Carla Culebro hugged a plastic bag of comic books, thick as a ream of paper. It started with Man of Steel and other DC movies. But over the past two years, her hunger for more stories between superhero films led her to comics.
The Chula Vista resident waited roughly an hour to grab discounted comic books, and some that didn’t cost a penny, during Free Comic Book Day at Nuclear Comics in North Park.
She wasn’t alone. A line of roughly 50 people — helmed by a caped cosplayer dressed as Magneto from the Marvel universe — waited along an alley off University Avenue. The first person in line queued at 8 a.m., two hours ahead of the store’s opening.
“I love the sales, obviously, like any other person, but I do love how this is a huge party for nerdy people like I am,” Culebro said.
The first Saturday of May marks Free Comic Book Day — a celebration that started in 2002. Shops and local libraries across the county promoted these graphic stories with big sales and by handing out free comics. For the small businesses that welcome fans of the medium, it’s a big deal.
Kim Lemire, manager of Nuclear Comics, calls it their “Super Bowl” because it boosts sales and reels in new customers. This year’s event also fell on Star Wars Day, an unofficial holiday that features the tagline “May the 4th be with you,” a throwback to the original trilogy.
“It’s like the Christmas season all in one day,” she said as excited customers streamed into the store Saturday morning.
The North Park business is one of thousands of shops nationwide that celebrate the annual event. At Nuclear, they had a wall of titles from colorful kid-friendly comics on the bottom shelf to exclusive titles for seasoned collectors on the top shelf.
Lemire’s daughter, Summer Lemire, helps manage the family-owned shop on University Avenue, which opened up in 2022 as a sister store to the longstanding Nuclear Comics in Laguna Hills. For Summer, comic books fed her ion for reading and now she sees it do the same for kids who visit the shop.
Charlie Lyons-Pardue’s 6-year-old daughter is learning to love reading through graphic adaptations of “The Baby-Sitters Club.” While Lyons-Pardue “grew up on a steady diet of Amazing Spider-Man and X-Men comics,” he loves the diversity of stories beyond superheroes that can be told through comics.
“We came out to Nuclear Comics because it’s my favorite comic shop in town,” he said. “The folks who run it are really ionate about comics, but it’s a friendly atmosphere that’s not intimidating for a middle-aged guy like me who is getting back into comics after having been away from the scene for many years.”
Jaimie Newbold, owner of Southern California Comics in Kearny Mesa, recalls his father bringing home his first comic book at the age of 7. When Newbold became a dad, comics were a way for him to bond with his son.
He said that April is typically a slow month for comic book sellers, but over two decades this day has consistently been profitable for SoCal Comics. And while small comic book shops have to compete with the Internet for attention and sales, Newbold said businesses like his remain relevant for dedicated fans and act as a social hub.
“In this business, the stores are the 7-Eleven of comic books,” he said. “In other words, you can buy online, you can follow some Facebook group or something on Instagram, but you go to the store to get that quick fix. The comic book becomes your candy bar … so we feed people daily.”
To make the most of Free Comic Book Day, SoCal Comics takes over the parking lot in front of its shop. The spot hosts graphic artists, author gs and food trucks, and partners with other local businesses to offer customers discounts.
There’s no limit to the number of free comic books you can grab — while supplies last, at least.
“You don’t have to be a comic book person to take advantage of this free offering — just show up and see what happens,” he said.
Back in North Park, Carla Culebro sauntered back down the alleyway to get in line with her friends. Her first trip was under budget so she figured, might as well go back for more.
