Comics to Astonish Marking Halloween With Free Comics on Saturday

It’s almost Halloween again, and to mark the occasion, the Comics to Astonish specialty shop in Mount Airy is joining the annual ComicFest celebration by giving away 34 different free titles featuring ghosts, goblins and ghouls on Saturday, October 27.

There are no “tricks” involved, according to owner Keegan Conrad, but people of all ages who come to the store that day will enjoy a “treat” featuring special issues about everything from Frankenstein to Ms. Marvel.

“It’s really quite simple," Conrad stated. "Just stop by on Saturday from 12 noon to 8 p.m. and get free comics! No purchase required.”

"We will have tons of Halloween-themed comics for free, including many kids' books! Limit of two free comics per person," he noted.

The 22 full-size titles and 12 digests are designed to appeal to everyone, from youngsters to adults.

One of this year’s new comics will spotlight the popular Goosebumps mystery series with a tale of “Monsters at Midnight,” when two youngsters in a dusty, used bookstore find “an upside-down world of terror.” This title has been produced for the season by IDW Publishing.

Meanwhile, Source Point Press takes a more whimsical view of the holiday by featuring “Three Monsters and a Baby,” where three bumbling criminals on the run from the law accidentally wind up watching an infant who is being hunted by none other than Dracula himself.

Also aimed at younger readers is Ms. Marvel #1 featuring Kamala Khan, an ordinary Muslim teenager from Jersey City who is suddenly given extraordinary powers in this reprint from Marvel Comics.

That company is also the home of Thor, the god of thunder, who is pitted against one of his greatest enemies, Malekith the Accursed. That reprint follows the war between the two as it rages across all Nine Realms.

And if that wasn’t enough for Marvel fans, Superior Spider-Man #1 shows what happens when the villainous Doctor Octopus puts his mind in Peter Parker’s body in a story taking place in “OCKtober.”

Nevertheless, several titles are focused on more adult comics readers, including Alita: Battle Angel from Aspen Comics. This cyberpunk martial arts tale has never been seen by American readers until now.

Also aimed at older readers is a collection of short stories featuring Frankenstein in a manga comic by publisher Viz Media that puts a new spin on the solitary monster.

In a Halloween-inspired black-and-white twist, Jughead Jones from Archie Comics becomes a werewolf who is being hunted by Betty Cooper and their friend, Archie Andrews.

Dark Horse Comics celebrates the scary occasion by reprinting a story of Hellboy and the reformed demon’s first experiences in England as told by the character’s creator, Mike Mignola.

Of course, would it still be Halloween without a story involving John Constantine, the Hellblazer from DC and Vertigo Comics? This reprint of a haunting story of fear and loneliness features early work by author Neil Gaiman and artist Dave McKean.

Other special titles feature the monstrous creations of authors Edgar Rice Burroughs and H. P. Lovecraft.

Among the digest-sized issues that have been produced by Previews Publications are kid-friendly titles on such favorites as Rocky & Bullwinkle, female detective Nancy Drew and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

"Any and all remaining free comics that we have left over from the weekend will be given away," Conrad added. “You will be able to take one of each remaining title during store hours.”

Conrad also stated that the stores at Mount Airy at 1312 South Main Street, Suite 5, and 9400 Snowden River Pkwy #112 in eastern Columbia, will be open from 12 noon until 7 p.m. on Saturday in Mount Airy and 8 o'clock in Columbia.

For more information, call the Mount Airy shop at (301) 829-1017 or the eastern Columbia store at (410) 381-2732 or check out the stores' website at http://www.comicstoastonish.com/.