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Industry wants you hooked on comics (Michael Sangiacomo, April 30, 2005, Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Psst, hey buddy, you like comic books? Not sure? Here, the first one is free.

Next Saturday, May 7, is Free Comic Book Day, a chance to pick up several new comics for nothing.

If you like what you read, the industry is hoping you'll c'mon back for more.

For the fourth year in a row, stores across the United States, England, France and other countries will be giving away 2 million comic books.

Barry Lyga, spokesman for Diamond, the world's largest comic distributor, said he was amazed when some people turned the program into a negative.

"Back in the first year when we did it, people actually said they thought the giveaway was the last gasp of a dying industry," Lyga said. "Well, they are wrong, the comic industry is healthy.

"In 2004, comic shops sold over $550 million worth of product."

Just get 'em jonesing.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 2, 2005 6:40 AM