I spent this past Free Comic Book Day at Heroes And Dreams in Flowood, MS. I’m sure you have already read my reviews of the free comics my family picked up (didn’t you?), but now I can let you know a little more about what activities happened at the store before we made it there.

• An appearance by the Mississippi Outpost of the 501st
• An appearance by the Mandalorian Mercs
• Artist Jesse Labbe was in-store to draw sketches for the fans

Take the jump for more about the event, plus a gallery of images too.

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We are starting to see some images float in from the various Free Comic Book Day events that took place across the country.

First up is Comic Book Ink from Takoma, Washington that celebrated its sixth FCBD.

• The store gave away a ton of free posters from Regal Cinemas
• Artist Jesse Munoz cranked out 65 sketches for those that stopped by the store
• 8,000 comics were given away, and Comic Book Ink had enough left over to donate the extras to Oakwood Elementary School and mary Bridge Children’s Hospital (Way to go guys!)
• and yes, there were plenty of costumed heroes waiting to get in the door when the store opened.

The complete gallery after the jump.

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Or, “F-R-E-E, that spells free…”

This past Saturday was Free Comic Book Day, and my family and I went to one of the comic stores in our area to partake in the festivities. Unfortunately, as we do not have the logistics to accurately plan a time of departure with a five-week old daughter, we missed out on many of the events at Heroes And Dreams. Fortunately, we did not miss out on the free comics! I picked up a copy of Gemstone Publishing’s EC Sampler, my wife chose the Bongo Comics Free-For-All, and we picked up a copy of DC’s Tiny Titans as our daughter’s first comic.

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During Free Comic Book Day (TOMORROW!) TwoMorrows Publishing will be giving away its Comics Go Hollywood title.

This 32-page comic-size book was assembled exclusively for Free Comic Book Day by the company’s regular magazine editors, and reveals secrets behind fans’ favorite on-screen heroes, and what’s involved in taking a character from the comics page to the big screen. It includes storyboards from DC’s animated hit “The New Frontier” (courtesy of DRAW! magazine), JEPH LOEB on writing for both Marvel Comics and the Heroes TV show (courtesy of WRITE NOW! magazine), details of an unseen X-Men movie (courtesy of ALTER EGO magazine), a history of the Joker from his 1940s origins to his upcoming appearance in the Dark Knight film (courtesy of BACK ISSUE magazine), and a look at Marvel Universe co-creator Jack Kirby’s Hollywood career, with extensive Kirby art (courtesy of the JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR magazine).

If for some reason you can’t get thee to the comic store, TwoMorrows will also give away the title for free as a downloadable digital edition from the company website.

via TwoMorrows

Tomorrow is the day! Free Comic Book Day, and Arcana Studio is offering Arcana Studio Presents.

Arcana Studio presents Kade, The Gwai, Burn and 100 Girls — four of Arcana’s iconic series — in one issue of all-new stories published just for Free Comic Book Day 2008! Kade, the enigmatic warrior who doesn’t feel, but always hurts! The Gwai, the little critter lost in the Canadian North! Burn, a prisoner in his own body! Sylvia, one of 100 Girls genetically created for the U.S. government! Arcana Studio Presents features four all-new stories of action, adventure and intrigue in the way that only Arcana can!

Additionally, Arcana creators will be at various locations to sign books.

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If you are a comic publisher not participating in Free Comic Book Day, you are missing quite the opportunity. If you are a comic reader who is not participating in Free Comic Book Day, you are going to miss out on a lot of great stuff.

Free Comic Book Day has moved beyond going into the LCS and picking up a few free issues, stores across the country are really getting into the event by getting creators to come and do signings.

Top Cow Productions has sent Major Spoilers its list of creators, their signing times and locations.

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Archie Comics has once again sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek of titles arriving next week. Among the this week’s selection of Pals-n-Gals Digest #121 and Veronica #188, we also have a look at two of the Archie Comics Free Comic Book Day titles arriving this weekend.

Also, if you want your comics signed by Archie Comics creators, you can find the following at various locations across the nation this Saturday.

Craig Boldman, writer for ARCHIE COMICS, will be available to meet with fans and sign autographs from 10:00am to 12:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm

COMICS 2 GAMES
166 Mt. Zion Road
Florence, Kentucky, 41042
859-647-7568
www.comics2cars.com

Fernando Ruiz, artist and writer for ARCHIE COMICS, and a Joe Kubert school instructor, will be providing sketches and signing autographs from 1:30pm until 3:30pm. Fernando has been a part of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY at Dewey’s Comic City every year since it began.

DEWEY’S COMIC CITY
13 Park Ave.
Madison, NJ 07940
(973) 593-0042
www.deweyscomiccity.com

and one week later on Saturday, May 10th
Dan Parent, artist and writer for ARCHIE COMICS, will be available to meet with fans and sign autographs from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.

MAIN STREET COMICS
157 Dolson Avenue
Middletown, NY 10940
(845) 342-0458

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Platinum Studios is a silver sponsor for this year’s Free Comic Book Day being held in comic shops and books stores across the country. The company is taking it a step further by helping to get comics in the hands of military personel around the world.

Working with Operation Troop Aid, the companies will send 27,000 comics and graphic novels to troops stationed in Iraq.

In addition to sending comics around the world, Platinum Studios will be distributing a Hero By Night mini-issue, and a sneak peek of Gunplay. DJ Coffman, creator of Hero By Night, and Jorge Vega, creator of Gunplay will also make appearances to sign their issues. Coffman will appear at Larry’s Comics in Lowell, MA from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, while Vega and artist Dominic Vivona will sign at Jetpack Comics in Rochester, NH from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

via Platinum Studios

Boom! Studios has snagged J.M. DeMatteis to sign copies of his Stardust Kid trade paperback during Free Comic Book Day this weekend.

DeMatteis who penned Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Blood: A Tale, Justice League International and Abadazad will be signing at Meltdown Comics (7522 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, California) from noon until 2:00 PM this Saturday.

The all-ages hit comic series, The STARDUST KID was recently collected into trade paperback by BOOM! Studios. Featuring stunning artwork by Mike Ploog, THE STARDUST KID is a fantastic tale of four children who must solve the mystery of…The Stardust Kid, before it is too late!

via Boom! Studios

Free Comic Book Day is a few short days away, and Comic Book Ink in Tacoma, WA is getting into the action in a big way again this year.

Not only will the store be giving away a lot of comics, they have guest appearances and other freebies for those who show up bright and early.

Members of the local 501st SQUADRON of STAR WARS re-creationists

A Special Appearance by POWER GIRL

A Tentative Appearance by LOBSTER JOHNSON from HELLBOY

Folks from the Lakewood Regal Cinemas with FREE POSTERS for folks who sign up for their incredible REGAL CROWN CARD..the perfect choice for the OVER HALF A DOZEN COMIC BOOK RELATED MOVIES this year alone!

Local Artist JESSE MUNOZ; who has been featured in local advertising campaigns for the TACOMA RANIERS and who’s artwork can be seen in his upcoming self published comic BROKEN LEGACY.

Our FIFTH ANNUAL Comic Book Ink COSTUME CONTEST!

A HUGMONGEOUS SUPRISE SALE…Details to be revealed soon!

And, of course, Comic Book Ink is ALWAYS looking for more folks to join the party!

If you are going to celebrate Free Comic Book Day, Comic Book Ink looks like it knows how to do it right.

REMINDER: If you attend any big events at your local comic shop, take a lot of pictures and sent them our way. We’ll build a monster FCBD Gallery for the world to see.

via Comic Book Ink

Hey everyone, don’t forget this weekend (May 3, 2008) is free comic book day at comic book stores across the nation.

We Want Your Photos! If you attend FCBD, take some pictures and send them our way! This year FCBD falls on the same weekend as the launch of Iron Man, so expect an increase of people going in and out of stores.

Take the jump for the complete list of free comics you’ll be able to snag. There are some great titles in the list including Atomic Robo and Friends, as well as some great all ages books from Gold Sponsor Archie Comics and Bongo Comics.

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As we mentioned in the Alpha episode of the Major Spoilers podcast, Atomic Robo is getting an ongoing series this fall. Fans of the Tesla created automaton can get a peek at the new adventures this May during Free Comic Book Day with Red 5’s Atomic Robo/Neozoic offering.

If you can’t wait that long, take the jump and get a five page sneak peek now.

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The best part about Free Comic Book Day is it has the potential to bring in so many new comic book readers. All across the country stores opened their doors to crowds who had never even stepped foot in a comic store before. According to Comic Book Ink in Tacoma, Washington this was the biggest year ever for the company.

Take the jump for their photo diary and much more…and uh… Power Girl!

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Don’t forget tomorrow you have a chance to get your mitts on a bunch of free comic books!

! It’s one of the best events of the whole year!

via Free Comic Book Day

Dynamite Entertainment has sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek at the Lone Ranger/Battlestar Galactica Season Zero flip-book being given away during Free Comic Book Day.

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