Free Comic Book Day is back this weekend, offering a slew of free comics for nerds young and old. This year the annual event falls on May 4, which is also a significant day for Star Wars fans. And yes, there will be a couple of free Star Wars comics.
Taking place this Saturday, Free Comic Book Day is an annual event during which comic book shops give free comics to anyone who requests them. However, this doesn’t mean you can just wander around picking whatever you fancy off the shelves without paying.
Here’s how to make the most out of your Free Comic Book Day, as well as all the free comics on offer.
How does Free Comic Book Day work?
Credit: Free Comic Book Day
As glorious and chaotic as a free-for-all comic book Supermarket Sweep would be, that isn’t how Free Comic Book Day works. There’s actually a set list of comics that participating comic book stores will give to visitors free of charge. These comics are printed specifically for Free Comic Book Day, and contain a mix of original stories, reprints of previously published stories, and previews of upcoming releases.
Fortunately, you’re unlikely to get confused and accidentally abscond with a non-free comic. Free Comic Book Day comics are typically distributed by a staff member upon request, and are easily identifiable by the Free Comic Book Day logo on their covers. These logos also indicate the comic’s age rating: Green is suitable for all ages, blue is for teens or up, and red is for mature audiences only.
Most of the free comics are categorised as either Gold Comics or Silver Comics as well, typically depending on how popular those titles are expected to be.
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You won’t be able to grab all of the comics on offer, though. Though the exact number of free comics you can pick up will depend on your comic book shop’s individual policy, it’s likely that you’ll be restricted to just a few. There may also be further restrictions according to the comics’ categorisation — you might be allowed two Silver comics and one Gold, for example.
Such restrictions are put in place so that comic shops aren’t wiped out by early birds, and everyone gets the chance to grab some loot. Still, it’s a good idea to show up early if you have your heart set on a specific comic.
Where is my nearest comic book store?
Fortunately, it’s incredibly easy to find comic book stores near you. The Free Comic Book Day website features a handy store locator to help — just enter your zip code to get a list of shops in your area. The website also indicates which comic shops are participating in the event, as well as whether they have special events on.
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Even in the unlikely event that none of the free comics appeal to you, it may still be worth making a trip to your local store. Many comic shops offer other freebies or discounts on Free Comic Book Day as well.
What are the comic books available on Free Comic Book Day 2024?
There are almost 50 free comics available this Free Comic Book Day, so it’s a good idea to work through your choice paralysis before the big event.
Gold Comics
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All Ages
Teen (or Teen+)
Silver Comics
Credit: Mashable composite: Boom Entertainment; Gemstone Publishing; Udon Entertainment; Graphix.
All Ages
Teen (or Teen+)
Mature
DC Comics
DC Comics’ Free Comic Book Day offerings aren’t divided into Gold and Silver categories, but that doesn’t mean the publisher won’t be participating in the event. In fact, DC is using the opportunity to launch a prelude to Absolute Power, “the biggest DC comic book event of 2024.”
All Ages
Teen (or Teen+)