I always assumed it was a great idea, despite the fact it probably just attracts people who already read comics, as opposed to its original purpose of 1)getting new readers, and 2)selling Marvels latest film.

During FCBD 2007, I was a Guest Nobody (along with a few other nobodies and a somebody or two) at a store in Rochester, MN. It was there that I was informed FREE Comic Book Day was in fact STICK IT TO THE STORES Comic Book Day.

I had always assumed that the comic publishers just ate the cost of FCBD, seeing as how they are the ones who are trying to get new blood, so to find out the struggling-even-more-than-the-publishers-stores are the ones who are mostly getting the high-hat was pretty sad.

Even in a pre-recession America, comic stores and their owners always seemed to be taking it extra hard on the chin to be a part of this industry we all love. They certainly don’t deserve to be the ones losing money so you can enjoy a free comic or twenty once a year.

…And that store that was nice enough to treat me as an actual comic book artist, as opposed to somebody that just makes mini-comics no one cares about?—that store is gone.

And Marvel?—still cranking out Wolverine comics and movie tie-ins.