Last weekend we celebrated #FCBD at our favourite local comic book shoppe in the whole wide world - Earth 2 Comics in Sherman Oaks, California!
Earth 2 is the store Ashley used to work at.
They have hosted many of our signings over the years.
And have hosted us for many Free Comic Book Days in the past - both as talent and as patrons.
There’s a French tradition of a “salon”. Sometimes known as an “artists’ salon”. The word “salon” in French actually means “room” instead of a beauty spa or hairdresser the anglicized version of the word has come to denote. Artists’ Salons often took place in a host’s home or a public café and was intended to be a meeting of the minds. A place where creatives, philosophers, and patrons could come together and exchange ideas, discuss politics, and open a dialogue about the creative process. It’s something we find ourselves romanticizing and trying to bring to Geek History Lesson every week.
It’s the tone we are striving to achieve with #MarvelClub even though it’s just Professors Ashley and Jason speaking to camera we hope the longer form content and our immediate, personal reaction gives you the impression of being in on the chatter. It’s a collaborative effort between you and us.
Be sure you don’t miss out on this Comickergirl STEVIE STRANGE print Exclusive to #MarvelClub if you sign up this month!
Why are we bringing this up?
Because Free Comic Book Day is the same thing!
We’ve even done digital FCBD events!
Much like San Diego Comic-Con, Free Comic Book Day brings the geeks in our communities together. This past weekend was extra special because we were able to see the folx who work at our favourite shoppe (many of whom we consider family), as well as other Los Angeles geeky types we haven’t seen for one reason or another since the pandemic hit us in with full force in March of 2020 - a few short weeks before that year’s Free Comic Book Day, sadly enough. Despite knowing we would only be making one stop our stop was a couple hours long because of the usual chaos of the events which always brings in so many first timers to the comic book industry (!!!), and because of all the catching up we had to do with our fellow comic book aficionados!
Relatively certain this story has been shared before on the podcast or in a video, but Professors Jason and Ashley actually met on a Free Comic Book Day. It was through the power of comic books and geeky chat that Geek History Lesson was eventually formed. We got talking over the books Jason has chosen to purchase. It’s always impressive when you purchase something off the beaten path. Ashley has about six years experience in comic book retail, so it takes interesting choices to impress her. As with any retail experience, certain types of people tend to pick up certain types of things. To this day we aim to bring this same spark of insight and surprise to our own salon - GHL!
In the year from our first shared Free Comic Book Day we’ve been able to attend FCBD events and signings at other Local Comic Book Shoppes across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. To tell you it is anything short of amazing to be able to share stories which were born from an introduction first made on Free Comic Book Day at Free Comic Book Day would be a lie. There’s a direct line between Free Comic Book Day through the Jupiter Jet series, through Science! The Elements of Dark Energy through Super Soldiers and into Aurora and The Eagle and Super Best Friend which we are working on today.
It’s easy to look at Free Comic Book Day and paint it under the brush of trying to get new consumers into a retail space. Getting a bigger audience for a niche market. Those two readers are absolutely accurate. They are true. For every one person converted to come back and become a Wednesday Warrior due to an exceptional Free Comic Book Day experience the industry gets to keep going. Creatives get to keep working in this medium we all love so dear.
However, as with all the greatest things in life, Free Comic Book Day is something far closer to Thanksgiving. If you are a geek it’s all of your favourite people in your favourite places talking about your favourite things add up to the best time. This meeting of the mind and feeling of community is why we love Free Comic Book Day. It’s why we had to come to the Blog and write out this ode today.