Renowned artists to be featured at Free Comic Book Day event

Apr. 25—Each year, comic book shop patrons and employees across the nation look forward to the first Saturday of May, said Michael Gunter, co-owner of Battlegrounds Games & Comics at 2708 Airport Road.

Since 2002, that's when Free Comic Book Day has been traditionally held, when the comic book industry unites to encourage readers to visit their local comic shops while receiving free, exclusive comic book titles.

And this year looks to be Battlegrounds' biggest celebration yet.

On Saturday, May 4, the store will host its Free Comic Book Day event that will include food, giveaways and an opportunity to meet nine comic book artists ranging from locals to globally-recognized award-winners.

The event, which will be open to the public at 10 a.m. and run until store closing at 9 p.m., will feature two artists who have received coveted Eisner Awards, "basically the Academy Awards of the comic book industry," said Gunter.

Terry Moore, who received an Eisner Award in 1996 for his comic series "Strangers in Paradise," has published titles such as "Rachel Rising" and "Echo."

Adam Hughes, known for his artwork for titles such as DC Comics' "Wonder Woman" and "Catwoman" as well as several of Dark Horse Comics' "Star Wars" titles, will also attend. Hughes received an Eisner Award in 2018 for his work on Dark Horse Comics' "Hellboy."

Other featured artists will include Joseph Michael Linsner and his wife Kristina Deak-Linsner, both known for "Vampirella" among other titles; Jason Flowers of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" fame; Bryan Silverbax, artist of several titles including "The Recount" and "Creepshow"; Jyn Leonard, an artist with Zenescope and Codex Entertainment; and Gregbo Watson, who has provided artwork for Coffin Comics and Dynamite Comics as well as Zenescope.

Also featured will be Dalton native Adam Sanford, who Gunter describes as an "up-and-coming artist" who has published books such as "Samuel Shootingstar" and "Tic & Twitch."

Each artist will be available at no charge to sign two outside items per person along with any book title purchased inside the store.

Battlegrounds will also give out free comic books; individuals will be limited to three (each being a different comic book title) per person.

"And if we have any leftovers, locals can come back on Sunday, they will be available as well," Gunter said.

Bonnie Scherr, coordinator of the event, said the store will have approximately 4,000 new, free and exclusive comic books from 40 separate titles including from Marvel, DC, Diamond and Lunar to give away.

"There's a little something for everybody," Scherr said. "For boys, girls, kids and adults."

The event will also feature thousands of comic book titles available for purchase both in-store and outside, where a Wicked Wieners hot dog food truck will be parked.

Patrons will also have the opportunity to purchase exclusive Free Comic Book Day merchandise, including T-shirts, collectibles and Funko Pop bobbleheads. Each item will be first-come, first-served with limited quantities available.

Gunter said a shuttle service will bus people from the MedNow of Dalton parking lot across the road to the store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Our parking lot will be very limited, so we are asking people to take the shuttle," Gunter said. "We anticipate having a large crowd outside so our parking lot will be relatively full."

Gunter said all items in the store, including comics, games, collectibles, toys and music, will have various discounts throughout the day.

"It's kind of like the Black Friday of comic book stores," he said. "It is our busiest day of the year for paper-printed material."

Gunter said having "top-shelf" artists is a "big deal."

"The magnitude of the artists that we're bringing in, some of these names are New York Comic Con or San Diego Comic Con level," he said. "They don't do free signings in Dalton. The fact that we've got them will probably bring in a large crowd from out of town. It's pretty incredible. We're over the moon."

Scherr said Sanford and Leonard will premiere new comic books exclusively at Battlegrounds during the event.

"This will be the only store that has them that day," she said.

She said she hopes the event will help kickstart a growth of interest in the area when it comes to comic book and gaming stores.

"If this goes as well as we want it to, there is no reason why we can't do something where we're bringing in a couple of big names a few times a year as part of a community event," Scherr said. "Dalton could be the start of something different to help independent comic shops and game shops going forward."

Battlegrounds co-owner Jason Mathis said he hopes the event will shine a light on the store within the community.

"Hopefully people that have never been here will discover us and see what a unique store we have here in Dalton," Mathis said. "We just want people to come see what we have to offer."

Gunter said he's looking forward to a big turnout.

"There's some serious talent here," he said. "On a normal Saturday, we're pretty busy. I expect this to be 10 times that, fingers crossed. That's what we're hoping for."