We already know that comics are an art like any other literature, but in case you were not convinced or you are not used to it, this year the Free Comic Book Day is celebrated again, the day designed to promote the reading of comics that will give away for a day thousands of these books in Barcelona and Catalonia.
The Free Comic Book Day will be held next Saturday, May 10, giving continuity to an initiative that, since 2010, invites everyone to enter a specialized bookstore and get a comic book completely free. The goal: to encourage reading, give visibility to the comic sector and celebrate a special day around the ninth art.
Inspired by the American Free Comic Book Day, which has been celebrated on the first Saturday of May since 2002, in Spain the event is moved to the second Saturday of the month. This year, more than 50 bookstores throughout the country will participate by giving away thousands of copies. In addition, many of them will organize special activities such as author signings, presentations or meetings with readers.
What comics will be given away?
This year, the publishers Aleta, Astiberri, Panini and Unpopular Studio are responsible for the titles of this edition that will be given away. This means that you will be able to take home, for example:
- The Fantastic 4 (Marvel) and Superman Unlimited: All In (DC), courtesy of Panini.
- Revival. Chapter One, a rural thriller by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, and the vampire parody Nosferrata, by Javi Alfonso and Majo Giménez, published by Aleta.
- The Last Mermaid, a science fiction story by Derek Kirk Kim, published by Astiberri.
- And for cyberpunk fans, Punkdroid, published by Unpopular.
Which bookstores give away free comics in Barcelona and Catalonia?
In Barcelona city, you can join the celebration by visiting:
- Norma Còmics (Passeig de Sant Joan, 9).
- Universal (Ronda Sant Pau, 62)
- Antifaz (Gran de Gràcia, 239)
In the rest of Catalonia, also participating:
- Riu Tori Cómics (Viladecans)
- Pow Cómics (Vilanova i la Geltrú)
- Nikochan Comics (Terrassa)
- Terra de Còmic (Tarragona)
You can check the complete list of participating stores in Spain at the official website of the Free Comic Book Day.