Free Comic Book Month Continues

Best Sacramento comics shop
At 2014 Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, is the first Saturday of Free Comic Book Month. Bring your FCBMonth Passport! That will get you in the door for more comic book freebies.

Each Saturday, the shop opens at 11 a.m. and there will be two lines -- one for Savings Club Members who have a comics saver at Empire's and a another line for non-members. Free items are available while supplies last.

Make sure to get your FCBMonth Passport stamped so that you can access even more freebies on Saturday, May 17. And keep in mind, that freebies will get better and better each Saturday!

A month of freebies


  • May 3 - Fifty-seven different 2014 Free Comic Book Day titles
  • May 10 - Miscellaneous 2013 Free Comic Book Day and Halloween comics
  • May 17 - Shirts and overstock back issues
  • May 24 - Toys, posters, and more
  • May 31 - Trade paperbacks, collected editions, and graphic novels



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Give Big Sacramento

UPDATE 05.13.2014: Sacramento citizens raised more than $3,000,000 during the 24 hours of Big Day of Giving on May 6, 2014! Congratulations, and thank you all for participating!

May has been amazing for us. Just look at what we've experienced so far this month:
GiveBigDOGFor three days in a row it's been all about our own enjoyment. Now today, May 6, 2014, we have the opportunity to show our pride as citizens of Sacramento. At midnight, May 6, the Big Day of Giving started.

How To Participate In Big Day of Giving


Empire's Comics Vaults store mascot
Oh, yeah, GiveBigDOG.
Big Day of Giving is a chance to become more familiar with our local nonprofits and a chance to support them by means of our donations. Our goal as a city is to give ONE MILLION DOLLARS in this 24-hour period. To participate, check out the list of participating nonprofits, click on the name of the organization you'd like to support, and then donate in any amount you can.

We hope everyone will consider giving to a cause you believe in whether it's literacy, the arts, homelessness, conservation, etc.

There's quite a conversation around this topic on Twitter using the hashtag, #GiveBigDOG... but as you can see from the picture below, not everyone thinks that's the best hashtag to use.


Ben's Tips for Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con

Sacramento comics shop owner
Ben's tips for Free Comic Book Day
Click the picture to go straight to EmpiresCV.tv to watch Ben's quick video. Or just read it right here.

Do FCBD Mini-Con Right!


1. Get here early. Bring a chair for a more comfortable wait, since the line is usually long by 8 am (We open at 9am). Hang out. Talk comics. 
2. Back issues ridiculously low in price.
3. Bring your FCBD titles checklist. Get the full comic book checklist or the kids' comics list.
4. Bring a friend. Bring your kids.
5. Check out all the amazing artists, writers, creators and other groups on our Mini-Con.

Bonus Mini-Con Tips


1. Enter for a chance to win an awesome prize package. Enter to win some cool comic book swag, some statues, and more. It's a buck to enter, and all the funds raised will be split between two great organizations -- Shriner's Hospital for Children and Hero Initiative. Get your fundraiser tickets at the entrance to the FCBD line or at the Tiki Bar.


2. Enter for a chance to win more prizes. Take pictures and post them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Use #EmpiresComics and #FCBDSacramento in your post to enter our contest. We'll be giving away $10 coupons for back issues all month long. Photo must be taken on 5/3/2014 at Empire's Comics Vault's Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con. Read the complete rules.

3. To enter Diamond Comic Distributor's Contest for a chance to win $50 at your favorite store, just follow their instructions:
  • Post pictures of your Free Comic Book Day to our Facebook page and Twitter to be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to your local comic shop! By posting your pictures to our Facebook wall and tweeting to our Twitter page (@freecomicbook) using #fcbd, you are entered for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to our local comic book shop. Click HERE for contest rules.


Free Comic Book Day Tips for Savings Club Members


  1. Use the VIP line that's exclusively for Savings Club Members. The wait last year was only 5-7 minutes in the VIP line. This year, you get to bring one guest with you into the VIP line.
  2. Hit the sale first. Since you can use the VIP line, you might want to hit the sale first in order to make sure you get what you want before we run out.
  3. Pick up pre-selected books within 10 days of FCBD. If you qualified to pre-select 10 FCBD titles, make sure and pick them up within 10 days of FCBD.
  4. Power-up! Be sure to check your email for a Member's Only Power-up! It was sent on May 1.

FCBD 2014 Photo Contest

It's simple. Take pictures at our FCBD Mini-Con event, post them on Instagram or Twitter, tag them with #EmpiresComics AND #FCBDSacramento, and you'll be entered to win a $10 coupon for back issues. Read the complete rules below.



 
FCBD PHOTO Contest RULES:By entering the Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
SPONSOR: The sponsor of the Contest is Empire's Comics Vault. Empire's Comics Vault is located at 1120 Fulton Avenue, Suite K, Sacramento, CA 95821.
ENTRY PERIOD:  The FCBD 2014 Photo Contest begins Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 6:00 AM PT and ends Saturday May 3 at 9:15 PM. Any photos posted after the Entry Period will not be counted as an entry to the Conest.

HOW TO ENTER: To enter the Contest during the Entry Period: Upload a photo(s) of your Empire's Comics Vault FCBD Mini-Con experience to your Instagram and/or Twitter account. The post must include a photo and a caption that includes the following two tags: #EmpiresComics and #FCBDSacramento. Empire's Comics Vault is not responsible for missed entries due to entrant's privacy settings.
With regard to online entries, in the event of a dispute about the identity of an entrant, each entry will be declared made by the registered account holder of the Instagram profile or Twitter profile, as long as that person meets all other eligibility requirements in these "Official Rules". The registered account holder is deemed to be the natural person who is assigned the submitted photo.
 
With respect to any winning entry, the winner may be required to provide Empire's Comics Vault with proof that the person is the registered account holder of the Instagram profile and or Twitter profile of the winning entry.  No third party entry or entry through a Contest service is permitted.  Only eligible entries actually received in compliance with the Entry Period and Contest Rules, will be included in the contest for prizes. Any automated computer receipt (such as a "thank you" message, comment on entry's comment, or "like" of participants comment, does not constitute proof of actual receipt by Sponsor of an entry for purposes of these Official Rules.
No automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted and Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any individual using such a method. All entries become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.  Sponsor is not responsible for late, illegible, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled entries, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind, whether mechanical, human or electronic. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Contest.
Prizes are subject to availability. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the Promoter reserves the right (a) to substitute alternative prizes of equivalent or greater value and (b) in exceptional circumstances to amend or foreclose the promotion without notice. No correspondence will be entered into.
ELIGIBILITY:  The Contest is open to all legal residents of the 50 United States, including the District of Columbia, residents of Canada, those outside the US who participated in Free Comic Book Day who are 14 years and older. Persons in any of the following categories are not eligible to participate or win a prize:  (a) persons who from and after June 1st, 2013 were or are employees or agents of Sponsor, or each of its respective affiliates, parent, subsidiaries, or the service agencies or independent contractors of the above organization(s); (b) persons who are engaged in the development, production, distribution of materials, provision of prizes, or drawing of winners for this Contest; and (c) persons who are immediate family of or who reside in the same household as any person in either of the preceding categories.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS: Sponsor reserves the right to terminate the Contest if fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control impairs the integrity of the Contest as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  At its sole discretion, Sponsor may disqualify any person whom it considers to have intentionally violated the Official Rules or any element of the Contest.  By participating, entrants agree: (a) to be bound by the Contest Official Rules and the decisions of the person or persons who select the winners, and (b) to release, indemnify, and hold harmless Sponsor, and each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, and independent contractors, and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents, including advertising and promotion agencies, (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any and all liability with respect to acceptance, possession or use (or misuse) of the prizes or participation in the Contest.
These general terms and conditions are with respect to the relevant promotion and by entering the promotion you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and any specific promotion rules. The Promoter reserves the right to amend these general terms and conditions from time to time, such changes to be effective 24 hours after they have been made. No association or business relationship is claimed with Facebook, Inc., or Twitter, Inc.
CONTEST PRIZE: The winners of the 2014 FCBD Photo Contest will each receive a $10 coupon for regular-priced back issues at Empire's Comics Vault.
 
WINNER NOTIFICATION; REQUIRED RELEASES:  A representative of Sponsor will select 12 winners. Twelve winners will be selected from Instagram and/or Twitter posts. The winners will be selected and notified by Saturday, May 31, 2014. Winners will be notified in the following ways: (1) On Instagram, a comment from the @EmpiresComics Instagram account will be added to the winning photo's Instagram accountholder is a winner. (2) On Twitter, a reply in the form of a Twitter Reply or Retweet with Comment from the @EmpiresComics Twitter account will state that the winning photo's Twitter accountholder is a winner.
In the event that Sponsor cannot reach the winner within (3) days after it attempts to notify the winner, Sponsor will select a new winner according to these Official Rules.  Additionally, if the winner is ineligible, it will be deemed as if the winner has rejected the prize, and Sponsor will select a new winner.
To claim the Prize, the winner must claim their prize at Empire's Comics Vault or send Empire's Comics Vault their name, mailing address, email,  and phone number.
USE OF NAME, LIKENESS, ETC.: By entering the Contest, you hereby acknowledge and agree that Sponsor shall have the unlimited right in perpetuity and throughout the world to use and publish your name, voice, city, state, likeness, photograph, video, biographical and prize information, and other elements of your persona and identity, in all media now known or hereafter developed, for all purposes of this Contest, as well as for all general marketing, advertising, promotional, commercial tie-in, merchandising, and other business purposes of each of the Contest Entities, all without notice or compensation to you.
ENTRANT RELEASE: By entering this Contest, you forever release, indemnify, discharge, and agree to hold harmless, all Released Parties from any and all claims, causes of action, liabilities and damages: (a) for personal injuries, death, loss of or damage to personal property, and/or other harm or loss of any nature whatsoever sustained by anyone or anything in connection with your participation in the Contest;(b) for libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, infringement of copyright, or violation of any other personal or property right; and/or (c) from any typographical, human or other error in the printing, offering, selection, operation or announcement of any Contest activity and/or prize.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, entrants agree that Released Parties have neither made nor will be in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, in connection with the Contest and/or with respect to prizes, including, without limitation, to any prize’s quality or fitness for a particular purpose.

These terms and conditions are governed in accordance with the laws of United States and Canada.

FCBD 2014, May 3rd, Deals & Specials from Local creators!

Michael Dorman is doing FREE sketches for kids and Cosplayers!!!  He also has FREE prints of "TMNT," "Deadpool vs Deathstroke" and "Santa PI" available while supplies last!  Sketch Covers will be $20 for B&W & $35 for Color.



Kyrun Silva will be doing 6x6 colored sketches for kids 12 and under!  There will be a bunch of special deals when you purchase combinations of the 2 books & 2 posters he has available.












Jared Konopitski will be having special FCBD ONLY sale prices for his artwork!











Mach Yeager will be giving a FREE poster with every purchase of his new sketchbook, a FREE pin or poster with every purchase of his comic Digger Jones and anyone in Gorilla costume gets a FREE copy of Digger Jones.  He is also giving away a FREE Trixie Dynamite poster to kids or with every purchase of a Trixie comic.







Krysten Reis will have a new mini print of a Baby Appa from Avatar the Last Airbender available first here!  She also a couple great deals.  1) If you buy three of the baby TMNT prints you get one FREE.  2) If you buy her comic book "A Curious Journey" with a print, small or mini, you get a free sketch in the comic book of one of her characters.








Michael Calero will have these Ninja Turtles mini-prints for free with the purchase of a regular print!

Food On Fulton: Texas West Bar-B-Que

Restaurant: Texas West Bar-B-Que, 1600 Fulton Ave., 916-483-7427


Best Features: Quick (order-placing to food in hand). Generous portions.

Texas West Bar-B-Que Delicious

Looking to eat some barbecue? There are some great place in Sacramento, for sure. Texas West Bar-B-Que is close and delicious, and the portions are big enough to feed you twice. No, we didn't save any for dinner today. We gobbled it all up.

But guess what? Barbecued meats are not cheap. Good thing they give you plenty, and really, truly, there was so much food, we shared some with others. 

We had the Baby Back Ribs and Tri-Tip  Combo with beans and garlic fries and Texas toast ($20.99) and the Memphis Pulled Pork Sandwich with one side of Mac “n” Cheese ($10.99).

Food on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento
Memphis Pulled Pork Sandwich
So here are our opinions, but in case you want a few more, check out what folks have been saying about them on Yelp, or better yet, try it out.

Memphis Pulled Pork Sandwich


The pork was a little dry, so we smothered it in barbecue sauce. There! All better. Plus, the barbecue sauce is delicious. 

The bun stayed solid was not falling apart or soggy. The Mac "n" Cheese was creamy and cooked just right -- then again, mac 'n cheese is a very personal thing. Everyone seems to like it differently.

Baby Back Ribs and Tri-Tip

OMG. The baby back ribs and tri-tip were so delicious, yes, melt in your mouth delicious. So delicious, not only were they eaten by hand, but the fingers were licked clean too. The tri-tip was good plain, the way it came, although extra pepper is always a fave here. Something about the way the barbecue sauce cooked onto the ribs created an amazing experience that rose above its individual parts.

The order came with two sides of our choosing, so we went with beans and garlic fries. The garlic fries were a little tough, maybe just a wee-bit old; and the garlic fell to the bottom of the bag, so not as much garlic on each fry as we would have liked. On the plus side, the garlic was nice and garlicky. That's probably just how it goes when you take them To Go.

The beans were good and slightly sweet, the way many like it. Ronnie's preference, aka, Ron of the Empire, however, is for a smokey, savory taste. Of course, he ate them anyway.

The Texas toast suffered from being warm and in a bag, and ended up chewy, so if you take it To Go, take it out of the bag and eat it while you transport the rest of the food.

About Food On Fulton
In case you missed our review of the Mexican restaurant California Burrito, definitely check it out. We created this blog post series because we are frequently asked about places to eat nearby. We hope you enjoy the series. If there's a place on Fulton that you think we need to check out, be sure to let us know in the comments or elsewhere.

Listen to Stan Lee and come to Free Comic Book Day


Oh, yeah, that's Stan Lee.

In case you weren't absolutely sure that the comics on Free Comic Book Day are 100% free, we thought for sure you'd believe Stan "The Man" Lee.

After all, he his high credibility since he created so many of the characters you love and especially because he's had so many cameos in the all the cool Marvel movies.

Just click his photo and you'll be taken to his vid about FCBD and a playlist of our FCBD Mini-Con promo vids.

Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con 2014

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014
Time: 9:00 am

Big sale!
Amazing guests!
Read the overview!

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Supreme Pro Wrestling performing live this Saturday at FCBD 2014!

Supreme Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based out of Sacramento California.

They've been running shows monthly since the year 2000. They also run the SPW Training Academy. They are run BY the workers FOR the workers.

Supreme Pro Wrestling is home to many independent wrestling superstars on the road. When they come through Northern California, they know SPW is there for them.

SPW fans are easily the loudest in independent wrestling. Shows are a perfect blend of HARDCORE, TECHNICAL, OLD SCHOOL, and LUCHA LIBRE and contain great story lines that keep fans captivated.

SPW considers Modesto, California's Pro Wrestling Bushido their sister promotion, but also have a great working relationship with many other wrestling promotions ranging nationwide.

Live Wrestling at Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con

That's right. Live wrestling. Experience it firsthand. Wrestling will take place from 9 am - 11 am. Meet the wrestlers, take some pictures, and have a whole lot of fun. And remember, we're giving out 15,000 free comic books.

Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con is Saturday, May 3, 2014.

Hero Initiative will be raising money for creators in need this FCBD!

The Hero Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators, writers and artists in need.

The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work.

Since its inception, the Hero Initiative has been able to benefit more than 40 creators and their families with more than $400,000 worth of much-needed aid, fueled by the contributions of comic book fans.

Hero Initiative will be at our Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con on Saturday, May 3, 2014 to help raise funds for comic creators. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Jared Konopitski will be joining us FCBD 2014!

Jared Konopitski is an artist living and working in Sacramento, California.

He works in many mediums, however primarily with acrylic paintings. His work has been exhibited at galleries, festivals, and museums across the US and Internationally 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 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).

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.

Meet Jared at Empire's Mini-Con

We're supremely proud to have such an accomplished artist and humble artist with us. You'll love the works that spring from his imagination, and you'll be excited that even his original works are attainable for the average art collector.

Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2014.

Melissa McCommon returns to FCBD Mini-Con


We're pleased to welcome back self-taught artist and comic book creator Melissa McCommon.

Melissa joined us for our very first mini-con -- FCBD Mini-Con 2012. She was also at FCBD Mini-Con 2013, our food drive fundraiser, and at our very first Creative Women Mini-Con in 2013.

While continuing work on her graphic novel, "Guardian," Melissa provides weekly updates to her ongoing webcomic, "Epic Chaos!"

She's also our own local poster child for learning to read from comics.


Meet Melissa at FCBD Mini-Con 2014

Meet this dedicated and talented creator on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. You'll also meet cosplayers, wrestlers, skaters, stormtroopers, and a whole lot more. See you there.