Sapulpa’s only traditional comic book store is getting something really special for “Free Comic Book Day” this weekend…and it may look familiar.
Free Comic Book Day—traditionally the first Saturday of May—has become a sought-after opportunity for new and old comic fans to grab free comics, discover new stories, and connect with their local community of fans and creators.
This year, Route 66 Comics and Collectibles (17 S Park Street) will be stocking not only some great options for FCBD, but a very unique issue of Archie Comics that carries with it a couple of fantastic easter eggs—namely, the cover is one you’ll only be able to find right here in Sapulpa, from Route 66 Comics and Collectibles.
The special 85th Anniversary Edition is a one-shot story featuring the standard antics of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the whole gang, but the cover for this book is specially created for Route 66 Comics and Collectibles by local artist Zach Raw and will only be available from the Sapulpa comic shop.
The cover is meant to emulate the 1999 video game “Crazy Taxi,” and the resemblance is astounding.
“We are super excited to release our first store-exclusive variant cover for Archie Game Galaxy,” said General Manager Aaron Witten, adding that the shop should have plenty of copies on hand for the big day, and that artist Zach Raw will be on hand to sign the issues.
“Even if you miss the event, we’ll continue to have copies available online, both signed and unsigned,” said Witten. “It just depends on how quickly they sell.”
When Sapulpa Times learned about the event, Witten pointed out the special last-minute addition to the cover he had requested before it went to print: an air freshener shaped like the store’s logo.
When Route 66 Comics and Collectibles opened in 2023, they brought back the long-gone traditional comic book store to the heart of Route 66, but over the years, they’ve shown themselves to be a bit more forward-thinking than the comic shops of the old days. They have not only new and old issues of all your favorite titles, but also toys and collectibles of every kind in the pop culture space. They also have a number of rare collector’s issues and host Whatnot auctions each week.
Visit the store at 17 S Park in downtown Sapulpa or online at route66comics.com