A story in the Sunday, April 26 Times Union newspaper reminded me that Free Comic Book Day is coming up on Saturday, May 2. As a former comic store employee and a former collector long before that, it’s my way to check in.
And I always go to Earthworld Comics at 537 Central Avenue, near Manning Blvd. Earthworld was started a few years after FantaCo’s 1978 opening, but we were very civil competitors. When I would come into the store for FCBD in the 2010s and early 2020s, J.C. Glindmyer, the original owner, would treat me like royalty, which was both weird and very sweet. I was sad when he died in 2023.
His son Nick Glindmyer, who now owns the store, is doing something special for FCBD this year, tied to an ICE incident. “According to a notice posted to Facebook by the Capital Region Sanctuary Coalition, which monitors ICE activity in the region, a pair of ICE vehicles surrounded a car in front of Albany Strength Gym, next door to Earthworld, around 8:17 a.m. on March 19. ICE agents then approached the car, and an individual who was inside the car was detained. A photo accompanying the notice shows at least two agents — one wearing an olive ‘Police’ tactical vest — interacting with a car outside the gym’s front window.
“So we thought, ‘How can we use our platform with Free Comic Book Day to help those that might need help?’ He decided to turn the centerpiece of the shop’s biggest day of the year… into a fundraiser for another Albany neighbor, the West Hill Refugee Welcome Center.”
Headlocked Comics
“Glindmyer said the shop will have $20 tote bags for sale on Free Comic Book Day… featuring the cover image from a comic written by Clifton Park-based creator Michael Kingston, owner of Headlocked Comics, a wrestling-oriented comics publisher. Created by artist Michel Mulipola, the image features a hulking, masked figure based on professional wrestler Brody King, wearing a costume with “Abolish ICE” across the chest. All revenue from sales of the bag will go to the West Hill refugee assistance programs.
“Locally based comic artist John Hebert, who has illustrated a long list of Marvel Comics’ series over the years, will also create an original piece of art for the event that will be auctioned off to benefit the WHRWC. Hebert will be in attendance at Earthworld throughout Free Comic Book Day.” I helped work on a comic book for FantaCo, Sold Out, with John Hebert many moons ago.
