Free Comic Book Day on Saturday

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Thousands of free comic books will be given away Saturday at comic book shops across North America and abroad.

Normally, giving away your merchandise is a bad move for a business, especially during a global economic downturn. But Free Comic Book Day, which lands on the first Saturday of May each year, is a bit different.

The industry-wide event, which officially began in 2002, has become a holiday of sorts for both lovers of graphic novels and illustrated literature.

Most comic book shops take part in the event, which over the last few years has spread to shops across the world. But, in case it’s been awhile since you’ve been to your friendly neighborhood comic shop, www.freecomicbookday.com has a store finder online to help you figure out where to get your hands on a free book or two.

This year, special issues of Wolverine, The Savage Dragon, The Avengers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Love and Rockets, Transformers and G.I. Joe and many others will be given out. Also, a 25th anniversary reprint of the first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book that led to the cartoon series and movie craze of the ‘80s and ‘90s will be given out as well.

Check out this video of Hugh Jackman, who plays Wolverine in ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine,’ which opens today, talking about Free Comic Book Day and fighting illiteracy.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles