If you're like me, and God help you if you are, you've got stacks of comics around that you don't want. You bought them, sure, and you might have even liked them at the time, but you're not going back, and they're both unsightly and a fire hazard. Why you stored them nexy to the kerosene and burner furnace, we'll never know. But they've got to go. But where?!
Enter Fate Spears (real name) of the Comic Book Connection Initiative, in Columbus, OH. He wanted to do some good, and since comic books are a major part of his life, C.B.C.I. was born.
With a load of time on his hand after multiple hip surgeries, and dealing with Multiple Sclerosis, Spears' wife suggested he do something positive. Like many of us, there were comics everywhere that he couldn't find anyone to take. Then his wife, as they will, challenged him that he could.
"She is a teacher and we discussed some of the benefits of comic books beyond the obvious literacy one. With that in mind, we came up with the three main ideas behind C.B.C.I. and what comics in the hands of underprivileged children could provide.
1) An escape, even temporarily, from the hardships they face everyday.
2) Ownership of something cool. They have a comic to hold onto and say "This is mine."
3) Hopefully, an inspiration for later in life to make better choices when faced with difficult ones."
Where appropriate comics will go to kids, the mature comics will be sent to troops overseas, so all your orphaned issues can be appreciated.
"We take donated comic books to children in homeless shelters, food pantries, after-school programs and children's hospitals. We have also started sending our mature comic books to our troops overseas. Two local comic book stores (Comic Town & Packrat Comics) have donated thousands of their backstock to help us get started. They have also put in donation bins at their locations so collectors, like myself, can drop off a stack when we pick up our files. This allows a constant flow of comics for us to distribute. We also had a table donated by Mid-Ohio Con this year where we were able to receive over 1000 comics from collectors and retailers! We also raised about $120.00 to cover some shipping costs to send comics to our troops."
Want to help out, send in some of your books, or learn more? Get to their Facebook page!
You can send in comic book donations to:
C.B.C.I.
C/O Comic Town
1249 Morse Road, Columbus Oh 43229
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This great since I have some comics I need getting rid of, though I better make sure they’re good and not bad. So, no Countdown for these kids or the troops.
I hope these kids like Mullet Superman, because I’m going to send them a few longboxes worth come January.
@TheGoose Countdown is the new standard for despair.
Great idea and great article Josh. Wish they did something like this in the UK, especially with Christmas coming up.
Haha, “Mullet Superman”. This reminds me of my friend and I always talking about Parallax and “Final Night”, and his skepticism about “Green Lantern: Rebirth”; I reminded him that the 90s weren’t as good as our memory made them to be. My copies of “Zero Hour” and “Heroes Reborn” and tie-ins are so dog-eared from when I reread the same 30 comics. Kids read what’s there, and quality becomes secondary.
That being said, if someone had given me their run of “Preacher” in 1997-98, I would have forgotten Rob Liefeld Captain America.
This post couldn’t have been better timed. Last night I had a stack pulled from my short boxes that were destined for the recycling bin.
This is a fantastic idea. Can’t wait to donate!
@Josh, thanks so much for this article. I am very much like you (perhaps even more so), and get rid of my comics when done. I use to take them back to my LCS to get a little bit back in trade, but nowadays they’ve stopped doing this since there is no money (or space) for fairly recent issues.
This looks like a good group, because I really wanted to see if I can get some of these to kids in need.
Thanks again!
Hi guys. It’s me, Fate. Thanks for the great write up Josh! I donated all my Countdown goose and even mullet supes. The kids love that stuff because they have a recognizable hero is superman and in coundown a bunch of different ones. I gave all my valiant books and most of the kids were like “cool reflective coveres but who the hell is solar?” Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thanks everone!
@fatespears Thanks so much for doing this! My “52” issues will be coming your way soon.
Thanks for posting this, Josh! I’ll go through some boxes tonight and send off a big stack tomorrow.
@ Fate: Am I being a jerk of I send incomplete sets of things (i.e., mini-series that I bought a few issues of, then dropped)?
This is a great idea. As someone who didn’t get into comics until later in life, and instead as a kid was into baseball cards, sports, and cartoons. I can say that if someone gave me a box of comics, I’m sure I would have read them and become a fan. Not sure of the kids these days with their computers and video games and chronic ADD. But it’s well worth the try. Great post, Josh.
@ HailScott send them all. The kids don’t care. Any comics are good comics. You are not being a jerk if you only send broken arcs. No worries man! we will use everything. Thanks!
Cool program Fate. I’m a part of a similar organization that teaches literacy through comics in the schools in my community. We also pass out comics to kids, and they always love them. Keep up the amazing work, my man.
Great news! Now all I have to do is take is will myself to take the box to the post office!
@Thursday Luckily, I dropped off that band wagon after the third issue.
@fatespears Awesome program you’ve got going! Hospitals could also use them. It will make those interminable ER waits go by much easier.
This is absolutely perfect for me…I have alot that I’ll be sending your way!
This is absolutely perfect. I have lots of comics I don’t want anymore, but no way to donate as not all parents can agree what’s acceptable reading material. Great article & timely.
I do usually try to proof read anything I’m not sure of for appropriate content. Like I said, we find a use for every comic. We have got donations of Richie Rich (kids) and Crossed (umm, definitely not kids, we sent those to our troops). By the way, where should Marvels Dark Tower/Stand books go? Age 8-14 or Troops? Thanks everyone.
Just got a big box of newer books from Scott Martin. Thanks Scott!
I got a HUGE box ready…do you nead a list of everything?