Free Comic Book Day - May 2, 2009

In keeping with the theme of discussing comics and pop culture events, I wanted to say a few words about Free Comic Book Day.

First of all, it rocks because it puts three great words together in the same phrase: Free. Comic. Book. Second of all, it rocks because it gets families together, or it gets people to come out - and even if all they think they want is free swag, what they really get is so much more, if of course they go to a store like Metropolis. We do free raffles throughout the day, we have guests in to sign and sketch and just meet folks. We have costumed superheroes (mostly friends of the store, not hired hands) who just get a kick out of being there. And the kids who show up get their pictures taken with their favorite heroes who show up - I have a great story to share from last Free Comic Book Day, and then one about this one.

Last year, I approached my niece, Ashley, about asking her boyfriend, Ryan, to put on a Superman costume for the event. Ryan is 6'5", 270 pounds of brawny hunk. His face is ... well, it's him in my profile pic with me. His face is perfect, I think. He's so handsome it's crazy, but he's not so pretty that he's offputting. His features are kind and open, and he is quick to smile. At first, he was absolutely against it. He was embarrassed just thinking about it - he's only 20, after all, and Superman is not thought to be cool by his generation. He was shaving his head at that point (it was Easter and there were only four weeks until Free Comic Book Day - definitely not enough time to develop a spit curl in front). I told him I didn't care, just to grow his hair out for the month. I didn't care if he came in with a scruff on his chin. The thing for me was that he just felt right.

Partly because I was okay with some of his objections, I think, and partly because he loves Ashley so much, he finally agreed (after much coaxing). I rented the best suit I could find for him (it was the only one that would come close to fitting him, at any rate). When the day came, as he was putting it on, he started freaking out, saying it was retarded, and he looked stupid. Ashley came to get me to see if I could calm him down. I took one look at him, and my niece tells me I actually took a step back. He was perfect - so perfect I just wasn't prepared. When he turned around, and the cape swirled behind him, I forgot all about the fact that the suit wasn't perfect. He was. I grinned and said, "Ryan, please trust me on this - you are not going to look stupid out there. You are going to be a rock star today. People are going to clap, and they're going to want to touch you, and they're going to stare and want their picture taken and ask for autographs. I guarantee it. Plus I'll give you $50 if you do it."

He calmed down finally. We did a big buildup, played the Superman theme, and one of our guys called out a big introduction, "He's a strange visitor from another planet, he's come all the way from the Fortress of Solitude to be with us today...yada yada" As this was all happening, we were behind a curtain, waiting for the cue. Ryan looked at me nervously. "What do I do?" he asked. "Once I get out there, I mean?" I just smiled. "Just be nice." Finally we heard them say, "The one, the only ---- Superman!!!"

Ryan stepped out from behind the curtain and stopped, a little uncertain. When he did, just as I had, the crowd took a step back, and I heard more than a couple of people gasp. He looked back at me, and I just nodded and motioned for him to go ahead and walk in among them. As he took a step forward, the crowd cleared to let him through, as people just gaped in awe. He looked very impressive. One little girl was frozen in her place. She was dressed all in pink, and she just looked up with eyes as wide as saucers and her mouth forming a little pink "o".

Ryan looked at me for a hint as to what to do. I just nodded and said again, "Just be nice." He stepped up to her and smiled. She was still just a statue. He knelt down and ever so gently, held his hand out to her. Almost in slow motion, she placed a tiny hand in his giant one, and his big fingers closed over it as his eyes twinkled in a sweet smile for her. "Hello," he said to her. Then she just fell into his arms, doing her best to get her arms around him. "Oh, Superman," she sighed, "I've been waiting for you!" Ryan just folded his arms around her.

Ashley was in tears, the little girl's mom was in tears, I was in tears, it was just so sweet. Ryan looked up at her mom and softly asked, "May I?" he motioned to pick her up. The mom nodded, so he lifted this little girl up onto his shoulder and paraded her through the store, while everyone applauded, and the little girl just beamed like the sun. It was bliss for everyone. Ryan couldn't stop talking about it. I think he was very surprised at the way he was received by everyone - people were trying to touch his cape all day, trying to get close to him - just like a rock star. And that little girl was one happy little kid. And all because of Free Comic Book Day.

And by the way - when I offered him the $50 I'd promised, he waved it off and asked for $20 - just for gas money. I slipped the rest to my niece and told her to take him to dinner. He deserved it for being such a great sport.

And as I predicted, Superman was the biggest thing to happen to everyone that Free Comic Book Day - and this year, when I asked Ryan if he would consider an encore, he quickly agreed - no coaxing necessary. He was terribly disappointed when we discovered that the Superman outfit we'd rented the year before had been destroyed. He tried it on but it was ruined. I asked if we might do a "battle-damaged" Superman. He said it would be more like a "homeless" Superman. No good.

So we improvised a peek-a-boo Clark Kent outfit - again, he was perfect. It wasn't as visually stunning as last year's, but it was just as wonderful. Next year, Ashley wants to be Supergirl, and I think she'll be perfect - a beautiful little blonde. I'll have to remember to tell her that she's Superman's cousin - otherwise it'll be a little creepy.

But this year's story was a little boy named Jacob who came for Free Comic Book Day. Jacob's grandmother told us that Jacob is suffering from cancer, so finding ways to keep him smiling can be a challenge. But Jacob was all smiles on Saturday, and grandma told us that the little boy was more excited and happy than she'd seen him in a while. Dude, it just doesn't get much better than that at a comic shop - kids happy are what we are all about.

Free Comic Book Day is more than just a retailing opportunity - it's a chance for everyone to get out of their homes and go to a book store where they are much more likely to see something amazing than in any other book store. It's a chance to get kids excited about reading. It's a chance to get parents involved in stuff their kids can be interested in without it being a grind - let's face it, Candyland is fun, but after a while, the folks want something a little more substantial.

Long live Free Comic Book Day!