Free Comic Book Day: Top Stories previewed

Free Comic Book Day has come and gone and the large pile of free comic books has been following me around room-to-room as I read them.  Also in that pile are some comics and a graphic novel I purchased at my Local Comic Shop (LCS) that day.  Most of the Free Comic Book Day books are previews to series or storylines that are upcoming, while some offer a side story glimpse of a current run.  This is a look at my post before FCBD where you will find books that I was looking forward to reading.  Interestingly, two of the three books below were on my pre-FCBD list.  

Here are three books that preview some really fun and cool-looking stories: 

"Target: Peter Parker" and "Forgotten Mavels:" 

Target: Peter Parker has Peter and his date attacked by pizza parlor animatronic band animals.  When
Spider-Man shows up, he discovers that the animals are trying to warn him that, "you are his target."  The animatronic animal is shut down by Norman Osborne.  Norman concludes this little preview of things to come by saying on the last panel, "...it looks like we got here just in time."   In the Forgotten Marvels, we have Captain America, Iron Man, and Doctor Doom working together!  They infiltrate an archive of oddities when they are attached by H.A.N.D agents.  In the battle, Cap apparently finds their target, lights a Molotov cocktail, and throws it to a standing burned-out corpse.  When it explodes into flame, the corpse comes to life as the Human Torch.  Say what??  I'm sold.  

Archie Horror Presents The Cursed Library Prelude: 

Jinx Holliday, the daughter of Satan, is telling horror stories from the library in which she sits to a tied-up mummy of some sort.  There are some familiar faces, kind of, like Betty Cooper, Archie Andrews,
Jughead Jones and Veronica Lodge.  It's creepy, but it looks like a ton of fun.  

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone:  

Writer Jim Zub brings his A-game to writing what can be a complex character with tons of history.  This preview introduces the idea of a Conan story to fit into a "universe" with many of, the original creator, Robert E. Howard's other famous characters like Solomon Kane, James Allison, and Dark Agnes.  There is a description of this universe called the Howardverse at the back of the book.  But, the action revolves around Conan battling invaders.  When he topples a massive foe, he discovers a signet stone around the neck of the adversary which rips open memories he had buried deep.  It seems Conan has discovered the Black Stone which will link him to many of Howard's other characters.  Stay tuned and hold on, this seems to be quite a ride.
  

Free Comic Book Day 2024: What to Expect

The annual "holiday" Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday, May 4!  It is that day when we are invited to our Local Comic Shop (LCS) to peruse a sizeable collection of Free Comic Books.  It is a fun day where many LCS's will host fun events and activities to celebrate the day.  Be sure to check with your LCS.  

Before we get to the fun stuff, I just want to remind you to thank your local owner for hosting this fun event and consider making a purchase when you are there to support their efforts.  These LCS owners took a risk on your community to support them, and most LCS's create a positive community of commonality with books, stories, and support.  Be sure to support them!  

Now, what to expect from the 2024 Free Comic Book Day!!  

Let's start with a universe you don't want to miss, Energon Universe.  This is a universe that includes G.I. Joe, the Transformers, and Void Rivals.  The art is excellent but might be rivaled by the writing of these books.  Be warned, if you grab this book on FCBD, you will want to add it to your pull list at your LCS. 

A free Marvel Book by Zeb Wells, yes please.  A free Marvel Ultimate Spiderman book, oh yeah!  A Free Comic Book Day Marvel book with Spidey, Cap, Iron Man, the Goblin, and Doom on the cover, I'm running to my LCS on Saturday to grab this.  It is the return of the Goblin and the debut of a new powerful hero to the Ultimate universe.  

Archie Horrors presents The Cursed Library Prelude.  The Cursed Library returns to FCBD and this year previewing a summer of horror stories.  This is a fun series and if you haven't experienced Archie Horror stories, be sure to pick up this prelude book on FCBD on Saturday.  

Finally, the kids love them, adults love them, and I love them...they are the Investigators.  I said it last year and it is still true today, I have a reluctant reader at home, but the Investigators always get a look and garner some chuckles too.  Join Mango and Brash on their undercover investigation to save the middle school Mascot
.  

This is just a small look at the offerings on Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 4.  Be sure to dress in your best Star Wars costume or t-shirt as FCBD is also May the Fourth Be With You Day!  But, you will find familiar titles like Conan the Barbarian, Pokemon, Disney's Encanto, Jonny Quest, Doctor Who, Monster High, and Snoopy

For a full look at the Free Comic Book Day Catalog, check out this link.  

See you at Free Comic Book Day!  

Free Comic Book Day

A couple months ago in 2022, right as the holiday season was kicking off, an email slipped into my inbox and quietly slid down and out of sight.  The email was from the Free Comic Book Day organization.  They announced the full line-up of the Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) books!  

First, FCBD will happen on the traditional first Saturday of May which in 2023 is May 6.  It is a great kick-off to the summer season books that are about to hit the shelves and some titles are teased for a fall release.  Either way, it is always a ton of fun to swing by your local Comic Book store and pick up these free books (make a purchase too and support those shop owners!).  It is a tradition that on that day, I rush home and plop down with those books and devour them.  No one bothers me.  I think it was heard one year my wife saying to my children, "Don't bother your father, he is reading those comic books again."  

Anyway, you can check out the full announcement and updates to Free Comic Book day right here.  

Here are a few books that look like fun: 

Spider-Man and Venom?  Yes, please!  

Star Wars the High Republic  I am so interested in this High Republic era that I can't wait for each new story.  This book published by Dark Horse Comics is no different.  

Archie Horror Presents The Cursed Library  Okay, as a librarian, I might be obligated to read a comic that is set in a library, but tell me this cover doesn't just draw you in!  Plus, it is Archie!  

Investi Gators All Tide Up  This is a fun book and any comic book that grabs the attention of my daughter who loves silly things; that's a win!  

Red Sonja, So there is a Conan the Barbarian FCBD 2023 special by Titan Comics which I plan to pick up, but Red Sonja is my pick for adventure this May.  

Free Comic Book Day 2022!

Just before the end of 2021, the Free Comic Book Day committee announced that it will return to its traditional "First Saturday in May" date.  In 2022, that date is Saturday, May 7!  I am quite excited about this announcement.  This "holiday" reminds me of how much I enjoy the art and storytelling format of comics as I get to read through new stories or comics that I have never experienced before.  Another reason I enjoy Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is for the family memories that are attached.  

I remember taking my two girls (much younger then) to our local comic book store, Zeek's Comics and Games, on FCBD.  My girls have never had much interest in comic books and that's cool, they are who they are.  But on FCBD they always want to go with me as they seem to really enjoy browsing through the new/free books.  Sometimes I think they enjoy it because the covers look different than the new comic book wall they normally see on a weekly basis.  There are books they don't normally see there such as My Little Pony, Archie, Marvel Rising, Diana Princess of the Amazons, or The Descendants.  

I like stepping back and watching them browse through the books trying to decide which three or four they would like to take home.  I get to watch them discuss the pictures and the art.  These are conversations I don't often witness when they are out and about.  Once they have made their picks, they always want to see what I chose, because they know I won't have my typical stack of Star Wars or Spider-man books.  They know that I cherish this day to take a look at new stuff.  When we reach the car, the ride home is always quiet as they are flipping through the pages of the books they grabbed.  I seriously cherish this, because as they get older, that time together, the time for conversation and stopping to just watch them gets shorter and shorter.  Not long ago, I was helping my youngest daughter straighten up her room and I came across a stash of FCBD books.  I asked her if she wanted me to put them away.  She told me, "no," she likes to look through them every now and then.  Even though my daughters aren't necessarily fans of comic books, I hope other kids get to attend FCBD.  Maybe their mom or dad will find the joy in watching them flip through the pages and choose which books they would like to take.  I hope that the accessibility of the free books triggers a spark in some of the children that makes them ask to return to get more to create that love of the story told through word and art.  

Needless to say, I am excited for the return of Free Comic Book Day.  The FCBD committee announced that there are 46 comic book titles that will highlight the day.  Here are a few of the titles that are sure to bring some excitement to children and adults alike.  Here is the link to the full list:  

How about the 25th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer by BOOM! studios?  Can it be 25 years?  This could be a good conversation starter for kids and their parents who loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Also by BOOM! studios is a really cool book called Hollow that is set in...yes..Sleepy Hollow, so I bet you can guess who the antagonist is.  This may end up on my pull list in 2022!

Red Sonja by Dynamite Entertainment

Check out this classic Red Sonja cover!!  It is as stunning as the main character of this book; it is sure to be a hit, so swears Red Sonja!

Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova Yen Press

So many of my students enjoy Chmakova's other books, Awkward, Brave, and Crush, that just seeing the cover of Enemies makes me want to dive into this story.  I have a feeling I know two girls who will walk away with their own copies of the Enemies preview.  

Of course, just like in any year, the big publishers like DC, Marvel, and IGN will have titles on FCBD.  So mark your calendars and be sure to make a trip to your local comic shop in May. 

Want more information and a video with all the scheduled Free Comic Book Day books?  Check out the video: 

Free Comic Book Day Marvel update

Marvel recently released their Free Comic Book Day covers.  That's right, Marvel will have two titles available on Free Comic Book Day. Marvel is bringing the muscle on these covers, literally, check them out! One story features the Avengers and the Hulk and on the other The Amazing Spider-man and Venom.  

According to the Free Comic Book Day website, Marvel is bringing top talent for these one-shot stories that comic fans can get for free as Jason Aaron and Chip Zdarsky are crafting these stories.  Marvel Stormbreaker Iban Coello and Greg Smallwood are doing the art for these issues. 

Free Comic Book Day is on August 14 this year, so mark your calendar for these fantastic Marvel books in addition to 48 other titles that will be available.  Check out what I am looking forward in this previous post.  

Let me know what you are looking forward to or share some Free Comic Day memories of events you have attended or FCBD books you have collected in the past.  Leave the comment here or tag me on Twitter  @draftline 

Free Comic Book Day

Usually, the first Saturday in May is a day that we can go to the local comic shop and pick up a whole bunch of new comics for free!  The first Saturday in May is generally Free Comic Book Day where we, as readers, get to take home some really cool, new comic book previews, and comic book publishers get to highlight some of their titles that are coming out.  

The pandemic has changed so much of our lives including pushing back Free Comic Book Day.  This year FCD has been moved to August 14.  While that is a real bummer, it appears to be worth the wait.  It is the 20th anniversary of Free Comic Book Day and they have 50 free comic books to offer that day.  For a full list of the free comics to be offered that day, check out the Free Comic Book Day website right here.  

Otherwise, here are some books in which I'm really looking forward to reading: 

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures by IDW

Star Wars: The High Republic The Edge of Balance/Guardian of the Whills by VIZ Media

Investi Gators: Ants in Our Pants Sneak Peak! by First Second Books

 

Lady Mechanika by Image Comics

Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics 2021 by Gemstone Media

It's a bit of a wait, but the positive here is that Free Comic Book Day is still happening.  It is a great day to read some fun stuff, discover new characters, new writers and new artistst.  It is always a good day around here.  I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends at the Local Comic Shop on August 14!