The first Saturday of May is Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) each year. Many participating comic book specialty shops throughout North America give free comics to visitors at their shops on that day, though policies differ from store to store. Learn more about Free Comic Book Day 2019 below, including some of the books being given away for free this year.
What is the Appeal of Comic Books?
In the 1930s, comic books were created in the U.S. They have become an original American art form, and comic books are popular throughout the world. There are genres of comic books that are of interest to a wide range of people. The following are a few of the many comic book genres:
- Superhero comic books are among most celebrated of the comic book genres. Marvel Comics Presents tells of Wolverine, Captain America, and many more heroic icons. There are many more!
- “Manga” is a term used outside of Japan for Asian style comics and graphic novels. Manga comics are published originally in Japan, and it’s necessary for them to be translated into English. There are many different story lines in manga comics, and the fan-following is huge for all of them. There’s even a series called Silver Spoon that entertains and teaches children.
- Science-Fiction/Fantasy is a popular genre. Some recent top picks for Sci-Fi/Fantasy comic books include Upgrade Soul, Coda, Saga, Koschei the Deathless, and Crowded.
How Does Free Comic Book Day Work?
Find a participating comic book specialty shop near where you live. There is a FCBD Shop Locator here. All you need to do is go inside, though in some shops, you have to have a child with you to get free comics. Otherwise, the free comics may be with purchase. You can sometimes help yourself to more than one comic book. It depends on how many comics the shop has, how many visitors there have been that day, and what the policies are for that shop.
A List of Freebies on Free Comic Book Day 2019
This year one of the most popular free comic books is sure to be Star Wars Adventures Droid Hunters, which features Chewbacca, Han Solo, and a lot of villains on the cover. So that the 4th can be with you, National Star Wars Day is every May 4th. In 2019, it falls on the same day as annual Free Comic Book Day.
Some of the other comic books to be given on FCBD follow:
- Spawn #1, which provides the opportunity to relive a historical comic book launch. The series has been one of the most successful ever…as in EVER!
- A Sheets Story, which is an all new original about 7th-grader Marjorie’s ghost friend who roams among humans as a sheet.
- Spider-Man, starring Peter Parker saving the world. The book also features a terrifying original Venom story.
- Gillbert is a comic book about young Prince Gillbert of Atlanticus, an underwater world.
- Lucy & Andy Neanderthal, a fun comic with animal hijinks, pranks, jokes, and much more. Suitable for all ages.
- Funny Pages is a selection that puts the “funny” back in the funny pages.
- Street Fighter Sakura vs Karin features martial arts, and fan-favorite femmes battle it out. Recommended for teens.
- Disney Descendants Dizzy New Fortune is a manga-style graphic novel for all ages. This is the first chapter of a Disney Descendants series.
Happy Free Comic Book Day!
The whole idea behind FCBD is to generate excitement about comics, of course! Don’t miss out on the fun of Free Comic Book Day. Since it’s also National Star Wars Day, wear your favorite Star Wars t-shirt when you visit the local comic book specialty shop.
