Five things to do on Free Comic Book Day
Word Balloons #1161: Celebrate sequential art at your local comic-book store
Free Comic Book Day 2023 is this Saturday, the first Saturday in May, and it’s always one of the biggest and most exciting comic-book retail days of the year. If you’re planning a Free Comic Book Day excursion to one or multiple stores, here are five things to consider adding to your experience.
Try something new
Hey, it’s free so why not get out of your comfort zone? Sample something from a new publisher, try something from an author you’ve heard good things about, or take a look at some art that catches your eye. It’s free, so there’s pretty much nothing to lose, and you might have a new favorite!
Grab something for a kid
You know, kids, those little folks that can’t drive and don’t get to make a lot of their own decisions yet, tend to love comics when they can get their hands on them. But sometimes they can’t! So take a look at the all-ages fare, grab something that looks neat, and share it with a young person you know.
Go see “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
It looks like it’s going to be a fun movie, and (possible mild spoiler even though I haven’t seen the movie yet) as a longtime fan of the comic-book character Adam Warlock, I’m excited to see him make his way to the silver screen!
Try out “Shazam!”
It’s not free, but it’s worth the money! Most shops will likely have copies of this week’s “Shazam!” #1. The creative team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora have been conjuring magic on “World’s Finest,” and here bring their skills to the World’s Mightiest Mortal. There are space dinosaurs, talking tigers and heroic rescues, along with a twist ending that will have you anxiously awaiting the next issue. Stunning art from Dan Mora draws the reader into the fast-paced adventure.
Thank a comic-shop employee
Most stores that participate in Free Comic Book Day put in a lot of extra effort to share comics for free with people because the owners, managers, and employees of these stores tend to love the medium. So, feel free to say “thanks”! Your local comic vendor will no doubt appreciate it.
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.