(Update) Free Comic Book Day 2020 has been postponed to a later summer date due to COVID-19. We will update this page when a new date has been solidified.
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Free Comic Book Day arrives every first Saturday of May (May 2.) Iconic publishers like DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Dark Horse Comics — along with others — join forces to make free comics available at more than 2,300 stores across the country. It’s proof that fantasies do come true!
In 2001, retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California noticed a trend in a rise of comic book sales correlating with the release of a new superhero movie in the early summer. Field, who would write guest posts for Comics & Games Retailer Magazine, wrote a column in the magazine’s August issue titled “Big Picture.” In this column, he proposed starting a Free Comic Book Day, which received a positive reaction from fellow retailers. Image Comics publisher of the time, Jim Valentino, suggested having the first Free Comic Book Day on the same weekend as the opening of the 2002 Spider-Man feature film, in order to take advantage of the film’s heavy promotion and related press about the comic book medium, and thus the first event was held Saturday May 4, 2002, one day after the film’s opening. The only time the day was not held on the first Saturday of May was July 2004, but it was moved back to the first Saturday of May the following year.
On Free Comic Book Day, participating comic book store retailers give away specially printed copies of free comic books. Some even offer special deals and creator signings to those visiting their establishments. However, retailers do not receive the issues for free; they pay 12-50 cents per copy for the comics they give away during the event. In addition to comic books, some stores also give away other merchandise such as mini posters and other movie tie-in memorabilia. The success of the promotion rests with each participating retailer. Most participants agree that Free Comic Book Day has been part of a healthier comics market and growing comic book sales over the last several years.