Flying Colors Comics, Free Comic Book Day, and the Comic Book Market
August 11, 2024 5:54 AM Subscribe
"And it wasn't until we had a meeting with representatives from the Comics Buyer's Guide that we had to decide whether we were going to do a free comic book day at all. Maggie Thompson was there, John Jackson Miller – the editor – was there, executives from Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse were all there. The team from Diamond Comics was there. And it was then-Image publisher Jim Valentino who suggested we put Free Comic Book Day on the weekend when the spotlight on comics content would be brightest because of the Spider-Man movie." A fascinating interview in The Comics Journal about the history of modern comics, the origin story of Free Comic Book Day, the changing of demographics of comics readers (2021; 2017; 2024), indie comics, and whole lot more, including the tale of a (comic book store's) death averted.
I used to help at a shop's FCBD (I was a volunteer but there was nothing exploitative -- it was a big family and we all pitched in) and while those days were exhausting, they were also something I looked forward to every year. It was really the best of comics -- people just there for the joy and the fun! I think we all tried to make sure everyone felt that.
(I remember late in one day a tiny toddler just had a full-on meltdown because the fun was too much! Like that babe was just "this is too much goodness and I can't process it" and I just felt, no, I get it, tiny babe.)
Comics retailing is hard! I have nothing but love for the people that do it well! There are shops that are inclusive but also shops that understand their market (but they can also be inclusive). When I travel, I tend to go to comic book stores because I love them!
Go to your local comic book store! If it's terrible and you don't feel comfortable, you don't need to shop there (there are still bad stores). Seek out good shops! Seek out places you feel welcome! They exist! And if they don't exist near you, there are still a lot of ways to buy comics!
I still love the medium but I'm kind of done with the comics champion era of my life overall. That's fine! It brought me so many good things.
Comics are great and they're for everyone.
posted by edencosmic at 4:56 PM on August 11 [4 favorites]
(I remember late in one day a tiny toddler just had a full-on meltdown because the fun was too much! Like that babe was just "this is too much goodness and I can't process it" and I just felt, no, I get it, tiny babe.)
Comics retailing is hard! I have nothing but love for the people that do it well! There are shops that are inclusive but also shops that understand their market (but they can also be inclusive). When I travel, I tend to go to comic book stores because I love them!
Go to your local comic book store! If it's terrible and you don't feel comfortable, you don't need to shop there (there are still bad stores). Seek out good shops! Seek out places you feel welcome! They exist! And if they don't exist near you, there are still a lot of ways to buy comics!
I still love the medium but I'm kind of done with the comics champion era of my life overall. That's fine! It brought me so many good things.
Comics are great and they're for everyone.
posted by edencosmic at 4:56 PM on August 11 [4 favorites]
I was fortunate to attend this year's free comic book day at Flying Colors Comics. The local news had reported that the store was relocating, so there was a significant line. It was an enjoyable wait, considering the low temperature and steady rainfall.
I enjoyed that the line intersected with the other shoppers in the plaza; it's great fun to watch people going in to Trader Joe's doing a double take at Wolverine, Harley Quinn and Squirrel Girl entertaining comic fans near the shopping cart corral.
Some of the other shoppers asked about the line, and I heartily informed them of the event. I was pleasantly reminded of the 80s/90s regional comic book shows that shared the convention center spaces with other events. Explaining the comic book costumes to curious dance moms, high-school regional volleyball players, educators and architects was a fun time.
If you look at the Comics Journal image of the store, you can see the Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop next door; their free scoop day also influenced free comic book day.
posted by JDC8 at 8:33 PM on August 11 [2 favorites]
I enjoyed that the line intersected with the other shoppers in the plaza; it's great fun to watch people going in to Trader Joe's doing a double take at Wolverine, Harley Quinn and Squirrel Girl entertaining comic fans near the shopping cart corral.
Some of the other shoppers asked about the line, and I heartily informed them of the event. I was pleasantly reminded of the 80s/90s regional comic book shows that shared the convention center spaces with other events. Explaining the comic book costumes to curious dance moms, high-school regional volleyball players, educators and architects was a fun time.
If you look at the Comics Journal image of the store, you can see the Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop next door; their free scoop day also influenced free comic book day.
posted by JDC8 at 8:33 PM on August 11 [2 favorites]
Covid killed my local comics and games shop. My son and I were regulars there and would go every Sunday so my son could play Pokemon cards.
Unfortunately, no shop has opened to fill the void. I now have to drive at least 30 minutes to reach the nearest comics shop.
posted by Fleebnork at 5:02 AM on August 12 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, no shop has opened to fill the void. I now have to drive at least 30 minutes to reach the nearest comics shop.
posted by Fleebnork at 5:02 AM on August 12 [1 favorite]
« Older Yo Microsoft Raps | cheerful story of a local business Newer »
Mike sounds like an incredibly smart retailer. Speaking as someone who used to work for the local-retail barnacle attached to Dark Horse, he could have taught my former bosses a few valuable lessons.
posted by FallibleHuman at 12:32 PM on August 11 [2 favorites]