FCBD 2016 | Free Comics

bralinator

Comixology has several already there if you haven't snagged these yet: https://www.comixology.com/free-comics

Bleeding Cool has several more links

Get out to your LCS and take your want list. Grab some free floppies and take advantage of some sales.

David_D

Happy FCBD Eve!

(I know my older daughter is excited)

hauberk

Read ROM. Seemed pretty solid as an entry point. Not sure how I feel about some of the, presumably, necessary updates.

High point of the issue for me was seeing the one page ad in the back for the Bill Mantlo Fund.

[Deleted User]

ROM was my sole reason for existing and going to FCBD. I read it. The writing was pretty solid, and I mostly like the redesign of the character. However, the art... the art.... sometimes I didn't know what was going on from panel to panel... and the artist had trouble staying on-model, particularly with ROM's head. The coloring was murky. Really, no offense, but the art/coloring seemed to be done by the B-team, not the A-team I expected on the glorious return of a character after 30 years. I was disappointed, but will look forward to it hopefully improving.

Overall, I was really pleased with a lot of the FCBD books, particularly the kid-friendly and indy stuff. Most of the other stuff I could live without.

bralinator

Tonebone said:

ROM was my sole reason for existing and going to FCBD. I read it. The writing was pretty solid, and I mostly like the redesign of the character. However, the art... the art.... sometimes I didn't know what was going on from panel to panel... and the artist had trouble staying on-model, particularly with ROM's head. The coloring was murky. Really, no offense, but the art/coloring seemed to be done by the B-team, not the A-team I expected on the glorious return of a character after 30 years. I was disappointed, but will look forward to it hopefully improving.

Overall, I was really pleased with a lot of the FCBD books, particularly the kid-friendly and indy stuff. Most of the other stuff I could live without.

I share your disappointment with this ROM art team. Sal Buscema they ain't.

hauberk

Tonebone said:

ROM was my sole reason for existing and going to FCBD. I read it. The writing was pretty solid, and I mostly like the redesign of the character. However, the art... the art.... sometimes I didn't know what was going on from panel to panel... and the artist had trouble staying on-model, particularly with ROM's head. The coloring was murky. Really, no offense, but the art/coloring seemed to be done by the B-team, not the A-team I expected on the glorious return of a character after 30 years. I was disappointed, but will look forward to it hopefully improving.

Overall, I was really pleased with a lot of the FCBD books, particularly the kid-friendly and indy stuff. Most of the other stuff I could live without.

The art was, for me, what I've come to expect from IDW... serviceable at best. You're absolutely right, it wasn't remarkable in way, shape or form. I'm really torn on this and Micronauts both. I love the original concept, but IDW books are, for my money, rarely worth the extra cover price from an art standpoint.

bralinator

hauberk said:

Tonebone said:

ROM was my sole reason for existing and going to FCBD. I read it. The writing was pretty solid, and I mostly like the redesign of the character. However, the art... the art.... sometimes I didn't know what was going on from panel to panel... and the artist had trouble staying on-model, particularly with ROM's head. The coloring was murky. Really, no offense, but the art/coloring seemed to be done by the B-team, not the A-team I expected on the glorious return of a character after 30 years. I was disappointed, but will look forward to it hopefully improving.

Overall, I was really pleased with a lot of the FCBD books, particularly the kid-friendly and indy stuff. Most of the other stuff I could live without.

The art was, for me, what I've come to expect from IDW... serviceable at best. You're absolutely right, it wasn't remarkable in way, shape or form. I'm really torn on this and Micronauts both. I love the original concept, but IDW books are, for my money, rarely worth the extra cover price from an art standpoint.

It looked like bad fan-art is many instances.

Torchsong

I actually dug the first issue of Micronauts, and I wasn't really expecting I'd enjoy it as much as I did. You can tell these guys played with the toys and are trying to bring some of the fun of the old Mantlo/Golden run back while having to create new characters for it.

hauberk

Torchsong said:

I actually dug the first issue of Micronauts, and I wasn't really expecting I'd enjoy it as much as I did. You can tell these guys played with the toys and are trying to bring some of the fun of the old Mantlo/Golden run back while having to create new characters for it.

That's reassuring. I haven't read it yet. I'm just having some Tom Wolfe angst as I approach it.

Greg

I missed FCBD due to work obligations but my local shop held a copy of Rom for me.

Looking at some of the previews for the book, the art does have some issues. I'm okay with the new design for the character and I'm happy that the "mitten" hands are gone.

bralinator

I went to three LCS on FCBD.

LCS #1 was giving away 3 books to every one who came in. I bought about $24 worth of stuff there.

LCS #2 was giving away 6 books to everyone who came in there. I only bought $6 worth of stuff there.

LCS #3 was only giving away 1 FCBD book to anyone who came in. I bought 1 half-price trade there. For some reason I don't really want to go back there any more.

nweathington

I was only able to make one FCBD stop because we had to go out of town for the day. I wasn't even able to go by my regular shop because it’s an hour from home. But I went by the closest shop, and they go all out on FCBD. They didn’t have quite as many artists set up as usual, and they didn't have the live band this year, but they did have a DJ and free hot dogs. And they always let you take one of every title you want while supplies last—and they get copies of about 75% of what’s offered. So I walked away with about 15 books (some for my son), my daughter got 8 or 9, and my wife got 9 or 10. Bought a Goon long-sleeve T-shirt (the Fish Canners jersey) before we left.

bralinator

Awesome.

All 3 shops are writhing 15-20 minutes of my home. Two others are within a half hour. Only one of them had some comic artists. None had a band though :)

I decided to drop back by shop #2 tonight (it's Wednesday after all), and I picked up a few variants of recent Marvel series I hadn't pre-ordered (all cover price) and they also let me take as many leftover FCBD issues I wanted. They're very cool over there. I left with about 12 or so books. I still missed out on one I kind of wanted, the science comic... Anyone pick that up?

nweathington

I got the science comic. I haven't read it yet, but both my kids liked it.

bralinator

nweathington said:

I got the science comic. I haven't read it yet, but both my kids liked it.

Good for you. Wanted to get copies for my niece and nephew.

Torchsong

I was at a local store hawking my books and art for FCBD. This guy had been up since midnight and planned to go straight through to midnight Sunday. He does this pretty much every year.

The real fun of the day? He puts his own stuff out there scattered amid the official FCBD books. And when I say his own stuff...how about that original comic of Star Trek: The Motion Picture with Cockrum artwork? Hell how about some first issues of the Futurians? Some of the Howard the Duck magazines? Old Starlogs? Some Crossgen nuggets? Maybe a few things from First, Pacifico, Continuity? And why not some recent stuff from the big guys as well?

Great day, big crowds, and a good time all around.

hauberk

Torchsong said:

I actually dug the first issue of Micronauts, and I wasn't really expecting I'd enjoy it as much as I did. You can tell these guys played with the toys and are trying to bring some of the fun of the old Mantlo/Golden run back while having to create new characters for it.

Read it, I see some promise in the storyline. As with ROM, though, the art isn't cutting it for me and the finishes make it look very cartoony. I hate to say it, but I think that IDW may have an overall aesthetic that just doesn't fit for me. They also have a pricepoint that makes my wallet weep.