The Popularity of Free Comic Book Day Comics
Filed under: Comics
Every year, I take a handful of the Free Comic Book Day comics — the all ages ones I can get my hands on — and bring them in to the clinic. I can usually sweet talk the local comic shop into giving me some extras, and this past year each of my three exam room got a matching set of eight FCBD comics.
In general, the comics last about six months before they’re worn to pieces. Some comics are so popular they wear out in no time, while others stay pristine for months. This year, three of the comic were by far the most popular, four moderately popular, and one barely touched:
Most popular (by a long shot): The Simpsons
A distant second and third (tie): Spider-Man and Justice League of America.
Moderate Interest: Legion of Super-Heroes, Peanuts, Sonic, Marvel Adventures
Dead Last: The Little Archies
Kids of all ages love the Simpsons comic, though not many adults. Older kids liked Spider-Man and Justice League (and many adults too), though Justice League was so cryptic and continuity heavy that I doubt it won many converts. Kids liked Legion, Sonic, and Marvel Adventures and more (ahem) “mature” adults seemed to gravitate towards Peanuts. No one seemed interested in the Little Archie comic. I’m guessing the kids didn’t recognize him, and the adults who might have known him weren’t interested in “Little” Archie.
December 26th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
As much as I love Archie comics in general, I loathe Little Archie. It violates the premise of the book!
December 27th, 2007 at 8:54 am
I brought a bunch of the all-ages FCBD offerings to my nephew(9) and niece(4), and kinda just laid them out there to see what reactions they’d get. I think Little Archie drew by far the most indifferent, non-interested reaction. I suspect my niece would enjoy a “regular” Archie comic, though.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 am
[…] I don’t want to steal Scott’s thunder so you can read it at his blog. The comment I want to make is that if Dr. Scott can figure out how to research the comic books in his office, why can’t DC Comics? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to find a control group to test a bunch of comic books before spending a huge amount of money to give them to as many people who will take them. […]
April 8th, 2008 at 6:48 am
[…] Doctor Scott at Polite Dissent conducted an interesting experiment. He put out a bunch of all-ages Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) comics in waiting rooms and then checked which ones got worn out first. Most popular (based on this totally anecdotal one-off case)? The Simpsons. Least? Little Archie. […]
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