Comic book fans celebrated their love of the medium Saturday during Free Comic Book Day at shops across the city.
Held every year on the first Saturday in May, the event is an opportunity for enthusiasts, both curious newcomers and seasoned readers, to snag some free comics. Publishers release special editions, “from superhero staples to indie gems,” according to organizers.
Stores also join forces for the Comic Crawl through which participants can collect stamps for each shop they visit as well as pick up free comics and meet with artists and fellow comic book lovers. Costumes are encouraged.
Jessica Ibarra, 30, of Albany Park, was among the enthusiasts doing the crawl, stopping by Dark Tower Comics, 4835 N. Western Ave. in Lincoln Square. As someone who just recently got into comic books, she said she enjoys doing Free Comic Book Day with her friends.
Dressed as Mothman, a winged cryptid most famously associated with Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where numerous sightings were reported in the late 1960s, she showed off the day’s haul so far: Superman and the Scarlet Witch series.
“There’s a lot of people coming in together, like a community,” Ibarra said of what she likes about Free Comic Book Day.
Free Comic Book Day is also a chance for comic book fans to meet artists.
As an artist for Marvel and D.C. as well as video game companies, Maria Wolf, 33, of Ukrainian Village said she was surprised to see so many people waiting to meet her at Dark Tower Comics on Saturday and tell her how much they enjoy her work.
“It’s always good to do these things, one, just to be part of the community, and two, to get people more interested in comic books, starting from the younger generation to the older generation,” Wolf said.
Free Comic Book Day is the perfect time to get into comics, and with the diversity of stories from horror and sci-fi to superheroes, there’s something for everyone, Wolf said.
She also encouraged people to visit a comic book store.
“Many of [local comic book shops] are starting to disappear, but that’s because nobody knows that they have a local comic book shop by them.”
In an era where it’s quicker to order a book online, Wolf said the experience, while efficient, cannot compare with talking to someone who is knowledgeable and passionate about comic books.
“[Online retailers] can’t give you the same experience you can by going to an actual store or talking to actual people, building up a community and getting to know people,” Wolf said.
“Going to your comic book store is a very welcoming feeling. And that’s the thing about comic books. It’s welcoming to everybody.”
Contributing: Dorothy Hernandez, Anna Savchenko, Pat Nabong
