Free Be

Think of her as the Joe Camel-toe of comics. No, wait... DON'T.

Saturday, May 3rd, heralded the arrival of not only the X-Men sequel, but of the second annual Free Comic Book Day. Around the same time last year, comic industry publishers got together to distribute several free reprinted and custom-made issues to draw new readers who might've never picked up a four-color funnybook before seeing Spider-Man. Participation was as simple as choosing an appropriate disguise so no one you know recognizes you, going to the local comic book shop of your choice, and picking a single issue from the multitude of ones specially available. For the already existing comic reader, it's their hobby's way of helping them get lucky (as lucky as geeks get, anyways) and sample other books they might not have been interested in due to their limited funds from working at video rental stores.

Cheap Trick
However, with anything free, there's always someone willing to take advantage of it, in both negative and positive ways. It is possible to simply go trick-or-treating and pick up multiple books, or even worse, hawk them on eBay and defeat the entire purpose of this national nerd holiday. On the other sweaty hand, stores do see better business and are responding accordingly with specials to entice both old and new fans. The problem is, how to turn a curious customer into a repeat one? The person need not be madly bagging and boarding away, just intrigued enough to read. The tobacco industry and drug cartels have it easy.

Comics Trip
Enter the second and best way to capitalize on Free Comic Book Day - Christa Shermot's 100% Guaranteed How-To Manual For Getting Anyone To Read Comic Books. Aside from being a mouthful, it's a 32 page bait and hook specifically made for drawing in new readership. Writer Myatt Murphy and Scott Dalrymple have volunteered Christa and Elisa Shermot, sisters and stars of their independant title Fade To Blue, to guide four specific types of comic naysayers into the habit. This short list encompasses pretty well defined groups, including guys who think they're too old or too cool for comics, and women who've never picked one up. Using examples from their own title and various others, Christa holds a manic dialogue with the avatar of each particular potential to deconstruct their walls of why they don't read comics, and gives some excellent reasons to start doing so. It even has a list of Reading Rainbow-style comparisons of popular movies and tv shows to current titles - after all, what else is a comic but a screenplay with pictures?

Bait, Set, And Match
Is the book subversive? Yes. Is it funny? Definitely. Yet it can only be effective upon being circulated to the people it's trying to reach, so only time and distribution will tell on its impact. I'll have trouble parting with my copy to lend out, but the return investment is worth it. And with (imaginary) people like Christa Shermot helping people get into the hobby on the ground floor, things are looking up. After all, everyone knows love is only something if you give it away.