CGC/EBay Auction for Evening With Jim Lee & Others

Atomic Comics and CGC Give "Free Comic Book Day" New Image

Atomic Comics, Arizona’s largest independent comic book retailer, will join more than 3,000 comic book retailers across North America in celebration of the Seventh Annual “Free Comic Book Day,” Saturday, May 3.

A tribute to the comic book – an original American art form – Free Comic Book Day serves as a means of introducing comics to new readers while celebrating the independent comic book specialty stores that are so important to keeping the genre alive. As part of the day’s festivities, all four Atomic Comics locations in the Valley will be giving away free comic books from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Comic book fans who visit the Mesa store will have the rare opportunity to come face to face with the original seven artists and ‘founding fathers’ of Image Comics: Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Rob Leifeld, Jim Valentino, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen and Whilce Portacio.

Considered by many to be mavericks and comic book royalty, the seven men formed Image Comics as a way of gaining ownership and creative control of their work. Collectively, they are responsible for creating some of the most acclaimed comic book characters and storylines including X-Men, Wildcats, Spawn, Spider-man, Youngblood, ShadowHawk, and Wolverine. While Image Comics is among the four largest comic book publishers in the country, its founders have all moved on with new ventures in the comic book industry. In celebration of Free Comic Book Day, they are reuniting for one day to sign autographs and mingle with Atomic Comics customers.

“Free Comic Book Day is just about the biggest day of the year for us” says Mike Malve, Atomic Comics owner. “Between the artist line up and other happenings we have planned, it will be like a mini comic-con.”

Atomic Comics expects to give away thousands of comic books from a selection of 28 different titles including, X-Men, Transformers Animated, Superman, Hellboy, Archie’s Pal Jughead, Marvel Adventures featuring such Marvel classics as Iron Man and Hulk, and many more. From super-heroes and slice-of-life to crime noir, kid-friendly humor and action/adventure, there’s a comic book for everyone.

“Free Comic Book Day is our Open House Day of the year… and we go all out to deliver something special to fans who stop by that day,” says Malve. “They’re a great way to get kids interested in reading, but they’re also a great escape from reality for adults of all ages. Free Comic Book Day is a great opportunity for people to test the waters and see if comics are for them.”

Artists and writers scheduled to appear at Atomic Comics stores from noon to 5 p.m. include: Mesa Store – Image Comics’ ‘founding fathers’ Todd McFarlane (arriving at 2:30 p.m.), Jim Lee, Rob Leifeld, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino and Whilce Portacio.

In addition to this amazing headline event, both Wizard Magazine and Comic Book Resources will be on hand covering the event for the comic book industry. CBR will even be running a live stream video on their web site so every fan can witness the day’s events.

CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) will also be on hand that day witnessing the signing for fans that would like to submit their signed comic books to them to be certified and garner the prestigious CGC Signature Series label back at their offices in Florida. CGC has generously decided that 40% of the proceeds of all the Signature Series comic books submitted to them for certification will be donated to the Hero initiative and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Steve Borock, President and Primary Grader of CGC, will also be on hand so that collectors can ask questions about CGC certification and drop off regular submissions (not signed) for certification. This will help collectors save on postage and insure proper packing instead of sending it in themselves by mail to CGC.

CGC and Atomic Comics will also be auctioning off passes on Ebay under Steve Borock’s account (Certifyit) to a private party the night of FCBD, where the winners get to hang out with some of the FCBD guests including Jim Lee! Not just that, but ALL the proceeds from these auctions go to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the Hero initiative! Atomic Comics and CGC are paying for all of this! They want to help our hobby and are doing everything they can to do so on this very important day!!!!! THIS IS A ONE DAY AUCTION STARTING THURSDAY MAY 1ST 10AM PDT LINK link will become valid once auction has begun

Atomic has also designed two art prints for the occasion. The first represents artwork by all 7 founding fathers of Image comics. This is limited to just 100 pieces and will be a great item to have signed by all 7 Image creators to mark this historic event. The second is a photo print re-enacting the famous “first days of Image Comics” photo that was taken over 16 years ago. Again, only 100 of these will be produced.

The Hero Initiative will be at all four Atomic Comics locations to help with our sketch donation program where the creator sketches drawn that day will have all proceeds split between both Hero and the CBLDF. Hero will have an actual booth at the Mesa Superstore with all kinds of Hero merchandise on display including the Marvel then and Now DVD for only $4.99. These bad boys usually sell at $24.99 so this is an awesome Free Comic Book Day only deal.

For more information on Free Comic Book Day or for a list of comics being given away, please visit www.freecomicbookday.com or www.atomiccomics.com.

About Atomic Comics Atomic Comics, Arizona’s largest independent comic book retailer, operates four retail comics and collectibles stores in the greater Phoenix area. Retail stores include its Mesa Superstore at Country Club and Southern, with additional locations in Phoenix north of Metrocenter, Chandler at Chandler Fashion Center and Paradise Valley just south of Paradise Valley Mall. For more information, visit www.atomiccomics.com.