Free Comic Book Day is This Saturday!
Make sure these comics make the top of your stack.
In case you’re new here: Free Comic Book Day happens on the first Saturday in May, and it’s exactly what it says it is. It’s a day you can walk into your local comic shop and literally snag free comics. Publishers make certain titles available on Free Comic Book Day to serve as promotion for titles they want you to get excited about.
The event is always really fun. To capitalize on the day, comic shops will often have other in-store specials. Some may have guests artists-local or otherwise-or cos-play competitions, etc. to coincide with the event. Most shops limit how many free comics you can get. If you want all-or most of-what’s offered for free you have to comic-shop-hop, which I always really get into. I love visiting shops that’s not my usual store and seeing what other shops are doing.
A little advice…
Before I divulge my top picks of the free comics you definitely want to get your hands on, here’s a small bit of advice. Comic shops are a unique space and they are definitely endangered-that’s not just the pandemic talking. So, when visiting a shop, don’t just grab your free comics and leave. Do them a solid and buy something. Either another comic, or shops have pins or buttons or posters you can purchase, anything really. They’d really appreciate it.
Oh, and one more thing. If you’re wondering where to find your local comic shop, just go to www.comicshoplocator.com and enter in your zip code or address and the website will show you all the comic shops that are near where you live.
The List:
Now that all the business is out of the way, here’s my list of free comics that should be at the top of your list, in no particular order.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Story by Tom Waltz, art by Sophie Campbell. This is a prelude to a huge TMNT event about to take off titled The Armaggedon Game. It’s a fun read. The first half of the comic homages the very first issue of the original TMNT comic book by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, pretty much panel for panel. The second half reproduces that very first appearance of the fearsome foursome which makes it fun to compare and contrast the two storylines. Sophie Campbell does a great job changing her art style to mimic the work of the original art. It’s a great introduction to the new story arc. The comic also introduces Venus-the newest (and very first) female ninja turtle which I wrote about earlier this year. Pick it up!
It Won’t Always Be Like This. I discovered writer and artist Malaka Gharib during lockdown. Believer Magazine hosted weekly zoom meetings with different creators and Gharib had one about making zines. After, I discovered her book, I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir about her teenaged years as a Filipino-Egyptian-American. She’s is the deputy editor and digital strategist on NPR’s global health and development team, and an accomplished cartoonist. This comic previews her new graphic memoir of the same name which will be released September 20th of this year.
The Hundred Year Curse. I’m all in when it comes to haunted houses. The history of the Winchester House is captivating. An architectural wonder, built by an eccentric and mysterious wealthy woman, who inherited a firearm fortune. The house is at once an oddity-with stairs leading to nowhere, and doors-when opened-revealing solid walls. This comic previews the one-shot graphic novel written by Joshua Werner which attempts to uncover some the mystery that surrounds the house.
Marvel Voices: the comic that started out as a podcast hosted by Angelique Roche. It’s mission spotlights people of color within the Marvel universe. Now, it’s a comic book! The book includes seven Marvel’s Voices stories, spotlighting creators and characters from different cultures, communities, and identities. This comic features a brand new story with Moon Girl, but also some quick one shots that serve as great entry points into any one of these characters.
The Bone Orchard Mythos. Horror comics are definitely in. Free Comic Book Day has 6 or 7 to choose from, but which ones to pick up? I’m highlighting The Bone Orchard Mythos mainly because it’s got Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino’s names attached to it. They are the Eisner award winning team behind Gideon Falls and Primordial, so you know you’re in for some good storytelling. This is a prelude to a Horror Anthology Series that kicks off June 15. It’s a short read, but sufficiently creepy.
Kaiju No. 8. Aka. Monster No. 8 is a great way to get into Manga if you haven’t already. The coolest thing about this comic is, if you really dig the preview you can read the rest on Viz Media’s website: Shonen Jump. Written and drawn by Naoya Matsumoto, the synopsis reads: “Kafka wants to clean up kaiju, but not literally! Will a sudden metamorphosis stand in the way of his dream? With the highest kaiju-emergence rates in the world, Japan is no stranger to attack by deadly monsters. Enter the Japan Defense Force, a military organization tasked with the neutralization of kaiju. Kafka Hibino, a kaiju-corpse cleanup man, has always dreamed of joining the force. But when he gets another shot at achieving his childhood dream, he undergoes an unexpected transformation. How can he fight kaiju now that he’s become one himself?!”
Enemies, is the next book from award winning writer/artist Svetlana Chmakova. Best known for Dramacon, her full length comic published in the early aughts. She’s gone on to write comics: Brave, Awkward, and Crush. Enemies teases her fifth volume from her Berrybrook Middle School series. Enemies is a cute YA comic about Felicity, a girl that’s going to do great things…as soon as she figures out what they are.
Clementine. Last but not least on the list is Clementine by Tillie Walden. First off, this comic preview is fat! For sure get your hands on it, as it gives you a nice chunk of story to wet your whistle with. Clementine is a young adult adventure set in the world of The Walking Dead. And if anybody likes zombies…it’s this writer right here. The pages are drawn in the same black and white style as the original Walking Dead Series. The comic also includes an interview with Walden in the back matter. Not to be outdone, this comic also has previews of Everyday Hero Machine Boy by Tri Vuong and Irma Kniivila as well as Sea Serpent’s Heir by Mairghread Scott. Each story gives you tons of runway to get lost in their worlds, this free comic is a must have!
A few honorable mentions before I go.
- Bunny Mask Tales-creepy horror comic from Aftershock
- Neverlanders by Tom Taylor and Jon Sommariva-a young adult adventure set in the world of Peter Pan
- The Rema Chronicles-an all ages story about magic and mystery
- Barbaric-a blood splattering, axe talking, witch cursing, devil summoning good time.
Okay, so that’s it for my Free Comic Book Day Preview! Make sure you start early, bring some water, pace yourself, pack snacks, and for the luvva’ Pete buy something!