FCHS: Free Comic Book Day 2009

I really didn’t promote the FCBD signing at Jim Hanley’s Universe or release all that much here on the site (did a ton of promo on Facebook, though) and I figured I’d do a post today, one day later, and reflect on the day. Warning, this is going to be a very graphic (photo) heavy post.

Michelle and I arrived at around 12:00 PM where we met with Rachel (Freire). Rachel and I sat down and after an announcement, we began signing.

The one thing that made this day special was that it was Rachel’s first book and her debut signing. I felt like a proud father or older brother and I was beyond happy for her. To be there, watching her poise and composure and professionalism…it was like she’d been born to do this, and she was.

We were joined by fellow AdHouse Books cartoonist, Mike Dawson. Mike didn’t have a free comic, but he did sketches for the customers. Mike’s new book, ACE FACE, comes out this week and looks awesome. Please pick it up!

Mike had to take off, but we were joined by comics legend, and one of my Scooby-Doo collaborators, Joe Staton. The best thing about having Joe there (besides the fact that he is, you know, AWESOME) was that here was Joe, praising Rachel’s work and giving her tips, and there she was, noob in the industry, taking it all in. She totally has the right attitude.

Some highlights were this guy:

His name is Olliver and the second he walked in, he was literally praising Rachel and her art. Olliver, you see, had picked up the book at Forbidden Planet, which is on 13th and Broadway. He then walked 20 blocks to the store, just to have Rachel (and I guess, me) sign it. And he just wouldn’t stop gushing over her. He claimed that Rachel was, “the best thing to happen to comics in two years.” He was visibly shaking, like those girls when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan. Seeing that made my day.

Another highlight was seeing my friend, Annette, at the signing. Annette and I went to high school and at one point, she told one of the other customers, “That’s my school too!” That was a recurring theme for the day; thanks to the magic of Twitter and Facebook, I found out that my friend, Krista (another FCHS alum), had “called all over MD (Maryland) today and FCHS is completely out everywhere! They are saving me one at Big Planet Comics in College Park. They only had 3 left!! I gotta get going.” My friend, Matt, whom I also know from high school, said, “Third store…last copy. Got my FCHS!! Oh yeaaaahhhhh!!!” To know that there were people actively searching out the book really made my day. Shame on you retailers that didn’t order enough. I told you!

All in all, it was a great day. Rachel was the star (as she should be), and the Delsante household added another Joe Staton sketch to our wall:

Thank you everyone all over the world who picked up FCHS.

Now get ready for the whole book!