Free Comic Book Day is right around the corner, but with so many titles on offer it can be hard to know what’s available. Fear not. We’ve done all the legwork for you. And contained within this list of the 50 titles available for FCBD are some stories you’re not going to want to miss.
For instance, Marvel Comics will be getting a fresh start this year, and you can get in on the ground floor with The Avengers. Additionally, Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin’s Barrier starts its journey into print with a massive 53-page issue. There’s also plenty of anthologies and more story and character primers than you can shake a stick at.
As always, FCBD offerings are subject to availability. Be aware that not every comic shop carries all 50 titles, and that the comics themselves aren’t free to retailers. As a result, there’s usually a cap to the number of comics you can leave with. Keep all of that in mind and your FCBD festivities should be happy and plentiful this Saturday, May 5. Happy hunting!
Riverdale
Archie Comics
Told from the perspective of Pop Tate, this is a side story to The CW’s hit drama Riverdale that follows four tales overheard at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe.
(W) Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Ross Maxwell, Will Ewing (A) Joe Eisma (CA) Photo
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Special
BOOM! Studios
This special ties into the Shattered Grid arc and sees Zordon turn to the Morphin Masters for help in defeating Lord Drakkon, an evil version of Tommy Oliver from another reality.
(W) Kyle Higgins, Ryan Parrott (A) Diego Galindo (CA) Jamal Campbell
Overwatch/Black Hammer
Dark Horse Comics
In Overwatch, Zarya’s uneasy alliance with an omnic hacker forces her to reassess her views on the robot race. Then, in Black Hammer, a group of teenage superheroes in the distant future explore the history of Black Hammer Farm.
(W) Andrew Robinson, Joelle Sellner, Jeff Lemire (A) Wilfredo Torres (A/CA) Kate Niemczyk
DC Super Hero Girls #1
DC Entertainment
Featuring a chapter from the graphic novel DC Super Heroes: A Date with Disaster, this issue sees Batgirl and Lois Lane investigating an explosion at S.T.A.R. Labs, only to find that Commissioner Gordon is… going on a date?
(W) Shea Fontana (A/CA) Yancy Labat
Comics Friends Forever
:01 First Second
Comics Friends Forever is an anthology that celebrates kid's comics and all things girl power, and features work from Vera Brosgol, Hope Larson, Charise Mericle Harper, Ben Hatke, Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham.
(A) Hope Larson, Ben Hatke, Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham (A/CA) Vera Brosgol
Transformers: Unicron: The Darkest Hour #0
IDW Publishing
Unicron arrives in this issue, which sees the Transformers try to uncover why the world-eater has targeted Rom’s homeworld and, perhaps, a way to stop its advance.
(W) John Barber (A) Alex Milne (CA) Sara Pitre-Durocher
Barrier #1
Image Comics
This 53-page first issue introduces readers to Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin’s sci-fi tale of violence, language and illegal immigration. This is also the first time the story has been put into print.
(W) Brian K. Vaughan (A/CA) Marcos Martin
Disney Princess: Ariel Spotlight
Joe Books
Disney Princess: Ariel Spotlight puts the focus on the Disney’s famous mermaid with a collection of fan-favorite strips and new adventures.
(W) Paul Benjamin, Patrick Storck, Geoffrey Golden, Megan Kearney, Amy Mebberson (A) Egle Bartolini, Dylan Bonner, Brianna Garcia, Chris Dreier, Wes Dzioba, Paul Little (A/CA) Amy Mebberson
Marvel Avengers/Captain America
Marvel Comics
Everything old is new again in this FCBD issue that is slated to introduce a brand-new direction for the Marvel Universe.
(W) Jason Aaron, Ta-Nehisi Coates (A) Sara Pichelli, Leinil Francis Yu
Invader Zim: Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy
Oni Press
Invader Zim returns in this story that sees the incompetent conqueror watching an extremely bad television show called Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy.
(W) Jhonen Vasquez (A) Warren Wucinich, Fred Stresing (CA) Aaron Alexovich
Doctor Who #0
Titan Comics
Doctor Who #0 recounts the tales of three different generations of Doctors who tackle threats ranging from planetary conquerors to late-night diners.
(W) Nick Abadzis, John Freeman, George Mann, Jody Houser (A) Giorgia Sposito, Arianna Florean, Christopher Jones, Mariano Laclaustra, Rachael Stott (CA) Photo
Pokémon: Sun And Moon/Pokémon: Horizon
Viz Media
In Pokémon Horizon, Akira’s vacation to the Alola region turns to disaster when his Rockpuff is kidnapped and his dreams are seemingly at stake. In Pokémon: Sun and Moon, Sun and Moon dream of different lives, but their paths cross when they run afoul of the infamous Team Skull.
(W) Tenya Yabuno, Hidenori Kusaka (A/CA) Satoshi Yamamoto
Strangers In Paradise XXV #1
Abstract Studios
A brand-new Stranger in Paradise story starts with this issue, which sees Francine and Katchoo discover that a former Parker Girl is writing a tell-all book. That won’t do, so Katchoo enlists the help of her mercenary sister to stop the book from being published.
(W) Terry Moore (A/CA) Terry Moore
Miraculous Adventures Of Ladybug And Cat Noir
Action Lab Entertainment
Superheroes Lady Bug and Cat Noir return for another adventure.
(W) Various, Thomas Astruc, Nicole D'Andria (A) Various (CA) Brian Hess
Relay #0
AfterShock Comics
A space traveler arrives on a distant world stuck in the Dark Age and offers them a tantalizing opportunity -- activate The Relay and spread conformity of ideas, progress and technology across the stars.
(W) Zac Thompson (A/CA) Andy Clarke
Howard Lovecraft’s Big Book of Summer Fun!
Arcana Studios
Howard Lovecraft embarks on another adventure that acts as a prelude to his big screen debut, Howard Lovecraft & The Kingdom of Madness.
Worlds Of Aspen Anniversary Edition
Aspen Comics
This collection packs two big Aspen Comics debuts for the price of none. Nu Way follows Zihao, a warrior literally fighting his way out of the slums for the chance to become a famed gladiator. Dissension tells the story of a young woman using long-dormant power to fight back against a group of tyrannical fallen angels.
(W) J. T. Krul, Jordan Gunderson (A) Alex Konat, Jordan Gunderson (CA) John Starr
Lady Mechanika
Benitez Productions
Lady Mechanika learns a valuable piece of information that puts her one step closer to uncovering the origins of her mechanical limbs in this short, 13-page story.
(W) Joe Benitez, M. M. Chen (CA) Beth Sotelo (A/CA) Joe Benitez
Bongo Comics Free-For-All
Bongo Comics
Bart seeks out adventure on a hot day, Milhouse finally gets even, Lisa becomes and clown and Kang and Kodos abduct the wrong person in this anthology.
(W) Matt Groening (A/CA) Matt Groening
Adventure Time: Fionna And Cake Special
BOOM! Studios
The world of Adventure Time gets genderbent in this story that sees Fionna and Cake recollect on some of their favorite adventures, then dive right into the next!
(W) Grace Kraft (A) Christine Larsen (CA) Ayme Sotuyo
Die Kitty Die: I Love You To Death
Chapterhouse Publishing
This very meta issue sees Kitty Ravencraft kick the bucket. But will she stay dead, or will the prospect of leaving her friends to fend for themselves in future Free Comic Book Days reel her back from the grave?
Invasion Prologue
Chapterhouse Publishing
The Borealis have arrived on Earth, ready to wipe out humanity. It might be an easy job if it weren’t for the might of Chapterhouse Comics’ superhero roster.
(W) Van Jensen (A) Leonard Kirk (CA) John Gallagher
The Legend Of Korra/Nintendo’s ARMS
Dark Horse Comics
In The Legend of Korra, the eponymous hero meets a new sidekick and tasks Meelo with tracking down some lost pets. Nintendo’s ARMS sees one of the video game’s main characters fight their way to glory -- and through 599 other contenders.
(W) Michael Dante Dimartino, Ian Flynn (A) Joe Ng (A/CA) Jayd Ait-Kaci
Silver #1
Dark Planet Comics
Vampires get what’s coming to them in this story about a master thief and a mysterious bar of silver.
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Bob’s Burgers #1
D.E./Dynamite Entertainment
The stars of the animated series Bob’s Burgers leap onto the comic book page for more Erotic Friend Fiction and Rhymey Rhymes That Could Someday Be Songs.
James Bond: Vargr #1
D.E./Dynamite Entertainment
Bond returns to London after exacting vengeance in Helsinki in this reprinting of the first chapter of Dynamite Entertainment's ongoing James Bond series.
(W) Warren Ellis (A) Jason Masters
Berlin #1
Drawn & Quarterly
Drawn & Quarterly presents the opening chapter of a story about the last days of the Weimar Republic. Berlin #1 presents a variety of perspectives on Germany’s inevitable turn to fascism.
(W) Jason Lutes (A/CA) Jason Lutes
World’s Greatest Cartoonists
Fantagraphics
Fantagraphics assembles its best authors to pen 12 pieces, each relating to their newest books in some way.
(W) Sophie Goldstein, Simon Hanselmann, Dash Shaw, Georgia Webber, Carol Tyler, Ellen Forney, Anne Simon, Charles Glaubitz
Graphix Spotlight: Sparks
Graphix
The cat is out of the bag, er, dog in this story about August and Charlie, two heroic felines who pilot a mechanical dog suit and save the day from a baby-looking alien named Princess.
(W) Ian Boothby (A/CA) Nina Matsumoto
The Metabaron Book 3: The Meta-Guardianess And The Techno-Baron Preview
Humanoids
Created by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Juan Gimenez, the latest installment of The Metabarons comes to Free Comic Book Day.
(W) Jerry Frissen (A) Valentin Secher
Star Wars Adventures
IDW Publishing
Bounty hunters Zuckuss and 4-LOM have Han Solo and Chewbacca in their sights in this story that takes place before Star Wars: A New Hope.
(W) Cavan Scott (A/CA) Derek Charm
Street Angel’s Dog One-Shot
Image Comics
Jesse "Street Angel" Sanchez pals around with man’s best friend in this story that includes skateboarding, dress-up and fighting ninjas.
(W) Jim Rugg, Brian Maruca (A/CA) Jim Rugg
Ghost In The Shell: Global Neural Network Preview
Kodansha Comics
Get a preview of the upcoming Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network anthology before it releases this September.
(W) Max Gladstone (A) David Lopez
The Wormworld Saga: The Journey Begins
Lion Forge
The prequel to Daniel Lieske's webcomic The Wormworld Saga starts with two friends who set out looking for adventure and magic.
Infinity Watch/Amazing Spider-Man
Marvel Comics
Spider-Man gets a new creative team, new series and new direction in this story from Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley. Plus, there’s a little Guardians of the Galaxy thrown in as an extra bonus.
(W) Nick Spencer (A) Cliff Rathburn (A/CA) Ryan Ottley
The Tick
New England Comics
The Tick goes Game of Thrones in this fantastical story that sees the bumbling hero ride into an ancient village on a one-eyed horse to stand against ancient, dark magics and a dragon or two.
(W) Jeff McClelland (A) Ian Nichols
Shadow Roads #1
Oni Press
Set after the events of The Sixth Gun series, Shadow Roads sees Gord Cantrell traverse the Crossroads and journey into the Wild West. With a group of adventures by his side, Gord hopes to save the world from the terrors that would end it.
(W) Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt (A) A.C. Zamudio (CA) Carlos Zamudio
The Only Living Boy
Papercutz
The Only Living Boy series returns with this introduction to Erik, the only living boy on a patchwork planet, and his allies Thea and Morgan. The trio make it their business to tangle with sinister forces like Lord Baalikar, the Doctor Once and the Consortium.
(W) David Gallaher (A/CA) Steve Ellis
2000 AD Regened
Rebellion
Everyone and their mother piles into these stories that features the likes of Judge Dredd trying to solve a crime at an Areoball game and much, much more.
(W) Matthew J. Smith, Alec Worley, Owen Michael Johnson, Colin Bell, Ned Hartley, Henry Flint (A) Neil Googe, Ben Wilsher, Tanya Roberts, INDIO, Henry Flint, Pye Parr
Scout Comics Presents: The Mall
Scout Comics
Three teenagers get thrown into a life of crime when their absentee crime boss father passes away, leaving them pieces of his criminal empire in his will.
Starburns Presents #1
Starburns Industries Press
Starburns Industries Press hails from the folks who created Rick and Morty and Harmonquest. Their first FCBD outing offers a look at Patton Oswalt’s Comic's Comics Anthology contribution and an excerpt from Gregory Graves #1.
(W) Patton Oswalt, Dan Harmon, Eric Esquivel (A) Troy Nixey, Brent Schoonover, Rebecca Nalty
A Brief History Of Tank Girl
Titan Comics
Take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of Tank Girl’s most notorious adventures to get a better idea of how she got where she is today.
(W) Alan Martin (A) Brett Parson
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey Chapter 0
Tokyopop
Zero, Jack Skellington’s ghost dog, has gone missing. The denizens of Halloween Town will have to come together if they want to save Zero -- and the holidays.
(W) Dj Milky (A/CA) Kei Ishiyama
Ultra Street Fighter II #1
Udon Entertainment
Watch Ken of Street Fighter fame succumb to his own demons to become Violent Ken… and then watch Ryu, Sakura, Sean and even Dan Hibiki come together to take him down.
(W) Ken Siu-Chong (A/CA) Hanzo Steinbach
Spongebob Freestyle Funnies
United Plankton Pictures
The full might of Bikini Bottom’s supervillain community assembles under Plankton’s orders to acquire the super-secret Krabby Patty formula.
(W) Derek Drymon, James Kochalka (A) Robb Bihun, Vanessa Davis
Shadowman Special
Valiant Entertainment
Shadowman returns in this primer for the hero who has just come back from the Deadside to reclaim his birthright.
(W) Andy Diggle, Matt Kindt, Eric Heisserer, Various (A) Stephen Segovia, Tomas Giorello, Raul Allen, Various (CA) Roberto de la Torre
Maxwell’s Demons #1
Vault Comics
Maxwell Maas finds adventure and peril when he travels to distant worlds through his makeshift multiversal closet door, but can he conqueror the dangers at home just as readily?
(W) Deniz Camp (A/CA) Vittorio Astone
My Hero Academia/Rwby
Viz Media
Get an introduction to the world of My Hero Academia, where 80% of the population is born with superpowers. In RWBY, a team of warriors fight giant monsters called Grimm and, sometimes, each other.
(W) Kouhei Horikoshi, Shirow Miwa (A/CA) Shirow Miwa, Kouhei Horikoshi
Crush
Yen Press
A coming of age tale about a boy who has to contend with the shifting social dynamics among his guy friends and his infatuation with a certain girl.
(W) Svetlana Chmakova (A/CA) Svetlana Chmakova
Malika: Creed & Fury
YouNeek Studios
Malika wakes 500 years in the future to find the world has changed, but war hasn’t.