Free Comic Book Day 2018: 5 Issues You Need To Pick Up This Year

The truism "too much of a good thing" wasn't coined because of Free Comic Book Day, but the phrase certainly could apply to this annual event. Held the first Saturday in May, the annual event is as advertised: a chance for comic book lovers — from the hardcore hobbyist to the curious casual consumer — to pick up specially printed issues for free at participating comic book stores.

Fifty free comic books will be offered during this year's Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 5 (although stores might not carry all the issues available). That's a lot of comics — even for diehard collectors —and while the issues might be free, somes stores do have limits on how many freebies customers can take home.

So what comic books should fans make sure is part of their haul from their local comic book store Saturday? Patch takes a look at the five comics you should definitely pick up during this year's Free Comic Book Day. Go to the event's website for a complete list of all the comics available this year.

1. "The Avengers"/"Captain America" (Marvel)

The Credits: Jason Aaron and Ta-Nehisi Coates (writers); Sara Pichelli and Leinil Francis Yu (artists)

Why You Should Pick It Up: Modestly billed as setting "the stage for an epic new direction in the Marvel Universe," this issue features the comic book versions of many of the characters currently racking up ticket sales that could equal the gross national product of a small country. This issue not only kicks off Aaron and Pichelli's run on "The Avengers," but it also launches a new "Captain America" series written by Coates, the journalist's second regular Marvel Comics series along with "Black Panther."

Who's It For: Teens

You Might Also Like … "The Avengers"/"Captain America" double bill isn't the only free comic Marvel is offering. The company also will have an "Amazing Spider-Man"/"Infinity Watch" issue on the shelves Saturday.

2. "Star Wars Adventures" (IDW)

The Credits: Cavan Scott (writer); Derek Charm (artist)

Why You Should Pick it Up: "Solo: A Star Wars Story" hits theaters later this month, and it's a Han Solo prequel movie. So consider this comic a prequel to that prequel film (which shouldn't be confused with those prequels). Set before "Star Wars: A New Hope," this issue shows Han and Chewie in their pre-Rebellion, smuggling days as they try to evade bounty hunters Zuckuss and 4-LOM. And yes, Free Comic Book Day comes after "Star Wars" Day ("May the Fourth" be with you).

Who's It For: All ages

You Might Also Like … Let's face it, if you dig "Star Wars," superheroes and comic books, odds are pretty good that you're also a James Bond fan. Free Comic Book Day is yourchance to check out "James Bond: Vargr," the first chapter of Dynamite Entertainment's ongoing 007 series by award-winning writer Warren Ellis and illustrator Jason Masters for free.

Reprinting the first chapter in Dynamite Entertainment's ongoing James Bond series! James Bond returns to London after a mission of vengeance in Helsinki, to take up the workload of a fallen 00 Section agent. But something evil is moving through the back streets of the city, and sinister plans are being laid for Bond in Berlin.Teen Audiences.

3. "DC Super Hero Girls" (DC)

The Credits: Shea Fontana (writer); Yancy Labat (artist)

Why You Should Pick It Up: The popularity of "Wonder Woman" at the box office last year has DC Comics focusing more attention not only on the Amazon, but also on the company's other costumed heroines, such as Batgirl and Supergirl. This issue features a chapter from the full-length graphic novel "DC Super Heroes: A Date With Disaster," and it also includes appearances by Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, two characters with a strong fanbase thanks to the 1990s Batman cartoon series.

Who's It For: All ages

You Might Also Like … Not everything worth checking out on Free Comic Book Day is gratis. On Wednesday — what's known as "new comics day" among the weekly local comic book store crowd — DC released "DC Nation" #0, a special comic that spotlights some of the comic book company's big events this year. The three new stories include

• a Batman-Joker tale by writer Tom King and arist Clay Mann that's a lead-in to the Dark Knight's impending marriage to Catwoman in "Batman" #50
• a prelude to "Justice League: No Justice," DC's summer event written by Scott Snyder
• a preview of "Man of Steel," the highly anticipated Superman miniseries written by arguably the industry's biggest writer, Brian Michael Bendis, the longtime Marvel creator who wrote the Nick Fury post-credits scene in 2008's "Iron Man" who recently defected to DC.

The issue only costs 25 cents, which even seems like a deal on a day dedicated to free comics.

4. "Barrier" (Image)

The Credits: Brian K. Vaughn (writer); Marcos Martin (artist)

Why You Should Pick it Up: "Barrier" is one of the most unique comics available Saturday. At 53 pages long, the issue — the first of a five-part miniseries dealing with violence, immigration and space aliens — is probably the biggest free comic offered, and it's printed in landscape format as it originally appeared online at PanelSyndicate.com. But the comic's biggest selling point —as much as a free comic book can have a selling point — is its creative team. Vaughn and Martin, who won the Eisner Award for their online series "The Private Eye," work seamlessly together to create an engaging narrative and push the boundaries of the form.

Who's It For: Mature readers

You Might Also Like … For decades, Fantagraphics has been the go-to publisher for some of the most important and influential comic creators, such as Los Bros. Hernandez, Charles Burns and Chris Ware. This year, the company has gathered a stellar group of artists, including Sophie Goldstein, Simon Hanselmann, Dash Shaw, Georgia Webber, Carol Tyler and Ellen Forney, to create more than a dozen new comic works for its Free Comic Book Day anthology, "Word's Greatest Cartoonist."

5. "Starburns Presents" (Starburns Industries Press)

The Credits: Patton Oswalt, Dan Harmon and Eric Esquivel (writers); Troy Nixey, Brent Schoonover, Rebecca Nalty (artists)

Why You Should Pick It Up: The name Starburns Industries might be unfamiliar to most people, but a certain segment of comedy fans know that's the name of the production company associated with the cult TV series "Community" and "Rick and Morty." With this special anthology issue, Starburns Industries is expanding into publishing in impressive fashion. Comic book-friendly comedian and actor Patton Oswalt and geek-adjacent TV writer Dan Harmon contribute to a book that should have plenty of crossover appeal, especially for "Parks and Recreation" fans who remember Oswalt's mindblowing rant that figured out how to marry the Marvel and "Star Wars" universes.

Who's It For: Mature readers

You Might Also Like … When it comes to truly funny funnybooks, two of the best are "The Tick" and "Street Angel." Both series have Free Comic Book Day offerings this year, and even if they fail to produce a chuckle, you'll at least be comfortable knowing you didn't overpay for the comics.

Images via Marvel Comics | DC Comics | Free Comic Book Day