By George Anderson
Call them comic books or graphic novels. Whichever name you prefer, you and consumers across the country can pick one up for free tomorrow in stores participating in the fourth annual National Comic Book Day.
Barry Lyga, a spokesperson for National Comic Book Day, told the Gloucester County Times, "It's basically a chance to celebrate the art form. People tend to forget it's an art form just like books or music or TV. What better way to remind them than to give them free comics."
Bill Wurst, manager of A Plus Cards and Comics in Glassboro, NJ said, "All you have to do is show up and get a free comic book."
The comic book or graphic novel business is in a period of resurgence with sales increasing 10 percent last year to $325 million.
Special editions of top titles will be given away as part of the promotion including: Batman Strikes!, Uncle Scrooge, Marvel Adventures, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Betty & Veronica and The Simpsons.
Moderator's Comment: What are your thoughts on National Comic Book Day and the power of demos to drive sales? What is the best demo (giveaway) program you've ever seen? What made it so?
First, we've been informed by younger members of our household tomorrow is National Comic Book Day and we will be going to Rogue Comics. Of course, we informed them that the grass had better be cut first.
Because of our interest in new music, we've found that Apple's free download music has exposed us to artists sometimes even before we've heard them on our favorite free-form radio station, which beats the heck out of the limited selection offered by standard programmed radio. - George Anderson - Moderator