Celebrate Free Comic Book Day on May 4th with Midtown Comics in New York City
On Saturday, May 4, comic book fans around the world will be celebrating Free Comic Book Day, a day where comic book shops give away free comics to fans of the medium. With the global comic book market valued at over $15 billion in 2022 and expected to grow to over $22 billion by the end of the decade, it’s clear that the love for comics is stronger than ever.
At Midtown Comics near Times Square in New York, manager Jay Schmidt is anticipating a line out the door for Free Comic Book Day. The event not only attracts new customers but also brings back long-standing fans like Christopher Oreckinto, a 38-year-old comic reader and creator who enjoys the control he has over consuming comics.
Midtown Comics co-owner Gerry Gladston highlighted the addictive nature of comic books, with fans eagerly awaiting new releases every Wednesday. The industry’s influence extends beyond just comic books, as many popular movies are based on comic book characters and storylines.
Shawna Kidman, author of “Comic Books Incorporated: How the Business of Comics Became the Business of Hollywood,” noted that the comic industry’s growth is being driven by sales of graphic novels, offering a wide range of choices for readers, from superheroes like Spider-Man to graphic novel adaptations of classic stories like “Little Women.”
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