May
2 The Price is Right

Once again, Free Comic Book Day approaches. This Saturday, you can drop into a participating comicbook shop and take home some free sampler comics for the attractive price of $0.

This year, 28 titles in all are being made available. You’re most likely to find the 10 books from Gold Sponsors, which includes big guns such as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, Archie and Bongo. The 18 Silver Sponsor titles represent the indie side of the aisle and include books from Aspen, Wizard, Devil’s Due, Fantagraphics, Oni, Drawn & Quarterly and Top Shelf.

And since this is a promotional opportunity, a lot of stores will host signings and special events. In Los Angeles (which for us is local), Earth-2 in Sherman Oaks is hosting the likes of “52” writer Mark Waid, “New X-Men” co-writer Chris Yost, IDW editor and writer Chris Ryall and a slew of talent from Boom! Studios, including Hollywood types Andrew Crosby and John Rogers. Appearing at Meltdown Comics on Sunset will be acclaimed writer Brian K. Vaughan, newly arrived in the Los Angeles area. Vaughan not only writes such cool books as “Y: The Last Man” and “Ex Machina,” he also wrote Marvel’s giveaway for the event, a new “X-Men/Runaways” crossover.