Rupp's Comics

Just hours after FREE COMIC BOOK DAY kicked off at Carol and John’s Comic Shop, members of Great Lakes Base and Ohio Garrison made their way across “the buckeye state” to make appearances at comic book stores.  This was the start of a very busy weekend and we start over in Freemont, Ohio at Rupp's Comics.

photos courtesy Snips92

Rupp's Comics is much like a TARDIS -- “it’s bigger on the inside.”  For this particular event, you could say that I was on a “covert ops” mission -- as I was wearing my 501st Death Star Trooper costume. Representing The Rebel Legion were a Slave Leia (with ROTJ “sandstorm” scene cloak), Rebel Pilot along with a TIE Pilot.  Joining us there were a team from Northeast Ohio Ghostbusters; complete with their own version of the ECTO-1.  Together, we waved to cars as they passed by -- some honked their horns in return – while other just looked confused.  One slightly awkward moment as we tried waving "hello" to a local police cruiser -- who stopped, thinking we were trying to flag him down for help (complete with a suspect in the back seat).

“We’re fine. We’re all fine here now. Thank you. How are you?”

In addition to the great selection of FCBD comic books that were available, customers also got the chance to meet Star Wars artist -- and Rebel Legion Honorary Member Joe Corroney -- who was selling signed prints of his artwork as well as doing quick sketches for customer’s request.  I sat back and watched Joe crack out a brilliant drawing of Master Yoda -- something Joe admits still has an added hint of pressure, with his client standing right there and limited time to spare.  Still you wouldn’t know it by the finished product, which is why Joe Corroney is one of the premiere Star Wars artists and something Ohio comic book fans should be proud of.

After a few hours of welcoming customers, posing for pictures and doing a little shopping of our own, it was time to say goodbye to Rupp's Comics and their in-store pet cats -- what is with comic shops and cats? -- to head over to Toledo for yet another “May the 4th be with you” event: Star Wars Night with the Toledo Mud Hens.

There will be more AWRI mission reports from other Free Comic Book Day events.