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It usually takes place on the first Saturday of May and is often cross-promoted with the release of a superhero film. Over two thousand participating stores give away millions of comic books annually. FCBD is organized and facilitated by Diamond Comics Distributors , guided by a committee representing publishers, industry journalists, retailers, and its own management.
Publishers pay for production of the give-away comic books and retailers pay the cost of printing the books that they order. Titles are divided by sponsorship level, price and anticipated demand into two tiers; participating retailers are required to carry all titles from the top tier, and may carry any or none of the second-tier titles. In , the costs to the retailer were 12 to 24 cents per copy for the top tier and as high as 50 cents for the second tier.
According to Diamond Comic Distributors, over 2, stores participated in the inaugural Free Comic Book Day and gave away more than 2 million comic books [13] from 4 publishers.
While giving out free comic books on FCBD, participating retailers often run additional promotions. This can include sales on selected merchandise, creator signings , prize raffles, cosplay contests, charity drives, karaoke, [17] and art exhibitions. Cosplayers may be enlisted to entertain the lines outside the stores and pose for photos.
Among some retailers, FCBD has been more grandly organized. An FCBD “shop hop” cross-promotion in London, Ontario , Canada, encourages people to visit five downtown comic shops for entry into a prize draw, and has evolved into a street festival.
Cosplayers parade along the street, which is chalked with murals, and many other businesses along the route cater to the theme. The goal of the promotion is to showcase the breadth of the comics industry by putting comic books in the hands of people who might not otherwise read comics, or comic readers who might not otherwise read those titles.
Most books are complete page single-issue stories serving as an introduction point for newcomers. These may be in the form of a “zero issue” [note 6] prelude to a new story arc. According to organizers, in the s each year’s event brought about one million people to comic shops [6] and gave away about five million comics.
There have been criticisms of the focus on the event, questioning whether centering promotions at comic book shops is the best way to reach new comic book readers.
Many retailers only order the titles they know are marketable at their stores, [2] [5] and are reluctant to invest in promoting titles they cannot sell for the rest of the year. This results in the promotion of the same titles that customers are already reading instead of exposing them to new titles. Nearly 20 publishers participate, with about 35 titles offered for free. Halloween ComicFest is an annual promotion launched by Diamond Comics in , held roughly six months from FCBD on the Saturday before Halloween , [60] promoting titles themed to that holiday.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Promotional event for comic industry. Merchandise giveaways Book signings Cosplay contests Art exhibitions. Comics portal. The official website indicates the film Venom was celebrated, marking the 30th anniversary of the character, although the film was not released until five months later. It is typically a prequel , flashback or origin story , providing supplementary background context to the main run of the title.
Many zero issues are limited-edition collectors items. Archived from the original on May 7, Retrieved May 14, Archived from the original on October 17, Archived from the original on December 22, Comic Book Resources. September 13, Archived from the original on May 3, Comics Worth Reading. Archived from the original on October 6, Geeks Unleashed. Comics Buyer’s Guide. Archived from the original on March 26, Archived from the original on February 13, Inquirer Lifestyle.
May 4, Archived from the original on June 29, Free Comic Book Day. April 7, Archived from the original on October 22, Retrieved September 25, Animation World Network.
Archived from the original on April 28, Games Radar. Retrieved March 26, December 20, Archived from the original on March 4, The Today Show. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 3, Bleeding Cool.
Retrieved June 3, Archived from the original on March 2, Andrew April 30, Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on May 4, May 1, Archived from the original on February 15, London Free Press. Archived from the original on May 6, Escapist Magazine.
Archived from the original on May 20, CBC News. April 28, Archived from the original on March 19, Archived from the original on July 4, Retrieved June 18, Utica, New York. USA Today Network. Global News. Corus Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 21, The Pop Insider. March 19, Archived from the original on July 12, Marvel Comics. Archived from the original on November 29, April 23, Archived from the original on March 6, Archived from the original on September 25, Archived from the original on March 9, Retrieved May 11, Archived from the original on March 14, Entertainment Weekly.
The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 20, Archived from the original on March 17, Retrieved August 4, Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. December 17, Archived from the original on April 17,
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My thoughts: “Now, think critically. There were one or two things you maybe didn’t love quite as much as everything else. Reviewed by: Rabid Reads 4. As far as I can tell this happens to me for one of two reasons: 1. This was a 2 situati Reviewed by: Rabid Reads 4. This was a 2 situation. And even though it’s been over a month, I’m still kind of at odds about what to say. Firstly, it is a fact universally acknowledged that I am a character-driven reader.
I was not more than mildly invested in these characters until I was more than halfway through it. Yet there was very little romance in this book. We have: 1. Characters I didn’t immediately connect with. Little to no swoons. And still. Do you see why I needed time to traverse the dark and twisty paths of my mind?
But ultimately, it comes down to this: Victoria Schwab is a bloodydamn genius. No really. She is. She created a world so vastly different from others I’ve encountered, with hinted at conundrums for a later date, and characters who are. They are also broken. In remarkably similar ways despite the disparity of their situations.
Kell is a member of the royal family. A prince. Brother to the heir. Except he isn’t. And he knows it, they know it, everyone knows it. But everyone pretends. Just like Kell pretends not to be consumed with questions about what came before.
She is astonishingly intelligent. She is independent. If she had a middle name, it would almost certainly be Hubris. And yet, she is bitterly fragile. She wants nothing from no one, and accepts nothing she cannot immediately repay, negating any debt she feels is owed.
She’s painful to watch. But I had to watch. Had to. But Lila knew there were no good parts. Only smart parts and stupid parts, and she was quick enough to know which one to play. And honestly, I have no idea what my problem was. I’ve already said that, yes, eventually, they began to tug my heartstrings, but why it took so long.
It shall remain a mystery. But things like this: “I’m not going to die,” she said. As for world-building, take the things you think you know about magic systems and toss them out the window. When I first learned that one of the rulers of Red London had a special talent for controlling the will of others, I was like, “Well, that sucks,” and when Kell walked up the fortress steps that were guarded by ten soldiers who were indeed controlled, I thought, “That is such a waste of power.
How many people could this guy possibly control at once, and how could he have any power left over to defend against a direct magical attack? Arthos can control as many people as he wants. All he has to do is brand them with his particular kind of magic. And that, my friends, is terrifying. You will laugh at drunk men stumbling groggily on stairs HA! Highly recommended.
I read this again. I thought this one was pretty good. I didn’t even think I would like it at first and I’m not sure why, but I di I read this again. I didn’t even think I would like it at first and I’m not sure why, but I did. There were some parts that got on my nerves here and there but that’s the way that goes right?
The idea of Kell being able to walk into different parts of London was totally cool! They have some nutzy cuckoo people in White London. A king and queen that are evil incarnate. Kell goes around and takes messages to other parts of London.
He lives in the Red part with the royal family there. But I’m telling you if someone asked me to take a message to the white part, I would tell them to stick it up their arse! Read the book and you will understand. I like Kell’s character, he’s really nice. He has one black eye though and that would be freak me out just a wee bit at first. Kell also smuggles things for people and collects some cool things. He’s a cool magician that travels to these parallel worlds that I find so bizarre and cool at the same time.
Well, okay not to the White London I love Lila! She is a pickpocket and pretty much lives her life that way. But she secretly wants to be a pirate and have her own ship!
Lila and Kell becomes friends after a little bit of arguing and what not. She held the silver pocket watch up to the faint glow of the streetlamp, admiring the metal’s polished shine, wondering what the engraved initials–L.
E–on the back might stand for. She’d nicked the watch off a gentleman, a clumsy collision on a too-crowded curb that had led to a swift apology, a hand on a shoulder to distract from a hand on the coat. Lila’s fingers weren’t just fast; they were light. A tip of the top hat and a pleasant good night, and she was the proud new owner of a timepiece, and he was on his way and none the wiser.
Kell rose with her, and even though she would not look him in the eye, he could see the anger and pain written in the lines of her face. View all 23 comments. Apr 04, Kai Spellmeier rated it it was amazing Shelves: finished-series , favorites , owned. I’m stunned and I’m in awe. Incredible world-building, beautiful language and an intruiging plot make this 5 out of 5 stars. And let’s not forget about the “cross-dressing thieves”, “sadistics kings and queens ” and my favourite the “royal who is equal parts Prince Harry and Jack Harkness”.
I love Rhy. This novel started as it ended: magical, sensational and breath-taking. It is as beautiful from the outside, as it is from the inside. It’s the kind of book you want to keep reading and at the same time to never end. This is one of the best examples of world-building there is.
A world or better: four worlds so complex and so big, needs a skilled writer to make it feel real. There is so much to see, so much to feel, so much to find out. A book like this keeps you pondering for quite a while and even longer. Victoria Schwab turns out to be one of my new favorite authors. Find more of my books on Instagram View all 29 comments. I’m a fast learner. While there used to be traversing between the Londons, now the doors have been sealed to all except the Antari : magicians with the ability to command blood itself, allowing them to travel between the parallels.
One of the last two remaining Antari in the world, Kell, is the unofficial carrier of messages between the three living Londons, but his entire world comes crumbling down around him when he is tricked into taking a magical object that has enemies hunting him down from one city to the next.
When Lila, a young thief and aspiring pirate, is drawn into the middle of his adventure, Kell must learn that the boundaries between good and evil magic aren’t as defined as he once thought they were, and he must straddles those boundaries to right what has been made wrong.
This book was phenomenal! Kell is one of the most lovable male MCs I’ve seen in a really long time. He’s so loving and protective, despite his ongoing self-identity crises regarding his family. He loves his brother Rhy with a fierceness that I couldn’t get enough of, and he’s just so genuinely good in his heart that I couldn’t help but root for him.
He’s one of those MCs that makes me afraid to continue the series because I can’t handle anything terrible happening to him. I wouldn’t have minded so much if she just stole food or whatever, but trinkets? I revisited this annoyance a few times later in the book, too.
Overall, though, I really enjoyed her sassy attitude and the way she refused to let anyone tell her what to do or hold her down.
I loved that she insisted on going on an adventure, even if it meant risking her life, and her interactions with Kell were just adorable. Absolutely adorable.
He actually made me cry a few times because he just is so pure and innocent and golden. I know some shit went down, but I really hope we get to learn more about him later in the series.
I loved the idea of these parallel cities that the Antari could travel between, and I thought the magic system was beautifully built up. Too many books ignore the foundation for their magic systems and you’re kind of left just going, “oh, well, it’s magic and that’s that,” but Schwab didn’t do that at all in this book. The idea of these Antari being sort of the chosen ones who could control blood was just badass as hell, and I really hope that Kell and Holland aren’t actually the only ones left.
My very first impression from the opening segment, Kell wore a very peculiar coat. It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible. As I got further into the book, I did find that Victoria’s voice is very much her own, but I enjoyed it to no end. It was the perfect balance of straightforward and flowery prose, and it painted a splendid picture while never wasting too much time on the details.
You can find this review and more on my blog here! View all 22 comments. Apr 22, Drcong O ‘ rated it really liked it Shelves: dark , shawty-so-bad , im-all-kinds-of-shook , young-adult , fantasy , v-emotionally-moving.
I usually end up hating on the most hyped books loved by all my friends. This book is dark and gripping book full of magic. I loved it and I wanted to give this 5 stars, I really wanted to, but the beginning took some time getting into and it was very dull and boring.
The beginning of this book felt like I was reading a textbook. The writing was bland and there was lots of info dump towards the beginning. Later on, I did grasp the idea of the different Londons and magic.
This book has such a fantastic world building and once the info dump was over, I understood it all. Anyways, the book did get better, a lot better when Lila Bard made an appearance. I loved it. This book is literally almost perfection from multiple Londons, complex sexy coats yes I have issues , badassery, badass female leads, RHY my new husband, guys , KELL, magic, and evil. Another thing that made this book much much more enjoyable for me was turning innocent quotes into dirty quotes.
I want to adopt Kell as my new son and go cut some bitches with Lila Bard. Oh, I would particulary like to cut that Holland bitch right in the face, that would be great! Jan 27, Anne rated it liked it Shelves: paranormal , read-in , magic-stuff , adventure-like-stuff. It was good , just not for me great. Kinda dry maybe? Or I just didn’t totally connect with the characters? Not sure. And I seriously mean that! There’s something cool about this setting and these characters that 3.
There’s something cool about this setting and these characters that makes me want to see what’s going to happen next. I kind of feel like maybe the first book was just a set-up, and now that the world-building is done, this series trilogy? Because that happens, right? Book one is sorta dry and crunchy, and then book two rocks! I’m feeling confident about that prediction for some reason. I loved Vicious , I loved the world that she created in this one My point is that I can see why so many of my friends loved this, and I don’t want anyone to mistake a 3.
I don’t understand why anyone would think that to start with, but Londons , to be exact. There are 4 different alternate worlds out there, and the only thing they have in common is that London is a city in each of them. It’s filled with desperate people willing to do bad shit for power. The point? Magic is real! It’s sweet without being romantic And that’s a real selling point for me. I get the appeal, but it just makes me scoff at this point in my life.
When I read about a couple who seem to fly into each other’s arms in a fit of passion, all while declaring their undying love for each other?
Instead of oohing and cooing like a normal person This is what I see! Ok, besides a non-awkward romance, this has a few other cool things going for it, as well. Kell’s part of a magical Royal Family. Well, sorta , but not really. Is there more to her than meets the eye? I think Schwab did a good job describing the different Londons because all of them felt very real and well thought out.
But I’ve always had a thing for alternate versions of our world stacked on top of each other, so this was right up my ally, to begin with! And how cool would it be to have the ability to slide in and out of each of those?!
Ok, so even if it didn’t really satisfy me as much as I had hoped, I’m all in for the next book! Also reviewed for:. View all 43 comments. Feb 11, Cindy rated it it was amazing. Carefully crafted world building; well-developed and likable characters; a heroine that’s both kickass and maturely written; and a very pretty book cover to top it all off. I’ve stayed up past bedtime to read this book and it’s well worth it.
View 2 comments. Aug 03, jessica rated it really liked it. View all 20 comments. Jun 30, sreeja rated it it was amazing. But in short, this is just perfect. Every page is magic and every scene has a purpose. The characters bring life into this book. The magic system and the writing style is unique and a breath of fresh air.
Reading this book feels like stumbling into something wholly new and familiar at the same time. Reading this was an adventure with magic and drama. Reading this felt like taking on this world, and other worlds , it was such an amazing experience.
View all 77 comments. Sep 03, Robin Hobb rated it really liked it. I recently met V. Schwab and found her entertaining and charming. So I acquired one of her books! I don’t think my review of this work is affected by knowing the author, but I like to be transparent. I always like to avoid spoilers, but in this case, I think the book jacket gives away a bit of the setting, so I’ll share it here as well. Imagine four Londons, existing simultaneously but separately.
Each has a differing amount of magic, with black London a loss, and Red London a place where magic I recently met V. Each has a differing amount of magic, with black London a loss, and Red London a place where magic is like an extra sensory level.
Kell is our protagonist, a young man with the very rare ability to travel among the London’s. Indeed, that is one of his duties, for the royalty of each London are aware of one another and wish to stay in touch. Kell is a de facto member of the royal family of Red London, treated as a son and brother, but also as a value possession.
The one thing that is forbidden to Kell is to bring artifacts or souvenirs from one London to another. And of course, that is the pivot point of the story. And it should be enough to intrigue you into sampling it.
The tale is told from multiple points of view. I liked how the characters were introduced as well as how the Londons were shown. No time is wasted in pulling the reader into the story, and once the action begins, it is relentless.
I was pleased to see how advanced magic mimics technology in Red London, for I feel that this is an aspect that is often neglected in stories of worlds where magic exists and is exploited as commonplace. I also felt that the way Kell is exploited by his adoptive and loving family has deep roots in human nature. Given the ruthless nature of Kell’s antagonists, the story does not flinch from some very dark violence.
All good points in my estimation. Quibbles: This book is part of a longer series. As I drew toward the close and realized that not all the conflicts could be resolved in the remaining number of pages, I wished that I had known that from the start.
At one point in the story, the characters have a sanctuary and an ally that I wished had been introduced sooner. But both of these quibbles are based on my personal preference and may not impact your reading enjoyment at all! And given the teaser chapter in the back of this book, it looks as if A Gathering of Shadows may focus more on one of the characters I especially enjoyed. All in all, a solidly constructed fantasy with fully realized characters and a unique setting!
Oct 14, booksnpenguins wingspan matters rated it liked it Shelves: high-dark-epic-fantasy , victorian-historical-past-universes , magic-spells-superpowers. I finally finished this book. I say finally because it took me a lot to get through – and into- it, and I’m not entirely satisfied with what I read.
I’m a huge Victoria Schwab’s fan, she’s both an amazing author and a really kind person that I’d spend days worshiping. Vicious is one of my favorite books of all time and her writing is very original. Yet this book I can’t tell you if I loved it or not, if maybe I should try and reread it in another moment, because maybe I’m too dumb So I can’t tell you if I loved it or not, if maybe I should try and reread it in another moment, because maybe I’m too dumb to get its awesomeness on the first try, or dump it because it’s not my cup of tea.
I don’t know a single thing, and in my mind it’s a solid three. Not here, not there. In the middle. It’s not a bad book -quite the opposite, actually-, and I do get the hype to some extent, but maybe I wished that it suit my reader needs more than it actually does.
The magic system is probably the thing I liked the most, it added that dark atmosphere I always expect in one of VS’s books. I can’t say the same for the characters, unfortunately, because, aside from Rhy – and sometimes Kell, too- I didn’t like any character in particular.
I’m looking at you, Lila. You were a pain. The plot is good, I love London and the way its portrayed, but I had trouble following the writing at times. I found some parts a little dull or anticlimactic, and I had to put it down often because I kept getting distracted by other things.
The twists and stabs were absolutely great, though. I can see a lot of her writing in dynamic scenes and I appreciate the author’s talent. Overall, this is a good book, and I’m probably going to continue with the trilogy when I have some time.
I just feel like something is missing. View all 19 comments. Aug 25, chloe rated it it was amazing Shelves: cover-love , reads , 5-stars. I can’t stop thinking about it and I love it so much. View all 5 comments. Jan 31, Nat rated it really liked it Shelves: diverse-reads. Magic was a living thing—that, everyone knew—but to Kell it felt like more, like a friend, like family.
He was, after all, Antari. I went into this book not knowing much abo Magic was a living thing—that, everyone knew—but to Kell it felt like more, like a friend, like family. I went into this book not knowing much about the plot except that it involved magic and that everyone seemed to love it.
A Darker Shade of Magic has amazingly complex characters among my favorites: Prince Rhy, Lila Bard, and of course Kell they made it impossible to put the book down. This book was so original and creative. I had to stop everything I was doing and just finish it. E Schwab’s writing is outstanding. I love close families in YA books. Rhy sighed. My closest friend. It seemed to me that underneath all the evil and pain that had gotten into his body, there was still a flicker of humanity.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. I felt extremely relieved when Lila and Kell killed both of the twins. The instant before the metal struck him from behind, Holland had stopped fighting. It was only a second, a fraction of a breath, but it had been enough to give Kell the edge, the opening.
It was relief. I was anticipating the two main characters meeting right from the start- and it did not disappoint. The chemistry between Lila and Kell felt so real. It took a lot of effort. This review and more can be found on my blog. This had everything I ever need in a fantasy novel.
Writing this, I cannot think of even 1 think I disliked. Kell is an Antari someone with magic powers, able to travel between the 4 Londons. Red – his home, Grey – the dull London where magic is nearly all Damn! Red – his home, Grey – the dull London where magic is nearly all gone and White – where magic is controlled and used to assume power, and once there was a Black London, consumed and destroyed.
When Kell becomes tangled up in some dark magic, he takes it upon himself to make it right. Along with Lila Bard – a thief and cut-throat he just can’t seem to shake. I loved this. I don’t know what else to say. This was my first Schwab book, but it absolutely will not be my last!
Roll on book 2! View all 25 comments. May 04, Joey Woolfardis rated it did not like it Shelves: , septic , feminine , bloody-cack , bookshelf , ce Kell is a magician-but a special kind of old-who has the ability through blood magic to cross the dimensions in to the different worlds, each of which has a London.
In Grey London-boring, magicless London-Kell runs in to his enemies as well as Lila, a thief, and must dispose of an object that has brought a whole different type of magic to the fore. The premise of A Kell is a magician-but a special kind of old-who has the ability through blood magic to cross the dimensions in to the different worlds, each of which has a London.
The premise of A Darker Shade of Magic is interesting. It is not wholly unique, but it is intriguing and has elements of being something that had extreme potential, but unfortunately the severe lack of plot, the abysmal world-building and the utterly annoying characters really let it down. The four Londons-and I expect there are more-was the most wonderful thing about this book and, sadly, the only thing.
This is a wonderful concept, but it was never explored fully. I acknowledge this book is the first in a series, but we barely scratched the surface of any of these worlds in a page long book. In a page long book I expect there to be many travels and many subplots when put in the hand of a good writer. This book had one plot and one world, it just so happens it was called different worlds.
The writing wasn’t particularly bad though I have no idea why anyone thinks adding extra information within parentheses is a good idea? I was never drawn in, my attention was never wholly held. It was good, it was more competent than a lot of authors out there, but it was nothing special.
It was simply adequate. My main gripe would be the world-building or total lack thereof , but similarly and coming a very close second were the characters. Under-developed, obvious and annoying are only three words to describe them. Kell was the most developed, but even then he was rather obvious at times, though some of his decisions were conveyed well. I cannot bring myself to write about the pathetic character of Lila, who I hope dies horribly at some point in the series. The other characters-though billed at main-were background at best.
We got no sense of any of them, except perhaps Rhy but even then he was under-developed. For a page book, there needs to be more than just a stupid plot about a magic stone. There are no subplots, no subterfuge, no otherness about it. There was nothing at all, except a short story that was stretched out and stuffed full of padding to satisfy a word count.
View all 4 comments. Dec 04, Mari rated it it was ok Shelves: unfinished-series , , fantasy. No one is more let down by this rating than I am, trust me. I loved Vicious and it will go down as one of the best things I read in A Darker Shade of Magic was hollow in comparison.
It had the beginnings of everything I could ask for but never truly followed through. Kell and Lila were both superficial characters in my opinion. Think about what you can tell me about Kell. He loves his brother. That’s basically all I got a No one is more let down by this rating than I am, trust me. That’s basically all I got and most of that you can get from the back of the book blurb.
After pages with this man, we don’t know anything else about him. What can we say about Lila? Everything that’s ever been said about the “I had a hard knock life” female character. Briefly scrolling through my friends who rated this? It’s a trope. She had a rough life and won’t take any shit and occasionally you see some pain flicker through her eyes but it’s cool because her jaw is set.
That was literally every other description we got of Lila’s facial expressions. That may be a trope that people love to read about, but I find it especially grating. This characterization really frustrates me. These characters also tend to not trust anyone but then insert themselves into everything. Like, you may not trust me but sucks for you, I’m inviting myself into your life and grand scheme. It’s so surprising to me that the same author that gave us the complex characters of Vicious also gave us these flat characters.
We don’t know them, their tastes, their motivations, nothing. And that’s the main characters, so we won’t even mention the handful of prop-like background characters. Okay, so you could say that this story is plot driven rather than character driven, but the plot was dry. Red London is red and smells like flowers and yep, that’s all you get about that.
White London is ashy and mean and yep that’s all you get about that. Grey London is boring and magic-less and yep that’s all you get about that. The entire story is Kell accidentally brought home a magic rock and needs to take it back. I thought that while the ending confrontation was interesting at times, it felt a little too neat. The problem with writing super powerful characters is that you have to eliminate them in ways that won’t feel cheap.
Things felt a little too easily resolved by the end, especially considering that it involved a source of magic. Also, I felt like Kell’s magic was used way, way, way too inconsistently.
Half the time I was reading, I was thinking, “ugh It’s never explained if there are any limitations or why the most powerful magic guy in the whole world is constantly like, “aw damn. I’m trapped, this is the worst.
I’m so glad I actually finished this, though, it took me three tries to even make it past 50 pages. Not for me and also not one of those things that I “get. View all 11 comments. I love Rhy I must protect him. On to the next book! Readers also enjoyed. Videos About This Book. More videos Young Adult. About V. Schwab is the author of more than 20 books for children, teens, and adults. Other books in the series. Shades of Magic 3 books. Another current monthly price guide is Comics Buyer’s Guide.
The growth of the Internet in the late s saw development of online databases to track creator, character appearances, and storylines, as well as websites combining comic book price guides with personalized collection tracking to provide collection values in real-time. The Grand Comics Database is a popular online resource for comic book creator and character information. Popular online price guide and collection tracking services include comicbookrealm.
The increased popularity of online auctioning services like eBay or Heritage Auctions for buying and selling comic books has greatly increased the visibility of actual comic book sale prices, leading to improved price guide accuracy, particularly for online price guides such as comicspriceguide. GPA only tracks sales of slabbed books, and therefore is not an accurate indicator of overall comic sales. In response to collectors’ interest in preserving their collections, products designed for the protection and storage of comic books became available, including special bags; boxes; and acid-free “backing boards”, designed to keep the comic book flat.
Before the late s, virtually no specialized comic stores existed and the notion of comics as collectible art was in its infancy. A few collector-based retail establishments existed, most notably Pop Hollinger ‘s retail and mail order shop for new and used comics in Concordia, Kansas , which was in full swing by Claude Held had followed suit in Buffalo, New York , by The origins of comic book collecting as an organized hobby has its roots in early science fiction fandom and comic book letters pages.
In the US a few specialist shops had opened their doors by the s, but were still a small market. In the UK, the only distribution channels available were ordinary news stands and mail order publications like Exchange and Mart or through zines run by the early panelologists themselves. Denver, Colorado-based retailer Chuck Rozanski played a large role in the growth of the comics speculation market in when he acquired the high-value “Mile High Collection” — 16, comic books dating from to — and slowly began releasing select books into the marketplace.
During the late s—early s major comic publishers like Marvel [5] and DC Comics started to recognize the new movements and started publishing material that was intended for sale in specialist shops only.
When Marvel tested the new comics specialty market with the title Dazzler in , the comic sold over , copies, a very respectable figure and one that astounded the company. Hereafter, comics publishers started tailoring ever-increasing percentages of marketing and production solely for the sale in specialist stores. While the bulk of the revenues still came from sales through regular channels, the ability to focus more specifically on specific target groups as well as distributing comics not on a sale-or-return basis, but in limited runs according to sales predictions from the retailers themselves, over-printing and overhead costs could be drastically reduced.
From the s to the present day, comics publishers have been targeting more and more of their titles to collector audiences with features such as limited editions, the use of high quality paper, or the inclusion of novelty items.
From roughly through , comic book speculation reached its highest peaks. Once aware of this niche market, the mainstream press focused on its potential for making money. During this time, mainstream comic book publishers began to pander specifically to the collectors’ market. Techniques used included variant covers , polybags , and gimmick covers. When a comic was polybagged, the collector had to choose between either reading the comic book or keeping it in pristine condition for potential financial gain, or buying two or more copies to do both.
Gimmicks included glow-in-the-dark, hologram-enhanced, die-cut, embossing, foil stamped or foil-embossed covers. However, many speculators would buy multiple copies of these issues, anticipating that demand would allow them to sell them for a substantial profit in the future. Low-budget independent publishers also proliferated during this period. The low price of producing comics, and the ease and efficiency of the direct market enabled fly-by-night publishers to flood the market with product, much of it of low quality.
This period also saw a corresponding expansion in price guide publications, most notably Wizard Magazine , which helped fuel the speculator boom with monthly columns such as the “Wizard Top 10” highlighting the “hottest” back-issues of the month , “Market Watch” which not only reported back-issue market trends, but also predicted future price trends , and “Comic Watch” highlighting key “undervalued” back-issues.
The speculators who made a profit or at least broke even on their comic book “investments” did so only by selling to other speculators. Veteran comic book fans pointed out an important fact about the collectors market that was largely overlooked by speculators: popular Golden Age comic books were valuable because they were genuinely rare. Since comic books were originally marketed to children and not viewed as collectable until much later, most Golden Age comics didn’t survive to the present era.
And before the s, comic books were typically printed on cheap paper stock that aged very poorly. As a result, popular comic books published from the s through the s are extremely difficult to find and thus highly prized by collectors.
By contrast, the speculator boom of the s saw large print runs of comics on high-grade paper that were carefully stored by multitudes of collectors, creating a glut of product in the collectors market. The comic book speculator market reached a saturation point in the early s, and finally collapsed between through Two-thirds of all comic book specialty stores closed in this period, [6] and numerous publishers were driven out of business.
Even industry giant Marvel Comics was forced to declare bankruptcy in , although they were able to continue publishing. It is surmised that one of the main factors in Marvel’s downfall was the decision to switch to self-distribution via their purchase of Heroes World Distribution. Until then, many publishers went through secondary distributors such as the current and only mass distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors , and Marvel felt it could preserve some of its cash flow if it made the move to becoming one of the few publishers to also distribute directly to the comic market.
This backfired terribly when the bottom fell out of the market, as they were stocked with multiple printings of variant and “collectible” issues that were no longer in high demand, and they could not cover the costs of their distribution service.
The bust can also be linked back to some of the series that caused the boom a few years earlier. DC’s decision to publish two blockbuster stories depicting the loss of their two major superheroes ” Knightfall ” — the breaking of the Batman — and ” The Death of Superman ” , and their subsequent flooding of the press as to their supposed finality, is considered by some collectors to have started a slow decay within the non-regular buyer comic community which then led to drops in sales.
Many comic retailers believe that numerous comic speculators took the death and crippling of two major characters to signify the end of the Batman and Superman series. As many comic readers and retailers knew full well, very little in comics actually changes with any finality.
Many aspects of the status quo returned after the story arcs were over Superman died, but was resurrected, and Batman was crippled, but eventually recovered. Many comic speculators who were only in the market to see important comics mature, then sell them for a profit, did not quite understand how quick the turnaround would be on the story recant, and many rushed out to scoop up as many copies of whatever issues were to be deemed significant.
Comic shops received not only staggering sales during the week that Superman died, [6] but also had to try to meet the demand. This led to the saturation of the market and the devaluing of what was thought to be the end of an American icon. Some comic book retailers and theorists deem DC’s practices in the press forum, and their relationship with the non-specialized consumer, to be grossly negligent of the status of the market, and that their marketing campaign, most likely not malicious in intent, spelled doom for the speculator market and comic sales in general.
Others place the blame for the comic market crash on Marvel whose product line had bloated to hundreds of separate titles by late , including the poorly received ” Marvel UK ” and ” ” lines , or creator-owned upstart Image Comics , who fed the speculator feeding frenzy more than any other comics publisher. Other publishing houses had different problems. Their primary motivation was to make the properties more suitable for use in video game development.
Eventually, Acclaim filed for bankruptcy following the collapse of its video game business. The miniseries Deathmate — a crossover between Image Comics and Valiant Comics — is often considered to have been the final nail in the speculation market’s coffin; although heavily hyped and highly anticipated when initially solicited, the books from the Image Comics side shipped so many months late that reader interest disappeared by the time the series finally materialized, leaving some retailers holding hundreds of unsellable copies of the various Deathmate books.
Currently, most of the hype generated around the major companies’ comics involves changes to the characters, well-known creators writing or illustrating a title, and media coverage surrounding an adaptation to another medium such as film or television. The one remaining bastion for comic speculation remains in online auction sites such as eBay ; but even there, comic books remain a buyer’s market.
In the s, prices for genuinely rare near-mint comics rose steadily, doubling in some cases. Improved accountability has increased collector confidence, although some collectors have complained that the market has once again become more about speculation, instead of being focused on the art and stories. The sale of a CGC-graded 8. It was quickly eclipsed by a CGC-graded 8. To preserve comics, which are a printed medium, it is prescribed that they be stored in cool, dark places, as sunlight can bleach the pages, and heat and moisture can also damage them.
Sunlight can also react with the paper , causing it to “yellow”, as well as having a bleaching effect on the inks used within the comic. Some collectors advise against storing comics in cardboard boxes, or using backing boards, as these are both sources of acid which can react with the fibers of the paper of comics, eventually destroying a comic. If these products are used to store comics, these collectors advise using products marked as acid free.
PET film , polyethylene or polypropylene storage bags are popular, and allow a comic to be “bagged” in a contained environment, and have become the traditional way of storing comics. Some comic shops now sell comics already in bags, although the quality of the bag can vary. These types of bags are not considered “archival safe” because various plastic compositions may contain elements or have other properties that could harm the comic in years to come.
Mylars are the only bags available that are archival safe. Corrugated plastic boxes, preferred by some collectors, offer greater protection against acid while also offering better protection against moisture damage and vermin damage. Original art, typically 11×17 bristol boards with the pencils and ink, can be protected against direct sunlight as well as acid deterioration by using an archival quality frame coupled with glass which has been treated to protect against ultraviolet rays.
In the column Comic Book Vitamins [20] on the Project Fanboy website, Steven Sykora discussed preserving collections by submitting comic books to the CGC , where comics are inspected for flaws, graded accordingly and placed in an inner well — a sealed sleeve of Barex, a highly gas-impermeable plastic polymer. This process is often referred to in slang as “slabbing” and there is debate as to whether this provides better protection for the books than an acid-free backing board and Mylar sleeve.
Storing a comic as a computer file scanning and saving the comic as a comic book file or. However, as with other digital means of storing media, this also allows for the possibility of copyright infringement via unauthorized digital distribution, such as peer-to-peer file sharing networks.
A subscription crease describes a specific flaw in the condition of a comic book, particularly a crease through the entire book running from top to bottom. It is a term commonly used by comic book collectors. When comic book publishers began mailing comics directly to monthly subscribers they would simply fold the comic in half and stuff it into a standard 10 business envelope.
This method was expedient and cost effective — the comic book business survived on razor-thin margins — but resulted in a clearly visible line running from top to bottom of a comic. The “memory” factor inherent in paper assured that this crease would be visible forever. Consequently, collectors , who prize condition, consider this a defect that lowers the desirability of a particular issue.