The best part is that Steve blows apart the “unlimited budget of comics” mantra and shows you why that’s so far from true. It’s a quick column, give an eye.

Here’s a good talk with incredible comics artist Declan Shalvey over at Comic Book Resources. I love these cover roughs of his, any of them is good enough to make a great finished cover.

A good time to take someone who you think might like comics because they will walk out with something, and maybe you can buy something while there because those shop owners still had to pay for those free comics.

Many of these stores will have artists appearing and doing lots of free sketches, too. This doesn’t mean they have a magic lasso around them and have to draw everything that occurs to you while you keep hanging out at the store. Get one sketch, say thanks, and move on. I’ve seen too many artists doing their part to promote the industry treated like a sketch monkey, without even peanuts offered. You could be the cool person who brings the artists fudge or a gift for giving up their Saturday!

Finally, this is really about reaching out to new readers and growing the market so these books continue to exist. Maybe just get one or two books you really want and leave the bulk for people lured in by the word ‘free.’ Or helpfully explain that not everything in the store is free and come on what were you thinking dude. Lecture over, have good times.

Betty and Aaron visit Mt. Crushmore!
Preview over at Comic Book Resources.