The biggest and best day on the comic book calendar is nearly here.
This Saturday, May 4th is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024.
Last year’s event ran super smoothly, so we are hoping capture that magic again with this year’s event by basically do that same all over again!
As in previous years we still believe that the more information you have, the better chance you’ll have of planning your day and getting the most out of this event.
So here are the details for the day to help make it as fun and enjoyable time out as possible while giving you an idea of what to expect.
OPENING HOURS:
Each year we try to make a focus on introducing younger readers into the world of comics.
However we’ve found that the hectic nature of the day wasn't always perfectly suited to younger fans and for some can be overwhelming.
So to help with this we’ll be continuing our:
FAMILY HOUR: 10AM-11AM
The idea is families with kids under 12, will get the chance to get in early while the store is still somewhat more relaxed.
Hopefully this we will make younger fans more comfortable, while parents can also grab some free books for themselves.
FAMILY HOUR 10AM-11AM BONUS MEET ALL AGE GRAPHIC NOVELIST,
KAYLA COOMBS!
We are super excited to announce that local creator and artist of the hit all ages graphic novel series QUINNELOPE AND THE COOKIE KING CATASTROPHE and the upcoming QUINNELOPE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING MOON, KAYLA COOMBS will be joining us as part of our 10am-11am Family Hour!
Kayla will be sketching characters from her Quinnelope series for free on the day and will also have a selection of her books, prints and postcards for sale.
Kayla will be situated towards the back of the foyer, next to our costume comp photo area.
REGULAR TRADING HOURS: 11AM-5PM
After the Family Hour, the store will be open for regular trading to the general public 11am-5pm.
At this time we will have representatives downstairs to let a limited amount of people into the store via the buildings foyer as a way to control the crowds so it makes for an easier browsing experience.
FREE COMIC BOOK STOCK AND STORE LAYOUT:
Our Free Comic Selection will be on display and available in the foyer of 53 Queen Street.
Our hope here is that we will be able to control the line more directly, while thinning the crowd upstairs on the shop floor from folks that are only looking to pick up the Free Comics on the day, hopefully providing a better shopping experience for those looking to actual browse our shelves and perhaps buy something (Please buy something).
With current limited lift access, anyone keen on shopping in store on the day will enter via the lift in the foyer as usual but will exit via the fire escape stairs when leaving the store, again to help the flow of foot traffic on the day.
Of course people with prams or access ability requirements will be able to use the lift to exit.
ALL STAR FCBD CHECKLIST
Like previous years to help more people get the Free Comics they want faster we'll also be handing out a Title Checklist this year's selection to those waiting in line.
While waiting you will have the chance to look over list and mark off the ones you want.
This will save a massive amount of time when it comes time to get your picks.
It will be literally as easy as handing the Title Checklist over and you'll have your books in moments.
The lines can be long earlier in the day, yes but this will keep them moving faster, getting you your FCBD picks quicker!
We hope you won’t be waiting in line too long but the only way it will move faster is with your help!
OUR FCBD SELECTION OF TITLES
The GENERAL READERS SELECTION
NUMBER OF BOOKS YOU CAN PICK:
We hope to give everyone at least the choice of 4 titles.
This will change during the day pending stock levels.
Due to all stock being limited title availability can not be guaranteed throughout the day.
THE ALL STAR KIDS SHOWBAG
FCBD 2024 INVESTIGATORS CLASS ACTION SNEAK PEAK
The All Star Kids Showbag is limited to one per family with kids under 12.
The Showbag contains the listed above 6 TITLES!
Since we only have a limited number of the showbags, to be fair to those kids that attend the event on the day it will only be available to families with kids under 12 in attendance at the event with a limit of one showbag per family.
These titles are not available individually outside of the Kids Showbag.
STORE REPRESENTATIVES
Store representatives will be recognisable on the day as anyone sporting store lanyards and they will be able to help you with any questions you may have.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY ALL STAR COSTUME CONTEST
This year photos for the costume contest will be taken at the photo area set up at the back of the ground floor foyer, just after the lifts.
Look for the All Star standing banners
and seek out our photographer and get your photo taken.
If there isn't available just speak to someone in store at the counter.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 20% OFF EVERYTHING* INSTORE SALE
And for those kind enough to want to make a purchase on the day, we are also running 20% OFF nearly* everything in store.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
WHAT ABOUT THE ALL STAR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY ARTIST ALLEY ?
While this has been aspect of our event has been a stable since our very first FCBD event, it will sadly be missing this year.
Again as part of our revaluating of this event in our new setting and taking into account the current financial climate, we were not in the position to host this most incredible line up of local talent.
Hopefully that will change for future events but we are still super thankful for the generosity of all the artists who have ever lent us their skills for our past FCBD’s.
CAN I RESERVE MY FREE COMIC BEFORE THE EVENT?
The simple answer here is no.
This is not something we have ever done as the event's sole reason for existing is to get people into comic book stores or interacting with them on that day.
If this was something we offered there would be little chance we've have any free comics to give away on the day!
Please also remember, these comics are NOT FREE TO US. They are valued at around a $1 a comics. Stores are literally giving money away to hold the event.
Our first thought is to the folks that make it out to our event on the day.
While we appreciate that might not work for everyone's schedule, we do hope you understand that it is truly in the spirit and reasoning for the day existing in the first place.
MY "INSERT HERE" COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY. CAN I GET SOMETHING FOR THEM TOO?
See above.
Also perhaps sacrifice a couple of your picks to something your "insert here" might like and you'll be their real life hero!
WILL FREE COMICS BE AVAILABLE ONLINE VIA YOUR WEBSTORE ON THE DAY LIKE PREVIOUS YEARS?
Sadly due to the logistics of running an event of this size, we are able to only run it in one format, either in store or online but sadly not both at the same time.
Again we appreciate that this is not perfect but hope folks can understand our situation.
Our hope is that whatever we have left over from the Saturday, we will make available on our webstore on the Sunday, that will also be host 20% OFF on the Sunday.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the store, please be aware that there will likely be some lining up outside at certain points of the day.
Please keep in mind that this is Melbourne and cover is limited so we recommend umbrellas just in case, we'll keep our fingers crossed for sunshine.
Most important of all,
HAVE AN AWESOME FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!!
THE ALL STAR CREW
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