Join the excitement on May 7 as millions of comic books are given away absolutely free!
Two thousand comic book shops across the continent and around the planet will be celebrating Free Comic Book Day, but the most fun will be at St. Charles’s own Comic Relief, 1325 North Second Street.
“They say you can’t get something for nothing, but they’re wrong!”, said owner Michael Hetzler. “On May 7, there’s absolutely no purchase required to get a free comic book. Just get yourself to Comic Relief and see what’s available with no strings attached. Bring your family, your friends, your neighbors - there’s plenty available, and a comic book for everyone’s taste!”
Now in its fourth year, Free Comic Book Day, has proven to be a smashing success, spreading the word that comics are terrific reading. “No matter what sort of stories or characters you like, we’ll have something for you on May 7”, promised Hetzler. “Readers of all ages will find something appropriate to stir their imaginations.”
Free Comic Book day kicks off a summer of exhilarating adventure. Discover how Batman Begins! Witness the long-awaited big-screen debut of the Fantastic Four. In fact characters from all three films are a huge part of the comic book giveaway.
“Our visitors on May 7 can get a sneak peek at Revenge of Sith thanks to a special Star Wars comic. They’ll also see The Batman Strikes, a thrilling all-ages title focusing on a young Dark Knight,” said Hetzler. “They can also grab Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four and experience a team-up with these favorite characters.”
Wonderful choices beyond the world of super-heros will be available too. Archie comics recounts the timeless exploits of Betty & Veronica, with the return of Katy Keene. Homer, Marge and the rest of the brood show up in the Bongo comics Gimme Gimme Giveaway. G.I. Joe reports for duty in a comic kids and adults alike will love, while Disney’s Uncle Scrooge makes an appearance (no doubt horrified at being in a comic book given away for free).
For those looking for something entirely new, there’s even an inspired retelling of the Robin Hood legend that takes place in feudal Japan: Robin Hood of the 47 Samurai, as well as special anthology of stories revolving around the theme of Flight. Budding artists will be particularly taken with Impact University, a collection of lessons on how to create comic books.
For those who are new to comics, don’t fret: Comic relief is proud to offer Wizard presents the Top 100 Trade Paperbacks of All Time # 1 from the publishers of Wizard magazine. It’s a thorough listing of popular stories from the history of comics, and it’s completely free.
We at Comic Relief want to spread the word that comics are alive and well in 2005,” Hetzler continued. “More than that - they are thriving. We invite everyone to come in on May 7 and see for themselves how vital, relevant, powerful, and just-plain cool comic books are. Better yet, you get to do it for free.”
Regular up-dates, information about comic books, and lists of participating publishers (and their comics) are all online at www.FreeComicBookDay.com.
Free Comic Book Day kicks off at Noon and runs until 7pm at Comic Relief, 1325 North Second Street in St. Charles. Call 636-940-1244 for more information.
