Free Comic Book Day is an annual event that now takes place on the first Saturday of May each year wherein participating comic shops all over the world give away comic books for FREE.  Forbidden Planet has participated in FCBD since its inception and has given away hundreds of thousands of comics on this special day.

Each year publishers produce comic books intended to be given away that day- often samplers of what they normally publish, or reprints/previews of  first issues and jump-on points of established series.  Here is a list of what’s being given out Saturday (Click on the thumbnails for full pics):

Archie’s Summer Splash #1 FCBD 2010 Edition- “Whose BEACH is it Anyway?”: Sun, sand, swimsuits and cool rockin’ tunes — no, it’s not a cinematic “beach party” blast from the past, but a whole new summer splash from Archie and his friends! In this fun-filled free issue, Cheryl and her snooty friends from Pembrooke form an all-girl group to compete head on with the Archies at a summer beach music festival. Will Cheryl’s group be a tuneful treat, or mistaken for bellowing whales?

Docror Solar/Magbus- The dawn of a new age of superhero excitement begins on Free Comic Book Day as Dark Horse Comics proudly presents the return of two of the most legendary characters in the annals of comics: Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom and Magnus, Robot Fighter — re-imagined for the 21st century by comics legend, writer Jim Shooter! This FCBD extravaganza offers all-new Solar and Magnus stories, each heralding new series launches in summer 2010, and featuring interior art by fan-favorite Dennis Calero (X-Men Noir) and cover art by Raymond Swanland!

Fractured Fables- This special FCBD issue offers a small taste of the new hardcover anthology from Silverline Books due later in the year. An all-star cast of writers and artists have been assembled to turn familiar fairy tales and nursery rhymes on their ear to make kids LAUGH! These humorous interpretations will delight any reader, regardless of their age!  Features the talents of Bryan Talbot, Doug TenNapel, Alexander Grecian, Derek McCulloch, Ted McKeever, Camilla d’Errico, Christian Ward, Anthony Peruzzo, and Mike and Laura Allred.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155½- It’s free, it’s awesome, and it’s ALL-NEW! Picking up from where the original G.I. Joe comic book ended, issue #155-1/2 is a core fan’s dream come true! Featuring spectacular art from Agustin Padilla, Larry Hama continues his classic G.I. JOE run right here, and RELAUNCHES THE ORIGINAL SERIES- one of the great comics of the 1980s! G.I. Joe has closed its doors, leaving COBRA to pillage, burn, and plunder!

Iron Man/Thor FCBD 2010 Edition- The perfect jumping-on point for any and all readers…and it’s FREE! When rogue mega-billionaires with world-destroying technology threaten the safety of the entire world…and the moon…Thor and Iron Man join forces! In time for the exciting launch of new stories and a bold new direction for Invincible Iron Man and Thor, superstars Matt Fraction and John Romita Jr. team up to bring you two of Marvel’s heaviest hitters like you’ve never seen them before! A major new direction for the Marvel Universe kicks off HERE – on Free Comic Book Day!

Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock- Archaia is proud to present two amazing all-new stories in one fantastic flip-book! First writer/artist David Petersen presents a story from the spring of 1153 where the Mouse Guard deal with the onset of the spring thaw and the havoc it wreaks on their territories. Meanwhile, it’s time to dance your cares away as Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober and Red return for a brand-new series of hilarious and heartfelt Fraggle Rock adventures written and drawn by some of the most imaginative creators in comics!

KiZOIC Presents: Shrek & The Penguins of Madagascar- Ape Entertainment proudly offers KiZOIC Presents: Shrek & The Penguins of Madagascar! Featuring four stories by the artists and writers of the up-coming Shrek and Penguins of Madagascar comic books, these stories are guaranteed to tickle your funny bone and leave you begging for more! All-ages fun for everyone!

Interested in more Shrek comics?  The Shrek prequel book is now on sale with even more comics on the way this spring!

YOW! The John Stanley Library- D&Q delivers another wholly original and boisterous FCBD issue that will entertain readers of all ages! YOW! The John Stanley Library spotlights the world’s greatest all-ages cartoonist, John Stanley, in a beautiful package designed by Seth. YOW! features new stories from the John Stanley Library: Melvin Monster, Nancy and 13 Going On 18, plus a story from the legendary one-shot Choo Choo Charlie and a Tubby story!

Toy Story FCBD 2010 Edition- With Toy Story 3 hitting theaters this summer, don’t miss this opportunity to get kids hooked on comics with a FREE issue from the ongoing Toy Story series from BOOM Kids! More all-new adventures featuring the world’s favorite toys with Woody, Buzz and the gang!

If you’re interested in more Toy Story comics I highly recommend the Toy Story Mysterious Stranger graphic novel. It’s a great book for young fans and potential new readers.

War of the Supermen #0- A war is coming, and all that stands between Earth and 100,000 vengeful supermen is one Superman! The conflict between Superman and General Zod erupts into all-out war this summer in a series that will shatter the worlds of Superman, Supergirl and the entire DC Universe — all brought to you by the hit creative team of James Robinson and Eddy Barrows! This special #0 issue featuring all-new material previews the conflicts to come while spotlighting a savage strike on Metropolis and the world — an attack that will shake Superman to his very core. After this, there’s no turning back — the War of the Supermen is here!

Sonic the Hedgehog FCBD 2010 Edition- “Hide & Seek & DESTROY!”: Dr. Eggman has vanished – or has he? As Sonic searches for clues, he stumbles across an old weapon from the bygone days of his childhood. Will Dr. Eggman allow Sonic to be destroyed by this threat from yesteryear? Will Sonic discover the truth behind his old rival’s disappearance? All the answers lie in this free issue!  Sonic’s comic book adventures are consistently Forbidden Planet’s best-selling all ages material.

Aspren Comics Presents: Worlds of Aspen- A special compilation issue featuring four exciting outtakes from several of Aspen’s hottest titles including Soulfire (Vol 2), and Executive Assistant: Iris! Also showcased are two of Aspen’s newest titles, Fathom: Blue Descent and Mindfield!  Featuring the talents of David Wohl, JT Krul, David Schwartz, Vince Hernandez, Joe Benitez, Scott Clark, Marcus To, Eduardo Francisco, Alex Konat, Michael Turner, and Peter Steigerwald.

Fearless Dawn/Asylum Press Sampler- Featuring a sampling of new and upcoming Asylum Press titles! Steve Mannion’s Fearless Dawn features our favorite new heroine battling a troop of mutants; Black Powder, a bloody frontier adventure by Dwayne Harris; Warlash: Origins is a tale of Bladeviper by Royal McGraw and J.C. Wong; Farmhouse by Elizabeth J. Musgrave and Szymon Kudranski, a tale of a drifter who falls in love with an artist undergoing an experimental art therapy; armored hero vs. brain-eating monsters in Warlash: Zombie Mutant Genesis by Frank Forte; and a look at Jason Paulos’ EEEK!, a retro-style horror anthology.  Steve Mannion will be signing copies of this book at FP from 1pm-5pm!

S.E. Hinton/Fame- S.E. Hinton, author of the The Outsiders, was – and still is – one of the most popular and best known writers of Young Adult fiction. And now Bluewater Productions proudly announces an exciting new partnership with the best-selling in this special FCBD preview issue, showcasing the new titles from Hinton. Plus: Your first look at the new biography series FAME, featuring Lady Gaga! Is it the costumes? The music? The voice? Maybe it’s all that stage blood. Whatever the reason, Lady GaGa has become one of pop music’s biggest stars. Fame examines her impact on her legion of fans.

Bongo Comics Free for All- The comic company that brings you The Simpsons and Futurama in the fantastic four-color format joins with retailers to reel in new readers, with a comic cornucopia of tantalizing tidbits and a spectacular sampling of the best in humor comics! Bongo’s FCBD books are always some of the best and most requested. “I’ve spent my entire life doing nothing but collecting comic books… and now there’s only time to say… LIFE WELL SPENT!”

Irredeemable #1 FCBD 2010 Edition- Last year’s comic book industry event is this year’s best way to get more readers hooked on Mark Waid’s best-selling original title, Irredeemable, the series that dared to ask the question: what if the world’s greatest hero decided to become the world’s greatest villain? And 12 issues later, that question has been answered with a best-selling comic series, two best-selling trade collections and Incorruptible, the companion series.

DC Kids Mega-Sampler FCBD 2010 Edition- This sampler is the perfect place to check out the sensational line of titles aimed at readers of all ages! It includes exciting, all-new stories starring Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Tiny Titans, Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam! and Super Friends! Featuring Landry Walker, Art Baltazar, Franco, Sholly Fisch, Eric Jones, Art Baltazar, Mike Norton, Dario Brizuela and Baltazar. The DC Kids Sampler is a great tool for introducing even the youngest of your youngins to the joys of comics!

Del Rey Sampler FCBD 2010 Edition- Featuring previews of Del Rey’s upcoming comics and graphic novels including: The Last Airbender by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, and Nina Matsumoto; The Talisman: A Collision of Worlds by Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Tony Shasteen; Odd is On Our Side by Dean Koontz, Fred Van Lente, and Queenie Chan; Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies: The Graphic Novel by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith, Tony Lee, and Cliff Richards.

Green Hornet #1 FCBD 2010 Edition- Dynamite Entertainment proudly presents the return of the Green Hornet! In 2010, Dynamite will unveil three brand-new Green Hornet series, starting with the worldwide debut of Kevin Smith’s vision for the masked crusader (based on his unproduced screenplay)! Get a first look with this special edition featuring not only Smith’s version, but the award-winning work of creators Matt Wagner and Brett Matthews as well! All in one Free Comic Book Day comic event!

Weathercraft: A Frank Comic- Are you ready? Because your life is about to change! Perception as you know it will cease! Fantagraphics proudly presents Jim Woodring’s Weathercraft! Every other free comic book will pale in comparison to our powerful and supernatural print-barge for both the enlightened and perplexed masses. Marvel at the toothy preview of Jim Woodring’s first original graphic novel, do your detective work with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, and gasp at rare out-of-print images, comics and transmissions, all from Jimland! Beware! Manhog lurks near…

The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics- How do you collect comics? How do you take care of the comics you buy? How do you grade comics? How do you sell your comics? How do you evaluate their worth? The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, now in its 40th year of publication, answers the questions and more facing new collectors and experienced enthusiasts alike! And be sure to keep an eye out for this year’s guide, currently slated to ship this summer.

IDW’s Library od American Comics #0- Presenting excerpts from the greatest comic strips of all time – from action/adventure to high drama, to fall-on-the-floor hilarious! IDW and the Library of American Comics present 32 pages of previews from upcoming volumes including Archie by Bob Montana, Secret Agent Corrigan by Al Williamson, Blondie by Chic Young, The Complete Bloom County Library by Berkeley Breathed, Rip Kirby by Alex Raymond, Polly and Her Pals by Chris Sterrett, Dick Tracy by Chester Gould, and Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.

Artifacts First Look- Building on the success of First Born and Broken Trinity, Top Cow finally reveals the secrets of all 13 Artifacts – which include The Darkness, Witchblade, Angelus, Magdalena’s Spear of Destiny, and more. Launching a massive 13-issue event beginning in July 2010, this series will literally define and redefine the nature of the Top Cow Universe! The final identity of the remaining hidden Artifacts will be revealed, characters will perish, and the very existence of the Top Cow Universe will be at stake. And it begins here!

Love and Capes #13 FCBD 2010 Edition- The wedding and the honeymoon are over for comicdom’s favorite super couple, so what’s next? Getting settled, starting their new life… and finding out what really happened at the reception. It’s a whole new start for “Love and Capes”, and a great lead-in to the second trade coming from IDW in summer 2010! Last year’s Love and Capes giveaway was the sleeper hit and this series keeps picking up new fans. Jump onboard now.

Iron Man: Supernova- What happens when an armored billionaire teams up with a hot-headed, cosmic-powered teen to fight a trio of massively-powered super-apes? Find out when Iron Man and Nova take on Red Ghost and The Super-Apes! Out-numbered, the Golden Avenger and the Human Rocket will have to trust an apparent traitor in the gorillas’ midst if they are to survive and save an entire city. Will they succeed or are they being played? Find out in this all-new, action-packed adventure, which happens to be FREE!

The Tick #1 FCBD 2010 Edition- In honor of this year’s Free Comic Book Day, and to commemorate the first appearance of The Tick 24 years ago, NEC Press offers this special re-presentation of Ben Edlund’s legendary first issue of The Tick, in a special Free Comic Book Day special edition! The complete original first comic book appearance of The Tick, as it originally hit the stands in 1986! Destiny calls as The Tick arrives in The City to commence his superhero career… Spoon!

Oni Press Free-For-All 2010- Coming your way this Free Comic Book Day: the Oni Press Free-For-All! This all-ages anthology packs in three exclusive terrific tales from The Crogan Adventures by Chris Schweizer, Salt Water Taffy by Matthew Loux and the all-new series, Possessions, by Ray Fawkes. The Crogan Adventures and Salt Water Taffy are FP favorites and we’re absolutely ecstatic Oni’s offering this sampler to expose these quality titles to a larger audience.

The Sixth Gun #1- Also from Oni Press. During the darkest days of the Civil War, wicked cutthroats came into possession of six pistols of otherworldly power. In time, the Sixth Gun – the most dangerous of the weapons – vanished. When the gun resurfaces in the hands of an innocent girl, dark forces reawaken. Vile men thought long dead set their sights on retrieving the gun and killing the girl. Only Drake Sinclair, a gunfighter with a shadowy past, stands in their way!

Radical: Bigger Books! Bigger Value!- For FCBD 2010, fans can read the first 8 pages of 4 incredible titles showcasing Radical’s innovative “Bigger Books! Bigger Value!” format. Wesley Snipes and director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) join writer Peter Milligan and artist Jeff Nentrup for the sci-fi saga, After Dark; Jonah Hex’s Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray deliver Time Bomb, featuring art by comics legend Paul Gulacy; Driver for the Dead will keep your heart racing with a tale of action, horror and voodoo from writer John Heffernan (Snakes on a Plane) and artist Clint Langley (Sláine); and finally, Radical presents The Rising, from creator/writer E. Max Frye (Band of Brothers) and artist J.P. Targete (Pixar’s John Carter of Mars)!

Atomic Robo and Friends FCBD 2010 Edition- Eisner Award-nominated Atomic Robo knows that the rain forests of South America hide many secrets…but none so deadly as “The Terror Bird”! Forgotten by time, these prehistoric apex predators are primed to devastate the modern world! (The word ‘terror’ is right there in its name!) Atomic Robo is always a Free Comic Book Day fave. Plus! Previews of 2010 adventures of Red 5 favorites and some new faces!

Freedom Formula: Speed Metal Overtures- Metal twisting tales of the meanest, fastest mechs in all-out heart-pounding action, the legend of the Freedom Formula races starts here in this collection of must-read stories. Spinning out of last year’s acclaimed mini-series and soon to be a major motion picture from New Regency with Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns). Brought to you by the folks at Storm Lion and featuring writers and artists Edmund Shern ,Brandon Jerwa, Andrew Dabb, Tony Lee, Puppeteer Lee, Zid, and Leah Liu.

The Stuff of Legend: Mortal Instruments- Don’t be left in “The Dark” this year, as Th3rd World Studios presents not only a recap of the toys’ first adventure from The Stuff of Legend Volume I, The Dark, but also a first look at Volume 2, The Jungle coming in June. Also, get your first look at Th3rd World’s adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s New York Times best-selling novel, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, a young adult fantasy series in which a young teen girl discovers a shadowy world filled with demon-hunting warriors.

Owly and Friends FCBD 2010 Edition- Top Shelf is proud to join the 2010 Free Comic Book Day celebration with not one, but three all-ages tales! In this FCBD edition, we’ll not only present an all-new Owly adventure by Andy Runton, but also two other all-new, all-ages adventures from Owly’s friends: Johnny Boo by James Kochalka and Korgi by Christian Slade. Perfect for everyone in the family, this time around with a great cover by Christian Slade! Fantastic comics by featuring some of the most beloved characters and cartoonists in the industry.

Bird Hurdler FCBD 2010 Edition- Teenage Dinosaur, Tugboat Press and Sparkplug present the release of Bird Hurdler by Andrice Arp, Theo Ellsworth, Faryl Dalrymple, Zack Soto, Lisa Rosalie Eisenberg & Julia Gfrörer and printed at Brown Printing. Forbidden Planet is proud to be one of only a handful of stores to be offering this comic, continuing our tradition as one of the most indy-friendly comic retailers in the world. If you’re not reading the works of the creators in Bird Hurdler you’re really missing out on some great stuff.

Marvel Heroclix War Machine Figure- When Iron Man needs backup, he calls upon War Machine! War Machine is slated to be a major part of the May 2010 Iron Man 2 movie, and to capitalize on this, WizKids will be modifying the popular War Machine sculpt from the Marvel HeroClix: Armor Wars series as 2010’s Free Comic Book Day figure. This exclusive figure comes with an all-new dial and character card. *Please note- This item will only be distributed upon request and while supplies last.*

Now for how May 1st will be going down at Forbidden Planet NYC.  We will be giving away bags containing every different FCBD offering we receive on a first come, first served basis.  All ages bags will also be provided as this is a family-friendly event and there’s little else we like more than comics in the hands of a new generation of readers.  Once we give out all complete bags we will then distribute any remaining FCBD comics at our discretion.  Once our supply runs out we will give out stacks of comics that we have picked from our inventory from the last few years.  As always, we may also have some unannounced stuffs to give away as well.

Also, if you didn’t read it above, Steve Mannion will be on hand signing copies of Asylum Press’ FCBD offering Fearless Dawn #1, selling artwork  and taking sketch commissions.

Oh!  We’re also running an all day SALE on graphic novels!!!  15% Off all graphic novels, all day!

The shop opens, and our Free Comic Book Day festivities begin at 10am and run until we close at 12midnight.  I encourage you to come by as early as possible if you’re looking to get the full breadth of FCBD 2010 books or if you’re looking for a specific book.  It’s a loooong day and the FP staff works very hard to make it special.  Come on by and enjoy yourselves!

Online customers- please keep an eye on your email and on the front page of our website.  While FCBD and our sale is only for our NYC store customers, we will be offering you something special for all orders placed this coming weekend.  Not receiving FP mail yet?  You can join at any time on any page of the site in the box on the right labelled “Join Our Mailing List.”   Don’t worry.  We’re cool and won’t bombard you.

Released today, Andy Runton’s award winning kid’s comic “Owly” will star in its own animated short film at the San Diego Comic Con.  From the release:

Directed by Moto Sakakibara and storyboarded by creator Andy Runton.  Prominently featured will be Runton’s innovative “Pictomation,” a storytelling device in which the characters’ thoughts and feelings are animated with iconic and expressive images rather than dialogue, enabling fans of all ages, languages, and backgrounds to enjoy the show.

For a sample check out Sprite Animation’s website on the short film.  Owly, is a great gift if you happen to have a little one. I bring back an Owly comic for the 4 year old son of one of my best friends from Lake Placid. This little one I’ll eventually show the delights that is Jeff Smith’s Bone, once he gets a bit older.  I can’t imagine a better comic related gift for a wee one than this.