Celebrate Free Comic Book Day in Columbia With 'Star Wars' Storm Troopers

The Force will be with Comics to Astonish on Saturday, when the specialty store in east Columbia joins thousands of other comic shops around the world to commemorate the 15th annual Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 7.

As part of the celebration, which is held each year on the first Saturday of May, customers can visit the Official Star Wars: The Force Awakens Storm Troopers and Biker Scout between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon to be in photographs and perhaps even autograph the popular issues set in that universe and produced by Marvel Comics.

Also appearing at the Columbia shop are life-size versions of Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who will take part in the celebration from 2 to 4 p.m.

Keegan Conrad, owner of the shop at 9400 Snowden River Parkway #112, said that more than 3,500 free comics will be given away to customers who visit the store between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

"Comics to Astonish has been helping promote Free Comic Book Day since its first year in 2002, and to date, we’ve given out more than 60,000 free comics to readers of all ages in Howard County,” Conrad noted. “It’s a great way to introduce new readers young and old to the wonderful world of comic books.”

Perhaps the most significant giveaways this year are titles from the biggest comics producer that will give readers a look at Marvel’s movies, including free issues connected to the company’s Captain America: Civil War—which opened in theaters on Friday—and a crossover comics event dealing with the sequel entitled Civil War II.

Fans of Captain America can also enjoy the return of Steve Rogers as the original star-spangled super-hero in another free comic from Marvel.

Meanwhile, DC Comics will provide a print preview of Suicide Squad, which will hit theaters on Aug. 5 and feature super-villains trying to win pardons from prison if they survive an extremely dangerous mission—as well as a run-in with Batman’s deadliest foe, the Joker.

Other giveaways providing high-powered adventure include: a Four Doctors Special from Titan Comics featuring the most recent versions of the last Time Lord from Gallifrey; and a compilation of stories from such science-fiction icons as Serenity, Hellboy and Aliens from Dark Horse Comics.

Also, new titles will celebrate the return of Rom: Spaceknight from IDW Publishing; a special issue from Hermes Press commemorating the 80th anniversary of The Phantom; and a comeback of martial artist Bruce Lee from Darby Pop.

Of course, there will be plenty of comics for younger readers. Those will include two items from Archie Comics: a reprint of an updated version of Archie Andrews and his friends, and a compilation of titles featuring Sonic the Hedgehog.

In addition, DC Comics is producing a free copy of DC Super Hero Girls while Spongebob Squarepants is produced by United Plankton, Pokemon comes back in a digest-sized issue from Viz Media; and Strawberry Shortcake is featured in an issue from IDW Publishing.

Finally, Grumpy Cat and Pokey will star in their own issue from Dynamite Entertainment, but it’s unlikely the grouchy star of this title would agree with any description of the characters or the story in the issue.

Since the store has quickly run out of copies of free titles in the past, Conrad said the shop will limit the number of copies to four per person until 5 p.m., when anyone can take as many of the issues as he or she wants.

As usual, an important aspect of this year’s commemoration will be the donation of 1,500 copies of comics to local libraries at no cost to them, an increase of 500 from the number distributed in previous years, Conrad stated.

Another special feature of this year’s Free Comic Book Day is the fact that this it will also be celebrated at the other Comics to Astonish store, which is located at 9400 Snowden River Parkway #112, in Columbia, Maryland.

For more information on the stores, their big sales and their online offers being held in conjunction with Free Comic Book Day, call (410) 381-2732 in Columbia or (301) 829-1017 in Mount Airy, or visit http://www.comicstoastonish.com.

If you want further details on the annual event itself, go to http://www.freecomicbookday.com.