Free Comic Book Day has been held the first Saturday in May since it was founded in 2002. Back then, it was dated to coincide with the opening of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. In all but two years since, Free Comic Book Day has had an associated Marvel film. Tie-in merchandise and comics are given away during Free Comic Book Day.
Free Comic Book Day is the perfect time to introduce your kids to the wonders of comic books. Every major publisher, and many minor ones, print special edition and one-shot books for the occasion. The books are sold at a reduced rate to comic book shops, where owners give out books to new and old customers alike. Many stores will also hold massive sales on Free Comic Book Day to encourage new customers to buy some new books and merchandise.
Every comic store will celebrate the day in different ways. Some stores may leave it at allowing customers to pick a single free book, while others will give away whole bags or stacks of books. The good news is all of the free comic books, even from more adult publishers like Valiant, will generally be appropriate for all ages; still, it can’t hurt to take a look through the freebies before passing them along to the kids.
Comic Book Store. Photo: Creative Stock – Dreamstime.com
Bigger comic book shops or shops with dedicated followings may even have a few surprises for attendees. The local shop near me usually hosts costume contests, meet-and-greet opportunities with comic writers and artists and even professional characters for the express purpose of letting kids get photos with their favorite heroes.
Make sure to plan for the crowds. Comic book shops are typically open all day, but on the biggest comic day of the year, there is a good chance the crowds will be strong all day long. Consider this if your children are not good in crowds and consider picking up some free books for them if that is the case.
If your kids love the recent superhero films from Marvel and DC, Free Comic Book Day is the perfect opportunity to introduce them to a new medium. To find your local shop and discover if they will be participating in Free Comic Book Day, check out this website.
Although Free Comic Book Day might have started as a marketing ploy to perk up the industry, it has grown into a full-fledged celebration of comic books, their characters and their fans. It is the perfect time to introduce kids to comics, especially if they love The Avengers or Shazam!
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