Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is the biggest event in the comic book industry — a single day when participating comic book specialty shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their shops. Founded on the belief that for every person out there, there’s a comic book they’ll love, this annual event offers a huge selection of free titles designed to appeal to a broad range of age levels and their tastes.
Every year, on the first Saturday in May, the industry comes together to give away free comics and encourage both curious, first-time comic book readers and seasoned comic book fans to flock to the best place in the comic book community: local comic shops. Each one is unique in its community, with a style and personality all its own, and each one carries a full line of comics, graphic novels, toys and related products. Local comic shops are the hubs of the comics community, where fans can come together to 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, along with a slew of independent publishers, 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.
The complete listing of all forty-four FCBD titles, including thirteen Gold Sponsor and thirty-one Silver Sponsor comic books, can be found on the website: https://www.freecomicbookday.com/
In addition to passing out free comics on the first Saturday in May, many comic shops also host community events such as costume contests, creator signings, drawings by guest artists, raffles and prizes, photos with costumed characters, and other fun community activities throughout the day. Every comic shop celebrates FCBD in their own unique way, giving fans a great opportunity to engage with their local comic shop and thriving community of pop culture enthusiasts.
Use the Official FCBD Store Locator on the website to find a list of participating shops close to you. Simply input your zip code and hit enter, and the Locator will generate a list of comic shops near you that are participating. Then, all you need to do is a pick a shop from that list and show up there on the first Saturday in May to get your free comic books. I personally like the Great Escape stores on Charlotte and in Madison.
2000 AD PRESENTS THE BEST COMIC EVER, one of the Silver titles, is a special collection of All Ages stories from the wildest comic in the universe: 2000 AD Regened. Featuring fan-favorite characters like Pandora Perfect, and starting points for new stories like Full Tilt Boogie, this issue is the perfect introduction to the incredible world of comics for rookie readers, or gateway to a whole new array of stories and characters for comic book readers looking for their next reading adventure.
