Published on May 4th, 2012 | by Kim LaCapria
0Free Comic Book Day Follows ‘Avengers’ Release, Geeky Kids Rejoice
May 5th is Free Comic Book Day, arriving hot on the heels of May the Fourth and the release of the highly-anticipated summer superhero film The Avengers.
2012 marks the tenth official Free Comic Book Day, and while the holiday usually falls on the first Saturday in May, it is also often tied to the release of a large comic book adaptation like the crossover film out this weekend. The day evolved as a way to preserve the dying art of comic collecting, and as an incentive to get a generation of future comic book readers hooked on the geek staples in a day and age of electronic enticements.
In the past ten years (as comic books have fallen in prominence due to the internet), more than and estimated 25 million comics have been given away on Free Comic Book Day. A new record of 3.5 million free comic books are expected to be given away Saturday in more than 2,000 participating comic book shops across the US.
In addition to free comic books, many comic shops also book events for Free Comic Book Day, and offer competitive specials on used comics to hook new customers.