14 Chicago Comic Book Stores Participating in Free Comic Book Day

CHICAGO – Geek Christmas has arrived in Chicago, with Free Comic Book Day returning to its traditional one-day event Saturday.

Over 2,000 stores around the country will take part in Free Comic Book Day, which is intended to promote comics and attract new readers to independent comic books stores across North America.

This is the 20th anniversary of the national event, which began in 2002 on the day after the release of the first “Spider-Man” film. It is held annually on the first Saturday of May, typically on the same weekend as the release of a major film based on a Marvel comic.

This year’s Free Comic Book Day takes place the same weekend as the release of the latest Marvel superhero film, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”

A committee of comic book retailers has selected 46 comic book titles at participating comic shops worldwide. The comics are categorized into "gold" and "silver" categories. "Gold" comics include "Doctor Who," and "Stranger Things Resident Alien," while "Avengers X-Men" and "The Guardian of Fukushima" are among the "silver" comics.

Here are the participating Chicago comic book stores:

Alleycat Comics
5304 N. Clark St.

Graham Crackers Comics of Andersonville
5028 N. Clark St.

Graham Crackers Comics - Lakeview
3162 N. Broadway St.

Graham Crackers Comics - Downtown Chicago
77 E. Madison St.

Dark Tower Comics
4835 N. Western Ave.
* also having special events for FCBD and a store wide sale 25- to 75- percent off; Dollar COmics 50 percent off

Chicago Comics Inc.
3244 N. Clark St.

Third Coast Comics
6443 N. Sheridan Road

Alternate Reality
3149 W. 111th St.

First Aid Comics
1617 East 55th St.

First Aid Comics - Little Italy
1142 W. Taylor St.

Quimby’s Book Store
1854 W. North Ave.

Challengers Comics and Conversation
1845 N. Western Ave.

G-Mart Comics
2641 N. Kedzie Ave.

Gryend House/Zombie Unicorn Comics
3417 W. Peterson Ave.

Individual stores may limit how many free comics each person may pick from each category. Each store may also have additional giveaways for the special occasion. Check with your location for details.

This year, Free Comic Book Day will also be introducing an age rating system, so everyone gets the comics they want, indicated on the cover by a color-coded Free Comic Book Day logo: green denotes books appropriate for readers of all ages, including kids. The blue logo denotes books appropriate for teen readers, ages 13 and up, and the red logo denotes mature titles, most appropriate for those 18 and up.

Remember, you’re getting something for free, so be sure to say thank-you. Also, Free Comic Book Day is not free for retailers who have to order the selections, so buy something too.

Click here to find a store near you by Zip Code, and visit Free Comic Book Day for more information.