In the July 2003 issue of Previews, Diamond Comic Distributors announced the winner of it's Comics' #1 Fan contest: Sean Kleefeld. The title was to be awarded to "the comic book fan who, in Diamond's estimation, does the best job spreading the word about Free Comic Book Day!"
Kleefeld impressed judges by performing an array of different activities to promote the Free Comic Book Day event. In addition to posting FCBD banners on his web site (FFPlaza.Com), Kleefeld also posted a FCBD sign outside his office at work (thereby forcing co-workers to learn about the event), sent a commentary to National Public Radio, and put his money where his mouth is by buying 250 copies of of Second to Some Studios' Christa Shemrot's 100% Guaranteed How-To Manual for Getting Anyone to Read Comic Books!!! and then giving them away in custom-designed displays in five separate locations on the campus of Wright State University!
What seemed to impress judges, too, was the personal touch Kleefeld added to the event. When learning that a colleague used to be a fan of Dial-H-For-Hero, he purchased a copy of H-E-R-O Double Feature #1 and sent it to him along with Fantastic Four #60 and Superman: The 10¢ Adventure.
Kleefeld himself was stunned to learn he had been chosen Comics' #1 Fan, as others' stunts ranged from re-painting their van to include the FCBD logo to shooting an independent film! He is quite honored to receive the title and hopes to continue promoting the comic book medium to everyone who will listen: "I certainly hope my efforts have helped the industry in whatever small way I could have, and I hope that the Free Comic Book Day event continues to be an annual opportunity to share my favorite medium with the rest of the world."
