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Free Comic Book Day: It's almost time

The yearly event in which comic book stores hand out select titles for no charge is being celebrated on May 3 this year.

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Matt Rourke/AP
Comics are set aside for the 2013 Free Comic Book Day at Brave New Worlds in Philadelphia.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Comic book fans, your time is coming: Free Comic Book Day arrives tomorrow.

On Free Comic Book Day, which will be celebrated on May 3 this year, participating stores worldwide give out select comics for no charge. The comics that are being distributed this year are, as usual, divided into “gold” and “silver” books (gold titles come from high-profile publishers like Marvel or DC Comics). The gold titles this year include “Archie Digest #1,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” and “The New 52: Future’s End,” which includes Batman. Meanwhile, some silver titles are “Buck Rogers,” “The Smurfs,” and “The Tick.”

Where can you go to snag some free issues? Check out the official website for Free Comic Book Day, which has a store locator.

While the comics are, as you might have guessed from the event name, free, customers are encouraged to buy something as well so as to support the stores.

“Stores shell out a lot of money to stock Free Comic Book Day comics, and they're counting on you to do more than skulk off with your booty like a thief in the night,” NPR writer Glen Weldon wrote. 

In addition to giving out comics, many stores plan special events for the day. For example, Three Alarm Comics, located in Biloxi, Miss., will have more than 30 guests who are the minds behind comic books, including John Dell of “Avengers” and Mike McKone of “Amazing Spider-Man,” according to the Sun Herald.

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