Patrick: Comic books are weird. Heroes die, travel through time, visit other universes – and yes, they occasionally punch holes in reality. And yet the biggest barrier most non-readers face is the simple fact that buying comics is a strange process. You have to put together a pull list, visit a special store and you can sink innumerable hours into figuring out what you’re supposed to be reading.
Plus: print media. OH PRINT MEDIA! Magazines, newspapers, regular books – all printed media is becoming increasingly unprofitable. So ten years ago, The Powers That Be decided the only logical conclusion would be to give away free comics once a year at independent comic shops all around the country (oh and Canada too, if that’s your thing).
Now look, you’re at least moderately geeky, right? You’re excited by either The Avengers coming out this weekend or that new Dark Knight Rises trailer, if not both. You don’t even need to invest any money at all to pick up new comics this Saturday. There’s a free Avengers book and there’s a DC New 52 book – and we’re probably going to to write something about it. There are also FORTY OTHER FREE TITLES to grab (I’m so going to get my hands on that Mega Man book if it kills me).
Naturally, all of the Retcon Punchers will be hitting up local comic shops during the day. If you wanna hook up at the store, just sound off in the comments – we’ll be happy to say hello!
Shelby will be at Alley Cat Comics in Chicago, Illinois
Peter will be at Fanfare Sports and Entertainment in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Drew will be at JP Comics & Games and New England Comics (at Coolridge Corner) in Boston, Massachusetts
Patrick will be at Meltdown Comics, The Golden Apple (they’ve got Burt Ward in the afternoon!), Melrose Music and Comics and Secret Headquarters in Los Angeles, California
Retcon Punch 
Any guesses as to whose skull Batman is holding in that image? Even money is on Yorick.
So help me god, if that’s a Y spoiler, I’m going to murder you.
Hahaha. Two characters in the history of the English language named Yorick, and you assume I’m not referring to the one famous for being a skull?
I assumed you meant the Yorick famous for being in a comic book. ALSO considering what kind of spoiler that would imply is hilarious: Humanity is saved when Batman shows up.
Unless comic Yorick is made out of metal, I don’t think you have to worry.
Maybe that’s the spoiler…
If I’m spoiling things I’m not reading, then I’m even more awesome than I realized.
Does that skull have a third eye hole?
Sorta does look like that, yes. You think it’s some manner of Third Sinner?
Thank you for letting me know about Free Comic Book day, Retcon Punch. I now have an excuse to visit Atomic Books while I’m in Baltimore this weekend
Any excuse is a good excuse when it ends in more comic books. That they’re free is just a bonus.
There’s a Donald Duck family free comic book that I’m sorta excited about. Try to get it so we can talk about it! Ducks!
I just discovered the artist on that book is going to be at Comicopia in Boston…we’ll have to see if swinging by there fits in my schedule.
“Comicopia” is an awesome name for a comic book store.
Actually, I’ve been obsessed with the duck family recently. Have you seen the family tree? FASCINATING. Did you know Huey, Duey, and Louie blew up their dad with some TNT?
Oh my god, YES: I love that duck family tree. Every couple weeks, I google it and just stare at it for like an hour. I always fantasize about writing some Duck fiction, but then I stop myself because: obviously I need to not do that. Let’s all look at it now: http://duckman.pettho.com/tree/v_american.html
Hahaha. That’s DARK. They’re just offing all the family members that would stand between them and Scrooge’s money.
HOLY NERDGASM! Are you going to try to hit Golden Apple while Burt Ward is there?
I AM. There’s a book on the free list called “Burt Ward, Boy Wonder.” It’s going to be so rad.
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