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Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is coming once again folks, and in all honesty I'm asking myself what difference it really makes. Now, don't get me wrong. I realize that some places had a decent level of success with it, but from what I've read at the main website for the event, those places also had "major" comic personalities present at their shops. Here where I am it's another story.
The comic shop I'm a regular at is very small and only one of three local shops that I know of in the area. Unfortunately, FCBD didn't have any long term impact for the shop I go to. My shop owner even had an article in the local paper about FCBD, but nothing much came of it. He said he had a few extra customers that day, but none became regular customers. So, the question I'm pondering now is if this event is for the current readers or a lame attempt and gaining the attention of new customers.
I realize my last comment may frustrate a few comic shop owners (and maybe even publishers), but in the long run, what is the comic community trying to get done? It seems like a few publishers have basically decided to reprint past issues rather than actually coming up with something new and original to give current comic readers or introduce (and hook) new readers.
I've been pondering what could be done in order to get the most out of FCBD if it happens again and here is the list of stuff that I have come up with:
- If you're a company making a comic based movie/show that will be coming out (or is already on TV) around FCBD try and work something into a trailer/commercial. We've got Justice League, Transformers: Armada, He-Man, and Mutant-X on TV. Plus, X-Men trailers, Bulletproof Monk showing in theaters, and Daredevil has come and gone. I haven't seen anything regarding FCBD at any time during these shows or advertisements for them. Will it be a pain to get something like this going? Probably. I'm sure there would be lots of legal idiocy and hurdles to jump. However, if the companies really want to push this day and get some new blood in the stores it's time to go the extra mile.
- Stop reprinting old issues. Unless, the issues AFTER the one being reprinted are in some kind of collected form. Now, I don't expect everything between the reprinted issue and the current issue to be in a collect form, but at least the few issues following the reprint should be available. I know some publishers are doing this through planning or luck, but it doesn't appear that most are. I'll tell you what, if DC thinks that people are going to jump onto mainstream DC books after picking up Batman Adventures #1 on FCBD they need a serious reality check. Someone picking up the Way of the Rat collection after reading the FCBD edition? A definite possibility.
- If a company has to reprint something for their free comic because of time or money, then reprint something GOOD. Way of the Rat and Ultimate X-Men are good choices this year for their respective companies. Batman Adventures and Transformers: Armada are bad choices. I know Armada is deep thinking literature compared to the television incarnation, but how could you choose that over a Generation One issue? Please.
- Bring back profile books for the various companies. I'm talking about The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe for Marvel, Who's Who for DC, and who knows what for the other companies. For Marvel and DC their respective profile books were extremely helpful to me as a child because it allowed me to gain an understanding of each company's characters and universe. Give a kid a free Ultimate X-Men book and then make sure to let them know that if they want to know more about them to pick up "whatever" title to know more. Heck, just make sure annuals are out before FCBD and put character profiles in them. You know, then companies could also put in summaries of the previous year's adventures for the specific character(s) of the book. Isn't that what annuals used to be? Wow, something else to use annuals for besides poorly executed crossover events. What a concept.
- Comic shops (they have to help, too) should make sure they are listed with as many comic shop locators as possible on the web and 1-888-COMIC-BOOK. I just checked for my store quickly at the first two sites listed by Yahoo and they aren't listed on one of them. It doesn't help if someone wants to see what's offered up on FCBD and they can't find your shop. Plan ahead folks.
- Comic shops should try and get some local media coverage. Let's face it folks, for most of us the local television news and newspapers are full of fluff stories. Why not take a few minutes to make a call and see if you can get something out there through one of those channels? Admittedly it may not make much of a difference, but at least you can say you tried. Just make sure you don't dress up in a spandex suit for the interview. You want new customers, you don't want parents banning their kids from your store.
- Regular customers, be sure to ask if you can help the store. Yes, I'm sure the store is plenty happy to have your money, but why not ask your store owner (if you get along that is) if there is any way you could help them promote FCBD? I will openly admit I spaced FCBD this year, but I did tell my shop owner that I would be happy to help out for any TV news or newspaper stories by telling them about how I use comic characters sometimes when I work at the ropes course (I you actually read my ramblings regularly you'll remember I've mentioned that before). He seemed pleasantly surprised that I offered to help out. I don't think anything will come of it this year, but maybe next year.
- If you're a comic reader who works with adolescents then be sure to remind them that FCBD is coming up (that is if you won't get in trouble for doing so). Yeah, their parents or members of their extended family may believe that comics are "evil," or they may fear their child will grow up to be a geek if they begin reading them, but it never hurts to pass on information.
There they are, a few ideas to try and make FCBD a little more potent for the smaller shops that aren't able to get Geoff Johns or George Perez to stop by for a visit to help sales. Of course, only people who already read comics would likely know those names. We need new readers in the comic market people, and while FCBD has the potential to bring those readers in it's not going to happen unless everyone does something to help. If we're going to try this thing again then the publishers, stores, and readers need to get off their rears and start working. Otherwise, just drop the idea and let's stop wasting the time of the stores.
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