Broken Frontier

Free Comic Book Day 2005 will be celebrated around the world on May 7, 2005, a date voted on by comic book retailers. As in years past, on Free Comic Book Day anyone can walk into a participating comic book specialty store and receive a free comic book, with no purchase required (while supplies last).

"This year marks the fourth annual Free Comic Book Day," said Free Comic Book Day Committee spokesperson Barry Lyga. "Its success has been proven beyond a doubt, as stores enjoy record crowds, fans get a holiday all their own, and new readers discover the wonders of the local comic book shop."

The available comics will vary by store, but all are special editions published specifically for the event. They range from all-ages-friendly titles to fare intended for sophisticated readers. "The selection of titles is a testament to the diversity in the industry," said Lyga. "More than anything else, Free Comic Book Day exists to show that there is a comic book for every age, reading level, and taste. This year's variety of available free titles once again makes that point."

Free Comic Book Day editions for 2005 are available for order by comic book retailers in the February 2005 edition of Previews. The complete listing of participating publishers includes:

GOLD SPONSORS (new or reprint editions that will be in every participating store)

Archie Comics - Betty & Veronica
Beckett - Ronin Hood of the 47 Samurai #1
Bongo Comics - Bongo Comics Free Comic Book Day Gimme! Gimme! Giveaway
Dark Horse - Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
DC Comics - The Batman Strikes! #1
Devil's Due - Devil's Due Special Edition
Gemstone - Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge
Image - Flight Primer
Impact Books - Impact University
Marvel - Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four

SILVER SPONSORS (Check with individual retailers for availability of new or reprint editions from these publishers): AdHouse Books, Alternative Comics, Arcana Studios, Caption Box, Comics Festival (Legion of Evil Press), Drawn & Quarterly, Dreamwave, Fantagraphics, G.T. Labs, Heroic Publishing, Jetpack Press, Keenspot, Oni Press, Renaissance Press, Serve Man Press, Sky Dog Press, Top Shelf, and Wizard.

Also participating are the following Bronze Sponsors, who have donated free quantities of previously published titles to the event: A Fine Line and Tokyopop.

Fans can promote the event and support their local comic book shops with Free Comic Book Day baseball caps, t-shirts, and polo shirts, available from participating comic book stores before the event.

Each year's Free Comic Book Day has seen a gain in the media exposure given to the event - in 2005, coverage will once again be secured at local, regional, and national levels through a variety of programs and initiatives.

More information - including information on participating publishers' titles - is available at the official Free Comic Book Day website, www.FreeComicBookDay.com. Press inquiries should be directed to info@freecomicbookday.com.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is a joint effort of dozens of publishers, thousands of retailers, and Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of English language comics.