EARTH PRIME TIME: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2013 PREVIEW

Whoa what a couple o’ weeks, amiright? Did you know that nearly every comic book company worth a gosh darn gives out free comic books on the first Saturday in May? That’s right, I think we can all use a little outing this Saturday. Here are some of our most anticipated free comics to pick up at your LCS (Local Comic Shop) this weekend. Don’t be greedy, take only one! We previewed the free books last year…and we’re still into comics. Who knew?

 
One thing is for sure, publishers look forward to unleashing their swag on this geek high holiday every year, and they always pull out all of the stops. Free Comic Book Day means many different things to many different people. The day was brainstormed into being in 2001, and came to be the following year in 2002 to coincide with the release of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. This year’s movie of course is Iron Man 3, opening Friday.

The manifesto is three parts simple, and found on the font of knowledge, Wikipedia:

To introduce everyone to the joys of reading comics.
To call back former comic book readers.
To thank current comic book buyers for their continued support.

Many stores have signings, candy, costume contests and more to celebrate the day, so if you are like us (which you aren’t), you’ll be hopping on your bike or the T on a virtual tour of the city, high-fiving your favorite shop owners, buying some trades and collecting an issue of all of your favorite free comics. Clay’s favorite part of this weekend is that even 25-cent bins are sometimes cleared out gratis. LeaguePodcast likes deals!

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for April 25, 2012

COMICS

100 Months was written and drawn by the late 2000AD/Judge Dredd artist John Hicklenton before his assisted death in 2010. Diagnosed with MS, John struggled with the disease and left us with this ethereal and insightful quest of Mara the Earth Goddess vs. evil Longpig. … S.H.I.E.L.D has taken over in Ultimate Comics: Ultimates #9. What does this mean for the Ultimates and the nation they are sworn to protect? … Find out all about the place Superman hangs his cape and his gigantic golden key in Superman Secrets of the Fortress of Solitude! The sheer number of visits to the Fortress of Solitude Wikipedia site is prompting another check up at the shrink before having to explain this to HR! Picks from LeaguePodcast’s Boston Comic Con After-Party are here. Thanks for coming!

Pass the Daily Dig along! Your friends can sign up here!

Psssst… guess what graphic novel thing is tonight at Harvard Book Store at 7pm? EARTH PRIME TIME: GUY DELISLE SIGNING FOR ‘JERUSALEM’. Don’t forget your sketch book, kehd.

Jumping On Point: THE NIGHTLY NEWS by Jonathan Hickman

The Nightly News was originally published as a six-issue limited series from Image Comics in 2008.

The collected edition is available in trade paperback and an anniversary hardcover.

In the months after #occupy, this is required reading for comic book fans angry with the media and the distortions portrayed by the beast.

Hickman currently works on Marvel’s flagship superhero family Fantastic Four as well as the Ultimate Universe version of The Avengers, The Ultimates.

His earlier work such as The Nightly News and Pax Romana showcases his abilities not only as the writer but also as letterer, colorist, designer and artist.

The best way to describe the art is as an infographic. Every page is footnoted, cataloged, referenced, carefully balanced as graphic design and just packed with words. I had several hard, false starts getting into the book. I’d read a few pages, get lost and distracted.   

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]