AJ Dent visits Zanadu, in Seattle,  for Free Comic Book Day – when participating shops give away comics to anybody who asks. * The sign outside says “Free.” A Sedan pulls up, lets a mother and two children pile outaaa

Ben Baruch looks at a watershed moment in his life as a football fan – and wonders whether you can really substitute knowledge for experience. * I can recite, from memory, the last few minutes of Brian Moore’s 1989 commentaryaaa

Sakura-Con is an anime convention held annually in Seattle, Washington. It screens movies, houses industry legends and holds panel discussion on the anime world – while many attendees comes dressed as their favourite characters. AJ Dent visited this year to take pictures.aaa

Aneil Fatania reviews the first episode of the new season of Game of Thrones. * Game of Thrones’ enormous international success is considerably at odds with its availability, with it being shown exclusively by HBO in the US, Sky in the UK,aaa

Read Philip Maltman’s poem ‘Proteus’ – from the 18-poem cycle ‘Nulysses’, inspired by James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ and published in issue 2 of Banner.  * At least that, if no more… green shadows multiply in murmuring surge across polluted sandflats toaaa

Above: a screenshot from ‘Industry Giant II’ Ben Baruch sets out his interest in certain inaccessible video games, like Industry Giant II – and explains why he can’t get back to these titles without regressing to a former self.  *aaa

A ballad to data, of sorts. Read Zak Klein‘s poem on assigning shifts to contractors during the London 2012 Olympics. * Precious applicant #014352, turn up your shadowed chin, and weary gaze, from this infinite jigsaw of whiteness. You are soaaa