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No kidding: Stores offer free comic books
Area stores celebrate Free Comic Book Day with fun giveaways
Date published: 5/4/2006
By COLLETTE CAPRARA For THE FREE LANCE-STAR "Jeepers, Mr. Kent!" Comic books for free? It's true. This Saturday, thousands of young readers around the world will receive millions of free comic books, as the industry celebrates its fifth annual international Free Comic Book Day. Among those joining in the festivities locally will be Travis Cooper, manager of Comic World at Aquia Towne Center in Stafford County, and Jack Mingus, owner and manager of Big Monkey Comics at Lee's Hill Shopping Center in Spotsylvania County. "Comic books and jazz are the two authentically American art forms," Cooper said. Now virtually a worldwide phenomenon, comics emerged as newspaper strips in the beginning of the 20th century and developed into their own publication, the comic book. "The first superhero in a comic book was Superman, who made his appearance in 1939," Mingus said. "So he's a venerable old man. The superhero is a quintessentially American phenomenon." The major subject of comics differs from country to country, Mingus said. "In Japan, for example, comic books tend to feature romance or mythology, while in the United States there has been a resurgence of Westerns and spy thrillers," he said. Free Comic Book Day is an industrywide event that allows store visitors to choose from a variety of books specially produced for the celebration by different publishers. No purchase is required to receive the free publications, which will include longstanding characters, such as Archie, Uncle Scrooge, G.I. Joe, Batman, Superman, X-Men and Transformers. In addition to the books, some stores will offer other freebies. Comic World will give out a special Wolverine figure from the popular comic-inspired miniature game HeroClix by WizKids. The Big Monkey store will feature a party atmosphere with free balloons, pizza, hourly giveaways and discounts on products throughout the store. The first Free Comic Book Day was celebrated on the same weekend that the first Spider-Man movie was released, underscoring a longstanding tie between the comic publishing industry and Hollywood. For years, both the characters and the stories of comics have found expression on the big screen. And recently, individuals who have directed and written for film have turned their talents to the creation and publication of comic books.
Date published: 5/4/2006
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