Comics Giveaways: Free Comic Book Day Returns May 2, 2026!

The first Saturday in May of every year is Free Comic Book Day!

This year, the event falls on Saturday, May 2, 2026, and will be filled with fun free comic books and samplers from your favorite publishers. Distributor Penguin Random House is also releasing a slate of free books from its associated publishers under the banner of Comics Giveaway Day. That just means fans have dozens of exciting titles awaiting them at this annual celebration of comics, pop culture, and community!

Every comic store’s event is a little different — some host cosplay contests, some hold special sales on other merch, others have raffles or giveaways, and more. Check your local shop’s operating hours and activities, and get out on May 2 to support the comic book community. Here’s a full list of titles you can find being given away at this year’s Free Comic Book Day event:

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Free Comic Book Day 2026

• Ablaze: The Cimmerian: The Pool of the Black One
• AMP Comics: Greatest American Hero
• Archie Comics: World of Archie One-Shot
• AWA Studios: Preview of Ultimate Oz Universe Vol. 2: Into the Outerlands
• DC: Aquamanatee #1 Special Edition
• DC: DC x Sonic #1 Special Edition
• DC: DC Next Level Sampler
• DC: The Nice House on the Lake #1
• Dynamite Entertainment: Stitch #1
• Dynamite Entertainment: Supernatural #1
• Image: Energon Universe FCBD 2026 Special
• Keenspot Entertainment: Spotlight 2026
• Keenspot Entertainment: Toybox 2026
• Mad Cave Studios: Flash Gordon #1
• Mad Cave Studios: Terrorbytes #1
• Oni Press: Mind MGMT/Fort Psycho Special
• REKCAH Comics: Future is ****** Annual 2026 #1 (One-Shot)
• Titan Comics: Conan the Barbarian: Tides of the Tyrant King #0
• Titan Comics: Gun Honey Doubles Down #0
• UDON Entertainment: Mega Man Showdown Special #1
• UDON Entertainment: Street Fighter Forever #0
• UDON Entertainment/Manga Classics: Journey to the West
• Vault Comics: Dungeon Crawler Carl #0
• Vault Comics: Inanna The Name She Lost #0

Free Comic Book Day Highlights:

There is truly something for everyone at these events. With so many publishers, genres, and properties in the comics industry, readers new and old, child and adult, are sure to find stories they’ll enjoy.

DC For All Ages

Specifically under the Free Comic Book Day label, fans can grab a lineup of DC books for readers of every age: Aquamanatee is more suited for young readers, telling the “tail” of a manatee that gains superpowers and teams up with Aquaman. The DC x Sonic crossover is perfect for fans of the Blue Blur who want to see how Sonic the Hedgehog and his famous friends team up with the Justice League to fight crime and save the day. For more mature readers, DC’s The Nice House on the Lake shouldn’t be overlooked — we’ve previously covered it (and its sequel series The Nice House by the Sea) as modern can’t-miss horror books.

Dynamite Brings Disney and Demons

Dynamite Entertainment is also bringing some fun and popular fandoms to their publishing lineup. Television fans won’t want to miss hopping in the Impala and grabbing a preview of Supernatural #1. The publisher is also launching a Buffy the Vampire Slayer return later this year, and we know from experience there’s a lot of crossover between fans of our favorite Slayer and the demon-hunting Winchesters. Plus, bring home a new Stitch comic for your ‘ohana! Dynamite’s Disney publishing has been a lot of fun for audiences of all ages. Plus, that’s not the only Stitch book being offered during the event (check the Comics Giveaway Day releases for more details).

And More!

Other highlights include a Dungeon Crawler Carl book from Vault Comics, which is sure to be a popular pick. Archie Comics are always fun and funny for fans of America’s Favorite Teenager. And video game fans picking up DC x Sonic should also be sure to grab the Street Fighter and Mega Man releases from UDON Entertainment.

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Comics Giveaway Day 2026 (CGD)

• BOOM! Studios: Garfield Special CGD 2026
• BOOM! Studios: Jem and the Holograms/My Little Pony Flipbook CGD 2026
• BOOM! Studios: Power Rangers #0 CGD 2026
• BOOM! Studios: Something is Killing the Children: Road to Slaughter CGD 2026
• Dark Horse Comics: Avatar: The Last Airbender — Legends/Minecraft: Heart of Cobblestone CGD 2026
• Dark Horse Comics: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe/Dungeons & Dragons CGD 2026
• IDW: Locke & Key #1 CGD 2026
• IDW: Sonic the Hedgehog #1 CGD 2026
• Ignition Press: Minotaur: The Cold Open CGD 2026
• Kodansha: Blue Lock Full Color Selection & Dragon Circus CGD 2026
• Marvel: Alien, Predator, & Planet of the Apes #1 CGD 2026
• Marvel: Amazing Spider-Man #1000/Queen in Black #1 CGD 2026
• Marvel: Armageddon Avengers/X-Men #1 CGD 2026
• Marvel: Spidey & His Amazing Friends #1 CGD 2026
• Penguin Young Readers: The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade Sampler CGD 2026
• Penguin Young Readers: The Whole Wide World of Mabel Mulligan Sampler CGD 2026
• RH Children’s Books: Pizza and Taco CGD 2026
• RH Children’s Books: School Bus Graveyard CGD 2026
• Ten Speed Graphic: Mister Magic Sampler CGD 2026
• Ten Speed Graphic: The British Are Coming Sampler CGD 2026
• Tokyopop: Disney Manga: Stitch! Best Food Forever! CGD 2026
• Wattpad Webtoon Studios: WEBTOON Unscrolled Preview CGD 2026

Comics Giveaway Day Highlights

Yes, Comics Giveaway Day is basically the exact same thing as Free Comic Book Day. It is just held through a different comics distributor which has partnerships with certain publishers.

Marvel Events, Monster Movies, and More

For Marvel readers, look for the CGD label as you prepare to pick up books that help prepare you for the next big super hero stories. Avengers/X-Men Armageddon will give fans a preview of the upcoming event book while the Amazing Spider-Man #1000 and Queen in Black sampler also brings you an early look at these milestone stories. Fans of sci-fi movies, especially from 20th Century Studios, will want to get their hands on the Planet of the Apes/Alien/Predator book — no, it’s not the craziest crossover you’ve ever seen, but a look at new adventures coming from each property separately. And younger readers will get a kick out of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, featuring Jeff the Land Shark!

Licensed Fandom Books from BOOM!, Dark Horse, and More

A totally radical, mighty morphin collection of different fandom stories are coming your way from BOOM! Studios, including a preview for their new Power Rangers series, new Garfield comics, Jem and the Holograms, and My Little Pony.

Meanwhile, Dark Horse returns with more of its Avatar: The Last Airbender adventures, as well as Masters of the Universe and some Dungeons & Dragons for high fantasy fans.

Not to be forgotten, Sonic the Hedgehog is speeding into a second free comic with Sonic the Hedgehog #1 from IDW.

Creator-Owned Books to Keep an Eye On

Readers looking for exciting original stories will want to grab copies of BOOM!’s Something is Killing the Children: The Road to Slaughter for the latest on Erica Slaughter’s monster-killing exploits. IDW Classics will allow fans to revisit the hit Joe Hill series Locke & Key, and new indie publisher Ignition Press presents a “Cold Open” lead-in to their newest sci-fi adventure story Minotaur, which tells the story of the computer sentience Singularity occurring and then being aborted mere seconds later, though Pandora’s box may have already been opened in that fraction of technological time.

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Find a Sideshow Retail Comic Store Near You

Many amazing comic book stores across the country that are participating in the FCBD fun are also official Sideshow retail partners. To find a local store near you, be sure to check out our Sideshow Retail Store Locator.

Note, the free giveaway books aren’t free for the stores to acquire, so it’s always nice to do what you can to support them as thanks — pick up your pull list, treat yourself to an extra graphic novel, or score some savings if they’re running a sale! Look for these comics and more, and support your local comic stores nationwide on May 2, 2026.

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Which books will you be getting on FCBD 2026? Will this be your first time celebrating? Connect with other collectors and comic fans at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!