Celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2021 in Sacramento

/ Empire's Comics Vault & Hot Sauce/
Celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2021 in Sacramento

Eleven (11) comic shops and 15 Sacramento Public Library locations are participating in Free Comic Book Day 2021. This year, Empire's Comics Vault & Hot Sauce celebrated Free Comic Book Day 2021 exclusively with our members. So we put together this list so you could still make a day of celebrating comics.

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Our Major Events in 2021

/ Empire's Comics Vault/
Our Major Events in 2021

Here’s a quick look at this year’s events:

  • May 1: Creative Women Mini-Con

  • August 14: Free Comic Book Day

  • July 10: Hot Sauce Mini-Con

Applications are now open for all of these events. Please apply on our Applications page.

For more details, read on.

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"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
Today we're sharing a guest post with you. This guest post originally appeared on Eben E.B. Burgoon's Facebook profile. 

 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-money fire sales, and they even bring luminaries out of their dimly lit studios... almost too far away from their two weiner dogs... to sign and doodle on books and prints they created.

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.
_______

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.

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.

2016 Free Comic Book Day Titles Checklist

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It's going to be a great Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con this May 7!

If you're looking for a list of this year's titles, we put together this checklist (download it today) for you. Remember, everyone can take one of each title that he or she wants to read, while supplies last.

Savings Club Members, we sent out your FCBD advanced selection list today. Please check your email for it. Make sure to turn it in by the last Friday of the month. On FCBD, we're opening the doors an hour early (8am) just for you. Then at 9am we'll let in additional visitors. Make sure to use the VIP line.

If you're not a Member and want to sign up, ask about signing up in the shop (you only need to subscribe to one title), HOWEVER, you won't qualify for FCBD Benefits until next year. In the meantime, print this checklist and figure out which titles you want the most (for cover images of this year's titles, visit FreeComicBookDay.com).

NEW IN 2016: In past year's we've invited the community to celebrate the joy of reading comic books all month long. We call Free Comic Book Month (FCBM). THIS YEAR, WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT CHANGE: FCBM will only be for Savings Club Members who are already signed up. Members will be able to show up any Saturday or every Saturday in May to get more free comic books. We'll have more details coming soon.




59 Days To Qualify For FCBD 2015 VIP Status

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Face it.

When it comes to Free Comic Book Day, we don't hold back.


Don't believe us? Check out the photo album (shown at bottom of this post) from our May 2014 Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con.

The real scoop is this: There's the everybody line and there's the VIP Line. Which line do you want to be in?

We're already preparing for our largest attendance ever, and that includes preparing for an ultra-smooth VIP experience.

Our FCBD VIPs are our Comic Book Savings Club Members. They get a shorter line, guaranteed books, uber-convenience, and probably some new, yet-to-be-revealed benefits for Free Comic Book Days. BUT...

The program has lots of benefits 

( ^-- you can sign up here) -- not just during Free Comic Book Day, which, as you know, is really Free Comic Book MONTH at Empire's Comics Vault -- with a Mini-Con and all.

And no joke. Sign up is easy:
1. It requires only one current comic book title. 
2. Every time that title comes out, we reserve a copy for you.
3. Pick up at least once a month to stay in good standing.
4. Change the title as often as you want. Add more. Go back down to one.

Yeah. That's it.


Post by Empire's Comics Vault.

62 Days To Qualify For FCBD 2015 VIP Status

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We're already planning for our best Free Comic Book Day yet! 2015 is sure to be more amazing than anything else you've experienced before. One thing you'll want for sure is VIP Status.

This is our first article in a series of articles focusing on the benefits of our Comic Book Savings Club. These articles will run through the rest of the year.

What's FCBD VIP Status?

Well, for Free Comic Book Day, it means you'll get to take advantage of THREE amazing benefits:

1. Before Free Comic Book Day, you'll get to pre-select 10 FCBD titles, and we'll set them aside for you. That means you can walk into the store and take advantage of one of our best sales of the year. Then, at check out, you can ask for your free books, and we'll just hand them to you.

Cosplayers at 2014 Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con


2. On Free Comic Book Day, if there are free titles you want in addition to your 10 pre-selected titles, then instead of waiting in the regular line of 100 or more people, you'll wait in our half-as-long, twice-as-fast VIP line. Oh, yeah, there's a VIP line every Saturday for FCBD Month. 

3. But wait, there's more! You can also bring a friend with you into the VIP line. You benefit from your decision, and your friend benefits too.

WARNING: Not everyone will qualify for FCBD VIP Status.

To qualify, join the Comic Book Savings Club (also known as starting a Saver) by December 31, 2014, and keep your Saver in good status.

How does the Comic Book Savings Club work?

Here's what it means in 3 easy steps:

1. Sign up with at least 1 regular title on your Saver, or pull list. (BONSU: You'll get 10% off anything you purchase at that time).

2. Pick up your book(s) regularly, at least monthly.

3. Keep your list up to date. Add titles, remove titles, any time via email, phone, in person, Facebook, or Twitter.

How do I sign up?

There are two ways:
1. Print out the form and bring it in (or email it to empirescv@hotmail.com)
2. Ask for the form in the shop, fill it out, and hand it in.

Want to know all the 2014 benefits rather than wait for articles about them. Get the details on our Savings Programs page. 

Related articles

Thanks for a great Free Comic Book Month

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One Saturday during Free Comic Book Month
Thank you for an amazing Free Comic Book Day and Month. This was our best year yet!

Great things at FCBD2014


We think there were a lot of great things about this year's FCBD.

For example, Sacramento's most amazing mini-con, lots of free comics, a VIP line, title pre-selection for Savings Club Members, an enormous sale, a 10% Off Bonus Coupon for Savings Club Members, and more freebies each and every Saturday all month long.

Oh, and this year, VIPs could bring a guest!

We hope you agree about those positive aspects. If you can think of something else, please use our online feedback form.

Improvement opportunities at FCBD2014

We heard there was some confusion between the difference between the regular line and the VIP line. We also heard that sometimes Savings Club Members were in the regular line and some folks from the regular line were in the VIP line. We already have a plan in place to fix that in 2015.

On some of the Saturdays during Free Comic Book Month, the lines took far too long -- especially on the last Saturday when we gave away free collected editions, trades and graphic novels. We're so sorry about that. You'll be glad to know that we've already worked out a plan to make that much smoother in 2015.

If you'd like to provide any additional feedback, we'd appreciate hearing it. Please use our online feedback form.

FCBD 2015 is going to be amazing

Look, Free Comic Book Day is for everyone. Whether you're a Savings Club Member at Empire's Comics Vault or not, everyone can enjoy free comics during Free Comic Book Day and Month. But if you really want to boost your experience, then definitely check out our Comic Book Savings Program.