Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Nerds Rejoice! It's Free Comic Book Day
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 7, 2011
Modified May 7, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 7, 2011
Modified May 7, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The novel may be going the way of the Nook and the iPad, but there's still one form of larger-than-life storytelling which truly benefits from its physical incarnation: comic books! And today really is the greatest day to be a fan, or to dip your toes in the water of spandex-clad superheroes: it's the tenth annual Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). Check out the introductory video below.
Marvel, DC and many of the other major imprints will be giving out free comic books all day as part of the annual promotional tradition. Among this years highlights are issues of Green Lantern and Amazing Spider-Man, a special team-up between Captain America and Thor called Captain America/Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers (a primer for/tie-in with the upcoming films), Super Dinosaur written by The Walking Dead scribe Robert Kirkman, and all-new adventures for Inspector Gadget and The Tick.
As AV Club points out, the most intriguing/bizarre selection is The Misadventures Of Adam West, where the “legendary star of the small and silver screen…has his career youth-enized in this hip-whimsical, trans-dimensional epic of an adventure" that eventually leads to Adam West saving the entire universe...hopefully in spandex. Oh, and be forewarned: his love life will also be irrevocably changed. Check out the full list here.
There will also be signings at Jim Hanley's Universe at W 33rd Street, and at Brooklyn Comics and More, Inc., where noted author/illustrator Brian Wood will be appearing at noon. Here's the FCBD Store Locator so you can see all the participating comic book stores. USA Today has some more info for getting the most out of FCBD, including this pro-tip: "Some shops will limit how many free comics you can take (and this is a bummer). Others won't carry the free books you're looking for. If your town has more than one comics shop, plan to visit them all."
Tagged
comic books
free comic book day
nerds
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 11:18 a.m. ET
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
Highlights of shifts in the city's business landscape.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
Highlights of shifts in the city's business landscape.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .