(Photo: Sergio Aragones)
Free Comic Book Day is upon us! We have everything here you might need to get ready for holiday, including a list of all the free comics, our top picks for the day, and how to find your own local comic book store. While the event may seem self-explanatory, it’s still worth asking: What exactly is Free Comic Book Day?
The History
The very first Free Comic Book Day occurred in 2002. Its creation was first discussed by shop owner and comics columnist Joe Field who proposed it as a way to generate new readers and interest in the comics medium. The initial event was tied to the release of Spider-Man, building on the popularity of superhero films and free publicity from the launch of a new one. Together the increased interest from movies and the event helped to offer stores new customers and an improved recovery following the speculator bubble of the 1990s.
Since its debut the event has continued to grow and change, but the core elements have remained the same. Participating stores give away pre-selected copies of comics, most often printed specifically for the occasion, to all attendees. While rules vary from store to store, often including a limit or purchase requirement, the giveaway element has remained at the center of the day.
FCBD Today
Free Comic Book Day has grown almost every year since its inception. Today the event occurs in more than 2000 stores across more than 30 countries. This growth is reflected in regular expansion of participating venues and the number of issues ordered specifically for the day. While the Free Comic Book Day website has continued to advertise specific films, the day of the event is no longer tied to a theatrical release. This year’s event for example falls right after the release of Avengers: Infinity War, but is also being used to promote the upcoming release of Venom.
Instead, Free Comic Book Day has been dated to the first Saturday in the month of May. The timing generally offers good weather, as well as families looking for activities to start their summer fun. As a result the event itself has morphed and grown at individual stores to include a wide variety of activities and traditions beyond the core of Free Comic Book Day.
Endless Variety
Every local comic book store approaches Free Comic Book Day a little bit differently. Some have even transformed the event into a mini-convention, offering tables for local artists to sell their work and invite creators to sign their own issues. Legend Comics & Coffee has used the holiday as an opportunity to raise funds for Make-A-Wish, and many other great stores have created similar opportunities to promote good causes. Whether it’s a special guest appearance, carnival games, or something else altogether, each Free Comic Book Day celebration provides something that makes it unique.
That variety highlights what really makes Free Comic Book Day special: the local comic book stores, themselves. It’s the people who run these shops and the communities they’ve built that allow this special, pop up affair to occur and bring so many smiles to faces. While the free comics are a big attraction, it’s the quality of the people as well as the content that ensures new readers keep coming back for more. Free Comic Book Day is a holiday for interesting new readers and sharing comics, but it’s also a celebration of small business and the wonderful, geeky communities that surround local comic book stores.
Did you know that the first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day? Since 2002, comic book retailers have invited new fans and veteran readers into their stores to enjoy specially made free comics. Joe Field came up with the idea of FCBD in 2001, and Image Comics publisher Jim Valentino suggested that it be timed for a weekend with a major comic book movie opening at the box office. It hasn’t always worked out that way, and the early release of Avengers: Infinity War kept it from directly lining up with FCBD this year.
Nevertheless, FCBD 2018 is happening tomorrow, Saturday, May 5, although some stores will offer the free titles through the entire weekend and beyond. If you’re new to comics, the official Free Comic Book Day site has the details on every participating location, as well as a store locator. But there are a few things to keep in mind. Just because the comics are free doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to get every title you want. The retailers are paying for every comic, and they probably won’t be handing out every single title to individual customers. Usually, the stores set a limit on how many copies a fan can take.
This is primarily an initiative to win over new readers, that’s why most of the FCBD titles are essentially extended previews of comics coming later this year. It’s also designed to drive business to local stores, so please be sure to buy something, unless you want everything to turn into Amazon. Even the strongest stores can’t survive without a sustained customer base. In Los Angeles, we recently lost Meltdown Comics, one of our favorite stores in the country. We don’t want to lose any more!
There are 52 titles available as FCBD editions this year, and it’s in your best interest to figure out which ones you want ahead of time. The FCBD site has the complete details for each and every one of those comics, but we’re going to share a brief list of some of the titles that caught our attention this year.
Amazing Spider-Man FCBD 2018
For the first time in over a decade, Amazing Spider-Man has a new writer. Nick Spencer is taking over from Dan Slott, and he’s joined incoming Spidey artist Ryan Ottley for a preview tale that will lay the groundwork for the new era in Peter Parker’s life. The issue also features a primer on the Infinity Countdown event currently unfolding in the Marvel Universe.
Avengers/Captain America FCBD 2018
The Avengers and Captain America are sharing a FCBD special of their own, as both books are getting relaunched for Marvel’s Fresh Start initiative. This issue features an Avengers story by writers Jason Aaron and artist Sara Pichelli, as well as a Cap adventure by Ta-Nehesi Coates and Leinil Francis Yu.
Doctor Who FCBD 2018
Who’s your favorite modern Doctor? Aside from the Ninth Doctor, they’re all here in Titan’s Doctor Who FCBD special. The Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors are getting the spotlight in their own tales, and the Thirteenth Doctor will be getting a very short story as well.
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Special: Shattered Grid FCBD 2018
The Power Rangers have been revitalized by their ongoing comics at Boom! Studios. The Shattered Grid storyline is tied into this one-shot, as Lord Drakkon continues his assault on the Power Rangers from every era. Drakkon has already killed a member of the original team, and more Rangers may fall in this issue as well.
Overwatch/Black Hammer FCBD 2018
Dark Horse is offering a sampler for two of its most prominent properties: Overwatch and Black Hammer. The Overwatch story will expand upon Blizzard’s hit game by exploring Zarya’s perspective as she goes on a daring mission. The Black Hammer story will expand upon a world where most of the superheroes have been exiled from their city. Now, the heroes are forced to come to grips with their new lives, which they can’t escape from.
Transformers: Unicron #0 FCBD 2018
This is the beginning of the end for IDW’s Transformers universe, and there’s no better way to go out than by going with the biggest villain of them all: Unicron! The rest of Hasbro’s characters haven’t been forgotten, as Unicron’s first target is Rom’s homeworld. Once Unicron has made a meal out of that planet, he’s coming for Cybertron and probably Earth as well.
There is also no guarantee that every store will have all of the titles or even the ones you want. So make sure to come out early on May 5th!
We all love a freebie, and if you’re a comic book fan you’re in luck today.
It’s Free Comic Book Day worldwide, so fans can get their hands on some of the best titles in the industry without spending a penny.
The first ever incarnation of the event was in 2002, and it’s grown in strength each year.
There are some great titles available this year, from Tank Girl, to Bob’s Burgers, to Spongebob Squarepants. Some stores will have special FCBD merchandise available. Find out more about exclusives here.
It’s not uncommon for people to get into the spirit with a bit of cos-playing too, so if you’ve been dying to get a certain costume out of the closet, now’s the time (despite the heat).
Put on some pants and step into the sunlight: it’s Free Comic Book Day! The annual event is a celebration of small businesses that encourages you to think intergalactic and shop local. Remember, while the comics may be free for us, vendors actually have to pay to stock them, so throw them some support if you’re able. We’ve already talked about how excited we are for DC Super Hero Girls free chapter release for Date with Disaster. With a record 52 issues available for free today, here are the rest of our top picks for FCBD 2018:
Avengers and Captain America, Marvel Comics
Earth’s mightiest heroes are back in a new story from Jason Aaron with art by Sara Pichelli. The issue also contains a Captain America story, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates with art by Leinil Francis Yu. This is not one to miss.
Barrier, Image Comics
After debuting on PanelSyndicate.com, this epic five-part miniseries finally comes to print thanks to Image Comics. Brian K. Vaughan, Marco Martin, and Muntsa Vicente’s critically acclaimed scifi story about immigration is not to be missed. The extended 53-page first issue will be available to mature readers for free on Free Comic Book Day, with the next four issues being released weekly throughout the rest of May.
A Brief History of Tank Girl, Titan Comics
Your favorite tank-driving irreverent outlaw is back in this new issue that delves into Tank Girl’s past. Written by series co-creator Alan Martin, with artwork by fan-favorite series artist Brett Parson, this issue features a classic Jamie Hewlett cover.
Comics Friends Forever, First Second Books
Whether there’s a special young’n in your life or you’re just young at heart, you won’t want to miss this anthology release that celebrates kids comics, girl power, and the amazing work of creators Vera Brosgol, Hope Larson, Charise Mericle Harper, Ben Hatke, and Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham.
Overwatch & Black Hammer, Dark Horse Comics
Calling all Zarya fangirls: this issue from Andrew Robinson, Joelle Sellner, Jeff Lemire, with art by Wilfredo Torres and Kate Niemczyk, features our favorite kickass agent teaming up with an omnic hacker to track down a threat. The story is paired with a Black Hammer piece, which features teenage superheroes trying to solve the riddle of what happened to those last great heroes of the twentieth century.
Doctor Who #0, Titan Comics
This Whovian anthology collection features stories with the Seventh, Tenth, and Eleventh Doctors, written by Nick Abadzis, John Freeman, George Mann, Jody Houser with art by Giorgia Sposito, Arianna Florean, Christopher Jones, Mariano Laclaustra, and Rachael Stott. But what we’re really excited about is the first appearance in Titan Comics by the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) written and drawn by her new creative team.
Adventure Time Fionna and Cake Special, Boom! Studios
With the series finale of the instant classic Cartoon Network looming on the horizon, take one last trip back to the Land of Ooo with this genderbent story written by Grace Kraft with art by Christine Larsen and Ayme Sotuyo.
For a list of all the FCBD 2018 releases, click here. Tell us about your favorite local comic book shop in the comments, or find your new fave here.
(via iO9, image: Angela Papuga/Getty Images)
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