SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

May 4, 2018 by Johanna

Free Comic Book Day Comic Highlights

May 4, 2018 by Johanna   Leave a Comment

Free Comic Book Day

As Esther previously wrote, this coming Saturday, May 5, is this year’s Free Comic Book Day. There are 50 different comics that could potentially be available at participating stores, so this is necessarily a brief rundown of the Gold Sponsor All Ages titles.

Also, please remember that this national holiday for comics is free to customers, but retailers do have to buy the titles (at a reduced cost). Many stores will have special events, including sales, so if you attend, consider making a purchase.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

There are 12 Gold Sponsor titles. The Gold Sponsors are well-known comic publishers, and comic book stores have to buy a certain amount of these books in order to officially participate in the event. (The various comics for the event are selected by a retailer committee. Diamond Distributors reported that over 91 titles were submitted this year.)

Comics Friends Forever

Comics Friends Forever (First Second) – An outstanding sampler, with excerpts from the new and great graphic novels Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol and All Summer Long by Hope Larson as well as some older books, including Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. Very much geared to drive purchases; the quality of the selections makes the reader want more.

DC Super Hero Girls (DC) – I’m a huge fan of this series, and this first part of the Date With Disaster graphic novel serves as a terrific introduction to the characters, as do the character profile pages in the back. The heroes have to figure out what caused a building explosion while Batgirl worries about her dad dating.

Disney Princess Ariel Spotlight (Joe Books) – A collection of four-panel comic strips featuring the red-headed mermaid. Silly jokes, most about music (so Sebastian the crab can wisecrack) or finding human objects, but fun to share with a little one who loves princesses.

Doctor Who #0 (Titan Comics) – A nice little sampler with three chapters promoting the tie-in comics: a summary of Gabby’s time with the Tenth Doctor; an introduction to the Seventh Doctor and Ace, who will soon have their own comic; and Alice making a snack for the Eleventh Doctor. Best for those who are already familiar with the TV series, but there’s more of those than there used to be.

Invader Zim Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy (Oni Press) – Around now, you might be noticing that there are a lot of licensed titles and media tie-ins, presumably under the theory that new readers will then be motivated to learn to read comics. This is a reprint of Invader Zim #20. (Because FCBD is for new readers, so reprints, as with DC Super Hero Girls, are new to them and economical for publishers.)

Pokemon: Sun and Moon / Pokemon Horizon: Sun and Moon (Viz Media) – A manga title, but also a tie-in. Reads right to left, which some may find a curiosity. Incomprehensible to someone not already part of the phenomenon.

The following Gold publishers did not put out All-Ages titles:

  • Archie – their Riverdale tie-in is for teens, as is the TV show, with spooky happenings remembered by Pop Tate
  • Boom! – a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers tie-in for teens
  • Dark Horse – a video game/superhero book for teens (some rough language)
  • IDW – their Transformers comic is for teens
  • Image – not really their audience; their book is rated for mature readers
  • Marvel – their Avengers/Captain America book is for teens; that’s a disappointment, since lots of kids will be interested, and having to tell them (and their parents) it’s not for all ages is difficult (particularly since the event is held the first Saturday in May because that’s usually when a Marvel movie hits theaters).

Regardless of the comics you choose, have a great Free Comic Book Day, and don’t forget to thank your local comic book store!

Filed under: All Ages, News

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
FCBDFree Comic Book Day

About Johanna

Johanna Draper Carlson has been reviewing comics for over 20 years. She manages ComicsWorthReading.com, the longest-running independent review site online that covers all genres of comic books, graphic novels, and manga. She has an MA in popular culture, studying online fandom, and was previously, among many other things, webmaster for DC Comics. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

More 'Smurfs Tales' Coming from Papercutz | News

by Johanna

February 2023

Exclusive: Asterix Returns with New Writer | News

by Johanna

January 2023

Exclusive Announcement: Art Baltazar's YAHGZ | News

by Johanna

December 2022

Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Club | This Week’s Comics

by Johanna

October 2022

New Archie Character | Exclusive

by Johanna

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Caldecott Jump

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Ben Mortara and the Thieves of the Golden Table | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Don’t Ban Them. Don’t Silence Them. The Importance of Writing About the “Tough Stuff” in Teen Fiction, a guest post by Lila Riesen

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Eight Graphic Works that Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Past | Stellar Panels

Free Comics, and Resources on COVID-19, in Graphic Form

Best Graphic Novels 2021 | SLJ Best Books

10 Standout Graphic Novels by AAPI Creators

Summer Camp and Beyond: 24 Middle Grade Graphic Novels | Summer Reading 2021

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023