The part nobody talks about is how Free Comic Book Day trains casual people to expect free stuff and then they never come back anyway. Your nephew got two books after 90 minutes, but how many of those people in line were grabbing a freebie and walking out the door for good? I saw a guy at my shop load up a stack of 20 free books and ask where the bathroom was, no clue what a pull list even is. That's not building fans, that's a free sample table at Costco. The shops near you aren't the problem, the whole model is. They'd do better handing out one book per kid and putting the money they save into actual events.

Ray ever tell you how long to wait after bleed water stops before you start?

Three hours for one semicolon and you're already rage quitting?