Monday, May 09, 2011

Free Comic Book Day 2011: Cape Town

Another first Saturday in May, another worldwide Free Comic Book Day!

Free Comic Book Day 2001, Cape Town, by Mandy J Watson


This year I once again attended the Reader's Den event at Stadium On Main in Claremont. The Wizards stores, which are across the way, also got in on the action and had comic sales and demoed card games.

Free Comic Book Day 2001, Cape Town, by Mandy J Watson


Free Comic Book Day has been held since 2002 and Reader's Den has been involved since that first event, so this year Reader's Den celebrated 10 years of Free Comic Book Day participation with extra special prizes in its traditional 11am and 1pm prize givings, which offer people who buy merchandise and comics during the event a chance to win some really great prizes, including some comics and posters that were signed by the artists and creators, as well as some multi-comic gift packs and figurines.

Free Comic Book Day 2001, Cape Town, by Mandy J Watson


As usual I didn't win but that's hardly the point - it's a yearly celebration of comic and geek culture and it's always lots of fun finding sale bargains and checking out the costumed characters who entertain the kids. Spider-man is a regular but this year he was also joined by Supergirl (no Superman this year) and Wonder Woman, who I'm sure sent many geeky hearts aflutter. Reader's Den also gave prizes to the fans who had arrived in costume, and there were some great creations this year, including Padmé Amidala, Princess Leia, and Captain America.

Free Comic Book Day 2001, Cape Town, by Mandy J Watson


This year there was also a display of classic comics, going back to the 1940s, that were unlocked from the personal vault of the Reader's Den guys. The collection included an issue of Tales From The Crypt, some early Superman work, and a Spider-man movie tie-in comic that was signed by Stan Lee.

Free Comic Book Day 2001, Cape Town, by Mandy J Watson


For my free comic I chose the Mouse Guard/Dark Crystal Flip Book (the preview has line art but the final product is in colour), though I was tempted to take the one with The Smurfs in it. The same free comics are made available to comic shops all over the world, so this is a great way to encourage comic culture, especially in cities where, unfortunately, the scene is rather small, as you don't feel as though you're some sort of backwater afterthought.

I had a great time, as usual, and I hope to see you guys all there next year. Diarise the date - 6 May 2012 - now!


Previously On Cape Town > South Africa > Africa > Earth:
Free Comic Book Day 2009: Cape Town
Free Comic Book Day 2007: Cape Town

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2 Comments:

Blogger sham said...

Did you see the guys of the Velocity Anthology? I work with quite a few of them :)

Monday, May 09, 2011 7:05:00 PM  
Blogger Mandy J Watson said...

Oh no! That's what I missed. I knew there was something. I think I saw them and I heard the Grahamstown launch being mentioned but I wasn't sure what was going on (there was a lot going on) so I got all overwhelmed.

There, I said it. What a (bad) geek!

Monday, May 09, 2011 8:50:00 PM  

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