Free Comic Book Day 2009 Report

May 2nd, 2009 - Free Comic Book Day - It's been a pretty long day, and I'm so not done my clean up. But the clean up is really nothing to me, because I had a blast today!

The first Saturday of May is Free Comic Book Day! I've been going since 2005, and this has become a fun yearly event.

Once again, the day started at One Million Comix. The reasoning for this, is because it's a place right next to a parking lot, and this allows for purchasing comic supplies at the shop, as well as picking up supplies at Curry's (sketchpads, portfolios, etc). Also, for the selection of new and recent releases that my shop doesn't order.

After One Million Comix, the next stop was The Labyrinth. They did have a pretty good sale, which did cause the store to get extremely busy. Lots of people were buying, and I totally would have too, except that it was tough for me to look for items, as it was busy in the store. If I'm not mistaken, I believe the artbooks were not on sale. As much as I was hoping for them to be on sale, I figured they weren't going to be. Oh well.

The next stop was The Beguiling. I wasn't able to make it out last year, but was determined to make it this year... especially with the release of Comics Festival! 2009.

The Beguiling had a great guest list this year's Free Comic Book Day signing. Unfortunately for me, with planning for the next stop, that didn't allow me much time to spend with the guests here. At least there's TCAF next weekend.

I was hoping to catch Chip Zdarsky this year, and luckily for me, he was there! I just had to get a Chip Zdarsky Zatanna for my collection, and I'm grateful that he did one!

The final stop of the day was Stadium Comics, for their Free Comic Book Festival.

The guests looked busy, the store was busy, so it looked like it was definitely a successful event. I made my way into the store, to search for potential items for me to purchase, before heading back into the mall, to see the guests.

I felt this was a perfect opportunity to get a sketch from Alex Milne. Everytime at the cons, it's either I'm already headed to see someone else (when Alex looks available for a sketch), or he's working on something (in which I don't want to interrupt). Quite happy to have another Zatanna added to my collection, this one by Alex Milne.

After getting my first sketch from Vince Sunico, I wanted to get another one. Decided on another female character that I'm collecting, and Vince drew her sexy!

If you haven't gone to see him at the conventions, you're missing out on a great artist. Vince, and fellow studio mate, Arnold Trinidad were cranking out the sketches for all the kids that came up. Those were some great stuff. Hopefully these kids appreciate it.

Some more great artists that were cranking out sketches for anyone that came out, Francis Manapul, Agnes Garbowska, and Marcio Takara. Due to it getting busy again, and having to leave, I missed out on a Marcio Takara sketch here. No worries, as I'll most likely see him at TCAF, at one of the Joe Shuster Awards Booth Signings.

I did get great sketches from Francis Manapul and Agnes Garbowska. I also picked up a bunch of new keychains from Agnes. Lots of great new items, and I snatched up some. Had to have that Zatanna keychain, as well as the rest that I picked up.

Don't forget to keep yourself updated with Agnes' new project, You, Me and Zombie.

Also, check out the preview to Adventure Comics, that Francis' is illustrating. SPOILER ALERT!!! If you haven't read Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #4, don't click that link.

When it was all done, this was a great event. Stadium Comics may be the new hot spot for upcoming years.

Thanks to all the stores that participated in the Free Comic Book Day promotion! And Thanks to all the artists that sketched me something amazing!