Month: August 2021

Hey, Folks!

 

Well, here we are finally past Free Comic Book Day and moving boldly into the future!

 

Just kidding…I’m actually physically and emotionally exhausted and am desperately trying to catch my breath while looking longingly at the calendar while wistfully wishing for my vacation to get here sooner…

 

FCBD was a measured success this year. Attendance was way down compared to 2019, but I’m not sure what I really expected. Between the pandemic, other events going on in town, August vacations, and the fact that this was a lot of folks “last weekend of the summer” (with school starting up this week) I think there was a lot stacked against my quiet little celebration of comics. All that being said, however, I was still pretty optimistic about how things went. Everyone who attended was TERRIFIC and adding things like Kurt Nielson and his mobile photo booth and the free ice cream cone from Shivers only made things more fun. Hopefully FCBD will be able to return to the first Saturday in May next year and we can see some real fireworks. Of course, Monarch still has plenty of FCBD titles still available and we are going to leave the books on the counter through the end of this week so that anyone who wasn’t able to make it Saturday may come in and get their fill of freebies. There is plenty of most of the titles, so even if you did come by on Saturday and got your five titles feel free to stop by and get any that you may have had your eye on!

 

One of the things that Brian and I were working on in the weeks leading up to FCBD were the creation of massive amounts of new Dollar Box offerings. We ended up doing very well with them Saturday, but I want all of you who go crazy for new dollar boxes to know that there are still plenty in stock and more to come once Brian and I get done sorting through them. There will also be a lot of back issue stock going out over the next couple of weeks as well as some new higher demand books going into the showcase. As a matter of fact I’ll be posting about some of those books on Facebook later today.

 

I’ve been talking about the last few renovation projects I have in mind for the store this year and I thought I’d mention that the proposed new book shelves are currently still on backorder with my supplier. These are the book shelves that I have mentioned to many of you that I am going to use to turn the current slat walls int o proper book shelves. This will allow me to display a good deal more product once they are installed and I also think it will end up looking pretty sharp. I have a literal mountain of older and out of print trade paperbacks and hard covers at home that I am very much looking forward to putting in front of you. Hopefully I’ll get those shelves in soon so that I can start the project properly. Also, let’s hope they don’t show up while I am out of town next month.

 

I also want to mention that there may be small disruptions of store hours over the next three weeks. This is because my Dad, who regular customers know is suffering from dementia, is “on his own” while his caretaker takes a very deserved three week vacation. I am coordinating with my family to make sure he gets the care he needs during this time, but there maybe moments of emergency that I will have to leave the store to take care of. Hopefully, if this happens it will be on a day that Brian is in the store and I can come and go as I please, but let me apologize now if you roll up to the store and find it closed at an odd hour. Everything may run completely smoothly for the whole three weeks, but if it doesn’t I just want everyone to be aware of what the problem may be.

 

That’s it for me this week. I’m actually kinda proud that I got everything ready to go this early and that I can now spend the afternoon sorting through more back issues! The quicker I can get into the boxes the quicker we will have yet more Dollar Boxes as well as some really interesting back issues!

 

Have a great week, Folks!

 

Eddie

Hey, Folks!

 

I am frantically trying to get the set-up for Free Comic Book Day so I will be brief this week. Brian is holding up admirably to his half-insane boss and I do believe we will be ready for action Saturday morning. Just a few quick notes about FCBD and then I will post the subscription form/shipping list and then I will get right back to it.

 

• Monarch Comics FCBD 2021 is scheduled to run for our regular business hours of 11am-7pm. (Although if everything is locked and loaded I may open the doors a bit earlier.)
• All patrons for the day get their choice of up to 5 FCBD titles presented on the racks.
• Because of the Covid situation we will be admitting only 60 people at a time into the store. Intrepid employees Brian and Jake will be taking turns manning the front door and will allow folks into and out of the store. Monarch Comics will not be requiring the wearing of face masks during the event either in the store or outside of it, but you may make your own decisions regarding the situation. Monarch Comics staff will be wearing their masks while inside the building for the event for your safety.
• While supplies last, every patron will also receive a coupon for a small ice cream cone from our partners in the event, Shivers, located directly across the street from the store. This coupon is only good for the day of the event. Please practice caution when crossing the street to Shivers as we are expecting a pretty busy day.
• The Monarch Avengers will be making an appearance for the event. Because of the August heat and humidity (although the forecast is currently for a fairly cool day) the Monarch Avengers will be here between 11am-3pm. I have also contracted the services of a mobile photo booth operator who will also be in service between 11-3. He will be able to snap pictures of you and the cosplayer of your choice and then text/e-mail the photo to you with a custom digital Monarch Comics FCBD frame! Depending on the weather we may be cycling smaller groups of cosplayers into and out of the store in order to give them time to cool off a bit.
• Monarch Comics will have a small sidewalk sale during the event that will consist of brand new Dollar Boxes! These comics will be available for your perusal outside in front of the store’s window. After you make your choices you will be allowed back into the store to pay for your items.
• Monarch staff will be wearing their Monarch Comics logo t-shirts. Please feel free to ask them any questions you may have during the event. They are here to help!
• Monarch Comics will NOT have any public bathrooms available for use during the event. This is partly a Covid consideration and partly due to technical difficulties with the bathroom. We apologize for the inconvenience.

 

I think that’s just about it. Thanks in advance to everyone who takes time out of their day to visit the store and I hope that everyone has a fun time and enjoys their free comics!

 

Okay…back to my nervous breakdown…

 

Ed

Hey, Folks!

 

WOW…is it August already?

 

Honestly, I can’t believe how quickly the time is passing as we here at Monarch race towards a hopefully triumphant Free Comic Book Day! Plans and preparations have continued apace and I find myself filled with both excitement and dread. Hillman, boyfriend extraordinaire, and Brian, employee of the month, have both been amazingly helpful between hand holding and helping make all of my bizarre ideas come to fruition. I think that we are on the right track and that we can get most of the prep work done on time.

 

One of the things I’ve had Brian working on is a fleet of new dollar comic boxes. Between collections I have been slowly acquiring over the last couple of months as well as the resumption of bringing a bunch of my old comics I do believe we will have some extremely interesting dollar boxes for folks to peruse on the big day. These new dollar boxes will be making their debut on the sidewalk in front of the window of the store on FCBD. Since we will only be letting 60 people in the store at a time and I know how intensive and time consuming going through bargain boxes I’ve decided to display them outside so that you will have as much time as possible to check them out without slowing the line down for the free stuff! The details are still being worked out, but I believe we will have someone (either Brian or returning former employee, Jake) monitoring the bargain boxes. They will count up your books and place them in a bag with the price on them and you will simply have to pop back in the store to purchase them at the register. I’m still working on the details, but hopefully it will be as easy as that to handle.

 

We will see the return of the Monarch Avengers cosplaying team this year! A lot of favorites will be back as well as a few new super heroes! In addition, I have also taken the steps to hire a mobile photo booth to take pictures of you with your favorite heroes and those pics will be sent your phone or e-mail! It will also include a custom Monarch Comics photo booth frame! Since the booth is mobile you will be able to get your photo booth opportunity while you are waiting in line to get into the store!

 

While normally Monarch offers cookies and pizza on the Big Day, I decided this year it wouldn’t be a very good idea to have food sitting out in the open, both due to the heat of the day as well as the COVID situation. Instead we will be offering coupons for a free small ice cream cone at SHIVERS! Shivers is directly across the street from Monarch Comics and will be serving ice cream while supplies last! The coupon is only good for August 14^th, so make sure you exchange it after you leave with your free comics!

 

I’ve worked very hard this year in order to whip the store into shape with all of the renovations and updates and I hope to make this one of the most successful Free Comic Book Days ever. The August date does present some logistical problems, but hopefully everything will be ironed out by next Saturday. Monarch Comics will be giving out 5 free comics per customer who comes in the door and we will be open our normal business hours of 11am-7pm! So I hope all of you will swing by and join us for a day of comic celebrating fun!

 

Have a great weekend and please excuse me while I go have a nervous breakdown…lol.

 

Eddie