On June 8 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (EUROPA PRESS) –
Ramón y Cajal Street in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, known as the hub of the comic world on the island, houses several stores dedicated to comics and similar activities. Today, Saturday, it was the venue for the celebration of Free Comic Book Day. The event saw the installation of various tents on the sidewalks with different activities. Children could participate in drawing sessions, use Arcade machines that are experiencing a revival amongst fans, avail discounts at stores, learn painting on artificial skin from tattoo artists, and purchase products directly from authors without intermediary online platforms.
Initial estimates predicted an increase in the number of visitors compared to last year’s 1,500, and just within an hour of the start of activities, it seemed that these expectations were going to be met. Free Comic Book Day serves as a means to attract more readers to the comic world by offering them free copies.
Roberto Carlos Gutiérrez, one of the owners of Comics and Dungeons store, has been part of all five editions and mentioned that this year, expectations were met. The difference this time was that they had to work independently due to issues with their usual collaborators from the mainland. Their aim has always been for families to come together, explore, and take home something. They also organized painting and craft workshops to enhance the experience.
The strategic location of the tents on the street played a crucial role in drawing in passersby on Ramón y Cajal Street, even those simply out for a stroll or a drink. The fair featured Edward T. Riker, an editor of interactive stories that immerse the reader as the protagonist. He also showcased traditional horror works by authors like Lovecraft. His stall was among the most visited, with unexpected sales. Riker expressed his surprise at the significant purchases, stating, “I brought a few books, not expecting much, but the response has been exceptional.” This being his first time at the event, he encouraged continued participation, emphasizing the dire need for more comics readers.
Accompanying Riker was artist Paula Medina, known as Paulaooba Art, displaying her vibrant drawings which included cards, bookmarks, and prints inspired by her favourite series. She found the event to be a unique platform to showcase and sell her creations, a step that ultimately led her to become self-employed. Although she has not explored online sales yet, she plans to venture into this soon, currently focusing on commissions received in person or through social media.
Noelia Hidalgo showcased custom-designed t-shirts, sweatshirts, and caps featuring geeky characters. Passionate about manga and anime, her online presence on lagavetafriki.com reflects her interests. Collaborating with stores like Comicsería, she was content with the moderate sales this being her second year at the event, noting positive feedback from the first edition.
A stand dedicated to Arcade machines attracted attention, championed by a group of enthusiasts like José Francisco Morales, who formed the association ‘Fabricando Nostalgia’. Their mission is to introduce contemporary children to these retro gaming devices, a mission that has yielded remarkable results due to the machines’ novelty to the young audience. Working closely with Canarias Arcade, they aim to establish a museum showcasing over four hundred surviving machines from the arcade era, enlightening visitors on the origin of modern consoles.
Nama Beads workshop, managed by Jennifer Salas, offered children the opportunity to create coloured piece models of drawings and take them home for free. Salas, with six years of experience organizing such workshops, witnessed overwhelming participation with children lining up throughout the day to craft their drawings without any time constraints.
Víctor Arrocha, owner of the tattoo shop Caligula Studios, conducted a workshop where children were guided on creating comics based on colouring sketches. The workshop featured a symbolic faceoff between two professional tattoo artists designing on synthetic skin. Participants translated various drawings received online into real designs, with winners selected. The event also included a talk outlining the tattoo process, from choosing designs to post-tattoo care.
Professional tattooing was available inside the store, offering discounts for comic-related tattoos. This being the second year of their participation, they appreciated the new street-based tent layout that facilitated visitor engagement and participation.
