Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I really think that Free Comic Book Day is a complete crock of shit for anywhere outside of America. For those in the dark, Free Comic Book Day was inspired by Baskin Robbins Free Scoop day or some such bollocks, where you go in and get some free ice cream. The idea was ported over to the funny books and basically you go into a comic book store and get a free comic book or two.
Sounds like a good plan right? Wrong. It only works in America where the shipping costs of these books is not an issue. Otherwise the retailer picks up the tab over here, and it's a complete NON event. I've tried to get into the spirit of the day, taken friends to the comic book store, tried to get them into the day, but it all was for nothing. One store was selling the 'free' comics, and several others we just not interested in the whole event.
Good idea, but I didn't make anything of it and I won't be bothering with it ever again. In addition to that the comics that they've chosen to give away are rubbish. I'm not trying to be harsh here, but none of these books would make me want to come in next week and buy the next installment or whatever, (that's if I wasn't hooked on the medium of course, hypothetically speaking). Here's a list of the Gold Sponsors. With the exception of Flight, it's a whole lot of nothing interesting. Flight on the other hand is a primer, so it'll have a few pages of this or that, not really a solid story.
it's good to see that the initiative keeps coming ever year, as this is effectively the 4th time it's held but it's not something I can use. What I can use, and I'm pretty happy that Vertigo has done, is that £5 book of #1s. They compiled some of the best #1 from their fantastic line of books and put them under one cover as a way to get people to try something different. I've got all the issues in one form or another in this book, however it's great to give it out to people.
So...you want a free comic book or two?
I live in the States and its not that big a deal here either. I only ever hear about FCD after the fact. While I have a similar passion about comics as I imagine you have, well maybe not as big a passion. It's terribly difficult to walk into a shop and pick up a comic. First, they're intimidating. Am I geek enough to be here? Second, confusing, where the heck are all the comics and why are there so many warhammer figures and pokemon cards? Third, where to start?
I'm a completist by nature. If I don't see episode 1 of a new tv show I never watch it till I can start with reruns. I always feel like I'm missing something. So usually I end up picking a short run or anything by Masamune Shirow. I just don't know what to grab.
Hmm that's pretty funny you should say that about tv shows, I'm soo like that. I think that's the only reason I've not gotten into Alias, mainly because I missed the first episode, and that was it, couldn't be bothered after that, same goes for Battlestar Galactica. Seems like the type of series I'd go for, however not really got the time, might get it on DVD at some point.
Back to the topic however, it's pretty true about knowing where to start. In the past 5 years I've actually stopped buying pamphlets and instead by Graphic Novels, or tradepaperbacks, better value for money, and I don't have the headache of hunting things down every week.
Obvious problem is that I might miss out on an actually good story, however there are soo many stories released in the format that I want that it's ok.
One of the things I wanted to do actually was to have BK give more GN reviews, it's just I've been too preoccupied right now with a whole bunch of stuff. Maybe I should get back into it really...
Have you seen Ghost in the Shell 2 yet?
Yes, fantastic. It's just... oooh when the birds.. and then ahhh.. oooh...
Ehm...Sorry for interupting but,anyone said "free icecream" here? MMMmmmmmmm shlourrrpp!!!!