The first Saturday in May is coming, and you know what that means? Of course you do, because you’re reading this article. It’s Free Comic Book Day! Free Comic Book Day is an annual event founded on the belief that for every person out there, there’s a comic book they’ll love. Every year, on the first Saturday in May, the industry comes together to give away free comics and encourage fans, both old and new, to flock to the best place in the comic book community: local comic shops. These are the hubs of our community, where fans can come together and discover new comics, make lifelong friends, and find a sense of commonality.
Major publishers such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, and Image Comics put out free comics for fans to enjoy at the more than 2,300 local comic shops that participate in Free Comic Book Day. The diverse range of titles available each year proves that there’s truly a book for everyone: from superheroes, to popular film and television shows, to beloved video games, and all-ages tales. Popular series available in the past include Pokemon, Doctor Who, SpongeBob, Riverdale, Overwatch and Star Wars. And, if you’re not sure where your local participating shop is, there’s this handy dandy tool that can help.
You might even get to see people dressed up as your favorite superheroes, or, even better, why not give the costume a go yourself? Pretty sure you’ll be surrounded by people who will think it’s awesome.
It’s an excellent yearly tradition that helps people find their local comic shops, can introduce people to new stories, gets kids reading, and supports local businesses. Well, it can and should support local businesses, but that requires that a good percentage of the people who attend actually purchase something in addition to their bag-o-free-loot.
