It's that time of year again: Free Comic Book Day. Comics shops around the country will open their doors today for the annual celebration of the occasionally-funny books that are always looking to lure in a few new believers. It's a wonderful time for comics fans, but with so much material on offer—publishers are releasing 50 special issues for readers to sample—you'd be forgiven for feeling paralyzed when it comes to knowing what to pick up. To make your life a little easier, here's a guide to the many books on offer.
2000AD Special (2000AD)
This year's sampler of Britain's self-styled Galaxy's Greatest Comic mixes all-new material with some classic strips, meaning readers will get a chance to enjoy horse-headed anarchist Nemesis the Warlock and axe-wielding barbarian Slaine alongside futuristic lawman Judge Dredd, and much more. If you're looking for pulpy, funny, smart sci-fi, this is your comic.
All-New, All-Different Avengers (Marvel Entertainment)
The next generation of Marvel's Mightiest Heroes get together for the first time in this preview of what's in store for the future of the Avengers. (Spoiler: The wonderful Ms. Marvel gets to join Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America.) Also included is a look at upcoming launch Uncanny Inhumans, for those enjoying Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on TV.
And Then, Emily Was Gone (Comixtribe)
The Rumplestiltskin myth gets re-examined in this sneak peek at a new series based on a Scottish folk tale about Bonnie Shaw, a monster who would give parents' their heart's desire in exchange for their child. But surely no parents would agree to that deal, right? (Well, as long as they've gotten past the why won't they sleep, oh God I can't think straight part of things.) We'll see.
Avatar: The Last Airbender/Plants vs. Zombies/Bandette (Dark Horse)
Dark Horse's kid-friendly offering of the year includes two licensed properties (based on the Nickelodeon cartoon and videogame, respectively), but the highlight of the issue is undoubtedly the Bandette strip, showcasing Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover's charming, hilarious thief. (If you haven't picked up the Bandette digital comics or print collections yet, prepare to fall in love.)
Bob's Burgers (Dynamite)
If you can't get enough of the Fox comedy, then this is the book for you: written and drawn by the show's creative team, and the only place on FCBD that you'll find Gene Belcher Presents: The Musical. Yeah, you read that right.
Bodie Troll and Friends (Red 5)
Described by the publisher as "a perfect first comic to give to a non-comic-reader of any age," Bodie Troll is just what it sounds like: the adventures of a young troll (not the online instigator type, an actual monster) who gets stuck taking part in a child's tea party. The issue also includes previews of Red 5's other series.
Bongo Comics Free-For-All! (Bongo)
The name "Bongo" might not sound familiar, but the faces on the cover of the comic should—it's a Simpsons comic book, with stories involving Lisa traveling through time, Bart bringing Professor Fink's inventions to school and Homer trying to improve the family home using his own ingenuity. You can tell that last one won't go well.
Boom! Studios Ten Year Celebration (Boom! Studios)
Boom! gathers together a very varied collection of material to celebrate its first decade, including strips featuring Adventure Time, Regular Show, Garfield, Peanuts and Jim Henson's Labyrinth. That said, don't be surprised if the Lumberjanes strip turns out to be your favorite.
Captain Canuck (Chapter House)
Canada's original superhero returns in a preview of a reboot that sets the character in a world of troubled brothers, stolen alien technology, and shadowy organizations that may or may not have the best interests of the world in mind. Yes, all of this in Canada. Who would've believed it?
Cleopatra in Space (Graphix)
The premise behind Mike Maihack's kid-friendly strip is really right there in the title: Cleopatra—yes, that Cleopatra, from Ancient Egypt—is zapped into the far future and has to fight to save the galaxy from an ominous alien threat if she ever wants to make it home. High adventure, comedy, and fun are on the table in this preview of the regular series.
Comics Festival (Comics Festival)
There's a lot of great stuff to be found in this anthology of short stories from Canadian creators, including work by Kate Beaton, Mariko Tamaki, Faith Erin Hicks, and Svetlana Chmakova. Any one of those creators would make this a must-read, having them all together means it's essential.
Dark Circle Comics (Archie/Dark Circle)
The new superhero line from Archie Comics gets a sampler, and for those looking for superheroes with something new, this is worth picking up; Black Hood and The Fox, the two series released so far, are top-notch stuff, if not necessarily for the faint of heart. (Well, Black Hood at least...)
Fight Club/The Goon/The Strain (Dark Horse)
The second of Dark Horse's releases for the year has an all-star line-up of properties: the return of Eric Powell's Goon, Guillermo del Toro's The Strain, and the brand new, comics-only sequel to Fight Club, written by Chuck Palahniuk himself. It's a killer line-up, not to be missed.
Divergence (DC Entertainment)
Speaking of not-to-be-missed, DC's big book of this year's FCBD doesn't just introduce the new Batman (spoiler: Bruce Wayne is out, after this week's Batman #40), but it also features new strips teasing the massive development about to happen for Superman and the beginnings of a new threat to reality itself for the Justice League.
Doctor Who Special (Titan)
For Doctor Who fans who haven't sampled Titan's enjoyable line of spin-off titles yet, this collection of all-new strips featuring the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors should be added to the list immediately. If nothing else, the Eleventh Doctor strip would be worth the price of admission by itself even if you were paying money for it.
Grimm Fairy Tales: Wonderland Special Edition (Zenescope)
Zenescope's attempts to turn fairy tales into a superhero-esque shared universe mythology continue with this sampler, in which the White Queen sets out to stop a new wave of madness from engulfing Wonderland.
Gronk and Friends (Action Lab Entertainment)
Kate Cook's monster might fail at traditional monster-like activities like, you know, being scary or causing mischief, but she's so adorable, you'll end up forgiving her anyway. Seriously, how can you stay mad at a monster that wants to keep kittens as pets?
Hatter M: Love of Wonder (Automatic Pictures)
Much like Grimm Fairy Tales, the latest sampler for this ongoing fantasy series uses Lewis Carroll's work as its origin point, bringing Frank Beddor's novel series about a revised Mad Hatter as a good guy to the world of comics.
Help The CBLDF Defend Comics (CBLDF)
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's latest anthology is targeted at young adult readers, with material from Andi Watson, *American Born Chinese'*s Gene Yang, and *Archie'*s Dan Parent dealing with the fight against censorship and need for free speech.
Hip Hop Family Tree Three-in-One (Featuring Cosplayers) (Fantagraphics)
A third FCBD outing for what's traditionally one of the highlights of the event: Ed Piskor's amazing comic book history of hip-hop culture, which this year includes an adaptation of Rob Liefeld's Levis 501 commercial as shot by Spike Lee, because why not? Also included: a preview of Dash Shaw's new Cosplayers, about the relationship between two people who like to dress up.
I.C.E.: Bayou Blackout (12 Gauge)
Get your military thriller on with this story of terrorists attacking New Orleans, with only Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (yes, really) able to stop them. There's also a preview of crime anthology The Ride to be found, as well. Think of this as the comic for the Tom Clancy fans out there.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (Viz Media)
Hirohiko Araki's famous manga about a multigenerational battle against evil is previewed in this issue, which also features a sample of the original manga version of Yu-Gi-Oh by Kazuki Takahashi.
Jurassic Strikeforce 5 (Zenescope)
If you've ever thought to yourself, "What would be better than watching dinosaurs fight? Wait! What if they were mutated dinosaurs with alien technology that made them into a superhero team!" then we have some good news and some bad news for you. The bad news is, someone beat you to it. The good news is, someone beat you to it.
Kodansha Comics Sampler (Kodansha)
There are a number of manga series to sample in this special issue, including The Seven Deadly Sins and Noragami, but the real draw of this book is the chance to read Attack on Titan, the massively-successful series about humanity's fight against giant creatures who attack (and eat) people inside massive city structures.
Lady Justice (Super Genius)
One of Neil Gaiman's lesser-known creations returns to comics in this reprint of the 1990s mystery vigilante series created (but not written) by the writer. Come for the amazing art by Daniel Brereton, if nothing else.
Legendary Comics Sampler (Legendary)
The comic book arm of the movie company behind Pacific Rim and Godzilla shows off the fruits of its labors, including the psychedelic Annihilator by Grant Morrison and Frazer Irving, as well as the gothic fantasy The Tower Chronicles. Some kaiju might be involved as well.
March Grand Prix (Capstone Press)
The next graphic novel by award-winning cartoonist Kean Soo is previewed in this one-off tale of a rabbit who just happens to be the world's greatest race car driver. Alongside a glimpse at the comic itself, there's also some background material on the book's creation.
Mercury Heat (Avatar)
Kieron Gillen, writer of Young Avengers, The Wicked and The Divine, and many more fan-favorite works, turns his attention to the planet Mercury and the cop tasked with keeping everyone safe on it in this prelude to his new sci-fi action series.
Motorcycle Samurai (IDW/Top Shelf)
Chris Sheridan's beloved digital series comes to print in this prelude issue. As if the title doesn't give you a good enough idea of what to expect, imagine mashing up Mad Max and Kill Bill, and then making things just a little bit crazier. You get the idea.
Overstreet Comic Book Marketplace (Gemstone)
For those so bowled over by the prospect of free comics that the idea of paying money for them seems like a great idea, here's a guide to the state of the comic book collector market today, including a "how to" guide to becoming a hardcore collector.
Perfect Square Presents Pokemon (Perfect Square)
Bad news for Pokemon collectors: You know how you gotta catch 'em all? Here's another one to catch, with three strips based around the confusingly successful manga and anime franchise. Pika pik-huh? indeed.
The Phantom (Hermes Press)
The comic book history of the Ghost Who Walks is celebrated in this one-off issue that features reprints of stories from throughout the character's comic book career, including material from creators such as famous Batman artists Jim Aparo and Don Newton, as well as Incredible Hulk and X-Factor writer Peter David.
Rabbids (Papercutz)
The videogame property comes to comics with this one-off that promises that "their hilarious antics are sure to entertain fans of all ages." Consider that a challenge, readers.
Savage Dragon: Legacy (Image Comics)
One of Image's longest-running series (it's been going since 1992!) gets the publisher's Free Comic Book Day nod this year, to promote a shift in the series' direction. What kind of shift? Well, let's just say that things might be moving in a more familial direction as a result of what happens in this superhero soap opera.
Secret Wars #0 (Marvel Entertainment)
Marvel's giant summer event gets a short prelude in this teaser of the apocalypse that's coming. (Also included is "Attack on Avengers," the crossover between Marvel's primary property and the Attack on Titan series from above, never-before-printed in the US.)
Sonic The Hedgehog/Mega Man Worlds Unite Prelude (Archie)
It's not just the end of the world as we know it in Marvel's superhero universe; Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man are also dealing with their own crossover event, as teased in this prologue to a crossover that'll run through the each character's own comic book series.
Stan Lee's Chakra The Invincible (Graphic India)
The latest superhero creation from the father of the Marvel Universe comes to comics direct from appearances in Angry Birds ToonTV. Once again, great power is equalling great responsibility, but with an added ingredient this time around: fun. Remember fun?
Steampunk Goldilocks (Antarctic Press)
Forget porridge; this version of Goldilocks is more concerned about whether or not her armor is too hot, too cold, or just right (creator Rod Espinosa has described the character as "a 20-year-old with the heart of a tween," apparently not mentioning the aesthetics of a hipster from five years ago). A steampunk version of Miss Muffet is also rumored to appear, because of course she is.
SpongeBob Freestyle Funnies (United Plankton Pictures)
The SpongeBob comics from previous Free Comic Book Days have been surprise highlights that take the more surreal aspects of the cartoon and run with them, so anyone looking for a funny, ridiculous, and utterly enjoyable read, this is a safe bet to pick up.
Street Fighter Super Combo Special (Udon Entertainment)
Acting as both an introduction to the game franchise for newcomers and an Easter egg-filled read for longtime fans, this story brings back Ryu, Crimson Viper, Charlie, and other warriors for one more globe-spanning punch-up.
The Stuff of Legend/Thanatos Diver (Th3rd World Studios)
Two different fantasy series are previewed in this issue, with the Toy Story-but-darker Stuff of Legend previewing its fifth volume alongside the debut of a new series about a diver who accidentally discovers a portal to a magical dimension under the sea.
Supermutant Magic Academy/Stand Aside Pops (Drawn & Quarterly)
Another essential book, showcasing the work of Jillian Tamaki and Kate Beaton. If that's not enough to convince you to pick this up on its own, then you should probably check this out. Oh, and this. Seriously, people: Just grab this as soon as you see it.
Tales of Honor (Image Comics)
A spin-off of the sci-fi military novels by David Weber, Tales of Honor brings Honor Harrington (get it?) to comics ahead of a new ongoing series launching later this month. Space-age naval maneuvers ahoy.
Teen Titans Go!/Scooby Doo Team-Up (DC Entertainment)
The second of DC's FCBD offerings is aimed at the young and young-at-heart, featuring stories based on Cartoon Network properties. Of particular note is the Scooby-Doo story, which teams the Mystery Machine gang with the Super Friends, because the world really, really needs to see if Fred can win a chin-off with Superman.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Prelude to Vengeance (IDW)
A Turtle has fallen, and the remaining Teenage Mutant Ninjas are preparing for a final battle with their longtime nemesis Shredder in this calm before what's sure to be a particularly violent storm. (For those who haven't been keeping up with the comic, there's also a catch-up on what you've missed. Spoilers: a lot.)
Terrible Lizard #1 (Oni Press)
Imagine Pacific Rim, except that there aren't any jaegers. Instead, there's a teenage girl and her pet dinosaur. If you try and tell us that doesn't sound absolutely wonderful, we will simply not believe you, and provide this comic as proof.
The Tick (New England Comics)
Sure, everyone knows Arthur, but how many people have heard of the Tick's first sidekick? Not enough, according to a ghost that's haunting the Tick's apartment and claiming to be Arthur's predecessor. Secrets might be revealed in this welcome return for comics' most spoon-friendly superhero.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise (IDW)
A preview of the comic book adaptation of the latest Transformers animated series might be the lead strip in this anthology, but the gem of the issue is undoubtedly the all-new Transformers vs. G.I. Joe strip. For those who haven't read the Transformers vs. G.I. Joe series, you have no idea what's awaiting you, but it's amazing.
Valiant 25th Anniversary Special (Valiant Entertainment)
Fresh off the news of a five-movie deal with Sony, Valiant celebrates its quarter-century anniversary with a primer on its superhero universe complete with new strips centering around Bloodshot and X-O Manowar, and previews of its other titles.
Worlds of Aspen 2015 (Aspen MLT)
The company founded on the work of Michael Turner relaunches with previews of two new series, Fathom: Blue and Eternal Soulfire, both offering fantasy-tinged takes on the world of superheroics.
You can find out more about Free Comic Book Day (including where your closest participating store is) right here. And if you happen to take advantage of the event, why not buy something at the store while you're there? Try this week's Superman, where he gets drunk for the first time and regrets eating McDonald's the next morning. (No, really.)
