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

LAKELAND, FL -- Free Comic Book Day is slated for Saturday, and three comic book stores in Polk 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.

Uncanny Heroes

950 S. Florida Ave. in Dixieland, Lakeland

Coliseum of Comics

121 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland

Main Street Comics & Memorabilia

415 E. Main St., Suite C, Bartow

Many of the comic book stores are also giving away free posters, hosting guest comic book artists and comic book heroes, holding raffles and offering storewide discounts.

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