FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2010 w/ guests Jeff Parker, Chris Samnee, Chris G., Christos Gage, Jeremy Dale, Chris Fason, & Mike Watkins!

For customers, creators, and employees alike, Free Comic Book Day is consistently a favorite event. This year attendees have a chance to sample up to 33 different titles as well as pick up bags chock full of posters, War Machine Heroclix, coupons, and MORE!

While we've been enthusiastic participants in Free Comic Book Day in the past, this year we're going above and beyond all previous years, preparing to hand out over 24,000 comics to spread a joy of reading and comics to the greater Triad community!

Continuing a the tradition started last year, we'll also be expanding the SKETCH CAVE in front of the store, packed full of visiting writers and artists, cranking out free signatures and sketches!

Writer/artist Jeff Parker has been an Acme favorite for years, having resurrected the "1950s Avengers" from Avengers Forever in the much beloved Agents of Atlas mini and ongoing series and penning the quirky magical romp Mysterius the Unfathomable. He's also done art duties on Wonder Woman from DC Comics and his creator-owned project Interman. More recently Jeff has been pitting his Agents of Atlas against the Thunderbolts in their own monthly title, against the Avengers in the upcoming Avengers vs. Agents of Atlas mini series, against the gods of Olympus in Incredible Hercules, and exploring the origins of Marvel Boy in the Uranian mini as well as working on Underground with artist Steve Lieber for Image Comics.

Pictured above are Jermaine and Jeff sealing the deal on Jeff's trip to Acme for Free Comic Book Day at Baltimore Comic Con way back in September.

Artist Chris Samnee's name is no stranger within the walls of Acme. After designing the exclusive Batwoman/Spider-woman print for Free Comic Book Day 2009 (pictured above), Chris made the long drive from Missouri and wowed the crowds with his amazing sketches on the big day. Throughout the past year he's worked on the Mighty and the Batman 80 Page Giant for DC Comics and the X-Men vs. Agents of Atlas mini series (written by Jeff Parker) for Marvel Comics. Most recently he's been drawing the mega tie-in mini series Siege: Embedded and his upcoming original graphic novel Area 10 (written by Christos Gage) is due out in April from Vertigo. He blows our minds every day with his sketch blog at Chris Samnee.com.

Writer Christos Gage has his name all over the comics community, writing Avengers the Initiative for Marvel, Wildcats for Wildstorm/DC Comics, the Man with No Name for Dynamite Entertainment, and G.I. Joe: Cobra for IDW Publishing. He's also knocked it out of the park on minis such as X-Men/Spider-man, Union Jack, and World War Hulk: X-Men and stints on ongoings like Iron Man, Thunderbolts, Stormwatch PHD, and Mighty Avengers. His original graphic novel Area 10 (drawn by Chris Samnee) is due out in April from Vertigo.

Chris Giarrusso has developed one of the most fully realized styles in modern comics. The guy can draw anything in his signature style. In the late 90s Chris created the Bullpen Bits comic strip for Marvel's Bullpen Bulletin letters pages.  Bullpen Bits then evolved into the Mini Marvels comic books and back-up stories that have become so beloved around Acme! Chris also created his own character called G-Man and and an entire supporting cast of characters that can be found in the G-Man one-shot, the first G-Man digest Learning to Fly, and the G-Man Cape Crisis mini-series. Chris can be found at Chris G Comics.com.

From Jeremy Dale.com:

Jeremy Dale is a comic book artist best known for his work on G.I. Joe comics for Hasbro with creator Larry Hama as well as the 2008 Harvey Award-winning Popgun v.1 from Image Comics. He is currently working on several projects, including the upcoming Carter Kain: Rocket RangerMiserable Dastards, and is working on the creator-owned Skyward series. He is a featured guest at several shows, conventions, and signings every year. and

Chris Fason is returning for a record 3rd Free Comic Book Day!

From Salty Ham Cartooneestas.org:

Chris is the co-creator and artist of the popular indie comic "Hero Happy Hour" from GeekPunk. Chris has been defacing pieces of paper, canvas, school desks, and walls for nearly 30 years and is usually covered in Sharpie. You can find him online at his deviantart page, facebook, myspace, comicspace, or usually hanging out at the Jinxworld or View Askew forums.

From Highburn.com:

Michael Watkins is the founder and owner of Highburn Studios.  Mike's been working around the comic industry for years, mostly pushing his creation GUARDIANS which he writes, illustrates, and colors. Over the years Mike has worked with some of the industries best talent, and has been fortunate enough to make some great friends along the way.

Outside of comics, Mike is an avid Martial Artist, studying Hak Dari Shon Hap Ki Do. He also enjoys playing guitar, and recently obtained his Associates Degree in Visual Art.

• IRON MAN/THOR (Marvel Comics) - written by Matt Fraction (Uncanny X-Men, Invincible Iron Man, the Order, Thor: Ages of Thunder, Immortal Iron Fist) and drawn by John Romita Jr. (Amazing Spider-man, Eternals, Thor, Sentry: Reborn, World War Hulk, Wolverine, Daredevil: Man Without Fear, Wolverine)

  The perfect jumping-on point for any and all readers...and it's FREE! When rogue mega-billionaires with world-destroying technology threaten the safety of the entire world...and the moon...Thor and Iron Man join forces! In time for the exciting launch of new stories and a bold new direction for Invincible Iron Man, Thor, and the Marvel Universe kicks off HERE - on Free Comic Book Day! 

• WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #0 (DC Comics) - written by James Robinson (Star Man, JSA, Justice League of America,  Superman) and drawn by Eddy Barrows (Blackest Night: Superman, Blackest Night: JSA).

  A war is coming, and all that stands between Earth and 100,000 vengeful supermen is one Superman! The conflict between Superman and General Zod erupts into all-out war this summer in a series that will shatter the worlds of Superman, Supergirl and the entire DC Universe! This special #0 issue featuring all-new material previews the conflicts to come while spotlighting a savage strike on Metropolis and the world — an attack that will shake Superman to his very core. After this, there’s no turning back — the War of the Supermen is here!

• Kizoic Presents: Shrek & the Penguins of Madagascar (Ape Entertainment)
• Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock (Archaia Entertainment)
• Archie's Summer Splash! #1 (Archie Comics)
• Toy Story (Boom! Studios)
• Doctor Solar/Magnus Robot Fighter (Dark Horse Comics) - new material by Jim Shooter and Dennis Colero.
• Yow! The John Stanley Library (Drawn & Quarterly)
• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155 1/2 (IDW Publishing) - the follow up issue to the original G.I. Joe series written by Larry Hama himself!
• Fractured Fables (Image Comics)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics)
• World of Aspen (Aspen)
• Bongo Comics Free-For-All (Bongo Comics)
• Irredeemable #1 (Boom! Studios) - reprinting the tough-to-find, incredibly popular first issue of the series by Mark Waid and Pete Krause!
• DC Kids Mega-Sampler - aw yeah, DC Kids Comics! Featuring stories by our buddy Art Baltazar!
• Green Hornet #1 (Dynamite Entertainment) - written by Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma)!
• Weathercraft: A Frank Comic (Fantagraphics)
• The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics (Gemstone)
• Library of American Comics #0 (IDW Publishing)
• The Tick #1 (New England Comics)
• Iron Man: Supernova (Marvel Comics)
• Oni Press Free-For-All (Oni Press) - featuring a new piece of the Crogan Adventures puzzle from future Acme guest Chris Schweizer!
• Atomic Robo and Friends (Red 5 Comics)
• Stuff of Legend/The Mortal Instruments (Th3rd World Studios) - last year's sleeper hit written by our friend Brian Smith!
• Owly and Friends (Top Shelf Productions)