Free Comic Book Day

[JCVaughn]

From ICv2.com
http://icv2.com/articles/home/2266.html

Corbit Wilkins of Captain Comics on Free Comic Book Day
Working with Schools

January 23, 2003
Corbit Wilkins of Captain Comics in Boise, Meridian, and Idaho Falls, Idaho reported good results with Free Comic Book Day last year (see "Captain Comics, World of Comics, Amazing Fantasy and Alternate Factor on FCBD").  This year he's going to work with schools to expand the impact of FCBD for his stores.

We have been busy building a partnership with all of the junior high and high school libraries for FCBD.  And although Saturday is a great day in general for the event, we've found that Friday would have been much
better.  Schools aren't open on Saturdays, and therefore can't be a part of the promotion with the rest of the country.  So we are going to have FCBD on two days.

Over 12 schools (so far) have "ordered" books from us to participate in FCBD on Friday the 2nd.  Basically, we are ordering the books (and paying for them), and then we will distribute the books to the schools.  The schools in turn will each have a booth set up with comic fans handing out the books!  This way we will (hopefully) get a good saturation of comics into the hands of quite a few kids!  I hope there isn't a problem with us giving the books away a day early in this manner...  But getting more books into the hands of more kids has to be a good thing!  Perhaps next year we can find a way to get the FCBD on Friday.  Anyway, just a thought...

[Weldon]

Now -THAT'S- what I'm talking about!
Get some comics in the hands of some kids out there!
If we don't become pro-active in generating a new crop or comic book reader then we may be the LAST CROP of comic book reader.

Do YOU want to be the old fart sitting in a rocking chair saying
"Eminem vs. The X-Men VIDEO GAME?  In MY day, we had to read paper books to get our superheroes!  You kids don't even know what a comic book IS do you?  I bet you have never even held a book in your HANDS!  You Video Game Holligans!
Now get outta here before I hit you upside the head with my colostomy bag!"

Think about it...
---Wel

[JCVaughn]

[Why does DCHeroClix introduce swimming as a power, yet not include any WATER on the maps?]  

I pointed this out to Steve Geppi in his office the other day.  :o

[Weldon]

And people already made fun of Aquaman because he talked to FISH!  Now he is a swimmer in a world with no water!
....how long till they come out with the 'Arm-fall-off Boy' Clix figure?

[BillyTucci]

We shipped a lot of books last year for "Free Comic Book Day," but I've got to tell you that I didn't even notice the press on it.  For some reason we were taken off Diamond's list to recieve previews.  I wonder if it's too late to get in on it.  Robert Randle at Diamond handled the situation and March 2003 book arrived today.  I also have to give Marty Grosser a call because we weren't asked to comment on what we've got coming out in 2003.  Perhaps I truly dropped the ball on both accounts by not taking the initiative, but it would have been nice to have gotten a phone call or email on the subject(s).

[JCVaughn]

Billy -

The people who shipped extra comics but didn't do a special issue for Free Comic Book Day got much less of a reaction than the folks who did special issues.

JCV

[JCVaughn]

Are you going to your comic shop on Free Comic Book Day?

Is your retailer participating?

[Weldon]

Obviously, I'm participating....
However, I think a more important question is
"Are you encouraging anyone NEW to go to your shop?"

I am telling my friends at work to hit comic shops that day and get a free book just for walking in the door.

The industry is going to get a LOT more benefit out of one new person going into a store and getting a free book than just giving one free book to ME.
Sure, that title may pick up one new reader (ME), but if it's someone else, they may buy SEVERAL titles new to them.

(hey....how did I get on this soapbox?....sorry.)
---Wel