FCBD Month Continues May 14th!

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FCBD 2016 was an amazing day! We had amazing guests, great local groups, and a fantastic Sale! Why not have one more day?! Saturday May 14th we have one more Sale. You will not want to miss this since you know we don't do Sales very often. Let's keep it simple...


  • 15% OFF Graphic Novels & Toys
  • 50% off Back Issues
Savings Club Members make sure you check your email box for the special deals and Freebies Only for you. Not a Savings Club Member but wanna know how to get in on all the extras for FCBD 2017?

http://www.empirescomics.com/p/join-our-savings-program.html


FCBD Festival Prize Winners

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Thank you all for helping support Shriner's Hospitals for Children. $328 was raised and were throwing in a box of kids' comic books. So now here are the three winning tickets and the prize lot that goes with each winning ticket:

  • 455102 wins Lot 1
  • 445334 wins Lot 2
  • 445180 wins Lot 3
Winners have 10 days to claim their prizes. On the morning of the 11th day, a new ticket will be selected for each unclaimed prize. This process will continue until all prizes have been claimed.


Read #1ComicADay with Empire's Comics

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Last Tuesday, Ben and I were meeting to plan great things for the comic shop (I'm the marketing maven). He says to me, "I want to start reading one comic book everyday."

This sounds like one of his cockeyed plans to get me to read through some of the titles that are piling up in my "Read Pile." Turns out I have a bad reputation for keeping up on the titles I love. Just ask Joey or Patrick or Jake or the pugs...

But this is different: this time it's for himself. We commiserate about how life and work and business and the business of life get in the way and how comics get pushed aside far too easily.

And then, well... things got in the way. Two days go by but I still hadn't read anything -- not even on "New Comic Book Wednesday." So, today, Thursday, we're meeting again (there's always lots to do right before Free Comic Book Day Festival).

Before we start working, Ben says, "I want to read one comic everyday, so that's what I'm going to do first."

"Ok. Me too." So he reads Low and I read Think Tank (by Matt Hawkins who you can meet at FCBD Festival, by the way).

And thus begins a new movement, a new initiative! You are invited to join us, even if you already read one comic (or more) every day. But if you don't, we're ok being a movement of two (haha, pathetic!).

Ben will post his reads on Instagram/Twitter and I will post mine on Twitter. We'll be hashtagging it with #1ComicADay.

Turns out that this works really well: we both read three books today.


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.

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.




Our favorite shop highlights from 2015

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We're 22 days away from Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con 2016 and poised to give away 20,000 free comic books!

Here's a look at just one of the pallets of boxes that we received. There were two of these. Loading and unloading these into the trucks really gave us quite the workout this morning.

So, as we draw closer to the ultimate day of the year, we thought we'd take a moment to reflect on the moments that made 2015 an amazing year -- all 15 of them!

Which of these were your favorite Empire's moments?

We'd love to hear about it. Let us know in the comments, please.


Top 15 Moments of 2015

  1. One of Ben and Jen's long time favorite comic book authors, Barbara Kesel (listen to the interview) joined us at Creative Women Mini-Con 2015. On top of that, Mairghread Scott (listen to the interview), the first woman to write a Transformers comic book and author of Toil and Trouble, also joined us!
  2. At FCBD Mini-Con 2015, we had food at the event -- the Italian shaved ice booth and the Wandering Boba food truck.
  3. We started having live models once a month for our artist group to sketch.
  4. Our Graphic Novel Discussion Group really took off and has continued into 2016.
  5. Captain Dylan Hunt came into our lives.
  6. We put a 65" giant screen television in Empire's Comics Lounge.
  7. We rearranged the store to give it a brighter and more spacious feel.
  8. Empire's Movie Crew had a blast at the movies. We had a huge turnout for Avengers.
  9. Empire's Open Podcast (now called Cracking the Vault) really came together with an amazing crew -- Jake, Amy, Tony, Patrick, and regular special guests -- and lots of entertaining, clean talk about comics related topics.
  10. We started having a reserved section for Empire's Roller Derby Crew at all the Sac City Roller games.
  11. Ben and Cody Stark spoke on a panel at the Intergalactic Expo (which took place on Earth in 2015).
  12. Ben served as the costume contest judge at Crocker-Con.
  13. We saw Mad Max at Studio Movie Grill.
  14. On Back to the Future Day, we packed the shop and played the movies and counted down to when the future became the past.
  15. Sac-Con outgrew the Scottish Rite Temple, expanding in a huge way.
That's our list.

Please let us know in the comments what made 2015 great for you. 

And now, onward! We have a post headed your away about what's new in 2016 and a whole lot of posts about this year's Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con!


(left: after-hours comedy night at Empire's)

Press

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Ben Schwartz, Empire's Comics Vault,
on Good Day Sacramento (links below)
In this section: Press and select mentions related to Empire's Comics Vault and its owner, Ben Schwartz.

For Press Inquiries
Please contact Ben at the shop.
Telephone: 916-482-8779
Email: empirescv[at]hotmail[dot]com

CURRENT PRESS RELEASES
  • 04/16/16: PDF | Google Doc -- May 7 Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con 2016

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20,000 free comic books at Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con

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Empire’s Comics Vault will host a mini-comic book convention for the internationally celebrated Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) on Saturday, May 7, 2016 from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (add this event to your FB calendar) at 1120 Fulton Ave., Suite K, in Sacramento.

The mini-convention is a celebration of the joy of reading comic books and of Sacramento’s talented community of artists, writers, food truck purveyors, wrestlers, and other groups. The event is dedicated to sharing a love of Sacramento’s diverse interests and of reading comic books.

“Sacramento is filled with talented individuals who create their own comics, write novels and short stories, paint, sculpt, craft and so much more,” said Ben Schwartz, Empire’s Comics Vault’s owner. “We live in a town that is overflowing with creativity. If you have not delved into it, this is the day.” 

This year’s participants and activities include Matt Hawkins, acclaimed comic book writer of Think Tank, Symmetry, Aphrodite IX, and more for Top Cow Productions, cosplayers from the West Coast Avengers and Vader’s 501st Legion, a live, in-rink, wrestling demonstration by Supreme Pro Wrestling, face painting, balloon makers, TEDxSacramento speaker and founder of HeroicGirls.com John Marcotte, Drewski’s Gourmet Food Truck, Wandering Boba, shaved ice, Sac City Rollers on skates, promoting roller derby, collage artist Jill Stafford, Mario Estioko who just his first comic panel book, Incompatibles, to name a few.

Empire’s Comics Vault has celebrated Free Comic Book Day since the shop's first year of operation in 2003 and, including this year, will have given away more than 100,000 free comic books to customers and other fans in the greater Northern California region. In 2008, Empire’s Comics Vault began inviting local artists, writers, podcasters, and community groups to participate in the event, transforming it into a mini-convention.

The full list of exhibitors, community groups and food providers for the Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con may be viewed at EmpiresComics.com. Admission is free. Attendees may take one of each free comic book title that they are interested in reading. There will be 50 different Free Comic Book Day titles available this year, in addition to scores of other select free titles, and a total of more then 20,000 free comic books.

More Information
For more information about the event, visit www.EmpiresComics.com.
Photos: Free Comic Book Day 2015, 2014