FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2025 IS NEARLY HERE!
Well folks, it’s that time of year again. The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, all clocks are striking thirteen, which can only mean that Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is once again upon us! Those of you in the know are undoubtedly jumping for joy, but a few of you are probably asking yourselves what I’m going on about right now.
Just gather around, and I’ll elucidate, about what goes on this most hallowed date.
Free Comic Book Day is exactly what it sounds like on the tin. On the first Saturday in May each year, Graham Crackers Comics stores offer a selection of new titles for FREE! Now before anyone gets too excited, you can’t just walk in and take whatever you want. It’s a celebration, not a riot. There is a slate of FCBD exclusive books and every person through the door can take home three comics, no strings attached, no purchase required… after you grab your 3 books feel free to browse, take pictures, and have a good time. Some of our stores may also have artists sketching or additional fun goings-on. Reach out to the location nearest you with any inquiries.
But for the things that will be the same at all of our locations here’s a quick crash course
1. How it works: All publishers put out books branded with the Free Comic Book Day banner.
-A GREEN banner at the top of the page indicates a book specifically made for younger children. (think Minecraft, Mega Man, Avatar)
-A BLUE banner at the top of the cover indicates a book is for everyone. This is where DC, Marvel, and most of the other books will fall (think most Marvel and DC superhero books)
-A RED banner at the top of the cover indicates a book that is aimed at older audiences, and may have R-rated content (think Conan the Barbarian).
Each of our locations will have a display set up with the current and FCBD titles we have from previous years. Come in to the shops, pick the 3 you want, and you are all good!
#1 addendum: If you’re getting into the spirit of things, and show up in costume, you can take home six comics instead! Please note simply throwing on or holding up a mask you picked up last week at Walmart will not count. Show us your effort! Side, side note: Did you visit us at C2E2? You may have received a promotional coupon that today would be the perfect day to use.
2. Plan your day: If you want to maximize the number of books you can get, figure out your route ahead of time from store to store. For store hours, please check each store’s page on our website. Please do not start lining up before 8:30am.
3. Look around! Free Comic Book Day is not the only product available. Take some time to browse! We are constantly restocking the store so our inventory will be different every time you stop in! New Releases, Back Issues, Trade Paperbacks/Graphic Novels and Toys, there is plenty to look at. You never know when you might find the one thing you’ve been looking at for a while, or something you absolutely must have that you didn’t know you needed.
4. Looking for something you can’t find? We will have staff placed throughout the store to help you track down anything you might be searching for. If we don’t have it in stock, we can Special Order it for you. If we have it in chain, we can usually have it in hand in just under a week (if California or Wisconsin are involved it could be closer to 2-3 weeks).
5. Practice proper etiquette. This is not meant to be derogatory in any way. It is a long, busy day. Show proper respect to your fellow patrons. No pushing, shoving or fighting. Also, while we strongly encourage staying hydrated, please leave your beverages outside in your vehicles. A good 90% of our inventory is paper. Paper and liquids do not mix. Your Starbucks Iced Latte can wait for you. A spilled drink on a busy day will be more expensive than the $5 you paid for it.
6. Visit multiple stores! Make a family day out of this. We have 12 physical stores. A good handful can be stopped at throughout the day. We have 3 within the city limits, and 7 in the Suburbs/Northern Illinois. We also have locations in Murrieta, California and Madison, Wisconsin. (Bonus points if you can somehow manage to warp space-time and make it to our Murietta shop as well). Our inventory at each location is different, and many of the smaller items like Statues and Toys are different from shop to shop, so make sure to hit as many locations as you can.
7. Last but not least we can’t hold FCBD comics, they are first come, first served, so if there are specific issues you are interested in, arriving earlier than later is advised.
We hope you’ll join us for this annual celebration of comic book geekdom. See you May 3rd!
Please note:
*The Store Pick Up option for shipping on the website will be turned off on May 3rd for Free Comic Book Day.
*FCBD comics are available on our website as well. Buyers/claimers of FCBD books must pay shipping.