Award-winning Graphic Novelist GENE LUEN YANG at Flying Colors This Saturday!

Comic-Con 2014: Where to Find Me

Next week, pop culture fans and professionals from all over the world will descend upon the beautiful city of San Diego for Comic-Con International. Since its inception in 1970, this event has become Mecca for those who love comics and pop culture. It is the comic industry's annual gathering of tribes for fans and professionals alike.

I've been attending Comic-Con every year since 1986, a full two years before Flying Colors Comics opened its doors for the first time in October '88.

That first year, I was still working for KJOY-AM (Stockton CA) and had the notion of putting together a syndicated radio feature called "Graphic Details" about comics and their connection to other entertainment media. My good pal Jerry Fuentes, then the afternoon personality on KJOY, voiced the sample shows we put together from interviews I did on the scene in San Diego. I'm still proud to say we did a great job getting those sample shows ready. I sent out packages to probably 20 different radio program syndicators and received just as many rejection letters. In '86 and '87, comics were apparently well below the radar of mass media.

Flash forward to the present and you will be bombarded with news from all media about announcements and events coming from Comic-Con International: San Diego, happening July 23-27.

For the 28th year in a row, I'll be there, partially still as a fan, mostly as one of the professionals in the comics' biz with a full slate of meetings for the three days I'll be there.

If you'll be one of the more than 150,000 at Comic-Con, and though I have many other meeting scheduled than these programs, here's where you can find me.



Thursday  July 24
10:00am –  11:00am
Graphic Novel Programming at Your Library Room 23ABC
“I just don’t know what to do!” say many librarians and other educators who don’t have graphic novel/comic book-themed programs. Greg Evans (cartoonist of the syndicated Luann strip), Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff), and Hillary W. Chang (McCully-Moiliili Public Library) discuss the process to accomplish such programs as an artist speaking tour, Free Comic Book Day, and even a Library Con.

Friday July 25
9:30am-10:20am
ComicsPRO Fresh Start Room 18
Get your day at Comic-Con off to a great start with ComicsPRO — the comics specialty retailer trade association. Retailers, publishers, and distributors are welcome to kick off their convention day with colleagues, coffee, bagels, and conversation. Bring your business card.

10:30am –  11:20am
State of the Industry Room 18
FOR RETAILERS/PUBLISHERS/DISTRIBUTORS ONLY! Comic book and graphic novel sales in direct market comic shops continue to grow. ComicsPRO board members discuss the year behind and look forward to the year ahead.

11:30am –  12:15pm
Promoting Your Store: What’s Working, What’s Not Room 18
RETAILERS ONLY! Focusing on social media, ad media, email marketing, and in-store promotions such as Free Comic Book Day, retailers brainstorm how to better promote their stores and products so they can keep strong sales momentum going.

2:30pm –  4:00pm
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award Videos Room 18
FOR RETAILERS ONLY! Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, CA), a recipient of and facilitator of the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, presents a look at the videos for this year’s award finalists. Great time to steal some in-store ideas!

4:00pm –  5:00pm
So You Want to Be a Comics Retailer? Room 28DE
OPEN TO ALL CONVENTION ATTENDEES!
This program is not just a great opportunity for those interested in opening their own comic book specialty store, it’s also a chance to get a peek into the comics retail profession. Bring your best questions for this panel of veteran comic book specialty retailers. Hosted by Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, CA).

To do Sat July 12: HULK Smash! Brownie Day at Flying Colors

Join us Saturday July 12 for our 3rd Annual Hulk Smash! Brownie Saturday! 

It's really just an excuse to have a party featuring FlyCo Libby's massively incredible Hulk Smash Brownies--- so famous for their popularity on Free Comic Book Day, we thought it would be fun to bring them in on a less crazy day. 

We'll also have some free comics to give away--- including the FCBD editions of Guardians of the Galaxy & Rocket Raccoon. 

But, wait! There's more!!

Come meet authors Adrianne Ambrose and Leigh Dragoon. Several years ago, Adrianne and Leigh met at a Flying Colors signing event for Fraggle Rock (photo below)... and these days, both authors have new Adventure Time chapter books--- and who doesn't love Adventure Time? 

See you Saturday!

Happy 4th of July!

Guardians of the Galaxy are Here!

Stan Lee Visits the San Francisco Giants Sat June 7

The San Francisco Giants will host their 

2nd Annual HEROES & COMICS Night

at AT&T Park on Saturday June 7. 

The guest of honor is none other than Stan "the Man" Lee, 

co-creator of many of Marvel Comics most beloved super-heroes.
Check out the cool video Stan did with Giants' closer Sergio Romo

and get the full scoop on how you can get tickets to be part of this fun event.

To do Saturday May 10: NICK DRAGOTTA @ Flying Colors!

Vote for your favorite FCBD costumed kids!

Flying Colors Comics, with sponsor DK Publishing, present the Free Comic Book Day Kids Costume Contest. 


Voting is going on right now on our Facebook page. The costume photo with the most Facebook "likes" wins a prize from DK Publishing containing a DK/LEGO LEGO MOVIE Ultimate Sticker Book, a DK/LEGO PlayBook and a LEGO Gift Card. Value of the prize is more than $60! 

Hit this link to get to the costume photos and votes for your favorites!

Twas the Day before Free Comic Book Day...

... and all the plans are in place.

Flying Colors, the home of Free Comic Book Day,  will host a HUGE party tomorrow and you're invited!

Other merchants in Oak Grove Plaza will also be helping with the celebration, so be on the llok-out for some cool stuff!

Here's our line-up of Special Guests:

Our guest TED NAIFEH will also have a very special deal to get in on the start of his brand new "Princess Ugg" series from ONI Press:

The first 300 people through to get their FREE comics will also get a special limited bonus--- a commemorative button featuring our very own super-hero mascot, Captain Four-Color!

During artist Jimmie Robinson's signing from 3pm-6pm, we'll also be giving away a limited number of the first "Flying Colors Sketch Edition"--- with exclusive cover art by Jimmie. Use this Sketch Edition as your own sketchbook or autograph book... or use it to create your very own comic book! 

Please visit this link to read more about our Free Comic Book Day event!

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday May 3

 
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FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN AWAITS AT FLYING COLORS COMICS

Worldwide Free Comic Book Day Founded by Concord Comic Shop Owner

Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff in Concord is one of more than 2000 comic book shops around the world celebrating the biggest day in the comic book industry and comic art form, Saturday, May 3rd. That’s Free Comic Book Day when nearly five million comic books will be given away by participating retailers, introducing as many people as possible to the wonders of comic books!

The event was founded by Concord resident and Flying Colors owner Joe Field as a way to introduce more people to the fun of reading comics while also inviting back former comic readers and thanking those who currently support their locally owned independent comic shops. In 2013, Free Comic Book Day drew more than 1.2 million people to comic shops in nearly 60 countries, making it the world’s largest annual comic book event.

In addition to giving away thousands of comic books, Flying Colors Comics will host comic book artists on May 3, including acclaimed writer/artist Ted Naifeh (“Courtney Crumrin” from Oni Press) and Evan Stanley, artist of “Sonic the Hedgehog” comics published by Archie Comics.

“Free Comic Book Day showcases the diversity in comics today. Visitors to our store will see comics for readers of all ages — children, teens, and adults,” said Field. “I’m confident they’ll find stories and characters they’ll want to come back to week after week and month after month.”

"Comic books shops are also where the biggest ideas for other media come from," Field continued. "Take a look at the biggest movies, video games and TV shows and you’ll find their source is right here in comics. On Free Comic Book Day we shine a spotlight on the entertainment medium that has so much to offer to anyone wanting to be entertained by the stories and enlightened by the art. We invite everyone to come to this fun party!”

Cosplayers will also be here to take photos with fans and attendees are invited to come in their favorite comic character costumes.

More surprises will be announced soon!

Regular updates, information about comic books, and a list of participating publishers,their free comics and other participating stores are all online at www.freecomicbookday.com.

Free Comic Book Day on Saturday May 3 runs from 11am-7pm at Flying Colors Comics, Treat Boulevard at Oak Grove Road in Concord. More info is available on the Flying Colors Facebook page. 

Art from the 2014 FCBD T-Shirt, available at Flying Colors!