"Free comic bookery!" you may shout, nearly dropping your monocle in your Earl Grey. "Horse feathers! It simply cannot be done! Surely, you're proposing theft! Why, I have a mind to–"
But it is true, sir! True! On the first Saturday in May, fine comic retailers throughout the land provide a selection of free comic books for every clothed member of society! It's a wonderful opportunity for new and seasoned readers alike to gather together and find out what the Tick's been up to! All of the major publishers participate, and so too do publishers and creators you've never heard of. You won't find it on any office calendar, but FCBD is easily seven hundred times more entertaining than Arbor Day!
Every comic book shop is different, just as you and me and everyone we know are precious, precious snowflakes. So every retailer is going to have their own rules and procedures regarding this very special holiday. Don't be alarmed if there are people dressed up like Thor or Usagi Yojimbo in the parking lot, so long as it's the parking lot outside your shop and not Ruby Tuesday's, in which case RUN! Some retailers might have soft pretzels. Others might have a boom box outside playing the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World soundtrack or a GWAR record. Maybe a trampoline or bouncy castle (for real). Most importantly, different shops will have rules about how many free comics you will be allowed to walk away with. If you're after a bunch, you may even need to hit up multiple shops in your area. Don't think of this as a chore, but instead as an opportunity to storm multiple bouncy castles or score more pretzels.
Remember, only special FCBD comics and flipbooks are freely purloinable. This is not your chance to nick that Zatanna maquette or all the X-Statics back issues you can stuff into the trunk of your Subaru. Not for free anyway.
Here's a checklist of free FCBD issues to look out for:
- Captain America & Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers – Story by Roger Langridge, Art by Chris Samnee (MARVEL)
- The Amazing Spider-Man – Story by Dan Slott, Art by Humberto Ramos (MARVEL)
- Green Lantern / Flashpoint Special Edition – Story by Geoff Johns, Art by Ivan Reis & Andy Kubert (DC)
- Young Justice / Batman: The Brave and The Bold Super Sampler – Story & Art by Various (DC)
- Baltimore / Criminal Macabre – Story by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden & Steve Niles, Art by Ben Stenbeck & Christopher Mitten (DARK HORSE)
- Avatar: The Last Airbender / Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Story by Johane Matte, J. Torres & Ryder Wyndam, Art by Johane Matte, Gurihiru & Ben Dewey (DARK HORSE)
- Super Dinosaur Origin Special #1 – Story by Robert Kirkman, Art & Cover by Jason Howard (IMAGE)
- The Darkness II: Confession – Story by Matt Hawkins & Filip Sablik, Art by Michael Broussard (TOP COW)
- Pep Comics Featuring Betty & Veronica – Story and Art by Dan Parent (ARCHIE)
- Sonic the Hedgehog – Story by Ian Flynn, Art by Steven Butler (ARCHIE)
- Darkwing Duck / Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers Flipbook – Story by Ian Brill, Art by James Silvani, Leonel Castellani (BOOM! KIDS)
- Geronimo Stilton / The Smurfs Flipbook – Story by Geronimo Stilton / Peyo, Art by Yvan Delporte (NBM / PAPERCUTZ)
- Kung Fu Panda / Richie Rich Flipbook – Various (APE ENTERTAINMENT)
- Locke & Key Giant-Sized Action – Story by Joe Hill, Art by Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
- Mouse Guard / Dark Crystal Flipbook with Dapper Men preview – Story by David Petersen / Brian Holguin, Art by David Petersen / Alex Sheikman (ARCHAIA)
- Atomic Robo & Friends – Story by Brian Clevinger, Art by Scott Wegener (RED 5)
- 2000AD – Various (REBELLION)
- Bongo Comics Free For All – Various (BONGO)
- Civil War Adventure – Story by Chuck Dixon, Art by Gary Kwapisz (HISTORY GRAPHICS PRESS)
- Deadliest Sharks and Prehistoric Predators – Story by Joe Brusha, Art by Anthony Spay (ZENESCOPE)
- Elrik: Balance Lost – Story by Chris Roberson, Art by Various and Erik Jones (BOOM! STUDIOS)
- Ice – Story by Doug Wagner, Art by Jose Holder (12-GUAGE)
- Inspector Gadget – Story by Dale Mettam, Art by Jose Coba (VIPER)
- Intrepid Escapegoat / Stuff of Legend – Story by Brian Smith / Mike Raicht, Art by Brian Smith / Charles Paul Wilson III (TH3RD WORLD STUDIOS)
- Jake the Dreaming – Story by Adam Freeman, Marc Bernardin, Art byAndrew Jones (RADICAL)
- James Patterson's Witch & Wizard – Story by James Patterson, Art by Svetlana Chmakova (YEN PRESS)
- John Stanley Summer Fun – By John Stanley (DRAWN & QUARTERLY)
- Magic The Gathering: Path of the Planeswalker II Preview – Various (WIZARDS OF THE COAST)
- Misadventures of Adam West – Story by Reed Lackey, Art by Russell Dauterman, Matt Bellisle (WHO ELSE? BLUEWATER)
- Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics – J.C. Vaughan (GEMSTONE)
- Power Lunch / Sketch Monsters – Story by J. Torres / Josh Williamson, Art by Dean Trippe / Vinnie Navarro (ONI)
- Silver Scorpion – Story by Ron Marz, Art by Mukesh Singh (LIQUID COMICS)
- Spontaneous #1 – Story by Joe Harris, Art by Brett Weldele (ONI)
- The Tick – Various (NEW ENGLAND)
- Top Shelf Kids Club 2011 – Story and Art by Andy Runton, James Kochalka, Christian Slade, Chris Eliopoulos, Ray Friesen, Jess Smart Smiley (TOP SHELF)
- Walt Disney Presents Mickey Mouse – Story and Art by Floyd Gottfredson (FANTAGRAPHICS)
- Worlds of Aspen – Various (ASPEN)
Once again something for absolutely everybody. Some of our most anticipated titles? Right up top: Captain America and Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers (a goofy title, but a long awaited return to a sorely missed ongoing). There's a goat running around solving mysteries in Th3rd World's Intrepid EscapeGoat title. And I'm practically foaming at the mouth over the prospect of Dark Crystal Comics. Radical's Jake the Dreaming may be a sleeper hit, and the seemingly innocuous Civil War Adventures features a grizzly lookin' Chuck Dixon tale with a "battlefield amputation fact page." As for those recognizable titles, if your shop limits you to just a few books, be forewarned that several of these FCBD specials are reprints of existing issues packaged for new readers. Give everything a flip if you can and choose wisely.
If this is your first trip to a comic shop–awesome, by the way; welcome to the jungle–you might need to track down your local retailer. Because who knows if that skeevy card shop you went to as a little kid even sells comics anymore. You can use the Comic Shop Locator Service to find your venue.
One last note. Free Comic Book Day is a great day for retailers, regulars and new customers alike. Have fun. Make friends. Thank your shop for any great promotions or sales, and please, leave the place with a little less money in your wallet than you came with. You're getting some free loot, but if your retailer is anything like mine, the great Brave New Worlds in Willowgrove, PA, they deserve a great day of sales. Buy a trade or two and leave with that and a pile of free stuff. Everybody wins.
Question: If you had to pick only five of these books, what would you get? Once you're back from the big day, let us know what you picked up!
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Hmm my five would be….
Amazing Spiderman
Super Dinosaur
Captain America & Thor
Green Lantern/Flashpoint
The Tick
1.cap and thor
2.baltimore
3.locke n key
4.elric
5. dark crystal flip book
Captain America/Thor
Darkwing Duck/Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers
2000 AD
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse
Bongo Free For All
FCBD is the one day in a year, that makes me extra bummed that we don’t have comic book stores here. I’d be all over the Locke & Key and MouseGuard.
I hope everyone appreciates the FCBD and their LCS.
I’m all over that Cap/Thor Mighty Avenger issue.
1. Captain America/Thor
2. SuperDinosaur
3. Mouseguard
4. Amazing Spiderman
5. Baltimore/Criminal Macabre
Intrepid Escapegoat
Elric
2000AD
Mouse Guard/Dark Crystal
Baltimore/Criminal Macabre
My shop typically limits selection to five books (I think because they get SO many patrons in and out on FCBD, so it’s understandable)
So this is my list:
Intrepid EscapeGoat
Captain America & Thor
Jake the Dreaming
Mouse Guard/Dark Crystal
Power Lunch/Sketch Monsters
This year for Free Comic Book Day i will be doing what i do each year which is staying home so to avoid a huge weird crowd. i like comics but not that much.
But on the otherhand, i just started a job as a design technology teacher (i mean literally 3 days ago) and told all my kids to go check out the comic store of saturday – newer readers have to be better than a jaded old c-bomb like myself, right?
Last year my shop limited us to just three books. Luckily we’ve got a Hastings too if there’s other stuff I want.
I’m lucky enough to have got a couple of FCBD with my mail order delivery that arrived yesterday.
I really recommend the 12 Gauge Studios ICE / Loose ends flip book, some really realy nice non-super-hero action in that.
other than that I have
Tick, Spontaneous, Atomic Robo, Darkness II and the Super Dinosaur Origin Special.
Cosmic Comics in NYC used to be my must-stop-at location on FCBD, but now that they’re gone, I’m not sure which store to hit first. Hanley’s? St. Mark’s? Midtown? Bergen St? Which store has the best FCBD in NYC?
The Hastings where I live lets you get 10 books. I’ll get the big 3 books and then I usually use the rest to get comics for my 5 neices and my nephew. So, a lot of kids comics. Owly and Friends for everyone!
My shop does not take part in FCBD.
@edward Yes.
Thank you DCBS for just shipping them to me. No need to brave the crowds.
Amazing Spiderman
Baltimore
Cap and Thor
Mouseguard
and then whatever else seems interesting when i’m there.
I look forward to the sidewalk sales the most, but none of my shops have sent any emails about it so thats worrisome.
Looking forward to FCBD this year. My shop is adopting a new policy limiting comics to 4 per person. It’s understandable to me, and I actually think I’m going to hit multiple shops this year and see how others do it.
Looking forward to the Cap and Thor book the most, and Atomic Robo and Super Dinosaur look great as well. I’ll flip through the others and make my pick. I’m really looking forward to the sales that will be around here as well.
FCBD is the greatest holiday of the year!
…isn’t archaia also releasing a “Dapper Men” story for FCBD?
@Kelly As far as I can tell, the Dapper Men preview is tucked into that Mouse Guard/Dark Crystal book.
@paul that is key information. from what the artists said at c2e2, it’s a wee stand-alone story that bridges the time between the first and 2nd books. so not something we can pick up later.
The cap/Thor by samnee is a no brainier. Also going after super dinosaur, mouse guard/dark crystal, green lantern/flash, and Spider-man
My LCS has always let you take with no limit so I plan on getting…
Do we know how many of these will be available digitally?
Also, what the fuck, DC? No original comics? Not even a Flashpoint #0?
My LCS isn’t participating. Sadface…
I heard that LCS’ have to buy these comics…is that true? Is that why so many of them have sales…the classic “loss leader” philosophy of giving away stuff to get people to buy other stuff?
@wallythegreenmonster Yes, they have to pay for them. I think they’re usually 25 or 50 cents a pop and the comic shops I frequent say they make the money back, plus some, so I guess it all works out. But yeah, I was a bit shocked when I heard the LCS’ had to pay for them. It doesn’t seem entirely fair.
@lifesend –yeah something just seems so wrong and messed up with it too. I dunno…the comics industry defies all logic for how every other healthy business/industry is run.
I’m working in a remote area on Saturday, so I’ll probably miss out – but what I want most of the pack is:
Cap & Thor
Baltimore/Criminal Macabre
Mouse Guard/Dark Crystal
Elric: Balance Lost
Escapegoat/Stuff of Legend
Spontaneous
Walt Disney Presents: Mickey Mouse
while it is more entertaining than Arbor day, it should be noted that FCBD would eventually be impossible without it. 😉
1) Green Lantern
2) Super Dinosaur
3) Mouse Guard / Dark Crystal
4) 2000AD
5) Capt. America & Thor
Stopping by the shop on my way to a wedding. I will try to contain myself during the actual ceremony, but there’s no rule about bringing comics to a reception, right?
Top 5
Cap & Thor
Mouse Guard
Jake the Dreaming
Locke & Key
Avatar/Star Wars
I’m also going to try to snag a few more for my students, especially: Witch and Wizard, Power Lunch/Sketch Monsters, and Mickey Mouse.
1) Green Lantern
2) Super Dinosaur
3) Mouse Guard / Dark Crystal
4) Baltimore
5) Spiderman
Possibly if I go to another LCS
6) Cap and Thor
7) Civil War
8) The Tick
Baltimore/criminal macabre, Super dinosaur, sonic the hedgehog, Locke and key, 2000 a.d.
Those arey ideal 5 if I had to choose. So hopefully between my three LCSs I can get those plus maybe a little something more. Darkling duck, spiderman, bongo comics, fantagraphics and drawn and quarterly selections would also be cool t pick up
Reason to bring the family:
Me… Darkwing Duck, Locke & Key
The wife… Avatar Last Airbender
The girl… Betty & Veronica
The boy… Sharks & Predators
Got my Cooke FCBD shirt ready to wear.
Got my 8 and 10 year olds all excited.
Got my list and theirs all ready.
Got my eye on a Bermejo Joker statue in case of sale.
Yeah, it feels like Christmas.
I should add:
I already have my “non-stamped” copy of Baltimore in my hands. The Mignolaverse FCBD issues are the one issue each year that I absolutely must have and the great shop owner knows this.
My 5 – Baltimore, Cap/Thor, Atomic Robo, Adam West, Spontaneous
My Boy’s 5 – Green Lantern, Young Justice, Star Wars, Super Dino, and most of all SHARKS!
My Daughter’s 5 – Power Lunch, Betty and Veronica, Mouse Guard, TopShelf Kids, Kung Fu Panda
I think between all 3 of us, we’ll snag everything.
Gonna hit up a few shops in my area so I can get all the books I want. Thanks for pointing out Jake the Dreaming. Looks really cool. Very pumped about Dark Crystal as well.
theres alot to chose from that are really tempting this year.
No way I can make it to a comic shop todaynso a bit annoyed with that as I would love to read the civil war comic and the tick. Anyone know if see will be available digitally?
Just got back from the hustle and bustle. Hit a couple shops for all the books. Turn out seemed pretty good in my area. Lots of kids, and it was really cool to see a lot of the shops in our area partnering with local libraries. That seems like a no brainer relationship, right?
Picked up most of the free books, but also snagged Orc Stain at 20% off. I’m excited to dive in….after I finish my yard work. 🙁
MY shop had to limit it to three books per customer (understandable given the huge turnout). I walked away with Thor/Cap, Intrepid EscapeGoat, and Dark Crystal/Mouse Guard.
Hoping they’ll have the Oni kids’ book leftover on Wednesday. Also didn’t see Jake the Dreaming. My quest for that one continues.
Picked up Clowes’ Mister Wonderful as well.
I went to Midtown’s downtown store (does that bother anywone else?) in NYC and they handed out bags containing all their free comics (33 of them! I would have been content with just the Avatar book) so there was no picking and choosing. Felt bad to be getting so much for free so I bought a couple trades as well. They also handed out Green Lantern themed iced tea to everyone waiting in line. Such a nice store. Would go there more often if it was closer.
Lots of fun today! I got:
Captain America and Thor
Green Lantern
Super Dinosaur
The Mis-adventures of Adam West
I also bought Thor 337 and What If…2
My shop has a HUGE turnout each year, with a ton of kids, so they limit everyone to one free comic each, and then a bonus comic for: showing a student ID/library card, a canned food item donation, and/or 50 cent donation to the local Arts Alliance.
I got three: Captain America/Thor (amazing!) Super Dinosaur, and Oz to give to someone. Didn’t know Dapper Men was in the Mouse Guard book. Oh well.
Darkness 2, Darkwing Duck, Locke and Key, Green Lantern, Criminal/Macabre, Captain America/Thor, The Mighty Thor Saga (catches readers up on Thor lore in time to watch the movie). To supplement, I bought the first ‘Damned’ trade so the LCS made some $$$ off of my free stuff.
All the local shops had the “3” limit so i had to go to a few. Big turnouts, good sales, lots of costumes and such. Felt good about helping a dad pick out some stuff for his kid…
Got Cap/Thor, Green Lantern, Darkwing Duck, Amazing Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse, Bongo Free For All, the Archie book at Hastings.
I felt bad about taking 7 books (the limit was 10) so I bought a dvd too.
@Thursday That’s a really cool fundraising idea that your store does. I would totally be down with that if a shop did that around here.
Nate Simpson was at my LCS for free comic book day, so I picked up a sweet Nonplayer poster.
As for comics I got Cap/Thor, ICE, and Elric
I wanted to get Baltimore / Criminal Macabre, but the store ran out early. Apparently, they didn’t get many. So instead I got:
* Green Lantern / Flashpoint Special Edition
* Super Dinosaur Origin Special #1
* Locke & Key Giant-Sized Action
* Spontaneous #1
I also got an ash-can sized Star Wars book (Han and Chery ona planet of ghosts!) which may have been from a previous year, and a big DC promo “Drawing the Line at $2.99” poster (see http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqN,!hUE2et6%29yVjBNrM9wFlp!~~_3.JPG). Not bad for free!
I had a lot of fun at my LCS today. It had to be a quick one cause I had work but still got some good comics out of the deal. I got my regular comics but also got three trades:
-Daredevil: Yellow
-Hulk: Gray
-Startling Stories: Banner (Brian Azzarello and Richard Corben. Definitely bought it for the Corben art)
Let me just give a quick thought on the comics I got for FCBD (don’t worry I won’t droll on too long):
–Atomic Robo: This is the second time I got a FCBD issue of this series and I so want the trades of this. This was freakin hilarious from page to page and I think this was the best FCBD issue I got today.
–Batimore/Criminal Macabre: Definitely thought Batlimore was a lot of fun; I mean it’s a guy fighting huge spiders. But I could do without the Macabre story; Steve Niles does nothing for me.
–Bongo Comics Free-For-All: Always been a fan of Simpsons comics and this is no different. Got a funnt Ralph story; a great Krusty two-pager, and a story from legendary MAD artist Sergio Aragones. The book has an ad for a new, monthly series by him for Bongo. Definitely want to pull that.
–Captain America/Thor: The first time I’ve ever read the Thor comic by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee. It was good, I mean it had a lot of funny moments and the art was beautiful. But Langridge has a weird take on Cap and at the end of the day it wasn’t the best thing I ever read. Also, this definitely felt like issue #9 instead of a FCBD one-shot.
–Chip ‘N’ Dale Rescue Rangers/Darkwing Duck: It’s freakin Darkwing Duck and Rescue Rangers! Course it was awesome.
–Inspector Gadget: Other then a few very obvious word balloon problems (look at the one in the train station) this felt like another episode for me.
–The Misadventures of Adam West/Things to Come: This was……weird. I mean it’s a book about Adam West turning into a superhero. But it was oddly paced and it was clearly just an ad for the actual book. Also, the Things to Come back up was pretty bad.
-Super Dinosaur: This is a reprint of the first issue, I think. It was pretty funny and I think it’ll be a great comic for kids. Although I find it weird with the massive words balloons that kids will have an attention span to continue.
–The Tick: Another 2nd time I got an FCBD issue and I loved it. Just a quick story of Tick thinking comic books are ‘biographies’ of himself and friends. I did find the constant ads at the end quite annoying and thought they were a joke. But no, this guy has done a shitload of Tick related comics over the years…..Might get them later.
My wife is a 5th grade reading teacher and I’m trying to find anyone that would be willing to donate ( or sell cheap ) any of the All Ages comics so she can share them with her students?
I wish we could review these books like normal. ASm is my POWeekend. Slott Brings the Funny, Ramos Kicks butt with the art. The book was a great all ages superhero fun time and is basically Spider Island #0. 5/5
@TheGoon –I’m sure if you contact some comic shops in your area, or maybe even some of the big national ones they will have plenty left over. Maybe even writing to Diamond or something? You just never know! Sounds like a great idea. FCBD organizers should donate a pack to every public school library in the country.
Free Comic Book day was awesome
the two freebie comcis I got
-Spidey
-Locke & Key
what I bought
-World War Hulk tpb
-Hulk #28
-Hulk #29
-Hulk #30
So yeah used this day to catch up on some Hulk stuff mostly, and I’ve been wanting to check out Locke & Key for some time now, so the freebie book was nice. All said and done I spent $25 at my comic shop and walked out with 5 comics & a tpb!!! Free Comic Book Day is better than fucking Christmas!!!
This was my first FCBD and I had a great time. Hit up two stores, got 10 free books (Atomic Robo and Mouseguard were my favorites). Picked up Preacher Vol. 9 at first shop and then went back to second shop at 11pm because they had a BOGO on all trade paperbacks. Picked up Hickman’s first two Fantastic Four trades and the two Thor Mighty Avenger trades….Pretty awesome day for less than $50.
ALL the local shops in my neck of the woods impose a limit of ONE per customer. The shop I went to let you have a second free book with a purchase. I really don’t mind this if it allows more people to pick up a free book. But it isn’t really “free” given the price of gas. I already get more than my share of free and low priced books from DCBS though. I just wonder how much FCBD really helps retailers since they have to fork out cash to stock the books and have to list nearly their entire inventory at substantial discounts in order to make sales.
The only benefit of FCBD that I can see is the potential to bring young kids into the market/hobby/industry. I was delightfully surprised by how many younguns there were at the shop I went to this year. So this leads me to my only gripe this year, which was the lack of age appropriate stories for youngsters. I almost picked up spiderman for my nine year old nephew, but figured the story of him knocking out Spider-Woman probably wouldn’t be the best message to send a kid.
Me, my son and my daughter got almost all of the free comics! I also bought my pulls for the week and about 30 or so back issues of Batman, Superman/Batman, Thor and X-Files. We had a great time! My LCS is a great store full of super nice, and “comic savvy” people!
Ours was all out of Darkwing Duck, which I wanted to grab for my boy.
Picked up Raphael Grampa’s “Mesmo Delivery” for 5 bucks while I was there, though. Simply amazing artwork. Not for my boy, that one.