Word about Free Comic Book Day has gotten out in a big way. Want to know how I can tell? I showed up the moment my local joint opened…only to find that I had been beaten by about two dozen other people out for the same titles I was. I managed to get my hands on what I think was the only issue of Elric: The Balance Lost that the store got, and even that took a little bit of behind-the-scenes favor calling on my part to make happen. That Locke & Key comic? Didn’t happen, and I had to run to my second, back-up comic book store to find the Cal McDonald Criminal Macabre/Baltimore and The Dark Crystal/Mouse Guard flip titles I wanted.
I did grab the dinosaurs and sharks comic without any trouble. That, and a bunch of other kid-friendly stuff was there in spades. I don’t know if it’s because grown-ups are really the ones that want the free comics or if it’s just that they print a lot more of the children’s titles than the adult ones, but I’m thinking that it’s the former rather than the later. I just didn’t see many children out at either shop I visited. This makes me wonder if Free Comic Book Day is accomplishing the things that it should be doing. The future of the industry counts on bringing in new fans, right? Do the kids just not care about comics anymore? Or is it that they would rather get their “comics” in the forms of spin-off movies and video games? Does the future of the comic book industry lie outside of printed media?
I’m interested in hearing how you did yesterday, and also your thoughts on young people and comics. Tell me about both – or either – in the comment section below. While you’re doing it, enjoy this hilarious song from nerd songwriter John Anealio, a free download for Free Comic Book Day: “Batman Smells (A Rebuttal)”
There were a fair number of kids at our local store (including my 2.) We missed out on Mickey and Darkwing Duck, but scored Super Dinosaur, Green Lantern, and Young Justice / Batman Brave & Bold. The Kung Fu Panda / Richie Rich one did not seem to be moving much.
One worker was in a Black Canary costume (who?!), which my 5 yo recognized within 5 seconds of pulling into the parking spot. My 7 yo told me all her affiliations and interests, to which BC noted “She knows way too much about my lovelife.”
Sounds like you have AWESOME kids. You’re raising them right!