Free Comic Book Day is again upon us, and like the eclipse or Halley’s Comet is aligns with a nerdom holiday, Star Wars Day. Or as it is known on Tattoine, May The Fourth Be With You.
According to Wikipedia:
Star Wars Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4 to celebrate the Star Wars media franchise created by filmmaker George Lucas. Observance of the day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations since the franchise began in 1977.[1][2]
The date originated from the pun “May the Fourth be with you”, a variant of the Star Wars catchphrase “May the Force be with you”. Even though the holiday was not created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans have chosen to celebrate the holiday.[3] It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company as an annual celebration of Star Wars.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Day
And for those who don’t know the history of Free Comic Book Day, we again go to Wikipedia:
“Free Comic Book Day was conceived by Joe Field, a California-based comics retailer, event promoter and partner in WonderCon.[6] In 2001, Field noted how successful feature films based on comic book franchises were providing the comic book industry with a positive cultural and financial turnaround from the speculator bust of the mid-1990s.[6][7] Inspired by Free Scoop Night at the Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlor next to his store, Field proposed Free Comic Book Day in his August 2001 “Big Picture” column in Comics & Games Retailer magazine.[6][5] The column received a positive reaction and Image Comics co-founder Jim Valentino suggested having the first FCBD coincide with the opening weekend of the 2002 Spider-Man feature film, to take advantage of the film’s heavy promotion and related press about the comic book medium.[6][8] The first event was held May 4, 2002, the day after the film’s opening, and its first four free comic books were Marvel Comics‘ Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (a reprint of its issue published in 2000), Dark Horse Comics‘ one-shotStar Wars Tales: A Jedi’s Weapon, Image Comics/Top Cow Productions‘ one-shot Tomb Raider #1+1⁄2 and the first issue of DC Comics‘ Justice League Adventures comic book (based on the Justice League animated television series).[6][9][10][11] The event has usually been held on the first Saturday in May and is often cross-promoted with the release of the first big-budget superhero film of the summer.[12]“
Several organized literacy groups have also been a part of supporting Free Comic Book Day, and have used it as a way to encourage reading through the medium of comic books.
This year, however, Free Comic Book Day is aligning with May The Fourth, and all across the starscape, retailers, and communities are celebrating Star Wars Day in the biggest way possible.
For example, public libraries in Madison, WI, Duncanville and Austin, TX are participating with local comic book shops to be part of the action. At these events and several others across the country, characters from the Star Wars franchise will make appearances, and events like showings of the original trilogy have been planned.
So, if you’re a comic book fan, Star Wars Fan, or just love having a nerdy day with the family, check with your local comic book shops and libraries for events near you. Enjoy Free Comic Book Day and May The Fourth Be With You!
