Jay Bardyla of Happy Harbor Comics & Toys in Edmonton and Jasper, Alberta, and Vancouver, British Columbia, saw the announcement of the Free Comic Book Day sponsors (see 'Free Comic Book Day Sponsors Announced'), and had thoughts on one notable absence from the list of sponsors, as well as continued dissatisfaction with the date selected:

So, the supporting publishers for Free Comic Book Day 2004, ridiculously moved to July from May, have been announced and it's nice to see what appears to be the same amount of contributors as in years past.  Of course one notable absence continues to be Bongo Comics.  While I'm sure they have their reasons, it is unfortunate because their books are our strongest sellers to younger readers and easily in our Top 5 of best selling titles (when you factor in our reorders which we must and can place frequently).  I hope this message, and several more from other retailers, reaches the Bongo offices and they decide to change their minds.

Of course I can't set my expectations too high when I consider that a majority of retailers decided to make FCBD a 'random' annual event.  I wonder what's going to happen in 2005?  Will it be in February or October?  Or what will happen in 2008 when the comic book movie well has run dry and there's is no movie to fall back on?  I guess we'll all be wishing we had just stuck to one date.  Sometimes, there's something to be said for consistency.