Free Comic Book Day is a special annual event in which comic book stores give out free comics to regular readers and new ones alike. Held on the first Saturday in May, it gives people who aren’t comic book readers a free chance to join the fandom and gives regular readers the opportunity to find new titles.

The promotional event held primarily by the North American comic book industry was conceived in 2001. Retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California suggested the event in his “Big Picture” column of Comics & Games Retailer magazine in August 2001. Coordinated by Diamond Comic Distributors the first one was held on May 4, 2002, marking the industry’s first collaborative promotional event. Field recognized how comic book based films were helping the comic book industry, giving it a much needed boost after the difficulty seen throughout the ‘90s. He suggested a free comic event in a column and received plenty of positive feedback.

Jim Valentino, who was serving as publisher at Image Comics suggested that Free Comic Book Day should be held on the same weekend that the Spider-Man movie opened in spring 2002. He knew it would cash in on the big time promotion and press that the comics industry would receive because of the movie. For many years, Free Comic Book Day has coincided with a comics related Marvel film release. Some of the highlights have included Spider-Man in 2002, X2 in 2003, Iron Man in 2008, Thor in 2011, The Avengers in 2012, and so on.

There is a wide variety of comics for kids, teens, adults, and all ages from Marvel and DC to Dark Horse, Dynamite, IDW, Image, Titan, and others. In 2004 FCBD was held in July but then moved back to the first Saturday in May in 2005, where it has remained ever since. Participating comic book stores give away comics specially written and printed for the event. Many stores offer discounts on trade paperbacks, back issues, and collectibles and some even give movie memorabilia, posters, and other items for free.

During the first six years over 2,000 comic book stores in more than 30 countries gave over 12 million special comic books out. Publicity has grown each year as the event has become more and more popular.

As it did with everything else, COVID-19 caused the cancellation of Free Comic Book Day in 2020. Online content including panels with comic creators was held during what would have been FCBD weekend to maintain the sense of celebration for the event. The special FCBD titles were released throughout that summer. In 2021 Covid restrictions began loosening and FCBD was held later in the year on August 14.

Free Comic Book Day celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022.