Drawing readers | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

"They don't hurt the industry but they don't help as much as you think they would," the owner of Twilite Zone Comics said Saturday. "It happened with first "Batman," but that's about it."

Twilite Zone Comics on Crain Highway joined other stores Saturday participating in a promotion that is deisgned to attract new readers to the business - Free Comic Book Day, an annual occasion for comic book stores worldwide to distribute their wares to the public free of charge.

"It's a way to keep the hobby on people's minds," said Mr. Moyer, an Annapolis resident.

Comic book shops gave free comics to anyone who visited their stores, no strings attached. Mr. Moyer said the industry did more public relations than ever this time to promote the seventh of these annual free days.

His store was giving out kid-friendly comics such as "Archie," "X-Men," "Transformers" and "Tiny Titans."

"It's an effective way to engage kids who don't normally read," he said.

Aside from free comic book day, new readers are drawn - "civilians" to Mr. Moyer - are drawn by cartoons and movies they saw as children. Although the comics being given out for free were mostly for young audiences, Mr. Moyer said that comic reading is an adult hobby. The average comic book costs $3.20.

"There's a lot of stuff people will find intriguing," he said. "It's not all 'Archie.' "

Mr. Moyer said 95 percent of his customers are men 18 and older, with a significant military and law enforcement contingent. The average credit card sale at his store is $37. His store handles about 100 issues a month of its best sellers. Comics range in price from $2.25 to $4.99.

Dave Miller, a 30-year-old Curtis Bay resident and comics reader since age 13, was looking for new reading materials on Saturday.

"I pretty much just read them for the enjoyment of reading," he said. He enjoys horror novels, and has read Stephen King's "Dark Tower" graphic novels.

In addition to eager comic buyers, Twilite Zone Comics had two local artists displaying and selling their work Saturday. Darin Malfi, a Severna Park resident, said he thinks the day was a great way to promote the comic book industry.

"A kid can still come to a comic book shop, get some comics, get some art, get some ideas and stay out of trouble," he said. He was selling three books he illustrated, including a collection of short stories, and a novel by his brother, Ronald, that he illustrated.

The recent release of "Iron Man" was perfect timing, he said.

"With all the movies coming out, the industry is starting to blow up," he said. "It brings people into the shop and we're able to turn them onto other titles."

The industry is also picking up, he said, because established authors such as Stephen King as well as Neil Gaiman are starting to write comics and graphic novels, which are complete comic series.

Ben Reynolds, a Glen Burnie artist whose work was on display as well, has an online comics series he hopes to eventually have in print.

"It's easy exposure and instant access," he said. He went to school for animation, but was frustrated with how long the animation process takes.

"Comic books are a more tangible way to finish things," he said. "The entire experience is a personal journey."

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mshapiro@mdgazette.com