Free Comic Book Day 2018: Where And When To Go In Tinley Park

TINLEY PARK, IL — For the past month, it's been impossible to swing an enchanted Asgardian hammer without hitting one of the countless commercials, news articles or social media posts dealing with "Avengers: Infinity War," the culmination in the seemingly endless slate of superhero movies playing almost year-round in theaters.

Lost amidst all the box office talk for this latest Marvel movie, however, has been an upcoming event that traditionally has been tied — albeit unofficially — to these superpowered summer spectaculars: Free Comic Book Day.

Since 2002, publishers have printed special issues to be given away at participating comic book stores, libraries and museums around the country on the first Saturday in May. The event usually coincides with the weekend opening of a superhero-centric movie in an a ongoing effort by the comic book industry to draft off the fast and furious popularity of those films. (The opening for "Avengers: Infinity War" originally was scheduled for the same weekend as Free Comic Book Day 2018 until the movie's premiere was moved up week earlier.)

RELATED: 5 Comics Worth Picking Up On Free Comic Book Day

Like previous years, Amazing Fantasy Books and Comics, 16649 Oak Park Ave., Unit A, will be participating in Saturday's Free Comic Book Day. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. this year, and here's what you need to know before you go:

• Customers can pick up eight select free comics inside the store and four more free comics will be available in the sidewalk sale.
• All purchases in the store will be 20 percent off during the event (there are exceptions, however)
• Customers attending Free Comic Book Day in a group of five people or more can let the person at the door know to get a hand stamp for an extra FCBD comic.

Amazing Fantasy also has stores in Frankfort and Lockport. Go to the chain's website for more information. Check out the Frankfort shop's Facebook page for details about Free Comic Book Day and how that store will celebrate.

Go to the website for a complete list of all the comics available this year.

Image via Free Comic Book Day