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Live-blogging Free Comic Book Day

For the second year in a row, I’ll attempt live-blogging the comic-book holiday, Free Comic Book Day, from Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, OK.
(Full disclosure note: I am one of the owners of Speeding Bullet.)

NewsOK Comics Podcast co-host Kyle Roberts will be shooting a Free Comic Book Day video at Second Chance Books in Warr Acres.  Second Chance Books is a sponsor of Nerdage and of the NewsOK Comics Podcast, and I look forward to seeing what kind of a fun video Kyle brings back.

If you haven’t seen Kyle’s video from the Warren Theatre prior to the X-Men Origins: Wolverine midnight screening, you should check that out!

If you need to find the closest participating comic-book store to you, you can visit www.freecomicbookday.com.

10 a.m.: The doors open and the line surges in!  There’s a crowd ready and waiting for Free Comic Book Day.  Lots of kids, some adults as well.

10:15 a.m. - There are so many people surged around the Free Comics table that it’s difficult to get to them. That hasn’t happened much. Some stores will move a line through, but there’s always been enough space in Ricochet Cafe before to handle surges.  It’s a little crowded.  There are 3 tables – all ages, teens, and adults, and the kids table is being surged around like the Wiggles are standing there.

10:30 a.m: The Geoff Johns-written “Blackest Night” 0 has been exceptionally popular with the comic-book fans through the door so far.  I can also tell the all-ages “Wolverine” comic has taken a hit.

10:45 a.m.: There’s been near-constant movement since the doors opened.  Good news for sales, the guys at the register seem really busy as well.  Free Comic Book Day isn’t free for the retailers, and it’s nice to see people making purchases as well, though it’s certainly not required.

10:46 a.m.: The rains hit Norman.  It’ll be interesting to see over the course of the day if the rain slows down people coming in.  In the first 45 minutes, definitely not.  It’s been more busy than expected, even. But if it really starts pouring down, will people get out?  That’s what we’ll have to see.  Going to check www.newsok.com/weather to see what might be expected the rest of the day.

11 a.m.: Quite a bit of discussion about Wolverine and people looking through the Wolverine display.  Not as much discussion as there was last year about Iron Man, I don’t think, though.  Then again, Iron Man was a completely new thing, whereas Wolverine’s been in 3 movies before.

11:15 a.m.: A few more people talking about “Green Lantern.”  It’ll be interesting to see how that continues to develop as the “Green Lantern” movie seems to be coming closer to reality.  Comic-book fans have known about Geoff Johns’ run on “Green Lantern” for a while — maybe “Blackest Night” and movie hype will get additional attention for the property.

11:30 a.m.: According to the guys on staff, the reprint of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue has been a popular choice.  I think this is one of my favorites of the free issues this year as well, and I hope it leads to a comprehensive reprint of the original Eastman-Laird Turtles.

11:45 a.m.: Response to the “Wolverine” film is mixed among the fans filtering in for FCBD.  Most of them are excited about “Star Trek,” which has comic-book tie-ins from IDW but nothing specifically for Free Comic Book Day.  Probably the fact that Colin Warde, who worked in Los Angeles on the Star Trek auctions, is appearing here this afternoon, is adding to the Star Trek buzz at this location.

Noon: While there has been rain here and there in the first two hours, so far it doesn’t look like the rain is keeping anybody away.  Still hasn’t been much of a letup of people since the doors opened at 10 a.m.

12:15 p.m.: I know a lot of Nerdage readers are also Sterling Gates fans — he’s signing today with Geoff Johns at Atomic Comics in Arizona.  Atomic knows how to put on an event, so those guys should have quite a turnout.

1 p.m.: There hasn’t been much of an opportunity to catch a breath, here, but it’s been great to see so many people coming through and having fun.

1:15 p.m.: Unscientifically, I’m saying “Blackest Night” 0 is the hit of the day so far, but will try to get more scientific data on that. (Day-after update: Top 3 book giveaways for the day were 1. Blackest Night, 2. Avengers, 3. Wolverine.)

1:45 p.m.: A tip for those who may be looking for “Wolverine” material for their younger kids – “Wolverine: First Class” is an excellent choice.

2:15 p.m.: Word comes from MTV Splash Page that “Wolverine” did $35 million over Friday, and could have a $90 million opening weekend.  In FCBD news, bodies through the door here have already surpassed last year, I’m told.

2:30 p.m.: “Star Trek” props expert Colin Warde is in the house.  He’s got some neat logos and accessories on hand, as well as lots of photos of  “Star Trek” items.

3 p.m.: Still quite a crowd, between people shopping, people getting free comics, and people talking “Star Trek.”  Lots of people think next week’s “Star Trek” movie is going to be a big hit.

3:15 p.m.: As far as indies go, it’s worth it to check out Oni Press’ “Resurrection.” You can get the FCBD issue of “Resurrection” and then add the trade paperback collection for just $6.

3:30 p.m.: Mostly kids still coming in for free comics.  Colin is entertaining a crowd with tales of “Star Trek.”

4 p.m.: Probably the slowest it’s been so far today for free comics-specific people.  Still a good “Trek” crowd though, learning lots of inside baseball on what certain props were made of, how they were created, etc.

4:15 p.m.: Hearing good things from other retailers about FCBD nationwide; people giving away more comics than they ever had before, more people in the door, etc.  The thing to do over the next few weeks is figure out why it worked!  The new Geoff Johns comic? The Wolverine movie? Press coverage? Something else?

4:30 p.m.: BAM is in the house, checking out some free comics.  She’s consistently one of NewsOK’s most popular bloggers, and she shared some “Star Trek” info with me, as well.  Next week we’ll likely shift into full-on “Star Trek” mode here at Nerdage, bringing you some interviews, background and behind the scenes stuff.

5 p.m.: Colin is wrapping up his “Star Trek” demonstration, so I’m going to wrap up live-blogging and go get some food shortly.  Speeding Bullet will remain open, giving away Free Comic Book Day comics until 7; other area stores will be open for a while longer as well, so you still have some time to make your own FCBD trek.  It’s been exciting to get to talk to so many comic-book fans in person today.  I’ll try to share some reports from across the nation in the coming days as well.  Happy Free Comic Book Day, everybody!

- Matt Price

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