Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day!

Tomorrow is the first Saturday in May, which means it's Free Comic Book Day!

It's hard to believe this is the ninth Free Comic Book Day — or how radical the idea seemed way back when it started.

Now, we've got this cool video ad with voiceover from Kevin Smith, plus almost every shop (in my area at least) is doing some kind of event or signing.

Of the local events, I have to say Collector's Paradise in Canoga Park has an impressive lineup of creators signing, including a bunch of Top Cow folks (including Marc Silvestri), Bongo Comics' chief Bill Morrison and writer Marv Wolfman. Earth-2 Comics also has some top talent, with writer Mark Waid appearing at the Northridge store. Closer to home, Comic Odyssey in Pasadena actually scored a signing with Stan Lee from noon to 2 p.m.  Tumble Creek Press is taking part in a FCBD Festival at 4 Color Fantasies in Rancho Cucamonga. Meltdown in Hollywood is working with Archaia Studios Press with Fraggle Rock comics creators Sam Humphries and Jeremy Love. And Golden Apple has signings all day with folks like Hulk writer Greg Pak and Manhunter writer Marc Andreyko.

I don't know if I'll have time to hit more than one or maybe two of these, but I definitely will be getting free comics from somewhere!

The freebie I'm most looking forward to is the Dark Horse Magnus/Dr. Solar preview. If you've been reading this blog for a while, it shouldn't surprise you to learn I was a big fan of Jim Shooter's work on the early Valiant titles, and I look forward to seeing him return to these characters.

Beyond that, I hope to come across a few surprises. If you need to find a participating comic shop near you, visit www.freecomicbookday.com, and they'll help you out.