VIDEO: Free Comic Book Day Draws Tried Fans, New Readers

Spider-Man, Thor and Green Lantern comic books were handed out for free at in Maplewood on Saturday.

Fans crowded the store for Free Comic Book Day, a national annual event that empowers local comics shops to reward old readers and draw in new ones.

"It's a thank you to customers and to avid fans," said Sean Hook, store manager of the Fantasy Shop.

Maplewood resident Tim Oliphant brought his nephew to the event.

"I've been trying to get my nephew into buying a comics little bit," he said. "It's my way of trying to culture the next generation."

The store also held a weekend-long special to sell older issues of books for 30 cents each.