Free Comic Book Day Festival 2018 Guide

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Photo by J Ravensong Productions
We're giving away 20,000 free comic books on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at our annual Free Comic Book Day Festival that includes a charity raffle, live wrestling, roller derby athletes, West Coast Avengers cosplayers, Stormtroopers, face painting, balloon art, food trucks and more! 

Free Comic Book Day Festival 2018

DATE: May 5, 2018

Doors open at:
  • 8 a.m. for Savings Club Members
  • 9 a.m. for Guests

STOREWIDE SALE

  • 25% OFF Graphic novels, collected editions, toys, variant wall (variants and back issues on the wall), and variants in the boxes behind the counter. 
  • NOTE: art on the art wall is not on sale, but is available as priced. 
Back issues
(not including back issues on the Variant Wall) 
  • IF COVER PRICE is $15.01+ = SALE is 75% OFF cover price 
  • COVER PRICE $1-5 = ON SALE FOR .50c 
  • COVER PRICE $5.01-10 = ON SALE FOR $1 
  • COVER PRICE $10.01-15 = ON SALE FOR $2 


PARKING + FESTIVAL LAYOUT

Parking is available on Larkspur. It's the street next to the shop.


(Click to expand)

GUEST (NON-MEMBER) BENEFITS

As one of our Guests enjoy:
1. The wrestling, 
2. Cosplay,
3. Free face painting and balloon art for the kids,
4. The sale,
5. Local creatives,  
6. Games, 
7. Charity Raffle, and
8. Select up to 10 Free Comic Book Day titles! 
Be sure to check out the full list of exhibitors below.

Photo by J Ravensong Productions


MEMBERS ONLY FESTIVAL BENEFITS


(If you're not a Member, you can skip this section. Or maybe read it. Sign up by 12/31/2018 to receive these benefits in 2019.)

Members, this year you may choose between the following two options:
(1) pre-select 10 FCBD titles as part of their May benefit (Must have signed up by 12/31/17) or 
(2) get in line on Free Comic Book Day and take up to 1 of each title. If you choose option 2, then come at your leisure and go straight to the Members' Only VIP Line, a.k.a., the short line. 

Also come at 8 a.m. for one hour of private, early access to free comics, and to take advantage of the sale. 

After the FCBD Festival ends, we began celebrating Free Comic Book MONTH every Saturday in May. It features FCBMonth-exclusive comic books, collected editions, and posters -- for FREE. Members can come any Saturday they want or every Saturday. NOTE: Only Savings Club Members who enrolled by December 31, 2017, are eligible for this benefit.


Photo by J Ravensong Productions

FCBD FESTIVAL FEATURES AND GUESTS


Here's a complete list of participants at this year's festival.

Food
  • Wandering Boba: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Filipino / Asian cuisine.  Serving delicious Filipino dishes, Milk Teas and Fruit Infused Teas.  Wandering the Sacramento and Northern California region.
  • What's Happenin' Italian Ice: Facebook
Artists and Writers
  • Bianca Kim: Bianca is the owner of FRESHbiscuits and the maker of illustrative prints/paper goods, handmade accessories, gifts and home décor. Past creations have ranged from soy candles made from diamond-cut and polished glass bottles, chokers made from vintage velvet ribbon and a removable charm, aprons made from vintage sheets, and any number of imaginative, but useful items. Bianca creates in small batches in order to limit excessive waste. Find her online at: Etsy | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
  • Chris Cinder: Instagram | Chris is a true-born doodler/dreamer turned artist/gamer/storyteller, raised and educated in Sacramento around a robust and diverse arts community. His influences run the range of pop music and comics thru hobby/video gaming and adventure films. His work focuses on story and characters. Many of his pieces will follow a character through its adventures and discoveries. His ongoing art effort, the Hakobots, tell the stories of heroes and villains in the world of Hakotown.  
  • Crystaline Owen: Etsy | Crystaline is a California raised artist who works mostly in watercolors and inks. She graduated from SacState with a BA in art education and now enjoys teaching art classes to small children. She has been using watercolors for 10 years and finds most of her inspiration in nature. Crystaline prefers watercolor because it enables her to both paint in great detail as well as explore the freedom of letting the paint do it’s own thing.
  • Dan Bethel: D. Bethel has been writing and drawing comics since 2007. Simultaneously a comicker, a podcaster, and a professor of Composition and Rhetoric at CSU, Sacramento, he co-created, co-wrote, and illustrated his first webcomic, Eben07, for six years from 2007 to 2013, publishing over 200 pages and seven books. In 2014, he started his second webcomic, Long John, an introspective western about a famous gunslinger faced with betrayal when he is left for dead in the middle of nowhere with no guns, no friends, and no clothes. With the first two chapters published to critical acclaim, the third chapter makes its print debut at Empire’s Comics Vault’s FCBD 2018. You can find his work at LongJohnComic.com
  • danieL tuUCaaN sTaRfLowER: danieL is the creator and publisher of the Underwater Crystal Zone line of comics, which includes a series of minicomics and the kickstarted webcomic Escape from Cubicleland. dan’s comics have appeared in indie anthologies and zines, including: Suspect Device 2, Catch-Up 3, SHAQZINE, and Memory. danieL lives in West Sacramento with his wife and a small tribe of children and animals. | Underwater Crystal Zone's Online Store
  • Eben E. B. Burgoon: Eben has been writing comics independently for more than a decade. Coming from a background in short fiction and sketch comedy, Eben's first foray into comics was with Eben07: Covert Custodian -- a webcomic about spies and their janitorial staff. Currently, Eben is working on new episodes of B-Squad: Soldiers of Misfortune while collaborating on various projects with Starburns Industries startup imprint, SBI PRESS, and their project "The Book of Nightmares" and working closely with artist Danny Scheible on international Tapigami exhibitions and creating how-to books and kits. In addition to writing, Eben's been out in Sacramento advocating for the use of comics in schools as literature and arts. He can frequently be found in the world teaching kids and adults how to bring their stories to life. Eben is based in Sacramento, CA with two cats, two dachshunds, and one very special lady. His beard is as big as your head. 
  • Ghost Thunder Collective: GhostThunder is a Sacramento-based collective comprised of writer David Andry and artists Christopher Alvarez and Hannah Moore. Together they create comics, prints, t-shirts and other cool things. 
  • Heather Merrifield: Facebook | Instagram | Heather is a photographer and graphic artist who enjoys taking photos to show how beautiful the mundane can be. She captures everyday moments in an unusual way. Recently she has been working more with photo manipulation, trying her hand at more fanciful creations, straying toward the fantasy realm. Fantasy and reality often combine to give the same photograph several different incarnations. Every aspect of photography fascinates her, and she can’t get enough of the medium.
  • Jared Konopitski: JaredKonopitski.com | Facebook | Instagram. Jared Konopitski is an artist living and working in Sacramento, California. His work has been exhibited at galleries, festivals, and museums internationally and across the US, including The Smithsonian, Washington D.C., The Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, and The Mutter Museum, Philadelphia, PA. Jared has had his work featured in The New Yorker (2014), Color Ink Book (2013), Papercut Magazine (2013), Arcana’s Steampunk Originals (2013), Heavy Metal Magazine (2012), Catapult Magazine (2012), DisColouring Book (2012), Penumbra eZine (2012), and Wow!cool! Psycho Nurse Calendar (2011). Jared has worked with many clients such as Universal Studios, Showtime, Art O Mat, Turning Art, PBS the offices of MAD magazine and more. In addition, Jared has curated numerous gallery shows and corporate art seminars. In his spare time, he enjoys facilitating art workshops, with focus on early art education. His art has been compared to a rush of sugar, appealing to children and wonderfully strange to adults. 
  • Jen Monson: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Web | Jen works in a variety of media and is always pushing the bounds of her creativity. No one media can contain her, and she continually searches for other surfaces to create upon. 
  • Julie Okahara: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram - Julie was born in Osaka, Japan. After graduating from Osaka Industrial Arts High School, she started her career as a graphic designer. Wanting to further her studies in studio art, Okahara came to California in 2005. Since then her mediums have expanded into acrylic painting, ink drawing, sewing, and plaster, wood, and clay sculpture. She still likes to claim herself as a self-taught artist, since she didn’t take any painting classes in college, yet most of her works are mixed media paintings. Her style is influenced by both Japanese and American pop art culture. She likes putting different everyday life items together to create her own world. Her first solo show took place in Midtown Sacramento in 2010 where she won acclaim and a following for her signature use of bright colors and mixed media. She has since put on more solo shows and has been in multiple group exhibitions in Bay Area and Sacramento. Julie's artwork was featured at Empire's Comics Vault in March.

  • Justin Orr: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Justin is an illustrator, concept artist and animator from Northern California.  He has worked in numerous artistic fields including animation, gaming, and commercial advertising. His work has encompassed time with companies such as Nickelodeon, MTV, Picture Plane Illustration, Wild Brain Animation and Leap Frog. He has contributed artwork to various popular properties such as SpongeBob Square Pants, Star Wars, Super Mario Bros and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He has created artwork for clientele as far away as Australia and his concept design work has even taken him overseas to work in Japan for a stint. Additionally, he has done work for clientele, which also includes TBS and VIZ Media, all while running his own independent art studio in Oakland, California.
  • Kristine Balog: Kristine is a Sacramento based artist, scholar, and author. She is an Associate Professor of Art History and a freelance illustrator. She's the creator of Caravaggio’s Darkness, a comic book series based on the life of Baroque painter Caravaggio, in development for a two-volume graphic novel edition. Kristine is the creator of a series of adult coloring books titled Coloring with the Masters. She has had both academic nonfiction and historical fiction works published and has been making appearances giving lectures on both her research and her books. Her first novel, "Caravaggio: Of Oil and Blood" debuted in May of 2017 and her second, "Caravaggio: Of Iron and Steel" was published in February 2018. Book three, "The Colonna Conspiracy" is slated for publication in the fall of 2018, with book four, "The Dark of Knight," and book five, "Whispering Blade" projected for early 2019 release. As an Art Historian, Kristine blended history with fantasy and released never-before-considered theories about Caravaggio in the timeless tradition of novel form. Kristine is an oil painter, with her focus rooted in sixteenth-century classical traditions, but she also works in silverpoint, pen and ink, charcoal, pastel, and watercolor. At this year's Free Comic Book Day Festival, Kristine is elated to launch her new project, "Alchemental: Rise of the Celestial Sphere," a fantasy trading card game where Dungeons and Dragons meets Final Fantasy meets Magic. Find Kristine online at: KristineBalog.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
  • Kyrun Silva: After launching and running his first comic publishing company, Kyrun decided it was time to start his second company, Taurus Comics. The first book from Taurus Comics is Shaman's Destiny; a six issue mini-series, written and drawn by Kyrun. The book follows a neophyte shaman who must stop a madman from stealing the source of all the shamans powers. Along with Shaman's Destiny,  Kyrun will be launching Xob the Lightning Wielder, written by Kyrun and featuring the artwork of David Jaxon and Federico Sioc Jr. Xob follows a young woman who must balance her duties of being a college student along with being a superhero. Connect with Taurus Comics at: TaurusComics.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
  • Lee Nordling: Lee is an Eisner-nominated and award-winning writer, editor, designer, book packager, and creative director. He worked on staff at the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Disney Publishing, DC Comics, Nickelodeon Magazine, and Platinum Studios. His sequential art book, “The Bramble,” won the 2013 Moonbeam Gold Medal for Picture Books (ages 4-8), and “BirdCatDog,” a 2015 Eisner Awards nominee, received the 2015 Moonbeam Spirit Award Gold Medal for “Imagination,” and was chosen by “Kirkus Reviews” as one of the best children’s books of 2014. “SheHeWe,” the third book in his “3-Story Books” series, was a 2016 Eisner Award nominee for Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8). His current young-reader comics series, “Game For Adventure,” with Scott Roberts and Flavío Silva, is being published by Graphic Universe. Lee is the author of “Your Career In the Comics” and “Comics Creator Prep,” and he lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, Cheri, and numerous pets that earn their kibble by offering inspiration. Connect with Lee online at: LinkedIn | Facebook 
  • Matt Marchetti and Cory Patten: After being the first person to ski down an erupting volcano with sharks tied to his feet and then using said sharks to surf on a tidal wave to safety, Matt was not heard from for many years.  He later resurfaced being lured out of hiding by PEZ and comic books.   After traveling the world as a motivational speaker for ducks and mentoring the first duck to run a fortune 500 company,  he was abducted by ninjas hired by a mad scientist.  He later became the ninjas’ leader and mastered many forms of martial arts.  After his world tour to reform people who drive too slow and leave the toilet seat up (mostly by ninja-kicking these offenders into submission), Mr. Marchetti began writing and illustrating The Slightly Insane Spontaneously Combusting Frothing Mutant Ninja Blackbelt Samurai RABBIT-WALRUS from Hell comic books, loosely based on his many adventures.
    Cory is a co-creator of the Plotless Comics universe and the artist/writer of Sadocat. Sadocat follows the hilarious adventures of a super-powered cat and his electric-tongued sidekick, Flatline Frog, as they battle unlikely villains in an attempt to be superheroes. When Cory’s not drawing the hijinks and shenanigans of crazy super-powered animals, he enjoys laughing at his own jokes, procrastinating, and falling off of surfboards.     https://www.facebook.com/sadocat/


Bookends/art by Nooligan. Photo by J Ravensong Productions.

  • Hainanu "Nooligan" Saulque: HaiNaNu “Nooligan" Saulque is an artist, comic creator and graphic designer based in Sacramento, CA. An old soul in a young body, HaiNaNu finds inspiration in times past. His style is contemporary with a flare of nostalgia. From the cartoons of his youth to films he missed by decades, from golden age comics to classic newspaper strips, you will find a creator who has immersed himself in what he loves. Nooligan.com | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram. 
  • Rachel Strum: Local wand-maker Rachel Strum handcrafts fantasy wands. With a background ranging from illustration to stained glass, Rachel’s experience in mixed media has inspired wands, unlike any others. Beginning by hand selecting quality supplies, pairing gems individually with wood bases, and then intensively layering mixed media, her wands capture the imagination and inspire a sense of beauty. The delicate balance between beauty and practicality within all her whimsical creations has sprouted from the needs in her life, be it simple toys or giant strawberry pillows. Transforming common materials into playful creations is a labor of love inspired by Rachel’s belief that every day should come with a touch of magic. Connect with Rachel online at: Etsy | Facebook | Twitter
Community Groups
  • Supreme Pro Wrestling: enjoy live wrestling. Supreme Pro Wrestling was founded in 2000 and has run monthly shows ever since.  Members of the SPW Roster have gone on to work for every major company in the world, including WWE, Impact, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Lucha Underground.  Each year SPW does charity shows to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand (a children’s cancer charity), Sacramento Food Bank, and the Children’s Receiving Home. SPW prides it’s self on being family friendly and being a positive in the community.
  • The 501st Legion: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Mingle with the Empire's baddest troopers. The 501st Legion is an all-volunteer organization formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts from around the world under a collective identity within which to operate.
  • West Coast Avengers: Facebook | Cozy up to Northern California's coolest cosplayers. The West Coast Avengers was founded to provide a collective identity for costuming fans in California with similar interests and promotes creating, owning, and wearing the costumes from the Marvel Universe featured in films, comics, and television. We are proud to put its resources to good use through charity work and volunteerism.  We regularly make appearances at hospitals, children's charities, and community events.
  • Sacramento Roller Derby: Website | Have wheels, will fly! But they're always happy to stop for a photo. Created from the unification of Sac City Rollers and Sacred City Derby Girls, Sacramento Roller Derby combines the best skaters in the greater Sacramento region. Both teams operated in Sacramento for over ten years and have been leaders in northern California and have represented Sacramento at national and international tournaments within the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). 
    Black Panther Booth: Marvel Studios will be setting up a booth to give away Black Panther mini one sheets and have a way to enter for a chance to win a FREE digital copy.
Photo by J Ravensong Productions




FCBD Festival Map 2018

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We're about a month out from Free Comic Comic Book Festival. As usual, we're taking over the parking lot for all of our festival activities: live Supreme Pro Wrestling, West Coast Avengers cosplayer, Vader's 501st troopers, face painting, balloon sculptures, games, and more. 

Plus, this year, we're planning to have our exhibitors out-of-doors! It's going to be an amazing comic book festival. Coming soon, we'll post complete festival details. 



Complete Guide to Free Comic Book Day Festival 2017

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We're giving away 20,000 free comic books on Saturday, May 6, 2017 and features:
  • Charity raffle! 
  • Live wrestling! 
  • Roller derby athletes! 
  • West Coast Avengers cosplayers! 
  • Stormtroopers! 
  • Face painting! 
  • Balloon art! 
  • Food trucks and more! 

2017 Free Comic Book Day Festival
DATE: May 6, 2016
(Add this event to your FB calendar)

Doors open at:
  • 8 a.m. for Savings Club Members
  • 9 a.m. for new guests
STOREWIDE SALE
  • 25% OFF Graphic novels, collected editions, toys, statues, variant wall (variants and back issues on the wall), and variants in the box. 
  • NOTE: art wall not on sale, regular price only. 
Back issues
(not including back issues on the Variant Wall)
  • IF COVER PRICE is $15.01+ = SALE is 75% OFF cover price 
  • COVER PRICE $1-5 = ON SALE FOR .50c 
  • COVER PRICE $5.01-10 = ON SALE FOR $1 
  • COVER PRICE $10.01-15 = ON SALE FOR $2 
PARKING + FESTIVAL LAYOUT
Parking is available on Larkspur. It's the street next to the shop.


Click to Expand

MEMBERS ONLY FESTIVAL BENEFITS

If you're not a Member, you can skip this section. Or maybe read it. Sign up by 12/31/2017 to receive the special treatment in 2018.

Members, whenever you get here, use the Members's Only VIP Line, a.k.a., the short line. But if you get here early...

We're opening the store one hour early for our Members to access free comics, to meet Sacramento creatives exhibiting in the store (full list below), and to take advantage of our storewide sale (details below).

Every Saturday in May we are celebrating Free Comic Book MONTH. It features FCBMonth-exclusive comic books, collected editions, and posters -- for FREE. Members can come any Saturday they want or every Saturday. NOTE: Only Savings Club Members who enrolled by December 31, 2016 are eligible for this benefit.

FCBD FESTIVAL FEATURES AND GUESTS

Here's a complete list of guests for this year's festival.

Food
  • Wandering Boba 
  • FreshMed Mediterranean Cuisine 
Artists and Writers
Community Groups
  • Supreme Pro Wrestling: enjoy live wrestling. 
  • The 501st Legion: Mingle with the Empire's baddest troopers. 
  • West Coast Avengers: Cozy up to Northern California's coolest cosplayers. 
  • Sac City Rollers: Have wheels, will fly! But they're always happy to stop for a photo. 
  • Cracking The Vault Podcast: It's the shop's official, all-ages podcast. Chat with these folks and you may get featured in an episode. The FCBD Preview episode is up now. | website | 
  • Reality Comics LLC: These folks produce some fine video about geek culture, comics, and more. Be sure to spend some time with them. 
  • The Capeless Crusaders: These vid- and podcasters are a rip roaring good time. Join them as they talk about comics, geekery, and more.

FCBD Festival 2016 map now available

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Click MAP to enlarge.
We're want to make this as easy as possible as possible for the more than one thousand Savings Club Members and new friends and visitors, SO we put together this little map.

This map will show you:

  • Where to park (get here early!)
  • Where to stand:
  • And it also shows where all the fun is.
(For a better view, click on the map to enlarge it.)

There's so much fun and free comics planned. See you bright and early on Saturday, May 7. If you haven't already, add the #FCBDFestival FB event to your FB calendar to keep up with all the upcoming updates.


Top Cow's Matt Hawkins at FCBD Festival 2016

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We're excited to announce that Top Cow Productions' President/COO and comic book writer Matt Hawkins will join us for Free Comic Book Day Festival 2016.

Matt has created and written more than thirty new comic book franchises for Top Cow and Image, including, to name a few, Think Tank, Symmetry, The Tithe, Necromancer, VICE, Lady Pendragon, Aphrodite IX, and Tales of Honor.

In much of his writing, Matt aims to shine a light on science. Commenting on this in an interview at Image Comics, he said:

"I've also thought for years that the sciences are kind of poorly represented to kids here in the United States in school. I have two sons in high school, and they told me how boring they found science. That struck a nerve, so I was determined to try and show scientists in a positive light. And not just billionaire geniuses like Tony Stark."

We're over the moon excited to have Matt with us for this special event. Be sure to bring your copies of the books that Matt has written so that he can sign them for you.

A complete listing of activities taking place during #FCBDFest is currently available.

Complete list of exhibitors for FCBD Festival 2016

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[Updated 5/6/2016] THIS POST contains what you need to know about Saturday's FREE event. Read on for details.

Free Comic Book Day Festival takes place on Saturday, May 7, 2016. We hope you'll join us for 20,000 free comic books, food trucks, cosplayers, wrestling* (in the parking lot!), roller derby athletes, and a whole lot more.

 WHAT TIME CAN YOU GO INSIDE?

For our Savings Club Members -- our regulars -- doors open at 8 a.m. If you're a Member, please use the VIP line. We'll have it marked.

For our New Visitors and Non-Members, you'll gain access to the store at 9 a.m. There will be plenty of free comics for you -- there are, after all, twenty thousand!

Where to park? Where is the Member line? Where is the visitors line? See our Event Map.

 Amazing SALE
  • 25% off  graphic novels and toys
  • 25% off already reduced items
Super Cheap Back Issues
  • $1-5 cover price titles for .50c
  • $5.01-$10 = $1
  • $10.01-$15 = $2
  • $15.01+ = 75% off
Here's who you'll find at this year's event and the activities for you and the family:


 Activities for children and parents

  • All day: Comics creation station -- create and take home your own comic!
  • 8:30 am - 11:30 am: Face painter (free, outside area)
  • 8:30 am - 11:30 am: Balloon maker (free, outside area)
Celebrity Guests from TopCow Productions

10:00 am - 2:00 pm:
  • Matt Hawkins writes for TopCow and serves as its President and COO. He's written Think Tank, Aphrodite IX, The Test, Alibi, and others. He's also produced tv series, feature films, and video games. Come out and meet him or connect with him on Twitter at @TopCowMatt.
  • Dylan Gray serves as TopCow's Marketing Director. Connect with him and talk shop at FCBD Festival.

Community Group Exhibitors and Shows
We've partnered with some of our favorite community groups, so you can learn more about these amazing contributors to the sport and entertainment and causes here in Sacramento. Here they are:


  • From 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Cracking the Vault is the official podcast of Empire's Comics Vault. You'll have a chance to meet the faces behind the voices -- Jake DeSersa, Amy Nunag, Patrick Clarke, and Tony Asaro. You'll enjoy the interview Ben conducted with this fun crew.
  • Supreme Pro Wrestling will put on a show in a real wrestling ring (subject to weather//5/5/16 update). Don't miss this amazing show. They'll also be available for photos (just ask!) and will have merchandise available for purchase.
  • Sac City Rollers' athletes will be on skates meeting and greeting and selling tickets to their roller derby bouts (each purchase comes with a special FCBD Festival offer bonus)! They're available for photos (just ask!).
  • HeroicGirls.com and it's founder, John Marcotte, aim to empower girls by advocating for strong role models in comics and other alternative media. Have fun at their photo booth and meet some great people.
  • Reality-Comics.com, a social network for the comic book community, joins us to talk comics and shoot some video. In case you missed their coverage of our last FCBD Festival, here it is:

  • SacGeeks.com has been involved in bringing to life some of the best geek events in Sacramento, including Star Wars Day and now Intergalactic Expo. Don't miss connecting with this group. They have their finger on the pulse of geeky Sacramento.
  • Vader's Fist, aka, 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, invade the Festival. Beware... and get your picture taken with a stormtrooper.
  • Danotage (Twitch.tv)'s Daniel Herrera is a full-time broadcaster on Twitch, a published author, academic, official panel moderator, radio host, and stream manager. If you're a gamer, you probably know Danotage and his entertaining channel. Meet him in person and maybe get on the show, but be sure to watch Ben's interview with Daniel.
  • West Coast Avengers - These costumed Avengers will join us at FCBD Festival and will be raising money for Shriner's Children's Hospital of Northern California.  


Local Artists, Writers, and Comic Book Creators
These guests will join us from 9 am - 1 pm. They bring with them their arts, writings, etc. Take some time to talk about them and their craft, and please be sure to support your favorites.
  • Nooligan, aka, Hainanu Saulque, is the artist behind Union Street Choir and a favorite a comic book conventions across the country.
  • Jusscope's Justin Orr is a favorite artist and illustrator who exhibits at cons across the country and a favorite in Empire's Art Gallery.  
  • Kyrun Silva is the creator and author of the comic book, Shaman's Destiny. He's also the founder of Big Tree Comics. If you're looking to get into comics, talk to Kyrun.
  • Mach Yeager
  • Chris Cinder's paintings and Hakos figures impress and inspire. See his works in person at our mini-con.
  • Eben Burgoon is the funnyman writer of Eben07 and B-Squad comic books.
  • Experience the creative imagination of painter Jared Konopitski and talk to him about his craft.
  • Artist and storyteller Melissa Pagluica's gorgeous art and moving story grace the pages of her comic book, Above the Clouds. Don't miss your opportunity to talk to Melissa and to support her work. 
  • Jill Allyn Stafford, collage and mixed media artist, joins us for her first FCBD Festival. Jill explores the themes of conflict, love, humor and loss via her works, in some cases via the medium of comics. Ben recently interviewed her. We're sure you'll enjoy it. 
  • With an art and art history background, Kristine Wendt crafts a comic book story based in the pages of history. Meet illustrator, artist, and storyteller at FCBD Festival and get into the pages of her book, Caravaggio’s Darkness, a self-published comic via her company, Sumantra Comix. And in case you're wondering who or what is Caravaggio...
  • Mario Estioko, graphic design teacher at Sac State, recently published his first book of comic strips, Incompatibles. This humorous look at life will have you laughing. Meet the artist and pick up a copy at the Festival. Be sure to watch the interview to learn more.


Food Trucks
Enjoy these food trucks between 11 am and 1 pm.

  • The Wandering Boba food truck serves milk teas, fruit-infused jasmine green teas, and a variety of delicious foods, from lumpia to popcorn chicken! 
  • Award winning Drewski's Hot Rod food truck serves some of the best hot sandwiches you'll ever eat. Seriously. And tater tots.  


Footnotes
*Live wrestling subject to weather.

FCBD Mini-Con is now Free Comic Book Day Festival

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Something about this year's mini-con just didn't feel right.

But what could it be?

We didn't know either. Until we took a quick tour through some of our old photos, for example, these two photos from Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con 2013. Can you see our problem?

Exhibitors at T-18 minutes until doors open. FCBD Mini-Con 2013.

Two stormtroopers, Lalo, and a fire truck. FCBD Mini-Con 2013.
At Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con 2013 -- back in the early days of our mini-cons -- we had a small handful of exhibitors, two stormtroopers, one Lalo, and a fire truck.

Seeing these old photos was our "That's no moon" moment.



That's right: It's a space station. So, starting this year, Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con is now Free Comic Book Day Festival.

And just in case you need some evidence, check out these photos from FCBD "Mini-Con" 2014. And believe it or not, this year's festival will have even more fun than previous ones.