Free Comic Book Days take place at participating comic book specialty shops across the country. On this day, you can get a free comic book from well-known publishers like DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Stories give away comic books–absolutely free–to anyone who comes into their shops. But don’t expect to pick up a free comic book at the grocery store or drug store. Free Comic Book Day celebrates independent specialty shops selling comic books and related products.
Each comic book specialty shop is unique, with a style and personality all its own. Each shop typically carries comic books, graphic novels, and related merchandise. And each shop determines whether or not to participate in Free Comic Book Day.
About Comics
The history of comics in the United States can be traced to the 1920s when newspaper comic strips were collected and reprinted as a soft cover comic book or pamphlet. These comic-strip reprints are the earliest forms of American comic books. In the 1930s, original stories about Superheros and Detectives were written, illustrated, and published as comic books, a new literary form. In these early comic books, racists images were common, depicting African Americans or Asians as derogatory stereotypes. Comic books continued to develop over the next several decades.
Today, popular comic book genres include manga, sci-fi, horror, humor, non-fiction, and “real life” in addition to the ever-popular superhero and detective stories. Comic books are available in many countries in their native language, including South Africa, India, Thailand, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and many other locales. In fact, the U.S. comics market is dwarfed by the Japanese and French comics markets, each capturing about 40% of the worldwide share, with the U.S. coming in around 10% (See Wikipedia/Comic_book.)
Comics vocabulary
If you are visiting a comic book shop for the first time, listed below are some terms you may want to know:
- A comic book can stand on its own but is usually part of a series.
- A comic book series can also be called a title, which refers to the entire series, not a single comic book title.
- Multiple issues of a series are sometimes collected into a volume. A volume can be softcover or hardcover. Softcover editions are often called trade paperbacks, or just trades.
- A graphic novel is a standalone comic book that is not usually a part of a series. (I think of comic books as short stories and graphic novels as a full-length illustrated book.)
- A graphic novel can be an original story. However, regular, book-form novels have been illustrated (more about this in the Graphic Novels section below).
- Manga is a the very popular style of original Japanese comic books and graphic novels.
- Some manga are written for children and others are sexually explicit, so be sure you know what you are getting.
- Anime shares the same general visual style as manga, but it is not a comic book. Anime is an animated movie, so something to watch rather than to read.
Note that many of these comic book terms are interchangeable. A graphic novel can refer to a reprint collection, or an original story in hardcover or soft cover. Similarly, all of the formats above can be called comics or comic books, including graphic novels. But not all comic books are graphic novels. There is a lot more to know about comics. You may be interested in learning more about collecting comics (see below).
Superhero comic character – Depositphotos.com
Graphic Novels
While graphic novels are comic books, the distinguishing factor for a graphic novel is length. Graphic novels have existed since the 1970s. Some literary critics have shunned graphic novels for not being “serious” works. However, they have become unto their own as a legitimate art and literary form. As mentioned above, graphic novels can be original stories, or may be a regular book-form novel that “translated” into graphic form.
Listed below are many examples of “translated” novels. This list includes non-fiction in different genre from classic to contemporary that have been adapted into graphic form. Listed in no particular order, many of these book titles may be familiar to you:
- Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 (Twilight: The Graphic Novel, #1)
- A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, Volume One
- Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation
- Murder on the Orient Express
- Pride & Prejudice
- King Lear By William Shakespeare. Adapted by Ian Pollock
- Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
- To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel
- Crime and Punishment: A Graphic Novel (Illustrated Classics)
- Importance of Being Earnest the Graphic Novel: Original Text
- The Hobbit: Graphic Novel
- I Am Legend by Steve Niles (Adaptation)
- A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
- Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles
- Alice in Wonderland – Special Collector’s Manga
- Coraline
- The Wind in the Willows
- Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation
This list represents just a few of the hundreds of available adaptations.
Collecting comics
Most comic book collectors first choose a purpose for their collection, which might be simply for pleasure, as an investment strategy, or any other desire or goal. A collector can define their focus to those of a particular time period (pre-WWII) or genre (horror or manga, etc.), to showcase different artwork styles, have unique or interesting storylines, to collect pop culture memorabilia, or any other goal.
You can find collectible comics in many places, including independent specialty comic book shops, as well as at comic book conventions, flea markets, auctions, and private dealers. Serious collectors must also learn proper storage and preservation techniques, such as placing comics protective sleeves and storing them away from direct light and heat or humidity.
If you decide to collect comics beyond a few for pleasure reading, be sure to set a budget, start slowly, and visit independent comic shops. Avoid impulse buys or emotional purchases. Talk with owners and staff about comics and graphic novels. Research carefully before you plunk down your hard-earned cash. The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide lists the current value of individual comics. Whatever your approach, collecting comics should be fun!
Manga anime female character – Depositphotos.com
Free Comic Book Days
Free Comic Book Day is held the first Saturday in May includes all genres and celebrates independent specialty shops selling comic books and related products.
Halloween ComicFest occurs on the last Saturday in October—it’s the Spooky version of Free Comic Book Day! Comic book shops focus on Halloween and horror-themed comic books, collectibles, and other merchandise.
2024 Free Comic Book Days
Participating comic book shops set independent policies on the distribution of comics on free comic book days. Usually, you can expect to receive at least one free comic if you enter a participating shop location on Comic Book Days.
In 2024, free comic book day is scheduled for May 4, 2024. More info: Free Comic Book Day
In 2024, Halloween ComicFest is a month-long celebration, running from October 1 through October 31. Instead of free comics, shops will be highlighting all of their best horror comics, graphic novels, and collectibles. More info: Halloween Comic Fest
2024 May 4th Free Comic Book Day participating Hawaiʻi stores
The list of participating comic book shops is usually updated about one month before each event.
- Maui: Maui Comic and Collectibles | Facebook, 10 N MARKET STREET, WAILUKU, HI, 96793
- Oʻahu: Other Realms LTD. (other-realms.com), 1130 N NIMITZ HWY STE C-140, THE NIMITZ CENTER, HONOLULU, HI, 96817
- Oʻahu: West Side Comics and Games – (westsidecomicsandgames.com), 99-080 KAUHALE ST C16, AIEA, HI, 96701
- Oʻahu: Choice Comics | Facebook, 98-1268 KAAHUMANU ST, SUITE 104, PEARL CITY, HI, 96782
- Find another comic book shop near you: Comic Book Shop List – Free Comic Book Day
2024 May 4th Free Comic Book Day at 26 Hawai’i State Public Libraries
Event calendar of free and affordable things to do
Listed below are all types of free and affordable things across the Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina.
Featured Events are listed first each day, highlighted by a photo. These are unique, popular, or annual events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook.
More info: Hawaiʻi on the Cheap – affordable living and things to do (hawaiionthecheap.com)
multiple locations
