NCS and Free Comic Book Day!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Did everybody see this?

Encouraging kids of any age to discover and read comics has no downside, and to that end there is a wonderful annual event called Free Comic Book Day that happens in comic book specialty shops across North America and worldwide. Held the first Saturday in May each year, the premise is simple: any customer can walk into a comic shop and receive a free comic book!

Now in its 12th year, the folks who run Free Comic Book Day and the NCS are joining forces to help promote comic books as a gateway to fun reading and literacy. Many of you may already attend FCBD as a guest for signings, or personally in supporting your local shop. This promotion is a great thing not just for comic books and their publishers, but for the entire cartooning industry.

We’d like to ask members to promote comic books and FCBD on the day or days leading up to the event this year, which is Saturday, May 4, 2013, in their strips and comics. Whether it’s a mention is your daily, promotion of the event in your comic publication, or reaching out to fans and readers on your website or through social media, this is a fantastic program to encourage readers young and old to stop in their local comic book shop, get a free comic book and see what the world of comics and cartooning has to offer and interest them.

The FCBD folks also encourage members to contact their local comic book shop directly and inquire about setting up a book signing or personal appearance there. To find shops near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com

Since its inception, more than 27 million free comic books have been distributed to almost 8 million FCBD attendees. Last year, more than 3.5 million comics were given out, and the event generated over $1.8 million in free publicity for the event, comic books, and comic book shops. For more information, visit www.freecomicbookday.com.