Every first weekend of May, comic book shops across the world celebrate Free Comic Book Day.
While it is not free for the shop (so make sure to purchase a few comics to support local business), each customer can choose from comic books printed specially for this day that helps promote the great medium that we all love so much! In some cases sweets or baked goods are also offered! It is a fun time each year and I try to visit at least two shops each year to see what they have on display.
Don’t know where there is a comic book shop near you? Check out for ComicShopLocator!
Here are a few of this year’s Free Comics!
Doctor Solar/Magnus Robot Fighter
Creative Team: (W) Jim Shooter (A) Dennis Calero, Various (C) Raymond Swanland. Publisher: DARK HORSE COMICS. The dawn of a new age of superhero excitement begins on Free Comic Book Day as Dark Horse Comics proudly presents the return of two of the most legendary characters in the annals of comics: Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom and Magnus, Robot Fighter — re-imagined for the 21st century by comics legend, writer Jim Shooter! This FCBD extravaganza offers all-new Solar and Magnus stories, each heralding new series launches in summer 2010, and featuring interior art by fan-favorite Dennis Calero (X-Men Noir) and cover art by Raymond Swanland!
Iron Man/Thor
Creative Team: (W) Matt Fraction (A/C) John Romita, Jr. Publisher: MARVEL COMICS. The perfect jumping-on point for any and all readers…and it’s FREE! When rogue mega-billionaires with world-destroying technology threaten the safety of the entire world…and the moon…Thor and Iron Man join forces! In time for the exciting launch of new stories and a bold new direction for Invincible Iron Man and Thor, superstars Matt Fraction and John Romita Jr. team up to bring you two of Marvel’s heaviest hitters like you’ve never seen them before! A major new direction for the Marvel Universe kicks off HERE – on Free Comic Book Day!
Mouse Guard
Creative Team: (W/A) David Petersen, TBD. Publisher: Archaia Entertainment. Archaia is proud to present two amazing all-new stories in one fantastic flip-book! In the spring of 1153 the Mouse Guard deal with the onset of the spring thaw and the havoc it wreaks on their territories. Meanwhile, it’s time to dance your cares away as Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober and Red return for a brand-new series of hilarious and heartfelt Fraggle Rock adventures written and drawn by some of the most imaginative creators in comics!
YOW! The John Stanley Library
Creative Team: (W/A) John Stanley. Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly. D+Q delivers another wholly original and boisterous FCBD issue that will entertain readers of all ages! YOW! The John Stanley Library spotlights the world’s greatest all-ages cartoonist, John Stanley, in a beautiful package designed by Seth. YOW! features new stories from the John Stanley Library: Melvin Monster, Nancy and 13 Going On 18, plus a story from the legendary one-shot Choo Choo Charlie and a Tubby story!
War Machine Heroclix
Publisher: WIZKIDS/NECA. When Iron Man needs backup, he calls upon War Machine! War Machine is slated to be a major part of the May 2010 Iron Man 2 movie, and to capitalize on this, WizKids will be modifying the popular War Machine sculpt from the Marvel HeroClix: Armor Wars series as 2010′s Free Comic Book Day figure. This exclusive figure comes with an all-new dial and character card.
Atomic Robo
Creative Team: (W) Brian Clevinger, Various (A) Scott Wegener, Various. Publisher: RED 5 COMICS. Eisner Award-nominated Atomic Robo knows that the rain forests of South America hide many secrets…but none so deadly as “The Terror Bird”! Forgotten by time, these prehistoric apex predators are primed to devastate the modern world! (The word ‘terror’ is right there in its name!) Plus! Previews of 2010 adventures of Red 5 favorites and some new faces!
The Tick
Creative Team: (W/A) Ben Edlund. Publisher: NEC PRESS. In honor of this year’s Free Comic Book Day, and to commemorate the first appearance of The Tick 24 years ago, NEC Press offers this special re-presentation of Ben Edlund’s legendary first issue of The Tick, in a special Free Comic Book Day special edition! The complete original first comic book appearance of The Tick, as it originally hit the stands in 1986!
Iron Man/Nova
Creative Team: (W) Paul Tobin (A) Craig Rousseau (C) Ed McGuinness. Publisher: MARVEL COMICS. What happens when an armored billionaire teams up with a hot-headed, cosmic-powered teen to fight a trio of massively-powered super-apes? Find out when Iron Man and Nova take on Red Ghost and The Super-Apes! Out-numbered, the Golden Avenger and the Human Rocket will have to trust an apparent traitor in the gorillas’ midst if they are to survive and save an entire city. Will they succeed or are they being played? Find out in this all-new, action-packed adventure, which happens to be FREE!
War of the Supermen
Creative Team: (W) James Robinson (A) Eddy Barrows, Ruy JosT (C) J.G. Jones. Publisher: DC COMICS. A war is coming, and all that stands between Earth and 100,000 vengeful supermen is one Superman! The conflict between Superman and General Zod erupts into all-out war this summer in a series that will shatter the worlds of Superman, Supergirl and the entire DC Universe — all brought to you by the hit creative team of James Robinson and Eddy Barrows! This special #0 issue featuring all-new material previews the conflicts to come while spotlighting a savage strike on Metropolis and the world — an attack that will shake Superman to his very core. After this, there’s no turning back — the War of the Supermen is here!
Irredeemable
Creative Team: (W) Mark Waid (A) Peter Krause (C) John Cassaday. Publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS. Last year’s comic book industry event is this year’s best way to get more readers hooked on Mark Waid’s best-selling original title, Irredeemable, the series that dared to ask the question: what if the world’s greatest hero decided to become the world’s greatest villain? And 12 issues later, that question has been answered with a best-selling comic series, two best-selling trade collections and Incorruptible, the companion series.
Del Rey Showcase
Creative Team: (W/A) Various. Publisher: DEL REY COMICS. Featuring previews of Del Rey’s upcoming comics and graphic novels including: The Last Airbender by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, and Nina Matsumoto; The Talisman: A Collision of Worlds by Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Tony Shasteen; Odd is On Our Side by Dean Koontz, Fred Van Lente, and Queenie Chan; Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies: The Graphic Novel by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith, Tony Lee, and Cliff Richards.
Classic Comic Strip Action & Adventure
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING. Presenting excerpts from the greatest comic strips of all time – from action/adventure to high drama, to fall-on-the-floor hilarious! IDW and the Library of American Comics present 32 pages of previews from upcoming volumes including Archie by Bob Montana, Secret Agent Corrigan by Al Williamson, Blondie by Chic Young, The Complete Bloom County Library by Berkeley Breathed, Rip Kirby by Alex Raymond, Polly and Her Pals by Chris Sterrett, Dick Tracy by Chester Gould, and Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.
Weathercraft
Creative Team: (W/A) Jim Woodring. Publisher: FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS. Are you ready? Because your life is about to change! Perception as you know it will cease! Fantagraphics proudly presents Jim Woodring’s Weathercraft! Every other free comic book will pale in comparison to our powerful and supernatural print-barge for both the enlightened and perplexed masses. Marvel at the toothy preview of Jim Woodring’s first original graphic novel, do your detective work with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, and gasp at rare out-of-print images, comics and transmissions, all from Jimland! Beware! Manhog lurks near…
