http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_9129292 Free comic books for the taking STORES NATIONWIDE TO PARTICIPATE IN SATURDAY GIVEAWAY By Andrew A. Smith Article Launched: 05/02/2008 01:36:04 AM PDT Saturday is the seventh annual Free Comic Book Day - a day on which, as the name suggests, ordinary folks are treated to free comic books. Yes, let me say that again: free comics. Woo-hoo! Participating shops across the country (there are a number in the South Bay, and you can find them at www.freecomicbookday.com) will hand out more than 2 million comics. Some are reprints, some are new, some are samplers - but they are of all genres and represent publishers putting their best foot forward. Expect big names like Archie, Hellboy, the Simpsons, Spider-Man, Superman, Transformers, X-Men and - especially - Iron Man (making his film debut this weekend) to be sauntering, swinging, stomping and swooping by. Look for intriguing anthologies: "Graphics Classics" (a line of literary graphic novels), Gemstone's "E.C. Comics Sampler," "Shonen Jump" and "Gegika" (both manga) and still more. And for the kids: Amelia Rules, Comic Book Diner, Disney's Gyro Gearloose, Gumby's Coloring Book, Marvel Adventures, Owly and Friends, Sonic the Hedgehog and DC's Tiny Titans. Some other titles may be unfamiliar, and those are the hidden gems - books that publishers took the time to prep for Free Comic Book Day simply because they're proud of them. I plan to sample Virgin's "The Stranded," Antarctic's "Neotopia," Boom's "Salem: Queen of Thorns" and many more. Also, HeroClix and Collectible Miniature Games are getting into the act (with Iron Man and Star Wars figures, respectively). And, yes, all of the above comics are free to customers. But obviously this stuff isn't free to create and distribute. If you're wondering what the businesses get out of it, keep in mind that the comics industry has grown for seven consecutive years - the same years Free Comic Book Day has existed. "Yes, it does help raise awareness, given the amount of free publicity we've been able to garner for the event," says Dan Master, director of marketing at Diamond Comic Distributors Inc. "Local comic shops have been able to attract new readers to their stores. Every after-event survey we've done with comic-book specialty retailers shows they believe the event has helped them increase sales and awareness of their stores and comics in general." Local participating stores: ILLUSIVE COMICS AND GAMES 2725 EL CAMINO REAL SUITE 105 SANTA CLARA, CA (408) 985-7481 WHAT'S HOT COMICS & CARDS 1061 LAFAYETTE ST SANTA CLARA, CA (408) 241-8212 COMICS CONSPIRACY 115-A E. FREMONT AVENUE SUNNYVALE, CA (408) 245-6275 R AND K COMICS & CARDS 568 A EAST EL CAMINO REAL SUNNYVALE, CA (408) 732-8775 ALAN/HEROES 24 E. CAMPBELL AVENUE CAMPBELL, CA (408) 378-3667 COMIC COLLECTOR SHOP 167 EL CAMINO EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (650) 965-8272 HIJINX COMICS 2050 LINCOLN AVENUE SAN JOSE, CA (408) 266-1103
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