Comic book fans, rejoice. Comics shops throughout Maryland and across the country will give away an estimated 2 million books Saturday in celebration of the appropriately named Free Comic Book Day.
The seventh all-day giveaway is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May each year and usually coincides with the release of a comic book-based movie. The new “Iron Man” film hit theaters Friday.
“Every year, Free Comic Book Day builds,” said Stephen Geppi, owner of Baltimore-based Diamond Comic Distributors, the world?s largest distributor of English-language comic books. “We?ve had stores tell us it?s better than Christmas for them.”
Diamond Comic Distributors totaled about $430 million in comic book sales in 2007, a 9 percent increase from 2006, according to data from the Comic Buyer?s Guide. Total U.S. comic books sales for the year were estimated to be $660 million to $700 million.
Geppi said comic books have made a comeback in recent years, fueled by the popularity of comic-based movies about Spider-Man, the X-Men and Batman.
“It?s a very good time to be in comics again,” Geppi said.
Collectors Corner in Baltimore County will open at 9 a.m. Saturday and give away 6,000 to 7,000 comics of various titles, said owner Randy Myers. Myers said he paid about 10 cents to 20 cents for each book that will be given away, but he looks at the cost as a valuable advertising expense. He expects his store to be busy all day and to attract new customers.
“It?s just a great day for the industry as a whole,” Myers said.
Geppi?s Entertainment Museum in Baltimore will participate in the giveaway, including giving away an Archie Comics book in which the characters have an adventure in the museum. Geppi himself appears in the comic.
“It?s pretty cool,” Geppi said. “It?s a little bit of a high to see yourself in a comic.”
Click here for a listing of local stores participating in Free Comic Book Day.
HOT COMICS
Top-selling comics in March 2008:
1. Stephen King?s Dark Tower: The Long Road Home – 124,000 (issues)
2. New Avengers – 103,00
3. Thor – 97,000
4. Amazing Spider-Man – 90,000
5. Uncanny X-Men – 89,000
Source: Inside Pop Culture
