Friends, the most wonderful of all days is upon us. No, I’m not talking about Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (sadly, we already missed that puppy). Instead, I bring you news of the seventh annual Free Comic Book Day, which is taking place this Saturday in participating comic shops across North America. The day’s aimed at celebrating independent comic stores, the comic-book medium and bringing comics to new readers. Participating stores give away free promotional featured comics (a list of this year’s offerings is available at freecomicbookday.com), and participating stores can choose to give away more comics plus plan promotions and FCBD events.
So, which local comic book vendors are participating? Of the biggies, only Odyssey-2000 (6407 Quinpool) is not. Monster Comic Lounge (2091 Gottingen) will be offering special FCBD sales and promotions. The Last Gamestore (590 Portland Street, Dartmouth) and The 2nd Last Gamestore(278 Lacewood) will be holding special contests and giveaways (both Gamestore locations also use the day as an opportunity to give away old back issues, so if you’re looking to fill a hole in your collection and you’re a fan of free stuff, stop by). Video-game cover band Nerd Armywill also be playing a set at the Lacewood Last Gamestore location that day. Never to be outdone, local comic superstars Strange Adventures (5262 Sackville) will be giving away more than 20,000 comics and magician Mister J will be on hand at the store making balloon animals. “A few costumed super-folks” might make appearances, too. Plus, a tonne of local comic artists and animators—including The Coast’s own Mike Holmes, Mark Oakley (Thieves and Kings), Faith Erin Hicks (Zombies Calling) and Darwyn Cooke(DC: The New Frontier and many other awesome things)—will be in the house at Strange Adventures doing free sketches for kids.
This article appears in May 1-7, 2008.
Odd that Odyssey 2000 is out of FCBD, oh well, one less stop. 🙂