Collector's Paradise Celebrates Free Comic Book Day

At this point, as a comic book fan, the initials "FCBD" should be readily available in your lexicon. Not to be confused with the BPRD (or the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense) of Hellboy fame, FCBD is Free Comic Book Day. The one day a year where publishers want to give you their wares for free. Some comic book retailers are taking the initiative to make the day a bit more festive than just free comics. Retailers such as Collector's Paradise.

This Saturday from noon to 7 PM there will be a ton of comic firepower. Marc Silvestri, Marv Wolfman, Bill Morrison, Michael Broussard, Joe Benitez, Peter Steigerwald, Ray Friesen and Rick Loverd. In addition to the talent at the show the annual "Sketches for HERO Initiative" fundraiser will offer $10 sketches for fans, with 100% of the proceeds going to the HERO Initiative. And FCBD would be nothing if not for the kids, and the event will also feature a Spider-man in costume, balloon artist and of course, the thousand of free comics.

Check out the full press release after the jump and if you're in LA this weekend stop by Collector's Paradise.

COLLECTOR'S PARADISE CELEBRATES FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, SATURDAY, MAY 1, SUPPORTING THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY

Valley's Leading Retail Comic Book Store Welcomes Top Industry Creators

CANOGA PARK, Calif., April 25, 2010 - Collector's Paradise Comics & Gallery, San Fernando Valley's Premiere pop culture store, is excited to announce a big Celebration for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, featuring some of the best talent in comics and many great giveaways for all attendees.

Collector's Paradise has a long history of working closely with comic book industry creators. The store holds monthly events with artists and writers from all corners of the industry, and the full time gallery hosts art events and gallery shows. "We want to do more than just sell comics, we want to create a Destination for comic book fans, a place where they can interact with the people who create the product they love", says Edward Greenberg, the owner of Collector's Paradise. Comic book industry has been very supportive of Collector's Paradise' efforts in this endeavor, working with them to organize numerous events to promote their new releases and special projects.

This year Collector's Paradise is presenting their best line-up of comic book creators to date, including:

Marc Silvestri - Founder, Top Cow Productions, Creator and Artist - Cyberforce, Witchblade, Darkness, Hunter/Killer

Marv Wolfman - creator - Teen Titans, Blade, Bullseye, Tim Drake, Black Cat, Nightwing, Deathstroke, Anti-Monitor and many more...

Bill Morrison - co-creator Bongo Comics, artist - Simpson Comics and more

Michael Broussard - artist - Darkness, FCBD 2010 Top Cow Artifacts comic, Artifacts 1-6

Joe Benitez - artist - Teen Titans, Soulfire, creator - Weapon Zero, Magdalena, Wraithborne

Peter Steigerwald - colorist, artist - Soulfire, Fathom, and more from Aspen Comics

Ray Friesen - kids graphic novel author - Another Dirt Sandwich, Cupcakes of Doom...

Rick Loverd - writer - Milo Ventimiglia Presents Berserker

In addition to the great creator line up, the event will feature the annual "Sketches for HERO Initiative" fundraiser, where most of the artists featured will do $10 sketches for the fans, with 100% of the proceeds directly going to HERO Initiative, a wonderful charity that helps comic book creators in need. Collector's Paradise has been working with HERO for the last four years to make sure that those creators who need financial and medical help are taken care of.

Kids are a big focus of Collector's Paradise' effort on FCBD. The event will feature an excellent Spider-Man in costume, a fantastic Balloon Artist, and several thousand kid-friendly comic books given away to all fans in attendance.

The event will be held at Collector's Paradise Comics & Cards from Noon to 7:00pm, with creator signings, Spider-Man and Balloon Artist from noon to 3:00pm.

Collector's Paradise Comics & Gallery is located at 7131 Winnetka Ave, on the corner of Winnetka Ave and Sherman Way, in Canoga Park. For additional information, please contact Edward Greenberg, owner of Collector's Paradise Comics & Gallery @ 818.999.9455 (business) or 818.326.2517 (cell), or at cparadise@socal.rr.com.
Collector's Paradise Comics & Gallery has been a mainstay in the Southern California Comic Book scene since 1994. In recent years, the store has focused on offering their customers an exceptional experience that goes beyond collecting comic books, from monthly creator appearances, to the proprietary online subscription manager software, to the recently-opened Art Gallery. The store's future plans include many new and very different ways to experience the comic book culture. For the last two years, Collector's Paradise was picked by fans as the Best Comic Book Store in Los Angeles County, according to an online poll done by Fox LA.