there are no scheduled creators, artists, etc. listed at any shops on the Free Comic Day website. As news about possible celebrity guests appearing, I will share updates.

I will also try to find out what some shops are planning, and offer updates in that end. Some online shops may offer free comics, and I will try to find some of them, and report them to you. (Due to the long list, it will be up to you to find out which ones they will offer, and what you will need to get any).

I'll even use any contacts I have to do follow ups on how things went, who showed up. I'll even try to get some insiders to share their experiences during this year's Free Comic Day.

Now, for the most important part of Free Comic Day. The date: Saturday May 5th. Where? Hopefully any number of your local comic shops.

By Tim "Legends of Batman"

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