Every year on the first Saturday in May, comic book stores give out free books as a part of Free Comic Book Day. The annual comic book event pulls in regular readers who might find new favorites and it attracts new readers who have never picked up a comic before. Many stores make a day of it by hosting sales, raffles, gaming events, signings with comic creators, and cosplayers.

The promotional event was conceived by Joe Field, the owner of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California. Field recently shared a video on YouTube announcing that Flying Colors Comics is hosting its final Free Comic Book Day event in 2024. To commemorate the end of their tenure with the annual comic holiday, Field retells the story of how he conceived the idea for Free Comic Book Day.

Field gets into the details of where the idea came from, discussing it with industry professionals, and the collaboration with fellow retailers and publishers. He notes the advantages of FCBD, having comic creators sign at his store, and how it has evolved over the years.

During the interview, Field also discusses the Future of Flying Colors Comics and the history of the store. A few of the comic shop’s regular customers even jump in to talk about their experiences shopping at the store.

Field’s full interview can be seen below.