You want to know how to convert people to reading comics? Give them free swag. It's the modern day equivalent of "bread and circus," you know? Who doesn't love getting free things? That's the beauty of Free Comic Book Day. There is one problem, however, with Free Comic Book Day. It's not aggressive enough. It doesn't grab random pedestrians and just shake sense into them.
That's where I come in.
I have persuaded a comic retailer friend of mine to relinquish to me all the comics that were left over from Free Comic Book Day, and then I purchased the rest of his stack of Batman and Superman 10 cent adventures; his Fantastic Four 9 cent adventure; his Gen 13 13 cent comic; and his X-Men, Namor and Dardevil 25 cent comics. With such a healthy stack of comics under my arm I went out into the world to try and show people the error of their way.
Now, the question came: where to go to give away said comics? That's when I realized that the movie theater was the optimum choice. Who better to try and get to read comics then people coming out of LXG, The Matrix Reloaded (which is why I went to go see it with Stephen), the Hulk, or the Terminator?
As people came out of the theater, I walked up to them and put the books in their hands. Now, when people are handed something, they immediately try to figure out if they know you. Once they realize that they don't, then they think you're selling something. After a bit of instructing, people realize that you are indeed just giving the comics away. (I never thought it would be so difficult to freakin' give things away.)
I had not realized that distributing comics in a movie theater counted as "solicitation" but there you go. This guy came over to me and asked me to leave. I said "no." He came back fifteen minutes later with two other guys. I'd rather not talk about the following five minutes of my life.
Once I found myself outside with my remaining comics, I had found that I had lost a lot of my enthusiasm. As I limped home, I threw the occasional comic into an open car window. I can only hope that the drivers appreciate the free treat they've been given. (I can tell you didn't and that was the cab driver that brought me home... I'd spent the last of my money buying the comics and movie tickets so, being a little low on cash I tried to pay the driver with the remainder of the stack of comics. To say the least he was not pleased but that's another article).
Some people gave the comics back, most took them. Did they read them? Did they enjoy them? Are they now converted? Who knows? I don't have some kind of phenomenal cosmic power. All I know is that at the end of the day, a couple of dozen of comics had found their way into the hands of people who may not have grabbed them otherwise. My conscience is clear and I'll sleep well tonight.
With your mom.
On a mission from God,
Guy Ryder
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