Free Comic Book Day 2018: How To Get Yours In Brandon

BRANDON, FL -- Free Comic Book Day is slated for Saturday, and four stores in the Brandon/Riverview area plan to participate in the event. Lost in all the record-breaking box-office talk about “Black Panther” and "Avengers: Infinity War" has been the popular comic book event, which historically has been tied — albeit unofficially — to the super-powered summer spectaculars.

Publishers print special issues to be given away at participating comic book stores, libraries and museums on the first Saturday in May. The event, which has been held since 2002, usually coincides with the weekend opening of a superhero-centric movie as part of an effort to harness momentum from the fiercely popular films. Some stores expect to see about 1,000 visitors.

Here are the stores that are participating:

The Comics Club

714 W. Lumsden Road, La Viva Plaza, Brandon

There will be door prizes and the first 50 customers get a free grab bag filled with comics and more.

Read More Comics

115 E. Brandon Blvd., Suite A, Brandon

All retail comics are $1 and there will be 25 percent off all toys, statues and graphic novels. In addition, there will be free food and drinks.

Comic Spot

10453 Gibsonton Drive, Riverview

Giveaway items will include Thanos & the Black Order POP!s, a signed Wonder Woman art print by Joel Adams and a CGC-graded Batman comic signed by Neal Adams. Tickets will be passed out all day starting at 10 a.m. and the drawing will be held at 3 p.m. There will be 15 percent off everything in the store, a CGC Witness will be available and the store will accept submissions for Signature Series.

Books-A-Million #224

839 Brandon TownCenter Drive, Westfield Brandon mall

The opening for "Avengers: Infinity War" was originally scheduled for the same weekend as Free Comic Book Day 2018, but the premiere was later moved up by a week.

Fifty free comic books will be offered on this year's Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, though stores might not carry all the issues available. That's a lot of comics — even for die-hard fans —and while the issues might be free, some stores limit the number of freebies customers can take.

Here are Patch’s recommendations for comic books you should snag.

Go to the event's website for a complete list of all the comics available this year.

Patch reporters Joe Vince and Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Image via Free Comic Book Day