Flying Colors Summer of Comics Kick-Off with these Special Guests!
Monday, June 08, 2026
Monday, June 01, 2026
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Saturday May 2: 25th Annual Free Comic Book Day!
Saturday May 2 is Free Comic Book Day---
and we've got a lot happening at Flying Colors!
* Signing with our Special Guest--- the always awesome Thien Pham, graphic novelist of the award-winning and highly recommended FAMILY STYLE graphic novel.
* Our Food Drive to benefit the families served by the Monument Crisis Center. Donate to the food drive for a chance to win a $100 FlyCo Giftcard.
* Thousands of FREE comics! That's what the day is all about, right?
* FREE character head sketches by emerging artist Ambrose MacNeil.
* Trader Joe's will be on hand with snacks!
* We'll be serving cake from Alpine Pastry with a custom FCBD decoration.
* Who knows what cosplayers will be here? It's always a surprise!
This is a fun community event for everyone.
Great photo and video opportunities.
We'll be giving away comics from 11AM-7PM and our guests will be here from at least 11AM-2PM.
More HERE!
And if by chance you're not in the area and you can't make it to Flying Colors, there are comic shops all over the world participating. Go to the one near you!
More HERE!
And if by chance you're not in the area and you can't make it to Flying Colors, there are comic shops all over the world participating. Go to the one near you!
Friday, April 17, 2026
Flying Colors Free Comic Book Day Exclusive T-Shirt!
Check out this Flying Colors Free Comic Book Day Exclusive!
Our FCBD Special Guest artist THIEN PHAM designed this t-shirt and it’ll only be available at Flying Colors Comics!
Through the years, it’s been a tradition to have a commemorative Free Comic Book Day t-shirt available to all participating stores. We’re very happy to continue that tradition with our own exclusive and amazing THIEN PHAM design!
This run of t-shirts is limited so make sure to reserve yours in-store at Flying Colors.
(We expect the shirts to arrive to Flying Colors on Tuesday April 21.)
Available in Adult sizes:
Small, Medium, Large and X-Large: $19.99
XXL and XXXL: $24.99.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Flying Colors to host Supergirl artist SARAH LEUVER!
ONE WEEK AFTER FCBD...
This new Supergirl story is going to thrill readers and fans of all ages as we get ready for the summer release of the new Supergirl movie.
Bring the family! But please leave the kryptonite on your homeworld!
Friday, April 10, 2026
Welcome back to Earth, Artemis II Pioneers
We are at our worst when we insulate, when we navel-gaze and fold in on ourselves... and we're at our best when we go out, when we are sent forth, when we embrace our pioneering nature.
To the crew of Artemis II, welcome back to Earth! Thank you for literally loving us all to the moon and back.
"In all of this emptiness — this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe — you have this oasis, this beautiful place (Earth) that we get to exist (in) together."--- Astronaut Victor Glover
Wednesday, April 01, 2026
Flying Colors to Host Monument Crisis Center Food Drive on Free Comic Book Day!
FlyCo Faithful, you could win win a $100 Flying Colors Giftcard while doing something super for our community!
Here's what to do:
On Free Comic Book Day, Saturday May 2, add your Food Drive donations to the barrel staioned at the Monument Crisis Center table near Flying Colors front entrance.
With your donation, you'll receive a raffle ticket. At the end of our FCBD event, the winning ticket will receive a $100 Flying Colors Gift Card.
MOST NEEDED ITEMS:
Cereal
Tuna
Peanut Butter
Canned Meals
Other needed items:
Canned or Boxed Pantry Items:
Vegetable, fruits, Mac & Cheese, Pasta, Soups, Oatmeal, Beans, Rice
Please note: No Glass Containers
All Donations must be within date, "best by" date or otherwise.
Needed Non-Food Items:
* Toiletries (shampoo, soap, conditioner, toothpaste etc)
* Diapers (larger sizes 4,5,6)
The Monument Crisis Center is a community-based non-profit family resource center offering nutritious food, quality resources and referrals to low-income individuals and families helping them become stable and secure in our community.
Monument Crisis Center is a 501C (3) Non-Profit organization.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Free Comic Book Day 2026 Special Guest: THIEN PHAM
Thien is a graphic novelist and educator based in Oakland, CA.
He is the author and illustrator of the graphic novel SUMO and the illustrator for the middle-grade graphic novel LEVEL UP, written by Gene Luen Yang.
His graphic novel, FAMILY STYLE, Thien's Eisner Award winning a memoir about his family's immigration to America is told through the lens of food.
Currently, Thien is working on his next graphic novel (MIND VS MACHINE, due out Fall 2026) teaching, and eating. A lot.
More exciting news is on the way. Stay tuned!
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Fantastic Four in Stockton: 40 Years ago this week!
Want to hear something fantastic?
In the years before there even was a Flying Colors Comics in Concord, I was on staff at KJOY-AM Radio in Stockton CA. I worked there from 1978-1988.
In late 1985, when the 25th anniversary of Marvel Comics was just ahead, Marvel published their "official history of the Marvel Universe" in a series called MARVEL SAGA.
Reading that first issue, I was reminded Marvel placed the Fantastic Four's rocket base in a place called "Central City California" --- and a crazy thought popped in my head.
"Why is Marvel using a fake city name when they used real city names in so many other comics?" Most of the Marvel heroes were based in New York City. Peter Parker lived in the NYC borough of Queens. The West Coast Avengers were based in Palos Verdes CA, fer crying' out loud!
That's when I thought to ask Marvel to fix that continuity glitch by naming California's most central city, Stockton, as the real home of the Fantastic Four.
I had a feeling this would be a good thing for several reasons--- first, it gave the city of Stockton some much-needed positive recognition. Second, it was a boost to Marvel's 25th anniversary happenings. And third, it was a publicity boon for KJOY Radio at a time the competition among Stockton radio stations was fierce.
So on my weekly trip to Al's Comics on Pacific Avenue in Stockton, I asked Mike (aka Al Jr) if we could place a petition for fans to get behind my idea.
We gathered nearly 400 signatures and then I took the bold move to attend a Stockton City Council meeting to ask the local politicos for an official city resolution joining my campaign.
The Stockton City Council meetings were televised... and soon after my appearance there, the media started to call me. TV and radio stations, newspapers... all did stories covering this peculiar super-human interest story.
A stalwart and respected reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Charles Hillinger, interviewed me and then talked with Marvel's Stan Lee, who at that point didn't have much to do with comic books as he was trying to take Marvel into other media from his Hollywood office.
But Stan sure knew a good story especially when he could be part of one, so he got behind the Stockton campaign with enthusiasm.
Once Marvel editors and creators found a way to alter their storyline to include Stockton, an event on the steps of Stockton's City hall was planned for late February 1986.
And so, 40 years later, here we are.
* I believe the proclamation Stan delivered in 1986 is once again hanging in City Hall.
* The Fantastic Four are still included every year in Stockton's annual city plan!
* Al's Comics on Stockton's Pacific Avenue is still going strong (since 1978) with 97 year-old Al Sr behind the cash register five days a week (go see Al's!)
* Fans still talk about this story... and some even have found a way to match the cover of the original Fantastic Four #1 with the Pacific Avenue Al's location.
* More than that, outside Al's is a huge Fantastic Four mural. Super cool! Go see it!
* And this weekend (Feb 28-Mar 1)is StocktonCon, the big comic book convention run by my old KJOY friend Mike Millerick. (I'd love to be there, but life got in the way).
In a real way, this is my 40th anniversary of getting into the comics business.
After the FF campaign, Stan Lee hired me to do a bit of free-lance public relations work for his wife Joanie's first novel. That was a fun gig!
From there, I was hired to run promotions and advertising for a then-new comic book convention in Oakland which became WonderCon.
And two and a half years after that February 1986 afternoon when Stan Lee stood on the steps of Stockton's City Hall to proclaim the city as the "Official Birthplace of Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff opened in Concord CA.
So far so good?
Nah... so far, so FANTASTIC!!
In late 1985, when the 25th anniversary of Marvel Comics was just ahead, Marvel published their "official history of the Marvel Universe" in a series called MARVEL SAGA.
Reading that first issue, I was reminded Marvel placed the Fantastic Four's rocket base in a place called "Central City California" --- and a crazy thought popped in my head.
"Why is Marvel using a fake city name when they used real city names in so many other comics?" Most of the Marvel heroes were based in New York City. Peter Parker lived in the NYC borough of Queens. The West Coast Avengers were based in Palos Verdes CA, fer crying' out loud!
That's when I thought to ask Marvel to fix that continuity glitch by naming California's most central city, Stockton, as the real home of the Fantastic Four.
I had a feeling this would be a good thing for several reasons--- first, it gave the city of Stockton some much-needed positive recognition. Second, it was a boost to Marvel's 25th anniversary happenings. And third, it was a publicity boon for KJOY Radio at a time the competition among Stockton radio stations was fierce.
So on my weekly trip to Al's Comics on Pacific Avenue in Stockton, I asked Mike (aka Al Jr) if we could place a petition for fans to get behind my idea.
We gathered nearly 400 signatures and then I took the bold move to attend a Stockton City Council meeting to ask the local politicos for an official city resolution joining my campaign.
The Stockton City Council meetings were televised... and soon after my appearance there, the media started to call me. TV and radio stations, newspapers... all did stories covering this peculiar super-human interest story.
A stalwart and respected reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Charles Hillinger, interviewed me and then talked with Marvel's Stan Lee, who at that point didn't have much to do with comic books as he was trying to take Marvel into other media from his Hollywood office.
But Stan sure knew a good story especially when he could be part of one, so he got behind the Stockton campaign with enthusiasm.
Once Marvel editors and creators found a way to alter their storyline to include Stockton, an event on the steps of Stockton's City hall was planned for late February 1986.
And so, 40 years later, here we are.
* I believe the proclamation Stan delivered in 1986 is once again hanging in City Hall.
* The Fantastic Four are still included every year in Stockton's annual city plan!
* Fans still talk about this story... and some even have found a way to match the cover of the original Fantastic Four #1 with the Pacific Avenue Al's location.
* More than that, outside Al's is a huge Fantastic Four mural. Super cool! Go see it!
* And this weekend (Feb 28-Mar 1)is StocktonCon, the big comic book convention run by my old KJOY friend Mike Millerick. (I'd love to be there, but life got in the way).
In a real way, this is my 40th anniversary of getting into the comics business.
After the FF campaign, Stan Lee hired me to do a bit of free-lance public relations work for his wife Joanie's first novel. That was a fun gig!
From there, I was hired to run promotions and advertising for a then-new comic book convention in Oakland which became WonderCon.
And two and a half years after that February 1986 afternoon when Stan Lee stood on the steps of Stockton's City Hall to proclaim the city as the "Official Birthplace of Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff opened in Concord CA.
So far so good?
Nah... so far, so FANTASTIC!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
The Trader Joe's & Flying Colors Connection!
I like to joke that I was the original Trader Joe at the old location. We had already been in biz for almost 15 years before TJ’s moved in.
Why? The synergy is real— TJ shoppers are open to try new things, they look forward to a friendly shopping experience and they tend to be more generally open-minded. And that’s also the way it is for comic book fans, our savvy FlyCo Faithful… and the new people visiting all the time after their TJ’s visits.
The connection to Trader Joe’s is also meaningful because my late father-in-law, the great Bud Fisher, knew a thing or two about retailing and especially grocery retailing. As a matter of fact, Bud hired the original Trader Joe Coulombe to his first job out of grad school. The two were colleagues, sure, but they were also great friends.
Our Trader Joe’s connections are one reason we stock the book “Becoming Trader Joe: How I Did Business My Way & Still Beat the Big Guys.” One chapter is even dedicated to Bud Fisher! It’s a fun and fast business biography well worth picking up next time you visit Flying Colors Comics… just before or after you visit Trader Joe’s here in Heritage Square on Concord Ave.
And now you know… the rest of the story!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)