Comic relief, super sized

Even for Allston, the sight of a costumed superhero on Harvard Avenue last Saturday was a bit out of the ordinary. Was the Phoenix from the X-Men fighting evil in Rock City? Fortunately, no: The occasion was Free Comic Book Day, a worldwide celebration of the art form, and a fairly relaxing day off by superhero standards. For the two mortal Allstonians in her entourage, though, it was another story.

''This is a cosmic entity, and you don't want to make her angry," cautioned Sara Harrington, a graduate student at Emerson. ''We have to keep her entertained, keep her hydrated. If she gets too warm, and she starts getting a headache, it's gonna be a problem."

''Last time she got mad, she ate a solar system," said Sean Conlon. ''Planetary genocide just really ruins my week."

First held in 2002, the day rewards regular customers at most of the area's comic book stores with free titles from both major and independent publishers, with an eye to bringing in new customers of all ages, whether they're just starting out with comics or need a little nudging to get back into the fold.

Peter Rhodes, a film editor from Brookline, is in the latter camp, but his two children were eager to pounce on the free classics at the front counter of New England Comics. For 11-year-old Kate that meant Archie comics (favorite character: Jughead); while 9-year-old Nicky picked Spider-Man, who, he said, probably wouldn't play fair if he was involved in something down to earth, like, say, soccer.

''He would get the ball, and he would probably shoot it into the goal, so he would cheat," said Nicky, only to be quickly corrected by his big sister: ''It's his talent."

At Comicopia in Kenmore Square, bringing in Kate and Nicky's college-age counterparts is crucial in a neighborhood where many of the residents move in and out within a year. The mission was so important, in fact, that the three young women staffing a table on the sidewalk outside the store had all studied -- yes, studied -- the free comics prior to the event, the better to answer questions. Owner Matt Lehman said that he's taken a similar approach to the inside of the store, which moved to Kenmore in 1991 after two years in Brookline.

''Most of our business are regulars who don't care how the store looks as long as you have what they're looking for, but if you're going to attract new people, you're going to have to spruce it up," said Lehman, pointing out new flooring and lighting. ''Same thing for Free Comic Book Day -- we want to get new people to come by and discover comics and discover our store. We're the local charm, I guess."

As he spoke, a regular customer strolled in, and without a word Lehman pulled out several new editions from an open file behind the counter. Like many fans, 59-year-old Doug Hodes of Wellesley subscribes to several comic books and makes near-weekly visits.

In Somerville, the scene was decidedly mellow at Comicazi, on the edge of Davis Square, with new and regular customers alike enjoying pizza, ice cream, and the shop's collection of new and vintage comics and collectibles. Co-owner and cofounder Michael Burke, who like Hodes learned to read by reading comics, said he was happy to see a number of parents come in and introduce their kids to comics, and was also pleased to note that the Free Comic Book Day, and the comic book shop scene generally, has no inter-store rivalry. In fact, he says, his store benefits from having a friendly rival.

''My regular customers get their books from me regularly, but the guy in Harvard Square carries some product that I don't, and vice versa, and customers in both stores know that," said Burke. ''I don't have a problem with them going somewhere else to get what they need. If I don't have it, go to my fellow, he's got it, you need it, it's all good."