Free Comic Book Day is back for another year! Happening on its traditional day of the first Saturday of May, this year being the 4th of May, it’s one of the biggest days on the comic book community’s calendar. It’s a fantastic opportunity to come together – whether you’ve been reading comics for years or are brand new to them – and celebrate the medium. Oh, and there are free comics too.
Is your first Free Comic Book Day? Then you’re in for a good time. Yes, it’s about giving away free comics, but you’ll soon find out it’s so much more than that. Read on to find out how the day is celebrated and how to find a Free Comic Book Day event near you.
Since 2002, Free Comic Book Day’s mission has been to introduce the general public to the marvellous medium of comics by enticing regular, lapsed, and potential readers into comic book shops with free comic books. While they’re a carrot to get people through the door, they also act as an entryway into comics in general, where many people sample the medium for the first time and experience the unique culture that comic book shops cultivate.
Many comic book shops mark the occasion by turning Free Comic Book Day into a big event. They host parties, offer generous discounts, host creator signings and artist sketches, stage cosplay competitions, and other wonderful activities. With this year’s Free Comic Book Day falling on 4th of May, it’s possible that some store might opt for a Star Wars theme. These events are a lot of fun, and it’s fantastic to witness people of all ages enjoying the festivities.
In previous years, I’ve noticed that the store listings can be sparse or outdated when detailing the activities. Here are a few methods to find out what’s going on:
- Check out the shop’s website. It’s also a good way of confirming the address, opening hours, parking, covid-safety practices, and public transport information.
- Check out their Facebook page. Most shops have one and probably have an event page you can RSVP to. It’s a great way to keep up with information and any last-minute changes.
- Call the shop during business hours leading up to Free Comic Book Day. Keep in mind: they’ll be busy on Saturday and might not have the ability to answer the phone.
While it’s called “Free Comic Book Day”, not every comic in the shop is free. (That’s a great way to go out of business!) Each year, there is a selection of special comics from participating publishers. Each year includes a different offering, which features reprints, previews of upcoming comics/graphic novels, and original stories.
This year has a selection of more than 45 comics to choose from. Some include:
- Marvel’s Blood Hunt (the publisher’s latest comic book event) and a preview of X-Men: From the Ashes
- Energon Universe (Transformers/G.I. Joe)
- Disney’s Encanto/Turning Red
- Pokémon
- Hellboy/Stranger Things
- Jonny Quest
- Unicorn Crush
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Conan the Barbarian
- Asterix
- Katie the Catsitter/Max Meow
- Doctor Who
- Snoopy
- One Piece
- Flash Gordon
- Star Wars
- Monster High
Discover all of the titles here. The Free Comic Book Day also offers short previews of some comics. This can help you decide which one you want or if they’re appropriate for a kid.
One thing you might notice browsing the offering of free comics is a lack of DC Comics. This is because Diamond Comic Distributors facilitates Free Comic Book Day, which doesn’t have an agreement with DC Comics. However, DC will have multiple free comics available on the day.
It’s also worth noting that the titles have age ratings. According to the website, the Free Comic Book Day logos on the cover are colour-coded for different age groups.
- Green is All-Ages. These comics are appropriate for kids.
- Blue is Teen(+). These comics are for ages 13 and older.
- Red is Mature. These comics are for adults.
Most stores will stock every title, or at least most of them. However, it’s often in varying quantities. Additionally, the first-come, first-serve aspect of the day can mean that some titles may not be available if you arrive in the afternoon. So more customers can enjoy free comics, many stores limit how many you can get. While each store differs, many will allow you to choose additional free comics beyond the limit if you purchase something in-store.
Another thing to be aware of is that the comics are free for customers but cost the shop money to order them. So make sure you give them a big “thank you” and maybe spend some money there if something catches your fancy.
Don’t stress if you can’t make it on the day. Some shops will offer free comics in their online stores. Additionally, publishers make the comics available for free digitally – either on the day or soon after.
Finally, the most important thing to remember about Free Comic Book Day is to have fun. Bring along family and friends and join in the festivities. Mingle with like-minded individuals and discover some fantastic new comics.
Will you be going to a Free Comic Book Day event?
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