You Attended FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: 13 Quick Thoughts On What’s Next
Retailer MARC HAMMOND of Aw Yeah Comics in New York ponders the aftermath of the event… By MARC HAMMOND Free Comic Book Day, the largest event on the calendar for most comic-book stores, has once again come and gone. Even in this uncertain economic climate, the report I heard from many retailers (and our own locations) was that it was the best one yet. We saw higher foot traffic, more purchases, and less people coming in only for whatever free stuff they could get. All in all, a great day, and we’re already planning for next year. The real question is “What’s next?” Assuming you attended an event at one of the many excellent stores who participated, you may be asking yourself what you do from here. If you’re a longtime comics fan, you’ll probably settle back into established routines and normal scheduling. Nothing wrong with that. If you’re new to our world (welcome, by the way!), you might not have a routine to resume. Here are 13 suggestions on what you can do next in the wild, wonderful world of comics: — 1. Don’t wait until next year to visit that comic book store. Or another store. Or both! Chances are you’ll be able to experience the shop without a throng of free-comic devotees. Take your time, look around, talk to the staff, and really get a feel for how the store operates on a regular day. You never know, it might become your new favorite place. 2. Hopefully, you read the comics you picked up on FCBD, and didn’t just put them away, hoping they will produce a gold mine later in life. The point of these comics, of any comics, is to be read and enjoyed. There’s something to be said for the fun of collecting comics like your favorite Pokemon, but the real magic lies within the pages. Think about which you enjoyed. Did the end of the comic point to something coming up, like a new series, or to a graphic novel that is already available? If so, seek it out. Ask the staff at the shop for help, if you’re not sure. 3. In fact, that’s an excellent habit to develop. Please ask any time you are not sure. Shop staff are there to help, armed with myriad suggestions of titles we love, and...
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