Free Comic Book Day 2024: When, where, and what to expect from next year's event

It feels like it’s been no time since Free Comic Book Day 2023, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t look forward to the 2024 event, wherein participating comic book stores will once again be offering a whole host of comic book offerings from some of the biggest publishers in the industry, all with the aim of bringing new readers and fans into the comic book habit. What do you want to know about FCBD 2024? You have questions, but we have answers.

WHen will Free Comic Book Day 2024 occur?

As Free Comic Book Day is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, we expect next year's event to be May 4, 2024. No so coincidentally, Marvel Studios will be releasing Captain America: New World Order the day prior.

Is there a day that you can get comics for free?

Why, yes, there is! As pointed out above, Free Comic Book Day traditionally takes place on the first Saturday in May each year; FCBD 2024 is unlikely to break from this pattern, meaning that it will take place Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Technically, there are other days you can get comics for free entirely aside from FCBD; there’s also Halloween Comicfest, which sees multiple publishers release horror-themed titles for free, as well as Batman Day, an annual event which includes DC giving away Batman comics for free every September. But we’re here to talk about Free Comic Book Day, so let’s stay on topic.)

How to get comics for free?

Taking part in Free Comic Book Day is pretty easy; you simply have to make it to a participating store on May 4. You can find your closest store by visiting this page. Really, that’s all it takes, although individual stores might have their own rules and requirements. (Some stores limit the amount of free comics any one person can pick up, for example.)

Why is Free Comic Book Day a thing?

Simply put, Free Comic Book Day was created to remind people who aren’t regular visitors to their local comic store that there’s no reason they can’t become regular visitors to their local comic store. It was the brainchild of retailer Joe Field in 2001, inspired by Baskin-Robbins’ “Free Scoop Night” promotional efforts at his local ice cream parlor. The first FCBD took place the next year, giving away more than two million comic books from just four publishers — each a reprint, unlike today’s event which commonly features all-new material, and was such a success that it quickly became an annual event.

How often is Free Comic Book Day?

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event happening on the first Saturday of May every year, organized by Diamond Comic Distributors designed to promote comic books and comic book retailers to the general public, with over 2,000 stores taking part. The early May date was chosen to allow the event to be timed close to the release of a summer superhero movie’s release; 2024’s event will happen the day after the scheduled release of Captain America: New World Order.

What are the free comics of Free Comic Book Day 2024?

The many comics that are part of FCBD are traditionally only announced a handful of months before the event, meaning that we won’t have a good idea just what is available until later this year. (For some context, the 2023 titles were announced in November 2022.)

That said, it’s not unreasonable to expect multiple releases from both Marvel and DC, with the former likely following its tradition of having both a Spider-Man-themed title and an Avengers-themed title. DC, meanwhile, is likely to offer a title tying into its core superhero line, as well as one previewing a title from its successful YA graphic novel line, if the past few years is anything to go by.

Will the Free Comic Book Day comics be available online?

The answer to this question depends on the publishers involved. Usually, the majority of FCBD releases end up either available through ComiXology or subscription services such as DC Universe Infinite or Marvel Unlimited, after some kind of delay from the actual event — again, though, how long that delay is is also up to the publishers in question.

You can find Free Comic Book Day and more in a comic shop. Never been, or has it been awhile? Read our guide on how to comic shop.