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Saturday, May. 02, 2009

Dig your claws into a super deal today

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If it's Saturday and the first blockbuster superhero movie of spring opened the day before, it must be Free Comic Book Day.

Back for its eighth year, the nationwide giveaway at comic-book shops lands on the opening weekend of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," actor Hugh Jackman's fourth outing as the adamantium-clawed mutant. In recent years, Free Comic Book Day has coincided with the openings of "Iron Man" and "Spider-Man 3."

"I guess the movie studios and the comic companies have agreed to put out a big movie the day before," said Jeff Allen of Modesto's Bonanza Books & Comics, a regular participant in the annual event.

His McHenry Avenue shop purchased loads of special titles to give away, including Wolverine, Shonen Jump, Transformers Animated, GI Joe, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th anniversary Issue 1 reprint and Bongo Comics, which is a "Simpsons" book. Bonanza made sure to get plenty of small-child-friendly books, like Archie, DC Kids and Disney/Pixar's "Cars."

Other free books include the "zero issue" of a new Green Lantern series, "Blackest Night," and a sampler from Dark Horse Comics that includes a "Star Wars" cover story and, inside, an Indiana Jones story with art by Modesto resident Ethen Beavers, who also has done artwork for "Star Wars" and "JLA Unlimited" titles.

Beavers is one of four local artists scheduled to take turns sketching and signing autographs at Bonanza. The artists will be selling their own pieces, commissioning original artwork and doing comic-style sketches for children that probably will range from free to a few dollars, Allen said. "Ethen, typically, if you buy one of his comic books, will do a little sketch in it and sign it."

Bonanza's celebration also will include an appearance from approximately 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by members of the 501st Legion Central California Garrison, who dress as "Star Wars" characters like Darth Vader, Boba Fett and stormtroopers. In anticipation of the August release of the movie "G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra," there also will be a costumed G.I. Joe character.

According to Diamond Comic Distributors, more than 2,000 comic shops across the country will give away in excess of 2 million comic books today. In addition to Bonanza Books, at 2308 McHenry, local participating shops include Krier's Cards & Comics, 3900 Pelandale Ave., Suite 305, Modesto, and Comic Dreams, 377 W. Louise Ave., Manteca.

On the Net: www.freecomicbookday.com, www.bonanzabooks.net, www.kriers.com