In the days leading up to Free Comic Book Day everyone here worked together and became a well-oiled machine. I couldn’t believe how easily things were coming together now, I guess that we’ve done enough of FCBD’s and we now know what we’re doing. 

It’s 11:00 on Saturday May 6^th, the sky was slightly overcast, and I was surprised that there wasn’t a line to get in like there was in previous years. When we first opened, there was a single family coming into the door. My disappointment was short-lived as I saw people coming out of cars and coming into the store. Practically everyone that came in brought someone else, either a friend or children.  They were greeted at the front and given a clear plastic bag to put their free comics in.  People we then instructed that if they wanted more free comics, they’d have to work their way towards the back of the store, past racks of new comics, toys and graphic novels. 

Usually on FCBD, we start to slow down at four o’clock. We’ve been hopping from the time we opened.  I’m looking at the clock and it’s 4:45pm and people are still coming in.  And the store didn’t start to empty out until fifteen minutes before closing time.

So how did Free Comic Book day go for us this year?

Simply put, it was the best ever.  We had the highest sales of any Free Comic Book Day as well of the year.  We also had a record number of people- at least four hundred and fifty people walked through the doors of our 1900 square foot store.  It was the best sales day this year, and beating sales figures from the previous FCBD.  Although that can’t be discarded, that wasn’t the point. 

There was a lot going on in addition to the free comics. Local comic artist John Hebert showed up to do sketches and talk with the fans, and we had a visit from Storm-one of the leaders of the X-Men, as well as the maid of Steel, Supergirl.  And in a surprise appearance, Batman’s sidekick Robin showed up to meet the fans.

It was great seeing families coming in with their children and helping them pick out comics, as well as seeing the interaction between customers, employees, and the guests. While there were a respectable amount of regulars who came to support FCBD, there were people who I hadn’t seen in years show up.  There was this couple who came in that used to be regular subscribers that came in with their twelve year old daughter, and the last I saw her, she was sleeping in a stroller. The local newspaper came, as did the local news to cover the event, so we got an opportunity to show off our new sign. One little girl was upset that Poison Ivy wasn’t here again this year.  Little did she know that standing right behind her, listening with a smile and signing an autograph was the same person now dressed as Storm. 

It wasn’t which comic that DC or Marvel published or which heroclix were offered. It was the event that brings everyone together and the love for the medium itself.  Whether they were comic artists, costumed heroines, employees, or guests, all of these people came to participate and support FCBD.  A celebration of comics and how they have given us enjoyment, and you don’t even have to read them to appreciate them or their influence.

If you make the event special enough, people will pick up that you’re enjoying what you do and they will respond whether you sell comic books or weed whackers. And it only works, because you believe in what you’re doing. 

JC Glindmyer
Earthworld Comics
537 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
(518) 459-2400
www.earthworldcomics.com