Flying Colors Emailing Brigade!

With Flying Colors' Mystery Event coming up Friday December 28 at 4PM... and more events coming in 2019, we invite you to join our email list... the FlyCo Emailing Brigade.

We'll send out an email prior to our Mystery Event giving you info you'll want to know.

Sign up here, please:

https://conta.cc/2R9KLr3

(Or if you're on FlyingColorsComics.com, look to the column on the left for the place to sign up.)

You Are Invited to Flying Colors' Mystery Event!

When: Friday December 28, 4PM-7PM 

Where: Flying Colors Comics, 2980 Treat Blvd at Oak Grove Rd, Concord 

Who: The FlyCo Retailing Brigade... and some surprises!
What: We'll have pizza and soda and a fun time on the last Friday of the year.

Why: Surprises!
The reasons will become clear soon. What we can tell you is December 28 is Stan Lee's birthday. While Stan "the Man" is no longer with us, the work he did in his 95 years on earth will live on forever! 

Along with the titanic talents the likes of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Dick Ayers, Don Heck, John Romita, John Buscema, Bill Everett, Jim Steranko (and others), Stan had a hand in bringing forth a new mythology with characters that will live on for generations. 

So part of our Mystery Event will be spent sharing Stan stories and appreciations, to talk about the comics and characters he guided as editor and chief writer of Marvel Comics' Silver Age. 

But there are other special pieces to this event. There will be something for every fan of comics and Flying Colors. And there may be some surprise guests, too.

So we  just say YES and be here December 28 at 4PM!  

Tell us you'll join us for this event by hitting the "Going" button on our Facebook Event page.

By the way, here's a brief glimpse of something you'll see on December 28... 

More Exclusive Gift Ideas Available at Flying Colors Comics!

 

Flying Colors Comics has New & Cool Stuff you won’t find anywhere else!

Flying Colors is open every day 11AM-7PM through Sunday December 23 and we'll be open Monday December 24, Christmas Eve from 11AM-5PM.#comics #LastMinuteGifts #shopindie #ShopLocal
Short video HERE!

— Joe Field (@flycojoe) December 20, 2018

Be sure to follow FlyCoJoe on Twitter!

Join the Flying Colors Retailing Brigade!

Spider-Man Into the SpiderVerse!

First, into Flying Colors.
Then... Into the Spider-Verse!

Flying Colors is OPEN 11-7 Daily!

We've Got Your Cool Stuff Right Here

in Flying Colors!

RIP, Stan Lee.

You've heard the news, sad but not surprising. Stan Lee has passed away.

So many memories are flashing through my mind right now:

* As an 11 year old in 1967, confined to bed for a few days after surgery to repair a badly broken right arm, my life-long friend Steven brought me two comics, Fantastic Four #65 and Amazing Spider-Man #51, both scripted by Stan Lee. That set me on a path of loving comics, of finding solace and escapism in between the pages of my favorite comics and books. It also set me up as a huge fan of Stan "the Man" Lee and the hall of fame artists he worked with on those two comics, Jack Kirby and John Romita.

* After college, I sold radio advertising and did promotion work for KJOY-AM 1280 in Stockton CA. In 1985, I had the goofy idea to ask Marvel Comics to name Stockton as the "Birthplace of marvel Comics' Fantastic Four" for Marvel's 25th anniversary. Stan Lee was called by the LA Times for his reaction and he said something like "At Marvel, we're accustomed to saving universes on a daily basis. This is the least we could for good ol' Stockton."

Shortly after that interview, Stan called my KJOY office and I could hardly believe it! Months later, Marvel sent him to Stockton where Stan and I shared the stage for a special presentation on the steps of city hall. At lunch after the event, Stan said to me "You did a great job with this promotion, kid." And I responded "Well, Stan, if you ever need a public relations' guy, give me a call." I was stunned when he did call a few months later. I wound doing publicity for his lovely wife Joanie's novel, "The Pleasure Palace." Stan called me his "outside man."

* After the success of the FF campaign, Stockton area comics promoter Bill Herrell invited me to a planning meeting for a convention that would start in 1987 with the unwieldy title "The Wonderful World of Comics Convention." Bryan Uhlenbrock gets credit for shortening it to "WonderCon" in 1989. Stan was a guest, at my personal request and his acceptance, at the first three WonderCon events.

* In '88, I made the jump from radio to comics retailing. On the day we opened, October 3, 1988, there was message left on the store's answering machine. It was Stan, congratulating me on getting the store open with his and Joanie's wishes for the success of Flying Colors.

* In April 1990, Stan made his first visit to Flying Colors. It was on a Saturday morning of WonderCon weekend, so it was a short visit. But Stan told me he wanted to see the store, but for me to keep his appearance low key. He told me to invite no more than 20 of my friends and customers... and that became a very special time, when I was able to return the favor to my friend Steve, the one who got me into comics back in '67, by inviting him to the private Stan event.

  * In 1995, when Flying Colors was the recipient of the Will Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Award for Retailing Excellence, I was able to share a moment with Stan and Joanie and let them know I was grateful to them for encouraging me in comics retail.

* 1998: Flying Colors' 10th Anniversary. I decided to take a page out of the Marshall McLuhan playbook ("the medium is the message") and so we published our first comic book. I was thrilled when Stan agreed to write the introduction for it. I was far less thrilled when the comic didn't sell much. Oh well.

* 2001: Stan was inducted into the Cartoon Art Museum's Hall of Fame with a "Sparky"--- an award named in honor of Charles Schulz. I was honored to give Stan's introductory speech to his induction.

* 2013: The San Francisco Giants did their first "Stan Lee Night" at the ballpark. Prior to that event, Stan returned to Flying Colors for our 25th anniversary and for a whirlwind afternoon of photos, signatures and media.

Look, I could on, but so could everyone of the millions who knew Stan either personally or through his Marvel persona. Stan was wonderful to me and to my family and I'll always be grateful to him.

Stan and Joanie were a wonderful couple, married just shy of 70 years! A friend of mine who dealt with Stan regularly in his later years said "When he was in Los Angeles, Stan would agree to do things as long as they didn't take more than 59 minutes. Once it hit one hour, Stan would say 'I've got to get back to my Joanie.'" Stan and Joanie together were a great love story!

I'm sad about this, as are all Stan's fans. But I am grateful for all he did for me and for the wider world of comics and pop culture. I'm happy to have known him and found him to be a good man, a man of his word and a devoted husband.

RIP, Stan. Thank you.

-->

Sat Nov 17: Liam Sharp at Flying Colors for Local Comic Shop Day!

What: 4th Annual  LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY! 

Where: Flying Colors Comics, Treat Blvd at Oak Grove Rd, Concord CA

When: Saturday November 17, 2018, 11AM-7PM

Who: Our Special Guest is superstar artist LIAM SHARP (Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Brave and Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman...and so much more!).
PLEASE NOTE: Liam will be signing from 12 Noon - 2PM.

Why: Local Comic Shop Day is an event conceived and implemented by ComicsPRO, the trade association of comic book specialty retailers.

For Local Comic Shop Day, publishers produce special and limited items exclusively for participating comics shops... including Flying Colors! For a sneak peek at LCSD 2018 items, go HERE! 

At Flying Colors, we're excited to have artist Liam Sharp join us as out guest, especially since Liam is the artist of two LCSD items!
• LCSD 2018 BRAVE AND THE BOLD BATMAN AND WONDER WOMAN HARDCOVER

This LCSD exclusive hardcover,  collecting the entire six-issue miniseries, features a stunning black and white version of the cover art by Liam Sharp!
• LCSD 2018 GREEN LANTERN #1

Writer Grant Morrison and red-hot artist Liam Sharp launch this new, ongoing series: THE GREEN LANTERN on Wednesday November 7! However, this exclusive and very limited LCSD edition features a foil cover and is limited to just 500 copies worldwide. 

Please note: Everyone attending Local Comic Shop at Flying Colors on Saturday November 17 will receive one entry to win LCSD 2018 GREEN LANTERN #1, a very limited collectors' item! Purchases on LCSD at Flying Colors will also earn shoppers extra entries, so make your plans to be here!

Follow Flying Colors' Local Comic Shop Day event on Facebook HERE!

Local Comic Shop Day is a great day to kick off your holiday shopping for the comics fans and pop culture lovers on your gift list. Our Flying Colors retailing Brigade is always happy to help you find the best comics, graphic novels and other cool stuff for you or for anyone you'll be shopping for!

Local Comic Shop Day calls attention to locally owned independent comic book specialty stores, celebrating their vital role in being the primary fire-starters of pop culture.  Pop Culture begins in your Local Comic Shop!

FkyCo's 30th: Gratitude for Two Important Dads

The 30th anniversary party for Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff is Saturday October 13 (be here for the cake at 3pm!).

I hope you'll go along with me as I write here about two very important people in my life: My father, Joe Field, and my father-in-law, Libby's dad, Bud Fisher. 

 

In 1987 and early 1988, while researching the viability of opening a comic book shop, I spent different times with my dad and with Bud, going over business plans, looking at potential locations and visiting other comic shops, especially those in Contra Costa County.

My dad was in real estate as a part-time gig from the late 1950s until he made it his full-time job in the late '70s. He knew Contra Costa County as well anyone.

I was still working at KJOY Radio in Stockton until May '88, but I'd take most Saturdays to research my future and to see potential locations. With Dad driving and Oakland A's games on the radio, Dad and I would sometimes stop for lunch, usually for hot dogs, sometimes at roadside hot dog trucks. Dad seemed to know the location of every hot dog stand in Contra Costa.

Bud Fisher, was the former chairman of Lucky Stores Inc, and he was well respected as a retailing genius. He took the Gemco Department division of Lucky Stores Inc from a money-loser to become the largest American membership department store (prior to Wal-Mart's world takeover, but that's a sad tale for another day).

Bud was very direct. When we'd check out other comic shops, while I tried to keep a low profile (what business owner wants to talk to someone who could become competition?), Bud had no qualms about talking to shop employees. He'd also scope out shops, determining their square footage by counting ceiling tiles. Bud also had his "business mode," when his voice would drop precipitously to make a point.

Days before Flying Colors first opened in early October '88, my in-laws, Bud and Theo, came to visit to help us get ready for the store's opening. Theo at that time was trying to recover from a stroke that left her with aphasia. Bud, though we didn't know it, was in the early stages of what would soon be diagnosed as Alzheimer's. His speech was often jumbled, but he was eager to help any way he could. So there he was, the business genius, the retailing king, the guy I admired so much... and all I could have him do at that time was bagging and boarding old comics for our back issue bins.

But here's the deal: While both Dad and Bud were enthusiastic in helping me get Flying Colors off the ground, comics never seemed like a big deal to either of them. I'm sure they both thought I was crazy to open a comic book store--- like I was selling something as obsolete as a buggy whip. I'm sure they both loved that I was taking a chance... a chance to build something out of nothing. And a chance to make a new and better life with my young family.

My Dad passed away in late 1998. In the last few years before he died, I asked him if he had any fond memories of comics in his youth. He brushed off the question, initially saying no, then talked about how during World War II, he saw many other servicemen constantly reading comics. "But I was always playing cards," he said.

After a while, he thought again and told me he did remember one newspaper comic strip he loved when he was young... Percy Crosby's "Skippy." As a comics fan, I knew "Skippy" as major inspiration for a young Charles Schulz. "Peanuts" is a clear descendent of "Skippy." And "Peanuts" was always a favorite for me when I was young. Maybe a year or two before Dad died, I was able to find and give him a compilation of "Skippy" comic strips from his youth... and he lit up! Good memories do that!

And with Bud, who passed away 25 years ago this week, I never got the sense he liked or cared for comics. So imagine my surprise, when Libby and I were going through some old family photos we recently received and we saw the photo I've included here. Bud and his older brother Dana, in 1931 or so, reading broadsheet newspaper COMICS! Likely these two adventurous boys were gazing on one of the great strips of that era--- Hal Foster's Tarzan or Dick Calkins' Buck Rogers or maybe Chester Gould's Dick Tracy. That was quite an era for adventure strips!

Finding this photo made me happy... more than 30 years after having to run the gauntlet of doubts I received from my parents and my in-laws about the thought of opening a small retail shop, I got some validation that comics played at least a small part in the young lives of Joe Field and Bud Fisher.

On this occasion of the 30th anniversary of Flying Colors Comics, a business that likely wouldn't exist without the encouragement and help from these two great guys, I salute my dad, Joe Field, and Libby's father, Bud Fisher.

 

Musings & gratitude: Flying Colors 30 Year Anniversary

Our 30th anniversary party is coming up Saturday October 13... but the actual anniversary of the day Flying Colors first opened for business is October 3.

I'm out of profound words of wisdom about this occasion. I'm honestly a bit shocked we got this far since I knew little to nothing about running a business way back when... and I still feel the longer I go, the less I know. But here we are. Phew!

Even without having much in the way of real world business acumen at the time, I can tell you one thing: When my family joined me in this crazy dream to have our own business, we had a plan--- almost a dream--- really.

We summed it up in this line: "Flying Colors is the one comic shop for the whole family."
Our goal is still that no matter who you are, if you like to read, if you enjoy art... Flying Colors is the shop for you, for us... for all of us! That mission statement still guides us after all these years.

Back on Monday October 3, 1988, it was a quiet day. We did all of $63 business for the eight hours we were open. Those early days we operated on the razor's edge, often wondering if we'd make it to our one year anniversary, let alone 30!

Along the way, I have been one very blessed shop owner! In 30 years, we've had just 51 employees--- our fabulous FlyCo Retailing Brigade! Special thanks to Mike Eriksson and Marty Messner for their combined 29 years of service here!! And to Anna and Casey for being the right women for the job over these last three years! Along the way, our FlyCo Retailing Brigade members have become part of our family and we are very grateful to all 51 of you!

Libby and our three daughters, Michelle, Jenny & Cindy, have all worked in the business in one capacity or another. And wherever they travel in this world, they always take in other comics shops to get new ideas, to keep up with their favorite art & stories and to brag about their Free Comic Book Day founder dad. ;)

Libby is the one who deserves heaping helpings of thanks for everything! Especially for going along with the crazy idea to open... a comic book store!?!

Little known fact, if it wasn't for Libby, we likely would not have gotten a lease in Oak grove Plaza. Our original landlord here was reticent to give a lease to what he thought was a low-brow no-good business... a comic shop. But once he met Libby, then met our three young daughters, he caved in! How could he not?

Libby, as everyone knows, is the sweetest person on the face of the planet! She is the glue behind the scenes of the success of Flying Colors. I'm in awe of her in so many ways... and always grateful to her for understanding that crazy dreams can lead to a business like this, which is a *community* as much as it is a thriving enterprise.

Finally, we THANK YOU, all of you who are or have been a part of our 30 years history, all of you who give us your business month in and month out. Please, more than ever, we need you to continue to hang in there with us as we head into our 31st year of "Slinging Comics to Concord, Contra Costa County & the Cosmos."

And one last plug: We'd really like to see you at our party on Saturday October 13. I'm hoping a good number of our past Retailing Brigade members will be here.
We'll be cutting the cake at 3PM... and it's going to be 30 years worth of sweet!

Peace & love & comics!
--- Joe "FlyCoJoe" Field

(PS: If you have any photos from Flying Colors events or any stories you'd like to share about Flying Colors, please share them on our Facebook 30th Anniversary Event Page or Twitter or Instagram and please tag me "@flycojoe". We will also give you the opportunity to sign, write, draw in our scrapbook on October 13... and we hope you will!)

FlyCo's 30th Anniversary! Join us for all these Special Events!

We're been planning a ton of fun here at Flying Colors!
Please join us Saturday October 13 when we'll celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Flying Colors Comics! Yowza!

Please stay in touch on our Facebook Events page.