Free Comic Book Day 2026

 Hey my Geeky Friends,

It's time for that Geekiest month of the year May. It has May the Fourth be with you, Towel and Geek Pride Day, there's always a convention, and it's my local geek store's anniversary. But first up was Saturday the 2nd with that great nerdy holiday of Free Comic Book Day! The day the comic book companies shower us with free stuff. I was so excited to be able to properly participate this year, last year I only was able to do the store anniversary celebration at Geek Mountain since Fangirl was down with her reproductive organs trying to unalive her. I had no ride to Asheville. So we made a triumphant return this year. So I shall tell the tale in pictures and words, including a poem.

 

Free Comic Book Day 2026 

Running on two grapes and cola

First stop is on the home turf at Geek Mountain

It's proprietor has forgotten his own store anniversary 

With a guitar pick and a pack of mystery dice

We journey on to the sound of geek

At Morgan's Comics a friendly face greets

Rambunctious people and small rule changes gives rise to anxiety

They line up at Comic Envy with butt crack showing

A mom with Jedi offers snacks to her fellow line people 

As we wait for our comic stories another one seems to be brewing

When a pizza patron mutters "It's a bonding experience and we get food out of it."

Once inside the store is a safe space 

For All are welcome

We take our lunch at our first Outback

With an enthusiastic waiter who loves his job

There I almost choke on Fettuccine Alfredo

In our visit to a thrifting realm

I start our visit by going back to the wrong car

In the bins I find the holy grail and Sci-Fi history

"The Hobbit" that has alluded me is collected

Half a coconut sits on a carpet of second hand treasures

If I had the second half I could make horse sounds

Their putting dice in skulls back home at Game Forge

Where the gaming tables are alive

We see a Dungeon Master carrying a huge dragon figure

Will there be a TPK tonight?

Heading toward the holler we take the bypass 

Where a biker joins our journey home

With headbanging music

Not my best poem, but I'm sure with more time and energy.

A More In Depth Look

So our first stop was at Geek Mountain our local nerdy shop to see what he was doing for his store's anniversary. I hadn't heard him mention anything in videos. It was low key compared to last year's shop anniversary weekend cause he forgot. His wife reminded him. So he was gonna do a little something on May the Fourth be with you for the anniversary. I just picked up a guitar pick while Fangirl got some stickers and dice. As Fangirl started the car Click-Clack Goblin (A Dice Tribute) by Twisted Game Songs was finishing its play. Fitting song given what Fangirl bought.

 

Our next stop was Morgan's Comics in West Asheville. There were comics aplenty, but unbeknownst to me they'd changed from doing 10 comics per person to 5 last year I think and I didn't know it. I mean thankfully I found out, but dang it got my anxiety further in a state. I know it's not a big deal, but tell my brain that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The people kinda already got me going. Now normally I'm good in nerdy masses, thank Chuck I didn't inherit Pop's Social Anxiety, but when we get in groups where people are darting around you cutting you off, yeah that's where I have issues. I mean every holiday season Walmart triggers me. Fangirl who doesn't like people right up in her space had to bug out quickly after getting her comics. I did have a nice chat with Birdie who works there before having to duck out myself. 

 

We headed to Merrimon Avenue to see the action at Comic Envy. There was a line and they only let so many in.

 

 

 

 

Fangirl and I took the opportunity to take a pic while Lobo guarded the gates in. 

   

  

I'm glad they implemented this limiting of people going in it was nice not to get squished in the store. 

Afterwards Fangirl and I took our first trip to Outback Steakhouse. The deep fried mushrooms were awesome. They have this Ranch that has a little kick to it, chief's kiss. My Queensland Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo dish was good as well:

 

 

 

We hit up the Goodwill Outlet, my first time in a year and 5 months. I found some books and magazines like a bunch of copies of Issac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. I also found the edition of The Hobbitt I'd been scoping on Pango books! Found some trinkets including the holy grail! I also saw some funny things like this humorously titled book:

I was hoping for it to be $5 or under and to my delight it was $4.45. I was a Thrifty Geek that day. All those book and things for that price. This is why I love the outlet above the retail Goodwill. 

 

We headed back to our home county for one last stop: Game Forge.

 

 

We were greeting by handfuls of little skulls some with dice in them. The game tables had a lot of action going on. As we were departing we saw a Dungeon Master carrying in a large dragon figure. I felt a TPK was on the horizon.

Heading home a motorcyclist passes us blaring music and I started head banging to it. Then went home and finished my lunch leftovers with my Mom, who was eating whatever she made.she made. We just talked about the day. A great way to end a good day.

The Haul

First there was the comics! Supernatural is my favorite. Can we laugh it was released on Sam Winchester's 43 birthday? I have to hold off on Dungeon Crawler Carl's because I'm currently reading the book and don't want spoiled. 

 

In the Goodwill haul I cleaned up book wise. My Mom was like "More books..."

My grail is perfect for the skull I bought at Game Forge!

Whew! FCBD was a tiring, but fun. I was glad everyone was well to go, a little anxiety but not enough to keep me down. I have to rest up now I have my first convention coming up the Spring WNC Comic Con. Hope you all have a good week! May the odds ever be in your favor.

*Thrifty Geek* 

The Free Comic Book Day Haul Review

 Hey comic book friends, 

 

The 7th was Free Comic Book Day. I have already breezed through my selections. So today I'm going to review them. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Official Prelude To The Armageddon Game

In this comic we are introduced to a new leg of the comics with a throwback to the original TMNT comic that premiered the month before I was born. The comic artist decided to do the intro just like the first issue, they even include the original. This was a nice little comic, and learned a really great bit of Turtles history. Of course bit darker than say TV turtles, but I already knew that was the case with the comics turtles, which nothing wrong with that, but just a good heads up for those who aren't familiar with the comic turtles.

Doctor Who Comic 2022

In this comic we see the further adventures of the Fugitive Doctor in an early encounter with Earth. it is this encounter that changes her mind of how she views Earth. Which leads into the First Doctor touching down on Earth for what he believes is the first time. Uh it's all wibbly wobbly time wimey right? This was another great Doctor Who comic, I always enjoy them the free and the ones I buy.

Hollow 

This turned out to be my favorite comic out of the whole bunch. This is about Izzy Crane who moves to Sleepy Hollow and finds herself among the descendants of the legend's characters . She even gets the hots for Victoria Van Tassel, which upon learning Izzy's last name tries to avoid her, I mean it's bad enough she's a Van Tassel. There's also a really mysterious guys walking around other than the horseman that may be set to cause misfortune in the town. I'm going to be honest when this comic drops this September I may have to check it out. I love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and this series looks like it'll be a great read.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The 25th Anniversary

This comic starts as a yearbook style thing. Characters from the comics are lined up yearbook style with superlatives and special sections that's suppose to be the throwback to 25 years I guess. We then get a preview to a new comic series coming out. I'm going to be honest little disappointed. I was looking for more of a look back than what we got. I'm not even sure which comics they pulled from for their pics, was it actually different comic series, or just one of them. I'm thinking it was from the different series with the characters, but I don't know. It just left me like "that was our look back"? It just felt underwhelming. 

Extra Helpings:

Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed Wonder Woman Day Special Edition 

Now this wasn't part of FCBD offerings. This was a left over from another free comic event that Morgan's Comics had so they brought them out to offer for folks that may have missed the event. I being a Wonder Woman fan couldn't say no to a freebie. This gives us a look at a chapter from the graphic novel of the same name. It's a Wonder Woman origin story looks like. Always love a good origin story. Looks like a interesting graphic novel where Diana is accidentally swept away from her island. So I don't know if the novel itself is any good, let me know in the comments. 

That's all she reviewed. Yeah I usually don't go ham on getting comics on FCBD just from fandoms or ones that sound interesting and initially only four caught me interest, which is usually good since stores usually have a limit on what you get. I hope you enjoyed, much love this week. and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek*

Free Comic Book Day 2022

Hey My Fellow Comic Book Nerds,

Today is all about Free Comic Book Day.  It's that day special day of the year comic book store offer up free comic books from some best in the game. Comic companies make special comics to offer up that give fans a taste of their comics. It was started as a way to introduce new readers to the comic book genre. It's always held the first Saturday in May, with the exception of last year due to Covid and it was in August. Well this year was back at it's regularly scheduled time, and while I still masked up and was careful despite having all my shots, I found it less Covid Anxiety inducing than last year. 

Outfit:

So first things first I needed the right outfit, now I don't usually cosplay for FCBD, but I do like to geek it up. Take last year I heard there was going to be a Critical Role comic so I wore the shirt I have from the show in honor of it, and it made a great picture. So this year when with my hat Fangirl made me that's adorned in nerdy pins. I did a variation on my yellow newsprint nails, and actually did comic print ones, that heart ring in the pic was made by Fangirl as well. Wore some Legend of Zelda socks, my Docs that recently got a hand colored pink skull upgrade, my Mom decorated "My Geek is Showing" shirt, I wanted to do something with a plain red shirt, unfortunately my handwriting is crap. Then I finished off with some geeky jewelry first this necklace, made by you guessed it Fangirl, she gave this to me on what I call my "Bad Wolf" birthday and since Doctor Who was on my mind I see a blue box with stars two hearts and thought aw it's Doctor Who themed! Well until I found out she hadn't made it with those intentions years later, oh well it still reminds me of Who. Which congrats to Ncuti Gatwa on being named the new Doctor, look forward to Traveling through Space and Time with you! I also wore this beaded bracelet I received as a favor from the Marshmallow Rainbows Maid Cafe at AARC one year. If this con returns next year with the maids you should check them out.

The Places:

Comic Envy

Our first stop was Comic Envy in Asheville on Merrimon Avenue. Of the two comic book stores we frequent this is the one we've been going to the longest. We were greeted by this lovely lady who I'm almost certain is Jean Grey, let me know in the comment if I'm off:

X-Men have Comic Envy Covered

 

There were comics a plenty to choose from. I didn't have a huge list I wanted this year, but I managed to get all I want, and there was plenty to choose from.

One of the special guests was set up, sadly I didn't get a picture of him, and I'm not sure which one it was. I conversed with one of the workers their who was nice. I really had a great time.

 

Some of the great worker at Comic Envy

 Morgan's Comics

Our next stop was to Morgan's comics in West Asheville, where we can be found at least once a month. 

 

 We were greeted by a couple interesting this the storm troopers pictured above, and this two headed snake skeleton pictured below.

 

 

The ever trusty sandwich board that gives us the deets.

At the store was Morgan herself (pictured above). This is an awesome woman. She's runs this amazing store, she's the first female owned comic shop in Western North Carolina, and she's literally the store's hero she came in an saved it. I'm not kidding you can read about it in this Citizen Times article. She's always a pleasure to talk to.

Matt, Morgan's Husband, standing in the new Pokemon store.

The store was celebrating it's new section opening called the Pokemon Sanctuary, it's a little section in the back of their store dedicated to Pokemon.

 

It is a small but mighty store!

One of the people signing there was Hope Larson, who worked on some Batgirl comics.  

And can we talk about Morgan's personalized comic bags? They are so cute!

 

 The Rest of The Day:

Seems Morgan's was not the only spot having fun in West Asheville the Odditurium was also having this fun looking event.

We had a late Chinese Buffet Lunch, then hit up a couple Goodwills and then called it a day. Not a bad one at that.

The Haul:

I utilized my full comic allowance at each store, but only five were for me, the rest were for my comic loving sister who had to work that day. But all in all a good year.

 

  I hope you have a good day, read comics, and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek*

Free Comic Book Day 2019

Happy Friday Friends,

In today's post we'll be talking Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), I may have mentioned it before but this is one if not my favorite geeky holiday.

Prep

I prepared for the day by painting my nails as close to a comic book yellow as I could get ( I used a wet n wild® yellow). Then using a technique I learned a long time ago somewhere on Facebook I guess I added newsprint to it. This is achieved by soaking your nails in alcohol and laying a piece of news print over your nail briefly and the words will transfer. Sadly you can't see the news print well in this picture.

 

Goodbye?

On to the day itself,  the morning which smelled so good. We went to our usual first FCBD stop Hero Hunter comics, which had moved and seemed to be closed. We learned from a guy later that they'd closed the week before. I don't know if it's permanent or what.

Morgan's Comics

We headed to Morgan's Comics, and ran into the guy who use to own Not So Old Toys and Comics, he may still he said he might come back so not sure. A lot of unsure on businesses on this day.

It was sensory overload as it usually at comic shops during FCBD. There were free comics, figures, and an old NES system. Saw a really nice Batman costume and a woman with I assume her kids who was dressed in a cute TARDIS dress. I ended up picking up a couple d10's to add to my collection:

 

I've done named them so that'll be part of a dice naming post at some point.

Comic Envy

Our next Stop was Comic Envy where Captain Sparrow was manning traffic yet again, he had a few helpers later encouraging people to stop by. 

 One of my favorite costumes I saw here was the worker dressed as Luna Lovegood, one of my favorite characters from Harry Potter. I also ran into an old Film and Video classmate. He was geeking out with his sons. I ended up purchasing a couple comics, one being Marvel True Believers® #1 Earth's Mightiest Hero Captain Marvel. Ever since her movie she's made my top three superheros. I can't tell you the second one cause it's a gift for someone.

The Wayvern's Tale
We popped next door at The Wayvern's Tale, a cool gaming store that has become part of our FCBD rounds. So many games and stuff I wanna purchase, but then I'd be broke. I did get couple dice. One as a gift, and this cute little one:

For some reason this dice reminds me of Big Hero 6's Baymax.
I also saw the TARDIS Mom again, so nice to know we weren't the only one's making rounds to the nerdy stores that day.

Avengers: Endgame

We then headed to the movie theater for lunch and to see Avengers: Endgame. All I can say is wow! It was an epic movie with epic feels. I may have actually shed a tear or two. *warning channeling Captain Malcom Reynolds* I got goosbumps during this movie. If you haven't seen it, see it before it gets spoiled for you if you can.

And can I just say what Stan Lee says for his final cameo is good words, though I think "Excelsior" would have been more perfect. I just hope they find ways of honoring him in other movies.

Other Geeky Haul

After the movie to move around a bit, and maybe a bit of retail therapy, we did some shopping. I came across the entire first season of Angel which I happily purchased given I have yet to get any Buffyverse episodes yet.

Geeky Inspiration

As I was out I found myself being inspired by what I saw, so I crafted a poem:

FCBD 2019 Observations

The floral scents of morning
 Sweetly kiss the nose
Are we saying goodbye
To the one who introduced us to this day?
The Wendy's worker in the mascot's clothing
Dances on the roadside with balloons tied to her arms
A sidewalk traveler spontaneously busts a move
While at a stop light a driving woman sings to the music
A familiar face pops up at a new place
Someday he might return to us
A stop sign has become a vegan's message
"STOP eating animals"
A band jams under an overpass
Beneath the flying squirrels
The purple bus zooms by
Proclaiming someone's done weirder
The afternoon rain drenches the world
As an epic battle plays before our eyes

So did you guys have any favorite comics from this year? I'm still working through mine. Right now no surprise my favorite is Doctor Who. I hope you have a good weekend, geek it up, and may God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Free Comic Book Day and Marvel

Hello my nerdy friends,

Free Comic Book Day is coming up. I've made my list of comics I'm particularly interested in, got my big bag ready to hold stuff, and wondering who's dying in Avengers: Endgame, yeah I such an optimist aren't I? Yeah we decided to save this movie for FCBD to continue the tradition, at least for the last few years of a comic book movie on FCBD. Speaking of things Marvel have you seen you guys seen the awesomeness Jimmy Fallon did? That probably is a stupid question isn't it? I wish this song could be available for download.

Captain Marvel
Last month to get ready for Endgame Fangirl and I went and saw Captain Marvel. I have to say after the feels of Infinity War this movie was a little more easier on the emotions except when Stan Lee came on the screen. I mean come on we all had feels there. I love the nostalgia: old businesses and phone booths, I mean even the movie's website screamed 90's, ah the days when almost everyone had a website. I also loved seeing some familiar old faces in this movie, and new ones like Goose! I foresee cats being named Goose. Fangirl thinks the cat was so named for the Spruce Goose, but I say he was named Goose from Top Gun. What do you all think? I think Captain Marvel maybe my third favorite comic hero now. Second being Storm from X-Men, and the top slot going to Wonder Woman.

Free Comic Book Day
One of my favorite geeky holidays is FCBD, it's free comics! I also try to make sure to purchase something so I'm just not getting free stuff, gotta love a massive conscious. I'm looking forward to this year's Doctor Who comic and the Whedonverse one.  Do you guys have any your looking forward to getting?

Well I have a lot of geekiness coming up, I hope you guys have a good week end, and God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Great Strides and Free Comic Book Day 2018

Hello this rainy night my friends,

I hope and pray all is well with you guys. Before this rain shut down on us I've been taking advantage of the outdoors and my mindscape. I have not been able to sit still as of late. But here I am ready to regal you with the month's fun. Sit back this maybe a long one. These particular events took place during a course of two days.

Great Strides
Since 2007 my peeps and me have off and on participated in this great cause. Great Strides is an amazing event that raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. There are walks all over every year to collect the money you've raised thus far and just celebrate your efforts. Why do I walk you may ask? Well this is why I walk:

You'd know her as the Captain. I've watched her battle this beast and it's minions, she's a strong little warrior, she may not look it, but she is.
 This is the first time in a few years we've all got to get together to do the walk as one big group. Since they changed were we use to walk and most our walk team is out in Franklin, we decided to walk out there.
The walk took place on May the Fourth be with you. Yes they put up some Star Wars decorations for the occasion. They even had a magician on hand, which Fangirl called it on his profession before he announced it.
While it wasn't Carrier Park, it was still a spectacular walk. There was a river to one side with people fishing on boats:

There was even a beaver pond:

I found my first painted rock hanging out in a tree:

The back said to post it Franklin NC Post, Fangirl said the tag should be #WNCrocks so there's both of them which ever it is. These rocks special made for the event was all over the trail. This one was my favorite:

They told us what was collected at this walk total over $14,000. I hope all these takes us closer to a cure.

It was great seeing all my best friends together in one place again. We had laughs, goofed off, talked Supernatural, and asked the important questions like "Could the Doctor lift Thor's hammer?"

Free Comic Book Day 2018
 

So the next day was my favorite Geeky Holiday: Free Comic Book Day!!! It was a rainy day off and on, but it did not dampen Fangirl's nor my spirits as we jammed to some Geeky tunes, well at least my spirits weren't,  Fangirl may have had a weather induced headache.
We had a new stop to make this year in the town of Canton at a shop called Not So Old Toys and Comics:

Usually when we've gone it's when his Mom is running the place, but today Mr. Rogers was there himself. Now since this store doesn't get in brand spakin new comics, they didn't have the free comics that were to be offered , but they did have special sales and maybe their own free selection. For the first 30 peeps in the store you got a free goodie bag. It was a Transformers Prime bag and the swag was 3 issues of Street Sharks, that was a trip down memory lane. I never read the comics or saw the show, but I remember the commercials for the toy line. Plus the ads found in these books take me back, they were the same ones that could be found in other magazines of my childhood. I purchased a unicorn for my Mom for Mother's day, while Fangirl gave into her Transformers fandom and bought a figure to add to her collection. I couldn't tell you the name of the character it's beyond the basics I think.

Their always watching...

Our next stop was Hero Hunter Comics, the origin store of our Free Comic Book Day hijinxs all that time ago. I'm happy to announce that after all these years they're going to be heading to what I hope a bigger local. I'm excited for them. So next year maybe we'll have a new shiny shop to raise havoc in. I purchased a Wonder Woman Bombshells Pin, because she's my favorite superhero. I also purchased a Princess Leia Pin, this was mainly cause I was thinking on the things I'd been telling Fangirl about her on the drive over there her prayer candle, warning bad gesture, and her glitter habits.

As we partook of the monthly Chinese feast,  Econut called to inform me of her comic haul, which included three rare Pirates of Dark Water comics.... *pouts* Do you guys remember that cartoon, if you do you rock!

The next location was suppose to be Haywood Comics, but in trying to find parking we ended up on one of our "adventures", code word for getting lost.  We went from West Asheville, to Carrier Park, through the River Arts District, and into Downtown. This surprised us when we ended up in downtown, yeah we decided not to back track.

But sometimes the unexpected journeys can be even better than what you planned. West Asheville is one of my favorite sections of Asheville, like many places in the city it has some amazing art on it's buildings:

Plus, I've always wanted to go to the River Arts District of Asheville which was a fun place to explore, and of course boasted it's own building art:

Or the building themselves seemed to catch my interest:

This is what I love about Asheville and the unexpected trips you never know what gems your gonna find.

As we headed on to Comic Envy we heard this street musician singing about going away in his time machine, my inner Whovian got giddy and pretty appropriate for the day I thought (one of the free comics was Doctor Who, yes I remembered to get it this year).

We got to Comic Envy only to learn they had moved and were on Merrimon avenue now. So another back track venture and we found it's new home. Captain Jack Sparrow was at his usual post directing traffic and getting his goof on.

It was a busy FCBD as usual. I decided to purchase another Doctor Who comic The Twelfth Doctor: Ghost Stories.

While out that way I suggested we go to The Wyvern's Tale, a gaming store I'd been wanting to go into for a bit. It just so happened to be down the road, so once Fangirl slapped her latest bumper stickers on her vehicle, we were off.

The Wyvern's Tale was a gamers wonderland. I added to my dice collection, amongst the purchases was a weather dice, and a blue transparent 6 sided die with a tiny white 6 sided die within.  I was eyeing some mini's and other wondrous treasures, but had to remind myself gotta save some dough for your Mother's Day gifts. The guy who run me up was nice and helpful, so that made my day.

As we headed to see Infinity Wars we saw more of the city's quirk that I've come to love. There was this mural I was really drawn to I guess cause I still love making dandelion wishes and I think one of my favorite flowers, the daisy, is in that bouquet.

As we got to the obelisk we found a man making huge bubbles:

I think a piece of me would have enjoyed just taking a moment to be out there enjoying the show.

So what were my thoughts of Infinity Wars? Like Marvel stuck a knife in my chest twisted it a bit yanked it out with my my heart still on the blade and stomped on it, yet I still found myself laughing and now quoting bits of the movie, that's a marvel movie for you I guess.

After the feels fest we dined upon Applebee's where apparently my constant energetic state as of late, well prior to being sick and the rain, made me actually have an appetite. Then a meal pick up for the folks and then we slogged home to the sounds of geek.

What were my favorite comics of my haul? Well Doctor Who of course, especially the 11th's story and maybe Lady Mechanika even though the 1st part was a recap from a past FCBD comic.

How has you May been my friends? Did you guys do anything for FCBD what were your favorite comments? Let me know in the comments. I hope you guys have a great week and may God bless you all, and hope it's sunny where your at.

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer