CHECKING IN WITH...:

Saturday is the seventh annual Free Comic Book Day when comic book specialty stores will give out selected complimentary magazines so the time seemed ripe to touch base with John Weir, manager of Alakazam Comics in Costa Mesa.

What’s your background? How did you come to manage this store?  

I just like running small, independent stores. ... I just like stores that cater to obsessive collectors and that’s the type of people we get in here, so I guess that’s why I’m comfortable here. It appeals to people who are a little less mainstream. I’ve always enjoyed retail.

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday. What is that and what is your shop doing to celebrate?

It’s a joint venture between publishers, distributors and retail comic book stores to promote comics. It’s just a way to promote products for demographics that wouldn’t ordinarily be into comics. It’s also a great way to get kids into comics. The audience for most of these new comics are college kids and adults, so it’s good to get younger people interested in comics.

Most people don’t really understand what it is, though. They think they can just come in and get whatever comic they want free, but it’s only comics specially ordered from the distributors for free comic book day. There are all sorts of comics.

In fact, one of the most popular comics, Umbrella Academy, got all of its popularity from free comic book day. Because of all the people who got it on free comic book day, it took off when it actually came out. So of course everyone is wondering what this year’s big success will be, because there always seems to be one runaway.

What are your favorite comics?

I like obscure titles from the ’70s. I like non-superhero stuff ranging from 1969-78. But even that is just a casual appreciation.

And what do you like about comics from that era that isn’t true of comics today?

They were on newsprint with a four-color ink separation. It had a certain aesthetic that it doesn’t have now. Everyone would say it’s better now, but it doesn’t have the innocence and the charm they had then. Plot lines and dialogue are more reminiscent of a TV show or an adult-themed novel now. The art has just got so sophisticated. It no longer looks like the Sunday funnies. It’s like paintings with dialogue.

But on the bright side, saying you read a comic book now doesn’t have the stigma it once had. It’s considered more art than camp now.

How is business these days? Is the comic industry as healthy today as it has been in past times?

It has its peaks and its slow-downs. I think all small businesses now are taking a hit. A lot of people blame the economy, but I blame the Internet. It’s just easier these days for people who collect old or rare comics to go on eBay than it is for them to come in and dig through a bin of comics. Luckily we have enough loyal fans who come here every week for the new books that come out on Wednesdays. It’s people like that that keeps this place alive.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at [email protected].