Free Comic Book Day

I've been wanting to do a blog about my comic book experiences for a little while now and when I decided to follow through with it I wanted my experience at Free Comic Book Day to be the first blog I made. There are a few reasons why but mostly it was because I wanted to take my daughter with me and write about our experience together and i figured it would be a good starting point. It did turn out better however because my whole family went to take in the experience with me.
I've only been collecting comics for about two years now and getting weekly comics for just over one year (I've read back issues mostly for a little while). I had never been to a Free Comic Book Day before and didn't know what it was all about. Over the past year or so I've realized the importance of supporting local comic shops and how the industry is being hurt by being able to buy comics online. Although i do understand the convince of being able to read comics on your iPad or tablet or computer and the space it saves for storage, but I think it is a fun experience holding the real thing and flipping through the pages and having something to collect.

Free Comic Book Day, or FCBD, has several purposes. One is to thank all the loyal customers for the past year for their continued support to the comic book store and the comic industry by giving them something free. Two is gain interest to potential readers by giving them a free comic and show them how great comics are. For me it was a combination I guess. I wanted to support my shop by being there but also (like a lot of people like do) introduce comic books to my children. (Reed's a little young so he gets a pass.) All stores are different in how much is free and what not but at my store (Augusta Book Exchange) you were able to get three items. Now it's just not any comics in the store, they have set ones they have gotten just for the day. I let Ella pick out two comics (Tinker Bell and Strawberry Shortcake/ Sesame Street) and I got a Superman one.

The store does other things too to spark interest. They had local artist their displaying and selling their art and also people dressed up in costumes like super heroes aka: Cosplay. (Other stores do different things like have big name artist and writers at the store doing signings but mostly in big cities where they live) Ella and Reed got their picture taken with some heroes. Ella wasn't sure about it at first. I think she was worried because we took her comics away from her for the picture.

Although it was a cold wet and rainy day, it seem to have a good turn out, at least when I was there. Today was, for me, all about supporting my comic book shop and letting Ella get her first comic book and doing it as a family. Although we weren't there very long, mainly because Reed had to eat very soon, we had a great time. Ella is so excited about her comic books and I get to read it to her. Thanks Augusta Book Exchange and everyone who puts on FCBD. And go support you local comic book shop.