family fun
Comic stores offer freebies for loyal readers, new customers
Commemorate 15 years of free comics by gathering up some of your own at no cost in honor of Free Comic Book Day. There will be about 60 titles to choose from at participating comic book stores and retailers as a thank-you to loyal comic book readers and as an introduction to new customers eager to see what the excitement over comics is all about. The event not only inspires people to read comics and explore different titles and story lines but also keeps people in the loop on comics that have gone from colorful pages to spectacles on the big screen.
“In general, on the local level, we get some sales gain and some revenue and on the corporate industry level, they get to pitch new books to people and get people to go to see movies like ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ ” Mikee Riggs, comic book slinger at Lobo Anime & Comics. “It serves a bigger following. To promote ‘Civil War,’ Marvel is giving the ‘Civil War II,’ so you go see the movie and get ready to see the sequel.”
DC Comics also will be reissuing “Suicide Squad #1,” which features Batman’s adversary, Harley Quinn. The release is in anticipation of the coming “Suicide Squad” movie, which comes out in August. In addition to free comic books, Lobo Anime & Comics also will have replicas of pop culture figures including a Jurassic Park jeep, Bumblebee from Transformers and a replica of the Batmobile from the late-1960s television show. Artists also will be signing and selling their work.
“Free comic book day is a boon for local comic stores and to thank loyal customers and to meet new customers,” Riggs said. “Free comic book day beats out my birthday; it beats out Christmas; I’m just excited about it.”
Down in Nob Hill, Astro-Zombies is expecting a large turnout, as it does every year.
“We gave away last year over 10,000 books,” Astro-Zombies manager Joe Annabi said. “This year there’s somewhere between 60 different titles to choose from. Each customer comes through the store, and we are allowing them to pick up to five that they can take for free. There will be sales on most stuff in the store. There will be discounted prices on a lot of the stock.”
Come early if you want to get your hands on the popular comic books.
“Sometimes an hour before it starts, the line is wrapping around down to the alley, Annabi said. “People want to get the hot books before we run out of them. If you are one of those people, expect to be in line with your comrade. A lot of people come dressed in their own costumes. Everyone has a good attitude. Everyone is happy for free stuff, mostly comic fans.”