Flying Colors Brings Marvel's Avengers to Pleasant Hill CA

Flying Colors Brings Marvel’s Avengers to Pleasant Hill CA

Exclusive New Edition Showcases Local Landmark by Renowned Comics Artist Arthur Adams

 

Marvel’s mightiest Avengers are among the world’s most popular super-heroes, but starting on March 2, they will be especially popular in beautiful Pleasant Hill California.

Flying Colors Comics, known as one of the world’s best comic book specialty shops, is teaming with Marvel Comics to produce a special limited edition of AVENGERS STANDOFF ALPHA #1 featuring Pleasant Hill’s historic landmark, the Soldier’s Memorial Monument.  This special edition comes with exclusive cover art by fan favorite artist and Contra Costa County resident Arthur Adams.

“This is all about keeping it local and shining the light of super-heroes on this beautiful area,” said Joe Field, owner of the award-winning Flying Colors Comics on Treat Boulevard in Concord, just up the road from Pleasant Hill CA. “The story in this comic book may take place in a fictitious Pleasant Hill, but I’m excited to put together this special edition showcasing the real Pleasant Hill’s most famous landmark. Having local superstar comics artist Arthur Adams do the art for this special edition makes it even cooler.”

The Flying Colors Avengers Standoff Alpha #1 Pleasant Hill special edition will be available exclusively at Flying Colors Comics starting on Wednesday March 2. Flying Colors is at 2980 Treat Boulevard at Oak Grove Road in Concord. The store is open daily from 11am-7pm.

Flying Colors Comics is the longest continuously operating comic book specialty store in Contra Costa County, serving the area since 1988. The store has received numerous awards, including Best of the Bay, A-List and the prestigious Will Eisner “Spirit of Comics” Award for Retailing Excellence.

The Soldier’s Memorial Monument at the corner of Contra Costa Boulevard and Boyd Road in Pleasant Hill CA was dedicated in 1927 and originally built as a memorial to the thousands of Contra Costa County men and women, including 77 fatalities, who served their country during World War I.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, Arthur Adams is a world renowned comics artist whose work includes such popular characters as the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Godzilla, Superman and Gumby.

The Avengers characters appearing on this special limited edition will also be featured in the next blockbuster Marvel movie “Captain America: Civil War” opening in theaters worldwide on May 6.

For more information, contact Joe Field at 925-82-5410 or joe@flyingcolorscomics.com

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Fantastic Four: Stockton's Home Town Heroes, 30 Years Ago Today!

This is a story of how I got into the business of comics. It's also an anniversary story, so bear with me. 


Thirty years ago this week, while I was working for KJOY-AM Radio and after months of campaigning with some craziness along the way, Stan Lee came to Stockton CA to give the city a proclamation stating that "On the occasion of our 25th anniversary, Marvel Comics bestows upon Stockton California the title of Official Birthplace of the Fantastic Four."

It was the culmination of months of effort starting with asking fans to sign a petition at Al's Comic Shop on Stockton's Pacific Avenue (still there after all these years...go see Al when you're in Stockton!). After hundreds of people signed the petition, I took it to a Stockton City Council meeting and asked for their approval and a resolution asking Marvel to put Stockton into the FF's adventures.

That city council meeting hit the United Press International newswire and led to the Los Angeles Times sending their lead features' reporter, Charles Hillinger, to spend a day with me in Stockton. That then led to many interviews with other news outlets all over the country.

But it wasn't until Mr. Hillinger called Stan Lee and asked what he thought of my little campaign that things went over the top. Stan said something like "We've saved universes from destruction. The least we can do for good ol' Stockton is make them the FF's home town."

Once it was settled, there was a ceremony on the steps of Stockton City Hall, as Spider-Man crawled the outer edges of City Hall and posed for photos with kids. Why did Marvel send Spider-Man? I guess the FF were in another universe at that point...

Stockton made its first Marvel Comics' appearance a few months later in issue #296, the 25th anniversary issue.

After seeing what I did with this promotion, Stan hired me to help do publicity and press relations for his wife Joan's first novel. That in turn led to me being offered the role of advertising and promotion director for a new convention starting in Oakland CA....that would become known as WonderCon!

When I did the work for WonderCon, I was able to meet and become friends with a number of Bay Area comic book retailers. As I was feeling burnt out on radio at the time, I decided to look for work in the business of comics. I interviewed with a number of comics companies, including DC and Marvel, but didn't have the experience they wanted. So I decided to open my own shop closer to my home town of Moraga. That led to the October 1988 opening of Flying Colors Comics on Treat Blvd in Concord. Thanks to you all, we've been going strong for 27+ years and hope to continue to serve you for many more years!

In a real sense, the Fantastic Four event on the steps of Stockton's City Hall was my entry to the business of comics. That was 30 years ago this week.

My! What a long strange trip it's been...

Peace!

Joe "FlyCoJoe" Field

READ MORE ABOUT IT!
• More about Stan Lee & FlyCoJoe HERE! 
• The Stockton Crusade!

Why is Iron Man smiling?

This is an official tease. 

Watch this space and this space and this space to learn more---very soon!

Sky Lantern signing Sat 2/13 @ Flying Colors!

Flying Colors Interview & Feature Posted at Comic Book Resources

As part of the Robot6 "Store Tour" feature, you can get a peek into the making of and history of Flying Colors Comics with an interview and feature, now posted at Comic Book Resources.

Thank you, FlyCo Faithful, for your support and enthusiasm over the last 27+ years!

Peace 'n' Comics,

Joe "FlyCoJoe" Field