Free Comic Book Day 2024: Essex County Stores Will Celebrate On May 4

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Free Comic Book Day will return for 2024 on Saturday, May 4 at stores across the nation, including several in Essex County.

As you may have guessed, the popular annual event includes giveaways of free comic books (see the video below or click here for the full list of titles this year). See a full list of participating locations here.

In Essex County, the list of participating stores for 2024 includes:

• East Side Mags at 491 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair
• New World Manga at 93 East Mount Pleasant Avenue in Livingston
• Fortress of Solitude at 53 University Avenue in Newark

What is Free Comic Book Day? According to the event website:

“Every year, on the first Saturday in May, the industry comes together to give away free comics and encourage both curious, first-time comic book readers and seasoned comic book fans to flock to the best place in the comic book community: local comic shops. Each one is unique in its community, with a style and personality all its own, and each one carries a full line of comics, graphic novels, toys and related products. Local comic shops are the hubs of our community, where fans can come together to discover new comics, make lifelong friends, and find a sense of commonality. Major publishers such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, and Image Comics, along with a slew of independent publishers, put out free comics for fans to enjoy at the more than 2,300 local comic shops that participate in Free Comic Book Day.”

This year’s selection of Silver Sponsor comics includes beloved franchises such as Star Wars, Monster High, Maleificent, Doctor Who, Street Fighter and One Piece.

"We know comic book retailers are looking forward to treating their communities to a day of fun and discovery, and we think this year’s comic book selection really reflects that," said Free Comic Book Day spokesperson Ashton Greenwood.

"The variety of this year’s comic book selection is really exciting," Greenwood added. "There’s something for every kind of fan, from long-time readers to the comic book curious."

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.