Welcome, welcome, welcome to arguably the apex event on a geek’s calendar. Yes, it’s Free Comic Book Day, but also the very first edition of Comics Giveaway Day as well. If you’re scratching your head over what that means, then your friendly neighbourhood geek is here to explain it! To understand the unique position we are in, please read this blog post about the situation. Be warned, though, the author is an idiot.
I have said this before, but today’s the day that geek culture gets to celebrate…geek culture. It’s the day where comic book stores give away, wait for it…free comic books! It also celebrates TV shows, movies, video games, cosplaying, and just about anything else that is geek-related!
Whether an event is staged at your local comic book store, library or school, check them out, because there will be something for everybody! There are over 45 free comic books to choose from, and since every store is different, you could walk away with 1-3 free comic books, but every store has different rules.
This event is always held on the first Saturday in May, and even with the rival Comic Giveaway Day running parallel to it, all of the comics will have age-appropriate logos: All ages (green logo), Teen (blue or orange logo), and Mature (red logo), which can be identified on the covers.
While you’re at the comic book store, please also purchase something, because even though the comic books are free to us, the retailer pays about $0.10 and $0.50 per issue. Basically, it costs them money to run FCBD and CGD events, so please, please support them.
Even though it’s a global event that’s been running since 2002, every year, the number of comic book stores being involved is decreasing because of the financial burden that comes with it. So, if you are passionate about your geek interests and are planning on visiting an event at a comic book store, please purchase something as well as receiving your free comic books.
The closest physical comic book store is about 140 minutes away from where I live, so I won’t be going, but I have a list of titles that I’ll be interested in receiving via the post. Maybe.
I love Free Comic Book Day, and hopefully you will have a great time, so enjoy your day and your free comic books!
Also, dear readers, I would like to acknowledge the death of Gerry Conway, the prolific writer, who dabbled in screenplays as well as writing comic books. He died on 27th April, aged 73 years old. His career spanned decades, and he created and co-created many heroes and villains across the industry, including:
Killer Frost, Tarantula, Atomic Skull, Jackal, The Punisher, Man-Thing, Ben Reilly, Power Girl, Tombstone, Killer Croc, Demogoblin, Ms Marvel, Secret Society of Super Villains, Jason Todd, Vibe, Vixen, and one of my favourites growing up, Firestorm.
He also worked on G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and Transformers as a screenwriter, but also wrote Batman, Amazing Spider-Man, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, The Incredible Hulk, Justice League of America, Thor, Legion of Super-Heroes, and many more.
Conway also wrote the famous issues, The Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 #121–122 (released in 1973), which, to the untrained mind, features the death of Gwen Stacy; one of the biggest deaths in superhero comics, as well as the first crossover between DC and Marvel; Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man: The Battle of the Century, released in 1976. These storylines are seared onto my subconscious.
From the bottom of my geek-laden heart and soul, thank you so much, Gerry, for your amazing work.
And with that, I’ll see you on Monday because we are visiting a galaxy, far, far away.
SOME GEEK TOLD ME 