A.V. Club's guide to Free Comic Book Day
Let us help you make the most of this annual gateway to geekery
The Green Lantern Corps ... but you already knew that, didn't you, nerd?
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Although basically just drawings with word balloons, comic books can seem a little off-putting—the province of nerds who have memorized the different kinds of kryptonite and are prepared to argue about them. And it doesn’t help that the most well-known image of a comic-book store employee is the toadlike know-it-all on The Simpsons. Breaking down that stereotype is a job for Free Comic Book Day. Held annually the first Saturday in May, and offering 40 titles from both the major superhero houses of Marvel and DC and indies like Fantagraphics, FCBD offers jumping-on points for newcomers and überfans alike. For younger readers, there’s kid-friendly fare like The Mighty Archie Art Players; if Riverdale’s a bore, try edgier stuff like Attack Of The Alterna-Zombies!, in which Jesus and Abraham Lincoln get hopped up on shrooms and fight an army of the living dead. (Check the full list here; individual stores choose which titles they’ll carry, so availability may vary.) Decider weighs in on some of the more intriguing offerings.
Avengers
What it’s about: Edgy writer Brian Michael Bendis, who rejuvenated Marvel’s stalwart superteam earlier this decade, continues to shepherd the group into uncharted territory with his new Dark Avengers series. This Avengers giveaway should be a nice intro for incoming fans as well as a fun refresher for the converted—not to mention a way to build hype for 2012’s Avengers movie, in which Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, and others will band together on the big screen.
If you like this, try: Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers. This reprint collection of the early-’60s Avengers comics has been published in various forms over the years, but Marvel is releasing it in a fresh trade paperback in May that compiles the first 10 issues—written and drawn by the legendary Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck.
Owly And Friends
What it’s about: One of Free Comic Book Day’s kid-friendly offerings, Owly And Friends nonetheless has a draw for fans of grownup indie fare. In addition to Andy Runton’s immaculately rendered, whimsical cartooning is a backup story (and cover art) by alt-comics sensation James Kochalka—a master of subversively heartbreaking cuteness.
If you like this, try: Quit Your Job. Kochalka’s breakthrough 1998 graphic novel follows the elf-eared, buck-toothed Magic Boy as he tries (and triumphantly fails) to reach the North Pole.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
What it’s about: Before Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles morphed into a pop-culture goldmine, the comic was a small-press, black-and-white publication that coasted on its outrageous name and surprisingly dark, bleak atmosphere. In honor of TMNT’s 25th anniversary, creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird are reissuing the title’s debut as it originally appeared: as a crude, sketchy little booklet full of wit and promise.
If you like this, try: Ronin. Not only is Frank Miller’s grimy yet austere 1983 limited series the inspiration for the cover of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 1, it helped kick off the samurai-comics craze that culminated in parodies such as TMNT—which, of course, wound up becoming a genre unto itself.
Love And Rockets Sampler
What’s it about: A landmark of “alternative comics,” the long-running Love And Rockets has volleyed wildly from close-knit Mexican villages to Chicano punks to female wrestlers over its 30 years, which makes it intimidating for neophytes. While this teaser doesn’t feature any of the series’ most beloved characters (save superhero wannabe Penny Century), it’s still a good introduction to Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez’s blend of magical realism, goofy wit, and surprising poignancy.
If you like this, try: Maggie The Mechanic. Jaime’s “Ti-Girls Adventures” recalls his earliest stories, where science-fiction and telenovela melodrama mingled freely. If you’re more taken with Gilbert’s “Chest Fever” one-off, start with Heartbreak Soup and prepare to fall in love with the deeply flawed citizens of Palomar.
Green Lantern: Blackest Night No. 0
What’s it about: DC Comics’ major nerd-gasm event of the summer pits the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps against its zombie equivalent—the Black Lantern Corps. This prelude to the big dork-off aims to fill in the details for new readers and tease fanboys and girls who have waited years for the showdown.
If you like this, try: Top 10. Prolific comics writer Alan Moore (Watchmen) takes the “superheroes as law enforcement” motif to another level. In it, a police department of superheroes is charged with keeping law and order in a city where everyone has superpowers. It’s The Shield meets The Justice League Of America.
Participating stores:
Brainstorm Comics (1648 W. North Ave., 773-384-8721)
Challengers (1845 N. Western Ave., 773-278-0155)
Chicago Comics Inc. (3244 N. Clark St., 773-528-1983)
The Comic Vault (1530 W. Montrose Ave., 773-728-2001)
Dark Tower Comics (4835 N. Western Ave., 773-733-4026)
Evil Squirrel Comics (6928 W. Glenwood Ave., 773-338-0899)
G-Mart Comics (2641 N. Kedzie Ave., 773-384-0400)
Graham Cracker Comics (5443 N. Broadway St., 773-561-5010; 77 E. Madison St., 312-629-1810; 2562 N. Clark St., 773-665-2010)
Third Coast Comics (6234 N. Broadway St., 773-425-6346)
Vigilante Press (1931 W. Chicago Ave., 312-423-6774)
