In celebration of Free Comic Books Day on Saturday May 7th, Paper + Plastick Records has prepared a series of downloadable webcomics. The label is presenting the first issue of 50 States now, with the first issues of Kill the Wonderhawks and Exit Interview to come later this month.
50 States shares tour stories of various bands, with the first issue following label founder Vinnie Fiorello's Less Than Jake. The book artists and writers are, respectively, Matt Jordan and Matt Anderson. Similar to the download-first, physical release later approach of Paper + Plastick's music, the comics will be printed as graphic novels once the stories have concluded.
Fiorello explains the label's foray into comics as such:
The idea of releasing comics wasn't an original intent when starting the label, but releasing prints and books were. After becoming friends with comic writer/editor Matt Anderson, it became a natural progression from stories I was writing personally for graphic novels to actually wanting to release other people's, as well as my own. I see it as a natural progression in the label but I also see it as a brand new opportunity to do something I've never done before, by being a creator as well as a publisher of comics.
Free Comic Book Day is an annual event akin to Record Store Day, for the comic book industry.
