"I want all of you to go to your local comic shop this Saturday"
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| "Free Comic Book Day." Artist: Sergio Aragonés |
Eben is one of Sacramento's creatives. He creates comic books, including Eben07 and B-Squad, and he creates comic book creators, teaching children how to create their own comic books.
We asked him if we could repost it to our blog, and he said yes. We've used the opening words of his post as the title for ours.
Before we get to that, we have something to add.
Sacramento is a unique town in many ways, but especially when it comes to comic shops. Very few towns support as many comic shops as Sacramento does. We count at least fifteen, but wouldn't be surprised if there are more and we just haven't heard about them yet.
Our town has embraced comic book and geek culture -- from Sac-Con to Wizard World Sacramento, from Art Mix: Crocker-Con to SacAnime and Free Comic Book Day Festival, and so on.
And Sacramento comic shops return the support. As a comic shop we do our best to champion our local creatives -- and not just comic book creators. We champion literacy and small business and the arts and local interest groups and so on.
So, Thank You, Sacramento!
"I want all of you to go to your local comic book shop this Saturday. Seriously. Stop with that "pFFttt" noise - yeah, I heard it. You, yes, you. Stop for a second. Say it aloud with me. "SIRI. Remind me to go to a comic book shop this Saturday."
Here is the deal... most every comic shop around the country will be doing something special this Saturday for Free Comic Book Day. Shops across the country will give away hundreds of thousands of comics FOR 100% FREE - no expectations & no questions - seriously 100% free on select models.
These shops will pour their energy into orchestrating this massive giveaway and also create raffles to benefit charities, swag bags for the kids, offer absurd how-are-they-making-any-mo
While their walls may echo with debates over if Batman can take out Wolverine (Batman wins... one word... magnets) ... they are owned and operated by your neighbors. People just doing their best to follow their bliss over get rich or die trying schemes. They work to make a great shop for the throngs who want to escape their day and delight in the strange and beautiful marriage of words and pictures that make comics so influential on today's culture.
So even if you're not a regular comic book reader, maybe you think superheroes are trite garbage, maybe you find zombies boring, maybe you have some other quick excuse for me like comics are just kid stuff and you only read "real" books...
Well, then, yo, dog, I am your huckleberry and I am definitely daring you. A triple dog dare. All the cherries-on-top, double stamp a triple stamp D-A-R-E - dare.
Let's say I got your thoughts on comics pegged earlier. I bet you at least can get behind a little love to support your local small businesses... right? So just go into a shop on that notion and explore even just a little bit. Maybe you drive by a shop every day and never have gone in. Go. Go over there this weekend.
Heck, ask me for recommendations! Ask me what shop to go to in your area! Treat me like a Google! I'm down to help you take this journey. We're all really lucky. We're living in an age where comics have never been better and truly something out there for every taste.
You will find something in that shop that will grab your curiosity - I dare you to embrace that curiosity and enjoy it. I would be floored if you couldn't find something!
Here are a few shops outside the Sacramento area I can completely recommend and where most of you live...
If you're in the LA-area, my favorite shop is Meltdown Comics and Collectibles
If you're in San Francisco, my favorite shop is Isotope - The Comic Book Lounge
If you're in San Luis Obispo area, my favorite shop is Dr. Cain's Comics and Games
And if you by chance live in Redding or Roseville, you can even meet a few artists that have worked with me on B-Squad or come say hi to my goofy face at Empire's Comics Vault among a sea of other local creators... there are shops all over Sacramento area (Big Brother Comics, World's Best Comics & Toys, Comic Command Center and Comics & Collectibles leap to mind) doing wonderful stuff.
You just need to go.
Saturday.
DO IT!
I DARE YOU!
:)And when you do, let me know how it went!
To those that need no daring to go, thank you so much. Thank you to everybody that continues to support these shops, people that support the misfits who draw write and create in this difficult and sublime medium --- the people like me, who are damning torpedoes and trying hard to make good comics happen --- thank you for your support over the years. You're the best of kind!
#fcbdfest2017
Cap tip to Sergio Aragonés' artwork here. His mustache is amazing.
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p.s. from Empire's: Don't miss out on FCBD Festival. Add it to your Facebook calendar right here. Lastly, at the end of his post, Eben names several shops in the area. We'd like to add some additional shops to that list -- Sacramento's Broadway Comics, Metropolis Comix in Elk Grove, A-1 Comics in Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom, Elk Grove Cards and Comics, Bizarro World in Davis, Ken's Comics & Collectibles in Rocklin, Adventures in Comics & Games in Carmichael, HR Sports Cards & Collectibles in Sacramento, and Sacramento's newest comic shop, Oblivion Comics & Coffee (serving Chocolate Fish's coffee!). What a great town to live in! Each shop has it's own personality -- it's own "vibe," if you will. We invite you to tour them all. See you on Free Comic Book Day.
p.p.s. Many apologies if we overlooked your shop! Please let us know and we'll add it.
The best little pug in the world will be dearly missed. Farewell, Rolly Polly.