Shops hope to draw in fans with Free Comic Book Day

In September 1963, the first issue of "The Avengers" sold for 12 cents. A few months ago a particularly well-preserved copy of that same comic book sold for a quarter of a million dollars. Saturday, one lucky fan is expected to receive a copy of the nearly 50-year-old comic book for free.

"It seemed like a fun idea," said Jim Brocius, co-owner of Cosmic Comics, 3830 E. Flamingo Road. "We've had raffles every year. But this is probably the biggest item we've raffled off."

Brocius said that in it s condition, the comic is probably worth about $1,000, and he plans to give it away during the last of the raffles he'll host hourly Saturday as part of Free Comic Book Day. Brocius added that people can increase their odds in the raffle in a number of ways, including showing up in an Avengers costume.

Cosmic Comics isn't alone. Comics shops across the valley are pulling out all the stops for Free Comic Book Day, an annual national event created to bring in new customers and reward old ones.

"Free Comic Book Day is huge," said Robert Lewis, owner of Wishing Well Comics, 5706 W. Charleston Blvd. "It's our Black Friday."

Publishers create special books for the event and sell them to stores at a break-even or lower price, trading buzz and goodwill for direct financial profit. The event is usually tied to the debut of a big comic book-based movie. This year it's timed to coincide with the release of "The Avengers."

"I think 'The Avengers' movie is going to be a monster hit," Lewis said. "I think it's also going to be huge for the comic stores."

During regular store hours, 15 shops across the valley plan to give a free comic book to anyone, but most of the shops don't stop there. The event is an all-day party, with plans for blowout sales, food trucks, snacks and comic creator appearances and signings. For the fans and retailers, the event is about community as much as it is commerce.

"It's gotten bigger and better every year," said Ralph Mathieu , owner of Alternate Reality Comics, 4110 S. Maryland Parkway. "We'll have people in costumes helping out and bonus comics for customers who show up in costume. We'll have four or five artists signing, including Warren Wucinich and Sam Gorey. "

Many of the stores plan to have creators on site, including Maximum Comics, which plans to have 15 comic creators divided between its two stores at 5130 S. Fort Apache Road in the southwest valley and 520 S. Marks St. in Henderson.

Avatar Comics and Games, 881 S. Rainbow Blvd., plans to host a street fair of local artists and creators.

"We're trying to showcase local people who work in the field," said Crystal Neher , the store's owner. "I think it's great that real people who actually produce the stuff are right here in our backyard."

Avatar is also one of the shops that has diversified into collectible gaming such as "Magic the Gathering" and has dedicated game play areas and tournaments. On Free Comic Book Day the store is one of several planning to hand out HeroClix figures of Thor from "The Avengers." Avatar also plans demonstrations of the HeroClix collectible figure game.

Some shops, which focus more on collectibles than comics, plan to participate, too. A Collector's Menagerie, 7420 W. Lake Mead Blvd., which sells high-end statuettes and imported toys in addition to comics, plans to have actor Felix Silla on hand, selling and autographing his new autobiography. Silla has spent most of his career in elaborate costumes, so fans probably won't recognize his face but are well acquainted with the many genre film and television roles he played, including Twiki from "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," Cousin Itt from "The Addam s Family" and the hang-gliding ewok in "The Return of the Jedi."

Music will be an element of some stores events. Comic Oasis at 3121 N. Rainbow Blvd. plans to have a disc jockey outside the store and Hellpop! in the Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., plans to bring in at least four bands to perform there beginning at 5 p.m. Events with local comic creators and bands are expected to segue into the Arts Factory's regularly scheduled Saturday night arts and poetry events.

The event is a chance for storeowners to show the hobby and their stores in the best possible light, to share their enthusiasm for the art form and hopefully bring in new readers.

"Because it gets so much press, we get a lot of parents in who have never taken their kids to a comic shop before," Lewis said. "Sometimes when they see that the books excite their kids and interest them in reading, they become regular customers and the kids become avid readers."

That was the experience for many retailers, who found their love of reading and comics at the same time. Brocius still remembers the first comic he got, "Action Comics No. 233" featuring a story called "The Land of One Million Supermen." But it was another book, "The Amazing Spider-Man No. 6" that got him hooked on the hobby.

"It was like nothing I'd ever seen, and I got it into my head that I had to get some more of them," Brocius said. "Forty-nine years later I'm still trying to get some more of them."

Contact Sunrise/Whitney View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 380-4532.