Image Comics has been on a roll lately, even before announcing a ton of projects by some great creators in San Diego in July. The last few months have brought us Saga, Fatale, The Manhattan Projects, the Glory and Prophet relaunches, Secret, Hell Yeah and many more. So who can blame you if you missed a few of them along the way? We've all got to eat.

If you did miss a few titles that you wanted to read or were just curious about, Image Comics and comiXology are now offering 20 first issues for free via the digital comics distributor. The list includes the first issues of the titles I listed above, plus Mind the Gap #1, Thief of Thieves #1, America's Got Powers #1, Epic Kill #1, Creator-Owned Heroes #1, Dancer #1 and more. Apparently this isn't a limited time only thing; according to the press release, they "will remain free permanently. So no need to rush; just mosey on over to comiXology or fire up your iPad and download them at your leisure.

The full press release can be found after the jump.

Image Comics for Free at comiXology

Prices permanently slashed on 20 first issues

Berkeley, CA - August 24, 2012 -- The first issues of many of the new series launched in the first half Image Comics' iconic twentieth anniversary year are now free at the digital distributor comiXology. The issues will remain free permanently, starting on August 24.

The free issues include the first issues of some of 2012's best-selling comics, including SAGA #1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, FATALE #1 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra, THIEF OF THIEVES #1 by Robert Kirkman, Nick Spencer, and Shawn Martinbrough, AMERICA'S GOT POWERS Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch, and MIND THE GAP #1 by Jim McCann, Rodin Esquejo, and Sonia Oback.

The other free first issues are ALPHA GIRL #1, CREATOR-OWNED HEROES #1, DANCER #1, DANGER CLUB #1, EPIC KILL #1, GLORY #23 (first issue of the relaunch), GRIM LEAPER #1, HELL YEAH #1, HOAX HUNTERS #1, NO PLACE LIKE HOME #1, PETER PANZERFAUST #1, PLANETOID #1, PROPHET #21 (first issue of the relaunch), and SECRET #1.

Many of these titles have been or will soon be collected into trade paperbacks, making the free issues the perfect way for readers to sample new Image Comics titles before purchasing collections.