Saturday May 2 is free comic book day

[Jscareshock]

I know many of you probably don't care.  I think it's a great idea to get people into a comic book shop to see what is available.  I've been to a lot of shops that won't even participate in this event and that's crazy.  It's great PR for the shop.  It's a way to turn customer on to the Diamond Catalog.  Had this been done sooner maybe our favorite monster magazines would NOT have been dropped by Diamond.
Go to your local store and have fun.  If your store does not participate encourage them to for next year.  Dozens of comics are printed especially for this event.
   Or check out Comic Swap in State College, PA.  These guys not only give away the free comic book day stuff, but they also give away excess inventory, and store coupons good for a return visit to keep customers coming back.  And, before Diamond dropped the monster magazines, they had a pretty decent horror section as well.

[MDG]

I've been to a lot of shops that won't even participate in this event and that's crazy. 

It may be crazy, but for some stores it's expensive to participate. My friend who had a store a few years ago was talking about it.

The books are free to customers, but not to the store. Also, Diamond controls which books and quantities a store can order--for example, you can't just order the Marvel & DC books w/o taking (and paying for) other publishers.

It can be a good event for shops that think they can be successful pulling in new customers, but if it doesn't (and the stores that don't participate may know by this time), it's an expnse that doesn't pay off.

[BaronLatos35]

My shop always participates in Free Comic Book Day. If you are a fan, its a great day to just check out new titles or if your shop is so inclined, take advantage of special sales through out the store.

I am not well versed in the day to day business interests of a shop, but I can imagine the expense, especially if new customers/daily takes do not meet quota.

Overall, its a great day to be a comic book fan (huge one here), and yes, I do wish I could get Monsters From the Vault/Scary Monsters from my shop, but alas, Diamond seems to think there is no interest.

[BlackLagoon]

Last year was the 1st Free Comic Book day I missed, only because I'm kind of taking a little break, Ive been loyaly collecting and reading since I was a kid. As a fan, I think its great, my local shop has a great atmosphere. Along with the actual free books, it helps snag kids into reading and really helps open the doors to that world of imagination.

As for the owners, I have heard 1st hand that its a 50-50 shot, it is costly but if they retain 10% of the customers that come in for the free books then its a good deal. Judging from the size and overall layout of the shop I have to think he does well.

I have heard about the pain in the butt that Diamond could be. I always said once I'm settled and a little older I'd like to open up my own shop, thinking it would be "easy". I'm learning that is def not the case and Diamond will cut you off very quickly if you miss a payment, dont dot the "i's" and cross all your "t's". Being that theyre a giant in the industry with comics and toys and collectibles I  hear "you dont want to be on their bad side".  Business is business..

Good luck to all the shop owners come free comic book day, and if your a fan or thinking of being one I highly recomend visiting your local shop on May 2nd!

[Tom Smith Monsternut]

I'll be doing a signing for my local comic store  from 11 - 2 PM
Stop in and say hey !
Tom S 


http://comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=507578&GSub=62191

[BaronLatos35]

Along with the actual free books, it helps snag kids into reading and really helps open the doors to that world of imagination.

Good luck to all the shop owners come free comic book day, and if your a fan or thinking of being one I highly recomend visiting your local shop on May 2nd!

Well said BlackLagoon, we always need kids reading more.

It would be cool to have your own shop, talk about comics all day? Almost as cool as owning a monster shop! (Do they still have those? I remember the one up the street from me: Lou Masi's Funhouse. It had all the cool monster masks, make up supplies for my Halloween costumes and some cool magic. Man what a great shop)

You are right though, business always does comes in...

[BlackLagoon]

Lou Masi's Funhouse. It had all the cool monster masks, make up supplies for my Halloween costumes and some cool magic. Man what a great shop)

The comic shop I was frequenting did have some cool monster things come in on occasion. The owner was actually cool enough to put things aside he thought I might be intrested in and shoot me an email or a call. Which I think is AMAZING in today's business world..to still be that 1 on 1 with your customers....its almost a thing of the past!

We had 2 stores here that were great, Hero's World, which was in a central Jersey mall...1st floor nothing but statues, toys and collectibles...I still have the 1st Wolverine statue in that particular Marvel line from "89". Man did I want the vinyl kit of Lon in London After Midnight!!!! Mom was having NONE of that lol....

Another in north jersey with a clever name called "Funghouls"...mostly masks and magicians supplies, before that there was a store called Mecca Magic which was literally the year round Mecca of Halloween to these parts, great great store. I remember when Preadator came out they had the mask and suit...I rode my bike there to stare at it!

LOL I might be a bad comic book shop owner...I'd babble about this stuff all day!!

[ICEMANN333]

ITS HERE TOO IN CHICAGO    JOHN.......

[Jscareshock]

Glad you folks took advantage of it.  My friends in State College gave away a ton of comics, had extra big sales, and even gave away trade paperbacks and hard cover books for a meager donation to the Comic Book Legal Defence Fund.  They had a bunch of eople dressed up in Star Wars costumes as well.  Apparently they were from teh PA, VA, and DEL garrison (there are 7000 members in just 3 states and they show up at various events--if only we had 7000 members?)--they stood outside and kids got pictures with them.  Then a band of jugglers showed up juggling clubs, balls, and other goodies--and a really nice looking girl spun with hula hoops.

It was so good seeing so many young people in the store.

[BaronLatos35]

Glad you folks took advantage of it.  My friends in State College gave away a ton of comics, had extra big sales, and even gave away trade paperbacks and hard cover books for a meager donation to the Comic Book Legal Defence Fund.  They had a bunch of eople dressed up in Star Wars costumes as well.  Apparently they were from teh PA, VA, and DEL garrison (there are 7000 members in just 3 states and they show up at various events--if only we had 7000 members?)--they stood outside and kids got pictures with them.  Then a band of jugglers showed up juggling clubs, balls, and other goodies--and a really nice looking girl spun with hula hoops.

It was so good seeing so many young people in the store.

Your friends went all out! Very cool indeed.

I also saw a large number of young people at the tables, grabbing free books. We always need kids reading more. My store had a back issue sale in addition to the free comics. Always good to read a new story/character/book in addition to your regular titles.

I always consider this day a mini holiday for comic fans (at least until the conventions).

[gypsy214]

I've attended Free Comic Book Day every year in costume for the last 5 years. Some years I have been Bride of Frankenstein, others Princess Leia, and I also have stormtrooper armor. It's great fun to get out there, meet people and encourage kids to do something other than play video games! We get a lot of people who stop just to see the costumes and then we tell them about the comics and they always head in to check it out. Always a fun time!