Free Comic Book Day 2018: How To Get Yours In Pinellas County

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -- Free Comic Book Day is slated for Saturday, and five stores in Pinellas County will participate in the event. Lost in all the record-breaking box-office talk about “Black Panther” and "Avengers: Infinity War" has been the popular comic book event, which historically has been tied — albeit unofficially — to the superpowered summer spectaculars.

Publishers print special issues to be given away at participating comic book stores, libraries and museums on the first Saturday in May. The event, which has been held since 2002, usually coincides with the weekend opening of a superhero-centric movie as part of an effort to harness momentum from the fiercely popular films. Some stores expect to see about 1,000 visitors.

Emerald City

4902 113th Ave. N., Clearwater

Each guest can choose any three Free Comic Day 2018 comics and those who dress up as a comic book character can choose two additional comics.

Comic artist Greg Krivac will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. signing art prints of your favorite characters. There also will be special guests from Fierce Comics (Maniacal Smile, Hearseload of Horror, Midwalker, Hoof & Horns, Redneck Red) and Batman and Spider-Man from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All guests will save 25 percent on all books and graphic novels and enter a raffle for a chance to win one of 10 complete sets of EC’s Free Comic Book Day 2018 comics.

Feed Your Imagination

7215 Central Ave., St. Petersburg

Starfire and Raven from the Teen Titans & Batman will be on hand for photos and autographs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Buy one poster, get one free. All other items in the store will be available for 50 percent off when you purchase one at the regular price.

Comic World

12675 Seminole Blvd., Largo

Comics and Hobbies

27001 U.S. 19 N., Suite 1077, Clearwater

Wonder Water Sports Cards & Comics

29113 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater

The opening for "Avengers: Infinity War" was originally scheduled for the same weekend as Free Comic Book Day 2018, but the premiere was later moved up by a week.

Fifty free comic books will be offered on this year's Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, though stores might not carry all the issues available. That's a lot of comics — even for die-hard fans —and while the issues might be free, some stores limit the number of freebies customers can take.

Here are Patch’s recommendations for comic books you should snag.

Go to the event's website for a complete list of all the comics available this year.

Patch reporters Joe Vince and Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Image via Free Comic Book Day