Free Comic Book Day: live blogging
9:30 a.m. — I’m going to live-blog Free Comic Book Day from Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman. (Full disclosure note: I am one of the owners of Speeding Bullet.) The store opens at 10 a.m., and hundreds of comics are arrayed in the ‘Ricochet Cafe’ portion of Speeding Bullet just awaiting incoming patrons. I talked to Vaneta Rogers of Newsarama about Free Comic Book Day yesterday from a retail perspective. She’s got a great article up with quotes from Free Comic Book Day founder Joe Field and ComicsPRO staffer Amanda Fisher, along with myself and some other retailers. It’s a good lowdown on how the day works.
At Speeding Bullet, the staff has done several creative ideas in the past to stimulate FCBD attendance, but this year the store is mostly hoping Iron Man hype brings in people. HeroClix judge Jake Langham will be giving demonstrations of the game starting at 11 a.m., and will be giving away the special “Iron Man” HeroClix figure at that time.
There are two different “Iron Man” books being given away — the Marvel Adventures one featuring Hulk, Iron Man and Spidey, and then a sampler with Iron Man and the Hulk. If you’re wondering what to pick up for FCBD, there’s a good writeup of several of the titles at Bookgasm.
9:45 a.m. — Other years, I’ve been more up on what the entire retail community is up to for Free Comic Book Day, but this year, I’m a little less connected. I was physically out of town doing the “Iron Man” junket, so I didn’t visit and call as many stores pre-FCBD as I usually would. My podcast co-host and videographer all-star Kyle Roberts was hoping to stop by Second Chance Books and Comics and shoot some video. I hope he does, because I’d like to see what others are doing for the event.
10 a.m. — About a dozen people right at 10 a.m. coming in for Free Comic Book Day. Also talked a bit to Tommy of the Bat-Blog, who came by. I’m planning to talk to him some more in the coming weeks with “Dark Knight” approaching.
10:30 a.m. — Jake decided to come by and get started on HeroClix demos early, which is good, because he’s already had a half-dozen people interested. Traffic in the first hour seems pretty heavy. Lots of kids, as well.
11 a.m. — Continuing what feels like a pretty heavy pace of traffic. Just eyeballing the racks of free comics, it looks like the Marvel giveaways — the two Iron Mans and the X-Men — are taking the biggest hit so far, but no one’s had time to do a count, yet. The staff tells me about 50 people in the door for the first hour. Jake has been in constant demo mode since he sat down at the table.
11:05 a.m. — A young reader’s mom says her son wasn’t about to let her forget Free Comic Book Day.
“Comics are important to my life,” he says.
11:30 a.m. — For about two minutes, it looked like there might be a lull, but another batch of people made their way in about 10 after 11. People are taking their time and looking around.
“We look forward to this day every year!” says a happy woman leaving with a handful of comic books.
Noon — Second hour was more laid back than the first, overall, but there’s still been a steady stream of people. It’s a mix of regular comic customers, kids, and those curious about the medium. More than 75 people in so far, I’m told.
12:20 p.m. — Midday has meant kids! Kids love Free Comic Book Day. The excitement from them is invigorating — helps you remember what you liked about comics as a kid. They’re excited to see stories with their favorite heroes (Spider-Man remains a favorite, from the scuttlebutt here) and they’re excited their parents are bringing them to the comic book store. If nothing else, Free Comic Book Day is “worth it” as an outreach to this next generation of readers.
1 p.m. — More than 100 people in before 1 p.m. Maybe 40% kids? Not scientific polling, but certainly many many younger readers. Several people talking about “Iron Man” — they either went last night, or many were planning on going after picking up free comics today.
1:15 p.m. — Three people in a row looking for “Iron Man” comics and back issues. So at least anecdotally, the movie is spurring some interest in the comics. Meanwhile, Jake’s HeroClix demos have ranged from the youngest of kids to people seeking their Ph.D. in HeroClix — and he’s handled them all great.
2 p.m. — There’s kind of a camaraderie of Free Comic Book Day among comic-book fans. I think people appreciate that their favorite medium gets a special spotlight on this weekend every year, and they like feeling a part of it. The morning was more “new people” oriented; so far the afternoon is a little heavier on regular comic-book readers.
2:30 p.m. — “Transformers Animated” is nearing a “sellout.” Is it a sellout if it’s free? A “giveout”? Otherwise, it looks like there’s still plenty of all the all-ages “Gold Sponsor” selections. A few of the Silver Selections and leftovers from previous years look to have all gone out the door. It’s the halfway point of Speeding Bullet’s Free Comic Book Day, and the people count is more than 150, I’m told. I’ve also gotten word that the U.S. House of Representatives honored Free Comic Book Day this year, as a creative approach to promoting literacy and a celebration of a unique American art form. Way to go, House of Representatives!
2:45 p.m. — Mike Carey and Greg Land provide a new story for this year’s Free Comic Book Day X-Men story, about a young mutant named Pixie and strange disappearances happening in her town. Not a bad read, and it seems to hint at some future developments in the X-Men. I went ahead and read it now, as about 75% of them have gone out the door. With more than four hours left in the day, it’s been a popular choice.
3:15 p.m. — “Iron Man” box office tracking puts it at $33 million, according to BoxOfficeGuru.com via Newsarama; $38.5 million when you count Thursday. This makes it the second best one-day debut for a non-sequel — behind 2002’s ”Spider-Man.”
4 p.m. — More people looking for “Iron Man” stuff. The 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. hour was the busiest hour since the first hour of the day. More than 200 people through the door, so far. Jake soldiers along with his HeroClix demonstrations. The staff, for the most part, shifted out at mid-day, so Jake and I have been hanging on here at Speeding Bullet the longest.
4:30 p.m. — The “Marvel Adventures” starring Iron Man, Spider-Man and the Hulk — the most-ordered book, I believe, for today’s giveaway — is 70% gone at this point. Since we’re about 70% done with the day, it seems like the ordering is probably pretty close to spot-on for that title, anyway. “DC Universe Zero” is moving at a rapid clip, and I would wager it’s the biggest mover among single items being sold today — then again, at 50 cents, it is very nearly free!
5 p.m. — Two hours to go in Free Comic Book Day 2008! Overall, it looks like the day will exceed projections, with a turnout similar to 2003-2006 numbers, though slightly smaller (probably) than 2007 and 2002 turnouts. Still, there’s two hours left in the day, so that could change. Lots of excitement from fans over the day in general; certainly, the success of “Iron Man” this weekend has been a hot topic of conversation, and several fans have been discussing the classic David Michelinie-Bob Layton run on the book.
5:45 p.m. — It seems as if Jake has taught half the town of Norman how to play HeroClix by now. He’s not sure of the totals of people that he’s run through a demo, but he hasn’t stopped very often over the past seven-plus hours. I’m on my second energy drink of the day, myself, but still having a good time seeing all the comics fans and potential comic-book fans. Saying things like “J. Michael Straczynski” after being at the store talking to people for more than eight hours is becoming a challenge, but people seem willing to forgive my inability to enunciate at this point.
5:50 p.m. — And, there are no more FCBD “X-Men” editions to be had at Speeding Bullet. (Though if you’re seriously jonesing for some free X-Men, some “X-Men/Runaways” from last year’s FCBD remain.)
6:15 p.m. — Brandy “BAM” McDonnell makes an appearance, fresh from seeing “Iron Man” at the Warren Theater in Moore. Her verdict? Positive.
6:30 p.m. — Jake wraps up HeroClix, after an eight-hour shift of HeroClix demonstrations. Jake judges and demonstrates the game at conventions, as well, and he’s definitely good at it.
6:45 p.m. — Last minute surge of people getting in before the buzzer to get their free comic books.
7 p.m. — About to wrap it up — still some stragglers picking up free books. It was an amazing, exhausting day. Of course, I’m just now looking at CBR’s coverage of the Image Comics founders signing in Arizona — that also looks pretty amazing and exhausting. After seven years of Free Comic Book Day, I still think it’s a great idea that makes people happy. Thanks again to Joe Field, the retailer in Concord, Calif., who came up with the idea!
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Comments
I went to two different stores here in LA for FCBD.
One was House of Secrets, my LCS. I arrived around 1:00, and they offerings were sparse: No X-men, no Superpowers, and, most importantly, no FCBD Iron Man heroclix.
I then stopped by DJ’s Universal much later in the day, and picked up X-men and Superpowers, but, again, no Iron Man clix.
Also, neither place had cake. Or celebrations. House of Secret had a few boxes of $1 comics, and DJ’s had half-off trades and back issues for the day.
However, at both locales I watched people come in just for the free comics. Whether these were simply cheap fans or new fans, I don’t know.
Still want my FCBD Iron Man Clix. sigh.
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