Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is an annual promotional event for comic books in North America that occurs the first Saturday of May. The intent of FCBD is to bring new readers (and buyers) into comic book stores. The effort is coordinated by Diamond Comic Distributors, the industry’s single largest distributor. Since 2002 DCD has provided participating comic book stores with a selection of free comic books for varying age and reading levels to offer visitors on that day. In recent years DCD has expanded FCBD to reading and literacy allies like libraries and schools.
This year was a tricky year for me to participate in FCBD. Most of the stores in my area didn’t open until 10AM – at which time I had to be at work.
The joys of being a Saturday Librarian.
Enter: Funny Books – the sole story open at 9AM on a Saturday, which was also the same store I visited last year in the afternoon. This year though, given the difference in visiting times the store wasn’t crowded and I was able to pick-up my 5 free books virtually pain-free. I consulted the list DCD provided in the weeks leading up to FCBD of the available titles and wasn’t itching for any issue in particular. The industry is definitely gearing up for Guardians of the Galaxy at every turn, and Kaboom! Summer Blast is my yearly-cartoony go-to. I grabbed the following titles:
- Kaboom! Summer Blast
- Teen Titans Go!
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Futures End (The New 52)
- Rocket Raccoon
In honor of FCBD Funny Books was also offering a BOGO-half off sale of graphic novels in the store. Hello, volumes 2 and 3 of Saga. Overall, another successful FCBD.
Cassidy B. Charles 