Comics

It's here... Finally here! Once again, the first Saturday in May is that glorious event 'round the nation called FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local shop for their participation and rules.

That's right. Free Comic Book Day. And what could be better than a free comic? How about all those OTHER comics you'll invariably walk out with, the ones that your friendly neighborhood retailer certainly hopes you'll load up with in addition to the free titles... After all, the retailers don't actually get them for free -- they end up paying 12-50 cents for the privilege of giving them away. So spend a few bucks while you're in there!

So we're a bit behind on our coverage, but we spent 3 glorious days in San Diego for Comic-Con 2009. And while it certainly lived up to its reputation for a mecca for general geekery, it was also apparent that it's in a schizophrenic crisis: is it a "popular arts" festival as the organizers have tagged it, or is it a comic convention? What does "Twilight" have to do with comics? or "Fringe?" Is 120,000+ people just too many, even for the massive convention center? Yes. The average wait for the main hall was 2+ hours.

Comic-Con 2009 has released its geek-eriffic lineup for this year's fest in San Diego, and Sunday July 26 is officially dubbed "Kids Day." There are panels galore, including discussions about what's hot and trending in kids' graphic novels, a Jack Kirby tribute and Q&A with animated filmmakers, as well as producers and voice talent from television and movies. There's also a Manga workshop, a live old-timey radio program broadcasts, a peak into the world of Sccoby Doo, Wonder Pets, Muppets, Spongebob and Emily Strange -- and that's all before Noon!

If your little cape crusaders are anything like mine they arrive back to headquarters each night, after a long day of crime fighting, covered head-to-toe in filth. Leslie from The Pink Toque just might have found a nice tool for serious grime-fighting. Using a basic soap making recipe she's posted a tutorial for whipping up some Batman soap.

Put down that Wii-mote for a minute, pick up your imagination--and a twenty sided die! My son and I have recently discovered (for me, rediscovered) Marvel Superheroes: a pen-and-paper role playing game set in the Marvel Universe, first published by TSR (creators of Dungeons and Dragons) way back in 1984. The game was designed to let players assume the roles of superheroes from Marvel Comics, such as Spider-Man, Daredevil, the Hulk, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and many others. Advanced versions lets you create your own superheroes.

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, we schlepped down (or up -- it's atop Mulholland) to Skirball Cultural Center's ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938-1950, an exhibit which explores the genesis of cultural icons such as Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Captain America and more.