It’s been a few months since Free Comic Book Day, and I thought it was time to do a wrap up.

Going in, my goal for participating was to raise awareness about Wahoo Morris, with the hope that two or three hundred stores who hadn’t tried the book out might get a chance to see it and then bring in a copy of the trade paperback.

Around 10,500 copies of the FCBD book went out to 695 stores to be distributed on Free Comic Book Day. Of those 695 stores, only 29 had previously ordered the Wahoo Morris trade paperback.

Post FCBD I got an order from Diamond for 32 copies.

I don’t have the data for how many of those books went to stores that hadn’t previously ordered, but the results were a little disappointing to say the least. I probably gained no more than a handful of new stores.

I have no way of knowing if the free books were distributed to people who were looking for a freebie and would never be back, or who don’t know you have to special order a book like Wahoo Morris, or if the majority of those stores just aren’t interested in bothering to order a book like Wahoo Morris on the off chance that any of the takers of the FCBD book will be back for more. Maybe offering a FCBD book isn’t enough to overpower Previews overload, and I still got overlooked at the back of Previews. Or maybe the Free comic just didn’t appeal to anyone.

I know the latter isn’t the case as I have made multiple sales at conventions to people who read the FCBD book and loved it.

So, the conclusion is that, according to the goals I set for the promotion, Free Comic Book Day was a resounding flop for me. I might see some long term benefits, as it probably did raise my profile somewhat, even if my book is only available in 29 comic stores worldwide.

Will I do it again? Never say never, but probably not. I think I would rather spend my money targeting my audience directly by giving out free tastes at conventions, and supplying interested retailers with freebies directly instead of the blanket shot that was FCBD.

I still think Free Comic Book Day is a good promotion for the industry as a whole, but for an individual indie publisher trying to get into more stores – not so much.

After many long months of radio silence, new updates of Wahoo Morris (the web comic) began today.

I’ve spent the last few months pencilling ahead, completing close to 40 pages of Wahoo Morris Book 2. I have begun inking them and should have 5 done by the end of this week, with another 3 or 4 per week through the summer. As I’m sticking to a once a week update schedule, it looks like I might actually be able to keep up with regular updates through the remainder of the year.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is right around the corner, and on the day I will be setting up shop at THE COMIC BOOK SHOPPE 2 (228 Bank Street Ottawa, Ontario) from 11-5.

I will be signing copies of the WAHOO MORRIS FREE COMIC BOOK DAY Edition 2007 to anyone who shows up. There will be plenty of copies to go around, so do drop on by, say hi, get a free copy, and get it signed.

I will be joined by 3 other local comics creators; Tom Fowler (Mad Magazine, Caper, Green Arrow), Jack Briglio (Growing Up Enchanted), and Kevin Mason (Sleeping Dragons).

So drop by THE COMIC BOOK SHOPPE 2 on Saturday May 5th to see what the Ottawa comics community has to offer.

I received the proofs for the Wahoo Morris Free Comic Book today. Everything looks good, so I gave the go ahead to the printer to print the final comics.

I also set the final print run at 12000 copies. I know for a FCBD book that that is on the low side, but it is the largest single print run I have ever done of any book I have published, so I’m a little mind-boggled by the number.

In a few weeks those comics will be handed out free to Free Comic Book Day patrons in several countries. Here’s hoping a good percentage of those readers come back for more of the story! A five percent return will make me more than happy with the results of the promotion.

Look for the book at participating comic shops on May 5th!

Free Comic Book Day this year is saturday May 5th, and WAHOO MORRIS is one of the participating comics.

WAHOO MORRIS FCBD edition ’07 is a 32 page re-print of the original Wahoo Morris #1, and is the perfect teaser introduction to the WAHOO MORRIS tradepaperback series. There is also a 2 page Butternut Squash short and a selection of advertising from small indie publishers.

If you want to give WAHOO MORRIS a try, and would like a copy of the Free WAHOO MORRIS FCBD edtion, please let your favorite retailer know you want a copy before the end of this week. It can be easily ordered with the order code FEB07 0048.