Free Comic Book Day After Party
Photos by: Linnea Aasland
This last Saturday, May 7th, marked the 15th year since the invention of Free Comic Book Day! The holiday was started in 2002 by the North American comic book industry in an effort to bring new readers into independent comic book stores. On this day, thousands of stores around the country offer free comic books and other promotional items to anyone who walks through their doors. This year, No Future Cafe took part in this holiday by opening its doors for an epic after party! Several talented artists were there, such as Stephan Franck from Dark Planet comics and Kimchicat. Businesses such as Deezmaker 3D Printers were there as well, offering a method by which cosplayers can update their cosplaying game, and there were prizes generously donated by Comics Factory for their trivia contest. Savory and sweet treats were sold from the Waffle-Oh! food truck, and there was fun for all ages with kids art tables, bean bag toss games and more!
Free Comic Book Day After Party
My sister and I arrived a little after 6 for the event. We were immediately charmed by the archway featuring hand-drawn imaginings of our favorite heroes as children.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
… Charmed by everyone but Little Captain America that is. He looks a bit soulless, doesn’t he, like he’s lost all meaning in life? I hate to admit it, but it cracks me up 😉
Free Comic Book Day After Party
Loved this bathroom sign, which was one of the first things we saw when walking onto the premises.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
We walked in to see several players seated at the controls of a N64 playing Super Smash Bros.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
People inside were happily mingling, enjoying a pleasant evening surrounded by all things comics.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
On the stage you can see some of the prizes for the trivia challenge. First prize was the Iron Man Civil War Funko Pop. My sister and I were saavy enough to snag the Captain Action Cat and Zombie War comics as consolation prizes 🙂
Free Comic Book Day After Party
The art of Kimchicat was amazing. I already regret not buying more of these gorgeous (and affordable!) prints.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
She also just released her first art book, which was being sold for $20 at the event.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
The $1 comic book bins were a comic book lover’s dream. I picked up several myself, including issues of Secret Wars, the New Teen Titans, Sandman, The Vision, and Captain America.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
The Deezmaker 3D Printers booth was amazing. It’s so incredible to see the variety of items that can be made with a 3D printer! They’re locally based, having been in business for about four years now.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
We got to hear a one minute summary about this fascinating graphic novel series. Pretty much it involves film noir elements, vampires, a kick ass female vampire hunter… what else could you want? The first two issues are in print now.
Free Comic Book Day After Party
We decided to try something out of the box- a waffle hamburger! It certainly was memorable!
Free Comic Book Day After Party
Before we left, we had some fun with the Design Your Own Superhero pages at the kids crafts tables. You got to make up your character’s whole backstory from their origin to their arch-enemy!
Free Comic Book Day After Party
To end it all, I leave you with a 3D printed Stan Lee atop the Weighted Companion Cube. It doesn’t get better than this.
Check out the event’s Facebook page, and be sure to mark your calendar for more upcoming events, like Geektopia, a 3-day mini comic convention happening June 23-25 at No Future Cafe, Pasadena!
Want to read more geeky goodness? Check out our reviews of WonderCon Los Angeles 2016 here, here and here!
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