Free Comic Book Day Comes to Chimera's Comics in La Grange

LA GRANGE, IL -- The 16th annual Free Comic Book Day will be celebrated locally and at shops across America this Saturday, May 6. Thousands of free comic books will be handed out to loyal fans and newbies in what has become the most important day in the comic book industry. The 2017 edition coincides with the theatrical release of Marvel’s Guardians of Galaxy Vol. 2.

Chimera’s Comics in LaGrange and Oak Lawn is going all out to celebrate the day, with special appearances by comic book artists and characters, along with giveaways and a free drawing to win a pair of tickets to a June 1 showing of the new Wonder Woman movie at Hollywood Boulevard Cinema in Woodridge.

“Everyone works together, publishers, distributors and retailers to provide these free comics to our customers,” shop owner Carmelo Chimera said. “It’s a chance for customers to try new stuff they may not otherwise read, entice new readers and thank our regular loyal customers for keeping us open.”

Chimera, along with partner Steve Brown says they are pulling out all the stops for Free Comic Book Day, where crowds of people, many in costume, are wrapped around the block at both stores. Professional comic book artists Matthew Waite and Gene Ha will be at Chimera’s Comics in LaGrange at 19 S LaGrange Road. Eisner-Award winning artist Ha, creator of the new graphic novel Mae and artist for such hits as Top 10, will be signing and doing free sketches for kids from 5 to 8 p.m.

Spiderman will be dropping by the Oak Lawn store at 4915 W. 95th St. Spidey will be making comics with kids from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Parking available in the rear of the store and on the street.)

This year, 52 titles have been produced especially for Free Comic Book Day. Chimera says his stores plan to hand out 3,000 free comic books to patrons of all ages, as well as at mini-com events at the LaGrange and Oak Lawn public libraries. Some of the free titles available at Chimera’s Comics include the Avengers, Justice League, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Doctor Who.

“We’ll have DC Super Heroes for Girls geared to young female heroes,” Chimera said. “Some of the comics some are characters even I’m unfamiliar with, to get people to try them. Image Comics has an all-ages title called Kid Savage.”

In addition to Free Comic Book Day, Chimera says his stores will be celebrating the recent acquisition of a collection of comics from a LaGrange woman, which Chimera said can only be described as “historic.”

“People try and sell us comics everyday, but it’s almost always worthless,” Chimera said. “When my partner and manager said I had to see this collection, my jaw literally hit the floor. It’s as if someone made a list of all the famous comic books and said, ‘I’m going to buy all the famous comic books.’”

Chimera said the collection consists almost exclusively of famous comics, including premiere issues, first appearances of major characters, and other milestone comics. Many comics in the collection feature famous, iconic covers. The rarities will be for sale at Oak Lawn and La Grange stores.

“I’d have to open a whole other store just for this collection,” Chimera added, who stores are helping the woman sell off the collection, with titles for sale at the LaGrange and Oak Lawn stores removed overnight. “There’s Invincible Iron Man #1, the first appearance of Poison Ivy and Galactus of the Marvel Fantastic Four, and silver age #1 issue of Captain America. What’s truly spectacular is the concentration of ‘first books.’ It’s a collection of gems, all diamonds and no rough.”

Chimera’s Comics will be open for Free Comic Book Day at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6.

Other stores in the Southland participating in Free Comic Book Day include:

• Zone Comics & Games Inc., 18107 Dixie Highway, Homewood; 708-798-1005
• Amazing Fantasy, 16649 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park; 708-633-0837
• Comic Collector, 3246 S. Harlem Ave., Riverside; 708-442-0399
• Alternate Reality Inc., 3149 W. 111th St., Chicago (Mount Greenwood); 773-881-HERO (4376)

To find a participating store, visit Free Comic Book Day store locator.