Free Comic Book Day jumpstarts love for comics

While growing up, Pearl City cartoonist Jon J. Murakami did not have computers, DVDs or YouTube for entertainment. He watched Saturday morning cartoons on TV, read comic strips in the newspaper and browsed through comic books at the library.

The illustrator of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s "Calabash" comic strip and "Gordon Rider" will be among several Comic Jam Hawaii artists drawing and signing books at Dragon’s Lair in Mililani as part of the 14th annual Free Comic Book Day May 2.

Free comic books will be given away at several comic shops and 20 public libraries, each offering a selection of the total 50 titles available. Some of the more popular titles in this year’s lineup are "Avengers," "Pokémon," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Secret Wars."

"There are special editions that come out especially for this (event)," said Murakami, citing the Marvel and DC offerings. "A lot of people think comics are just for kids, but comics are really for everybody. There are interesting stories, wonderful arts. It’s something everybody can enjoy."

Comic Jam Hawaii artists also drew bookmarks they’ll be giving away at participating libraries and shops.

Charles Whitesell, owner of Other Realms at Nimitz Center, will give away all 50 of the different titles, with participants able to choose up to three titles, while supplies last.

Cosplayers will be at the store throughout the day, and door prizes will be awarded. Free Isabelo, a Hawaii artist now living in Las Vegas, will be signing his works.

The Hawaii State Public Libraries System participates in Free Comic Book Day as a literacy-promoting event. Each branch will have a variety of comic books.

Costumed characters from the Pacific Outpost of the 501st Imperial Legion, Rebel Legion Hawaii and Costumers Guild of Hawaii will be appearing at select libraries.

Kids usually line up outside the door before the library opens, according to Lauren Yamasaki, young adult and senior services librarian at Aina Haina Public Library.

The Aina Haina branch will offer "Avengers," she said, which kids will be excited about given the release of the film "Avengers: Age of Ultron" that week. A costumed character from "The Phantom" will also be available for photos in the morning.

"It helps encourage reluctant readers to come into the library," she said. "For kids who don’t like traditional reading, it at least gets them started. Some start off on comic books and they usually do transition into chapter books."

People are often unaware that the public libraries carry graphic novels, manga and comic strips from newspapers as well as traditional books, she said.

Diane Masaki, young adult librarian at Aiea Public Library, said last year kids and adults alike were as excited about the comic books as the costumed characters.

She says the Aiea library will have "Pokémon," one of the most popular titles among kids from elementary school to teenagers.

Murakami, 45, remembers the library playing a central role in how he learned to draw cartoons. He’s been drawing since he was 4 years old.

"I would go to the library, borrow whatever little books they had, and study it," he said, remembering how he pored over comic collections ranging from "Peanuts" to "Beetle Bailey" to "Garfield." "I would draw my own stories using my own characters."

Newspaper cartoonists like the late Corky Trinidad and Dave Thorne were mentors who gave him valuable advice and encouragement, he recalls. Now he plays that role.

With Comic Jam Hawaii, a group of artists, both professional and novice, meet every first and third Sunday at Pearlridge Center, to network and inspire one another.

"There’s a wonderful, creative energy," he said. "We get a lot of kids coming up and they want to draw."