It is that time of year again and we are very excited to host the 16th Annual Free Comic Book Day 2018 right here at Lawndale Shopping Center in Greensboro NC!
This now international event has grown into something truly unique since the very first one in 2002! Comic book fans in our area and beyond look forward to FCBD all year to get a sampling of what comic books have to offer as entertainment and also as a major social event.
Across the nation, there is no FCBD event quite like the one at Acme Comics. New friends are made in line each year and you might even find out about your new favorite television show or video game from the people around you!
Free Comic Book Day brings whole community out together around the common interest in comic books, art, and creativity! We look forward to seeing you on Saturday May 5th!
HOW FREE COMIC BOOK DAY WORKS
Free Comic Book Day is an international event that comic book stores can choose to participate in and each store runs the event differently.
The way FCBD works at Acme Comics is that we require no purchase to unlock access to the free comic books. Though the comic books are not free to us, we offer them free of any inherent or connected charge to the attendees to say “thank you” for your love of comic books and for supporting Acme Comics as a Greensboro institution since 1983.
Though available quantities will vary, on Free Comic Book Day attendees may have access 1 copy of each type of comic book that was available at the time you reached the distribution area. The earlier you show up, the more individual items will be available to you.
Attendees may select an “All Ages” bag which will contain only items appropriate for all audiences both young and old. There will be a “Teen” selection where the content will have slightly more action and tension than the All Ages option. Or attendees may select a bag with “everything” but some comic books may contain more action than others or may contain language and subject matter not intended for younger audiences.
It is important for parents and/or guardians to inspect the all of the offerings first to determine what is appropriate for whom to see.
WHEN DOES FCBD BEGIN:
FCBD begins on Saturday May 5th when Acme Comics open at 10AM. Acme Comics closes at 7PM, but when we are out of offerings, we are out of offerings. There will be more of some 2018 FCBD comics than other, so historically there has been at least one free comic left toward the later afternoon.
WHEN DOES FCBD BEGIN UPDATE:
In order to potentially alleviate some of the traffic on May 5th that has at time prohibited participation due to the volume of people, we are trying something new this year. Something that we learned from other stores at various retailer meetings.
This year FCBD will begin at 12:01AM MIDNIGHT.
If there is a line at that time, the line will begin moving and attendees may receive the available FCBD comics. This special FCBD launch will end promptly at 2AM regardless of how many people remain in line or how close they are to entry.
There will be no Local Heroes guests available at that time, but they will be on hand on for you on Saturday May 5th starting at 10AM.
Carpooling with friends or arranging to be dropped off and picked up is ideal!
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2018 COMICS
Click the link above to see the Free Comic Book Day 2018 offerings. We will have all offerings available, but some quantities are more limited than others and will expend before others.
Acme Comics Presents FCBD Local Heroes
Not everyone is able to travel to comic book conventions as often as they would like so making artistic talent available is a part of our mission at Acme Comics. This year, as part of our 35th anniversary celebration and the 16th Annual Free Comic Book Day, we are specifically showcasing local talent! There are extremely talented and passionate artists and craftspeople right here in your very own community and this year you can meet them! This year is their time to shine!
Time to meet the FCBD Local Heroes!
Chris Gunter
My name is Chris Gunter and I’ve been drawing on a regular basis for about 5 years, daily if possible. I enjoy drawing my favorite characters from comics, pop culture, and cartoons. I’ve been working with Acme Comics at various events and have drawn at the Greensboro Children’s Museum for Free Comic Book Day since 2015 as a regular guest.
This year I’m at the main Free Comic Book Local Heroes event and I’m excited to show you my art and draw for you there!
Kevin Hardin
Kevin Hardin is an illustrator and graphic designer from Graham, NC. A long time Acme Comics fan and Free Comic Book Day attendee, this will be his first time participating as an artist. He has presented in various art shows and conventions across North Carolina including SuperFamiCon 2017 and most recently the I AM North Carolina art exhibition. Some of his influences include Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Andrew Maclean, and Jake Parker. He has also participated in the annual World Art Drop Day in both Greensboro and Burlington, NC for the last 5 years so you may already have some of his art! He is a lover of comics, pizza, The Office, Cheerwine, and all things North Carolina. He currently works at North Carolina A&T University. He resides in Graham with his wife Rachel and 2 rescue dogs Cara and Lexi.
Rickie Hopkins
Born in 1989 Rickie began expressing himself through art at the age of three. At the age of eleven Rickie’s father introduced him to comic books with Spider-man #1 by Todd McFarlane and that captivating moment would shape the direction of his artistic destiny. Rickie’s other influences are Greg Capullo, Arika Toriyama, Alex Ross, Katshiro Otomo, to name a few. In 2015, Rickie provided art for the “Capital Punishment” story written by Rodney Traynham published by Grayhaven Comics. He tabled at his first convention at Comic Book City Con, has participated in numerous Acme Comics events including Transformers Day and Local Comic Shop Day, and presented at the Four Seasons Grand Cinema.
Merryn Kepchar
Artist, Mama, hippie, cat lover. I’m Merryn Kepchar and No Hard Felines Art is my parody project that creates humorous renditions of pop culture characters as cats!
Merryn received a BFA in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2012 and currently resides in Greensboro, NC, where she is from, with her husband Chris, son Zevon, and their two cats Chick and MoMo.
You’ve seen her on Instagram now you can see her in person at Acme Comics’ Local Heroes Free Comic Book Day event where you can pick up prints, original art, and more for the cat lover in your life!
Jody Merriman
Too young to remember his birth, Jody Merriman remembers being raised by a pack of wild dogs. He soon became the leader of the pack because of his opposable thumbs. Wait. Isn’t this the origin of Wolverine?
Anyways. Influenced by a diverse range of artists from Norman Rockwell to John Byrne to Alex Ross to Adam Hughes to Stuart Immonen, Jody uses all of those inspirations along with those opposable thumbs to create pictures for all to enjoy!
Jordan Morris
JoMo is an NC based illustrator and Greensboro native, he is the self-proclaimed “grossest with the mostest”, Bringing his enthusiasm for pop culture and his crass sense of humor to make head turning pieces. Tees, Stickers, Pins, Patches, Logos, you name it he’ll do it. Shameless is as shameless does! You’ve seen Jordan’s work if you’ve been in the shop lately as he designed our new Acme Bat logo! Jordan’s art can be seen on his Facebook and Instagram page!
Griff Person
I’m Griff Person and I’m a Greensboro native, born and raised. My first comic book was Batman: The Killing Joke which sparked an interest that led to a degree in art and graphic design from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 2012, after a time away from both art and comics, I started scratching out doodles on Post-It Notes which developed into a commitment to keep putting pencil to paper nearly every day.
Due to consistent practice and evolution, I’ve branched out beyond doodles to create full-fledged, full color artwork. With heavy influences from Bruce Timm, Shane Glines, and Cameron Stewart, I enjoy drawing strong women, dinosaurs, and the occasional cat. Most of my recent pieces are small which makes them easy to display and are primarily in marker and watercolor.
Aside from comic books and video games, my other interests include my wife & partner-in-crime of 24 years, our 3 dogs, 3 cats, collecting art, and Transformer figures.
Brian Richardson
Hi, I’m Brian Richardson, but I sign all my drawings “PBR” because those are my initials. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, mostly just for fun, but in 2013 I began to take it more seriously. That was the same year I began to participate in Acme Comics’ Free Comic Book Day event as an artist at Greensboro’s Children’s Museum. Later I would appear at Acme’s Comic Book City Con, LexingCon, and Super Famicon, as well as various other events hosted at Acme Comics. So you have seen me around!
My artistic style is influenced by the art associated with Walt Disney characters, and my favorite being the ducks. Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge McDuck, Darkwing Duck, and Launchpad McQuack to name a few.
This year I will be at Acme Comics’ Free Comic Book Day Local Heroes event which is an honor and I’m ready to draw for you! See ya soon!
Dora Salinas
Born in Greensboro, North Carolina and influenced by Saturday morning cartoons such as Sailor Moon, Pokémon and Spider-Man, Dora Salinas began drawing at the age of ten. By the age of seventeen, her commitment to art broaden to film and digital photography, watercolors, oil paintings and ink work.
Dora is a self taught artist, whose artistic skills were honed thanks to her teachers and professors at the Reidsville High Academy of Art and Rockingham Community College. Dora’s artist influences include Annie Leibovitz, Rodin, Mark Brooks, and Elizabeth Beals. Dora enjoys creating pieces that allow her creative freedom to experiment with different styles, techniques, and mediums.
Brian Shearer
Brian Shearer lives right here in Greensboro and you’ve seen his work regularly on comic book series from IDW Publishing such as G.I. Joe A Real American Hero, Transformers, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Ghostbusters, and more.
Other projects include his creator owned comics William The Last, Murdock Madstone, and is the co-creator of the graphic novel, Vex. Brian can also be seen on his YouTube channel demonstrating the craft of making comics and giving advice on navigating the challenges of work as a freelancer.
Brian was among the very first artists to participate in Acme Comics’ earliest Free Comic Book Day events and this year he makes his return with prints, original art pages from published comics, and more! Brian will also be available for a limited time for portfolio reviews to help amateur artists refine their craft.
Shayla Simons
Shayla Simons is a Rising Junior at East Carolina University concentrating in Animation and Interactive Design while also earning an Entrepreneurship certificate.
She lives her life in pop culture including video games, comic books, manga, and anime. Her creative influences include Steven Universe, Voltron, funky pastels, cutsy characters, and powerful women of color.
Over the last two years, Shayla has presented in the Art Live and Learn Community Art Show, the Art Living and Learn Community Spring Show, the Young, Black, and Gifted Showcase and also represented Greensboro by being published at the age of 15 years old in the award winning Womanthology hardcover published by IDW in 2013.
Barrett Stanley
Barrett Stanley is a Greensboro-based artist, writer, and illustrator. Upon graduating from Grimsley High School, Barrett studied painting at Appalachian State University and after a winding journey through many forms of art, he found his way to comics thanks to a love of visual storytelling.
Barrett began writing and drawing comics in 2013 and in January, the popular website Bleeding Cool named his ongoing science-fiction graphic novel series Heartbreak Quadrant “The Best Independent Comic Book of 2017“. Heartbreak Quadrant volume one is available directly from Barrett and can also be routinely found in Acme Comics’ independent graphic novels section. His comics work has also appeared in anthologies such as Speculative Relationships and $19.84: the Dark Future of Retail. In addition to comics, he is currently illustrating the role-playing game Rangers of the Shadow Deep, written by Frostgrave creator Joe McCullough.
Barrett makes his return to Acme Comics as part of the Free Comic Book Day Local Heroes event where you can pick up the second HQ graphic novel directly from him.
Riley Till
Riley Till is just a simple dude trying to remain a forever lost boy right here in the Triad area and is a name that some of you will know. What you may not know is his focus on dark pen and ink illustration ranging from realistic portraits to spooky line art. Riley has advanced to freelance illustration, but has goals of becoming a tattoo artist.
Rodney Traynham & Kev Lyerly
Rodney is a longtime familiar face around Acme Comics and has also written professionally since 2013. His first self-published work, The Adventures of Teague: Retail Specialist with art by Kev Lyerly, was first released in single issues starting in 2013 and the collected graphic novel edition was released late last year. A short story entitled “Capital Punishment” with art by Greensboro artist Rickie Hopkins was published by Grayhaven Comics in 2015. He is currently working on his first prose novel, a short story/poetry collection, and the color art for a new project with Kev Lyerly set for release later this year.
Kev Lyerly is a Winston Salem based fan art illustrator and an independent comic book artist with twenty years of art experience. His works range from the smallest sketch card to large paintings and everything in-between. Examples of his work can be found on his Facebook page, Klaws of Kreation. On the comics side, Kev is the creator of Solar Knight and the Equalizers and was artist on The Adventures of Teague: Retail Specialist with writer Rodney Traynham. He is currently at work writing and illustrating a new project coming later this year.
Sara Winans
Sara Winans is a North Carolina based illustration artist and comic creator. Since her graduation from the Living Arts College in Raleigh NC, Sara has moved to more traditional media such as watercolor, acrylic, ink, and digital; taking on private commissions and contributing to the charity book duo Aberration Zine.
Sara is currently working on her first, self-published, sequential art book, Heebie Jeebies, which follows a magician by the name of (Greg)orious Fairfly. Heebie Jeebies is set in a pseudo-1880s/ 1920s inspired world where magic comes at a cost and mystery will grab readers from the first page.
Colby Ziglar
Colby Ziglar is a North Carolina native and graphic designer who graduated from Guilford Technical Community College with a degree in Commercial Art and Advertising. Comics have been a part of his life since he was probably four years old. Just like they did for many others, comics helped him to learn to read and inspired his artistic creativity early on. “I am always honored when asked to participate in any comic related activity such as conventions or special events, but especially Free Comic Book Day events with Acme Comics.”
The Free Comic Book Day Local Heroes will be hosted inside of Smallcakes Cupcakery right here in Lawndale Shopping Center at 2138 Lawndale Drive Suite B.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
AT THE GREENSBORO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
If you are unable to attend Free Comic Book Day at Acme Comics in Lawndale Shopping Center and are primarily interested in the All Ages material, we will make an allotment of comics available at the Greensboro Children’s Museum (220 North Church Street) on Saturday May 5th. Supplies will be limited. For more information call (336) 574-2898.
That’s the Free Comic Book Day 2018 run down! If you have questions call 336-574-2263 or email AcmeLWN@Bellsouth.net with Free Comic Book Day in the subject line.
Enjoy free comic books courtesy of Acme Comics, enjoy the company of your fellow fans, and enjoy visiting with local creators!