Free comic Book DayThe 7th Annual Free Comic Book Day will be held across the country on Saturday, May 2. This weekend will also see the release of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” the blockbuster movie starring Hugh Jackman in the title role.
Metro Detroit’s own Green Brain Comics, 13210 Michigan Ave., in Dearborn, will host another fun-filled, family friendly day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free Comic Book Day provides an opportunity for the comic book industry to showcase some of its best titles at no risk to the consumer.
With comic book movies emerging as an almost foolproof cash cow for Hollywood (“Punisher: War Zone,” “The Spirit” and “Elektra” were exceptions), it only makes sense to spotlight the medium that has spawned everything from TV shows, toys, and those illustrated cups you get at fast food restaurants.
At Green Brain Comics, Free Comic Book Day is a great way to meet some of the “superstar” creators in the industry. It’s also a chance to shake hands, get an autograph and some “on-the-spot” drawings to take home.
Voted the Metro Times’ “Best Comic Book Store” for four consecutive years, husband-and-wife team Dan and Katie Merritt love getting people excited about comics.
Merritt has conducted several clinics for school-aged children in Detroit area libraries as a way to spark their interest not only in the medium, but to use it as a gateway to reading more.
"The one thing I think we’re really going to benefit from this year is a lot of exciting original material,” Merritt said. “Some of the offerings that we have are leading into big events, big titles like ‘Green Lantern: The Blackest Night.’ We’ve also got a Wolverine book, (and) everybody loves Wolverine right now.”
Artists scheduled to appear are Guy Davis (“BPRD,” “Sandman Mystery Theater”); Arvell Jones (“Iron Fist,” “All Star Squadron”); Keith Pollard (“Amazing Spider-Man,” “Fantastic Four”); Matt Feazell (creator of “Amazing CynicalMan”); Jerzy Drozd and Mark Rudolph (webcomic creators at www.sugaryserials.com); Chris Houghton (www.chrishoughtonart.com); and Ryan Claytor (ElephantEater.com).
This year, it’s an all Michigan-based lineup. The idea, Merritt said, is to push for Michigan, just as Gov. Granholm wants Michiganders to get behind supporting Michigan-made products.
These artists have received international acclaim for their work and Merritt believes they should be recognized.
"This is a great chance to experience a unique comic shop and the energy of having all these comic creators young and old,” Merritt said. “We’ve taken care to provide a safe family-friendly atmosphere with particular care to make sure that we have plenty of different books for all ages.”
For more information, call (313) 582-9444. To find a participating comic store near you, call (888) COMIC-BOOK. You may also visit
http://www.freecomicbookday.com.
‘The Old Curiosity Shop,’ Masterpiece, Sunday at 9 p.m. on WTVS Channel 56 Hard to believe this amazing series, “The Tales of Charles Dickens,” based on the works of Charles Dickens, will be coming to an end. But we have now arrived.
"The Old Curiosity Shop” is a tale of innocence versus evil and stars Derek Jacobi (“I, Claudius,” “The Golden Compass”) as Grandfather and Sophie Vavasseur (“Northanger Abbey”) as Nell.
As with nearly all of Dickens, “The Old Curiosity Shop” features such memorable characters as Daniel Quilp, shyster solicitor Sam Brass, Mrs. Jarley, the colorful proprietress of a wax museum, and more.
The story follows Little Nell, whose grandfather, the owner of the Old Curiosity Shop, has a terrible gambling addiction, which lands him in terrible straits. He then loses the shop to creditors and he and his granddaughter are on the run.
As far as value goes (it’s free) you couldn’t do much better than viewing “The Old Curiosity Shop.” The works of Charles Dickens are perhaps more relevant now than they have ever been, and for that alone, we should watch (and read) more Dickens.
