Halloween ComicFest Comes to Dearborn

Comic fans will have a chance to “trick or treat” at Green Brain Comics in Dearborn on Oct. 26-27, when the shop hands out free comics as part of the annual Halloween ComicFest.

The store, located at 13210 Michigan Ave., will join hundreds of vendors across the country to give away 22 new full-sized and mini comics and other prizes.

Dan Merritt, owner of Green Brain Comics, said the event grew from the popularity of Free Comic Book Day, which is typically held during the first Saturday of May.

Visitors to the store will receive one comic just for stopping by between noon and 5 p.m. both days. Children will receive two comics, and anyone in costume will receive a bonus gift. Available titles include include Batman, Spider-Man, Thor, Adventure Time, Archie and Sonic.

Also during the weekend, "The Greatest Halloween Costume Contest Ever" will take place and runs until Nov. 15. To enter the contest, participants must get a costume contest button from Green Brain Comics, submit a picture of themselves in costume featuring the official button, and then start gaining votes on the website www.halloweencomicfest.com/costumecontest. Two random winners will receive $500 to the comic shop of their choice.

Merritt said the timing of Halloween ComicFest this year is perfect because events tie in with the Detroit Fanfare Comic Con, which takes place Oct. 25-27 at the Adoba Hotel in Dearborn.

"Halloween ComicFest is still new, and in our East Downtown Dearborn neighborhood there really aren't many trick-or-treaters. So we usually focus our attention on community Halloween events so that we can get the free comic goodness to all the little ghosts and goblins," he said.

Last year Green Brain gave out hundreds of comics at the annual Boo Bash at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center and the Haunted Halloween Party at the Arab American National Museum.

"With ComicFest coinciding with the Detroit Fanfare comic convention just down the street from us at the Adoba Hotel, we are trying something new," Merrit said. "Our hope is to push customers from the convention floor down to our store with the enticement of free giveaways, so they can discover how many awesome comics and graphic novels are available to readers of all ages and interests."

For more information about Halloween ComicFest, call 313-582-9444, or visit http://www.greenbrain.biz/.