Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #58

Originally Posted on 04/10/2003 by Jeff Harris

The more I watch Rurouni Kenshin, the more I realize that Kenshin talks funny, that he does. And boy, did that Matrix Reloaded trailer look sweet! However, they're not the only things that's on my mind.

Since Toonami-related news is slower than a snail gliding across molasses-covered tar, I figured that I'd spend this update talking about a pair of events that I'm very interested in - - one that's in my backyard and the other is slowly becoming a yearly institution that helps promote the latest Marvel flick in return.

On Saturday, May 3, the day after some big comic-book-based sequel called X2 comes out, the day last year's big comic-based flick Spider-Man premieres on HBO, and a little under a month before The Hulk, another big comic-based film, makes its theatrical debut, comic stores are, once again, coming together to sponsor Free Comic Book Day.

What is Free Comic Book Day? It's a day you could get at least one free comic book from your local comic stores (in my case, Atlantis Comics and, ugh, Amazing Fantasy, which is ran by a more cynical version of the Comic Book Guy). And no, it's no paper-thin cheaply-produced comic either, but rather a full-length comic (Marvel, for example, is going to release a shortened edition of their "Ultimate" X-Men title, which, like last year's Ultimate Spider-Man giveaway, will have some pages definitely missing . . . again).

Toonami fans, you could pick up either DC Comics' Batman Adventures #1 or Dreamwave's Transformers: Armada FCBD edition (which is a stand-alone story). Image is publishing a special edition of Leave it to Chance, a great fantasy title that used to be published at Homage while CrossGen, one of my new favorite publishers, is publishing Way of the Rat. That's a martial arts title that'll definitely hook fans of DBZ or Rurouni Kenshin. Free Comic Book Day will also introduce a couple of new ideas, including the launch of Dark Horse's new Rocket Comics (get it? Launch? Rocket?), Future Comics' Metallix, and Avatar's new Robocop and Stargate titles. Plus, there are more I didn't even mention.

Buyer beware. Although most comic shops will celebrate the day, some shops will limit how many free titles you could get. Some will get one title only. Some could get a few. Some could get one per purchase. Check your local shop, and if you want to check out more about this annual event (or you want to learn about the history of comics), go to the official site at http://www.freecomicbookday.com right . . . now.

This weekend, if you just happen to be in the Norfolk, VA area, the Old Dominion University Anime Club (which was founded the year I graduated) is conducting it's first anime/manga convention, Oduacon. Screenings, contests, animation tutorials, and all things otaku will be represented in a big way from 9 AM Saturday to 1 PM Sunday, and admission's just $5 for students (even high-school students), $7 for non-students, and a buck off if you're in full costume (I could see it now . . . shudders). If you get here before Saturday, bring an umbrella. It's raining like crazy around these parts. It's their first go-around, and I wish the Anime Club lots of luck, and I hope they could do it again next year.

And yes, I have heard about that rumored show from DiC coming to the network this fall, presumably on Toonami, but it's just a rumor, and I won't address it . . . yet.

Until we are one, later.
Jeff Harris
CNX Creator/Webmaster
April 10, 2003