We all know what time is coming up: Free Comic Book Day! Same as every year (well, except for the first few years they had it), the first Saturday in May (and this year it’s May 1st) is the happiest day in a comic book living person’s life! This year we’ve got more comic books than ever, for a wide range of interests. This year we’ll have 28 books that will be given away, one per title per customer (yes, that’s right, you can take up to 28 unique Free Comics!) and they are:

ARCHIES SUMMER SPLASH, ARTIFACTS FIRST LOOK, BONGO COMICS FREE FOR ALL, DOCTOR SOLAR MAGNUS ROBOT HUNTER, FRACTURED FABLES, GREEN HORNET, IRREDEEMABLE #1, KIZOIC SHREK & PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, MOUSE GUARD FRAGGLE ROCK FLIP BOOK, SIXTH GUN #1, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG HIDE SEEK DESTROY #1, STUFF OF LEGEND & MORTAL INSTRUMENTS
TICK #1 SPECIAL EDITION, TOY STORY, SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN, WEATHERCRAFT, WORLDS OF ASPEN, YOW THE JOHN STANLEY LIBRARY, ATOMIC ROBO AND FRIENDS, DC KIDS MEGA SAMPLER 2010 EDITION, FEARLESS DAWN ASYLUM PRESS SAMPLER, GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #155 1/2, IRON MAN/SUPERNOVA, IRON MAN & THOR, LIBRARY OF AMERICAN COMICS #0, ONI PRESS FREE FOR ALL, OWLY & FRIENDS, RADICAL BIGGER BOOKS BIGGER VALUE.

In addition to the Free Comics, we’ll also be running our biggest sale of the year: 25% Off everything in the Store! Yup, free stuff and an awesome sale, you can’t beat that! OH WAIT, YES WE CAN! We’ll also have 50% Off all of our Back Issue Comics and 50% off select clearance graphic novels, many of which will be hitting clearance for the first time that day! Yes, that’s half off! Yes, I am in fact that serious!

I’m not even going to do the whole “Oh hey, that’s it” thing and then go “BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE,” because there is more and I’m not going to sit here and be disingenuous when it comes to Free Comic Book Day. We will, as always, have our loyal troops in uniform: the 501st Storm Trooper Legion, led by Lord Vader himself. This year we’ll also have artists in the shop drawing, selling sketches and doing commissions, including Rusty Shackles, of Comic Alliance.com fame and Oni Press’ Resurrection series. Rusty has also set us up with a whopper of FCBD promo, the Avengers “Getting the Band Back Together” image, celebrating the return of the classic line-up of Avengers in this May’s Avengers #1. For every $50 you spend, you’ll be able to get this commemorative tour shirt, a retail value of $19.99, for FREE while supplies last.

When you put all of these together, I don’t think you’ll be able to find a better Free Comic Day around. That’s right kids: Super-Fly Comics & Games: A Free Comic Book Day you can believe in!

For all you folks in the Dayton area looking to dip your toes into the convention scene, this weekend is your chance to see what all the fuss is about. For those of you already in the know, you’ve seen how much fun the Gem City Comic-Con is and can’t wait for tomorrow. If you’re fans of us, in addition to being smart and pretty, you’re going to want to find us there tomorrow! We’ll have 25% off Back Issues and Back Issue comic sets, Graphic Novels up to 50% off and Magic Cards 25% off (including 1/2 off our $1 rares!). We processed tons of new boxes that haven’t hit the regular store floor yet for this show so this is your first chance to grab some goodies before they’re all gone. For more info about the Con itself, here’s organizer Jesse Noble…

Can you believe that this is the 5th annual Gem City Comic Con? It seems like it was just yesterday. I asked the question, “Do ya think Dayton can support a yearly comic con”? Five years later the answer is still a resounding YES! So fans, this is your show. Congrats and thanks for making it a success. Now let me tell you about this year’s Gem City Comic Con!
We have an outstanding group of featured guests this year: Jim Valentino (Image Comics Co-founder), Don Rosa (Legendary Disney Ducks artist and writer), Steve Scott (X-Men Forever, Green Lantern, New Warriors), and Tom Nguyen (Army of Darkness, Ghostbusters).
But that’s not all! We have brought back fan favorites like Dan Davis, Terry Huddleston, Chad Lambert, Mike Maydak, Kevin Meinart, Sean Forney, Scott D.M. Simmons, Andy Bennett, Dave Aikins, WAC, Josh Medors and Dara Naraghi, for your enjoyment.
Don’t forget our “Creator Room”. Creators like Molly Durst, Stratos, Dustin Carson, Linda Chute and Dan Taylor represent the cutting edge and dissident voices of sequential story telling.
This year we have a number of great panels for you to attend and learn something about the hobby we all enjoy so much! First, Dara Naragh presents “How to Break In (and Stay In) the Comics Biz”. This will feature a number of comic pros who know what they are talking about. Then later today Matt Zoleman will present “Creating Digital Comic Art – Exploring the benefits and limitations of using software to create comic book art”.
Sponsor Bell Book and Comic are back again this year with a great slate of tournaments for you to enter and win some prizes! Plus, there will be game demos and all day gaming!
This year Gem City Comic Con and Comicrelated.com are teaming up with the Hero Initiative to bring you the Comicrelated.com Live Charity Auction benefiting the Hero Initiative. The auction will raise money to help the Hero Initiative help comic creators in need. This is a great chance for you to give back to the creators who have given you so much enjoyment over the years.
So the only thing left for me to tell you is , follow this link (http://www.gemcitycomiccon.com/uploads/images/WebSiteCoupon.jpg) for a coupon to the Gem City Comic Con website. Print that off and redeem it at the door for $1 off your admission. Be sure to forward this to all your friends so they can share with the fun and savings!
Doors open from 10 am til 5 pm at the Wright State University Student Union (3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy. Dayton, Ohio 45435-0001). Regular admission is $6, children under 10 get in for free. A limited number of VIP tickets are still available. A VIP ticket package comes with a ton of GCCC Premiums and Exclusives. Call Fearless Readers (937)252-3036 to reserve yours today.

While we’re all digging out this weekend, cursing the sky gods for the beautiful snowy destruction they’ve rained down upon us, I’m going to give you guys something to look forward to: Next weekend, Friday the 12 through Sunday 14th we’re running our annual Valentine’s Day sale! Yes, take 20% off EVERYTHING in the store that weekend. Well all know you love comics and cool stuff, but sometimes you have to love money more. Now, you don’t have to worry about choosing between them! Plus, our devoted and attractive staff will be showcasing the books that they love. So, in addition to picking up the stuff you already love, you’ve got the chance to get your hands on a new favorite.

So as you’re digging out, take heart! Next weekend you can be shoveling your way out from under a mountain of comics!