Think how the store owners feel.

May the fourth is once again Free Comic Book Day. Tomorrow as this goes out comic book stores will have special free comics (don’t be like that guy) available. The intention is to get more people reading comics by showing comics are great…though given some of the offerings lately it sometimes feel like they used to be great. Let’s just say under writers, artists, and editors who actually care about what they’re doing comics have been great and could be again if we ditched the activists and the people who think Cocomellon needs to be more grimdark, more violent, and less for kids because @#$% kids, they want gore and titties! Except breasts are evil these days or something.

Remember, your local comic store pays for those free comics they make no money off of. This is why I encourage any of you going each year to BUY SOMETHING! Bags and boards for your free comics, something off the shelves, something out of the back issue bins, the dollar bins, the collectables…just try to make this day profitable for the comic stores, dang it! They’re hurting right now because there is so much mediocrity to crap they’re having trouble selling. It’s like the video game burst of the 1980s. And just like those games, the corporations who see these as nothing more than IP to the “important” media of movies and television/streaming don’t really care. So give your local comic store–if you have one anymore–a helping hand this Saturday.

Which is why I’m not sure if I’m going to go given my current lack of finances. If I go it will be more to get advice on selling the comics in my Clutter For Sale list over at The Clutter Reports and just getting out of the house for something other than a doctor. Still, I have gone over this year’s Free Comic Book Day catalog, which sadly has fewer previews than usual, and while the list of what I’m interested in is short, here’s what I’ll try to get if I go.

Gold Comics

• Energon Universe: As a Transformers fan I kind of have to check this out. Everything I’ve seen of Skybound’s Transformers hasn’t been what I’m looking for but everybody says the writing is good. There will also be stories of the other two stories in this forced shared universe, G.I. Joe and original addition Void Angels, which has been giving a link to Transformers in the same way Torchwood is barely linked to Doctor Who. I don’t see this convincing me to get the full series if I have money again, but I’d give it a look. Until IDW’s recent offerings and the lackluster TV and movie offerings it was my favorite fiction.
• Jonny Quest: With three different TV shows (one of which is its own continuity) and a couple of TV movies, I have enjoyed this franchise for awhile. The only comics I’ve read were from that “its own continuity”, The Real Adventures Of Jonny Quest, so I’m curious to see how Dynamite is handling our favorite quintet. It’s based on the original series, so no Jessie on the cover. I hope they do oldskool Jonny, Race, Dr. Quest, Hadji, and Bandit justice.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: This is, I’m assuming, set in IDW’s new relaunched continuity, because that went so well for their Transformers license…if you’re Skybound. It also seems like they’re brining the Nightwatcher idea from the GOOD TMNT computer animated movie, and I’m curious what they do with that.
• Ultimate Spider-Man: They say this is the GOOD Spider-Man comic, sent in an alternate Ultimate universe from the one Peter died in, allowing him to age and have children, but starting his career as an adult. That last part is the only lame thing there, but as a critic it’s either this or use the “research” sites and I only do that on special occasions. At least the Malibu Ultraverse comics are out of print and Marvel is doing jack with them for whatever reason. (Given what they’re doing with their own characters and Disney is outsourcing many of their properties elsewhere, that’s maybe for the best if you’re an Ultrafan.)
• Unicorn Crush: This one actually has a preview. Mostly blame my old Reviewers Unknown colleague the Comic Strip Critic. One of his episodes involved a newspaper strip by Dana Simpson called Phoebe And Her Unicorn, about the comedic adventures of Phoebe and..her unicorn, Marigold. The story involves little Phoebe getting a crush on a male unicorn named Infernus, The Unicorn Of Death. Let’s just say he doesn’t completely live up to the name. Anyone using the word “furry” can kiss off right now, by the way. It’s not that kind of comic. I’ll use the review video, under the comic’s original name of Heavenly Nostrils, as a way to break the text wall before we get to the next set of comics.

Silver Comics

• Flash Gordon: As I was going through this list I was starting to think they wouldn’t have anything for me. Archie’s lost what made Archie and friends a decades long favorite years ago. I don’t trust a reimagined Popeye in 2024 to give me a good origin story for Popeye’s lost eye. Doctor Who is Neo Who and while I could care less it isn’t by much. I wish Mad Cave’s Flash Gordon came with a preview but as a franchise of nostalgia that has already been altered many times I’d give it the benefit of the doubt, big as doubt is when it comes to 2020’s history of not-stalgia over true nostalgia.
• Gatchaman: As someone who grew up with Battle Of The Planets as one of his favorite childhood shows, I’ve always had a special place for the original Science Ninja Team. I haven’t seen all the Gatchaman spinoff anime but I do enjoy the ones I’ve seen. Mad Cave again seems to be using the original anime designs and presumably names. I’m curious to see how an American comic company handles a Japanese property that sadly hasn’t gotten a better showing in the West.
• Snoopy Beagle Scout Adventures: A collection of Charles Schultz’s Peanuts stories about Snoopy taking Woodstock and a bunch of other birds camping? I don’t have to explain why that’s on the list, right?
• Street Fighter Vs Final Fight: Having enjoyed Udon Studio’s Street Fighter comics in the past, a crossover with a game that has at times crossed over in other media (including the US Street Fighter cartoon) sounds really cool.
• Ultraduck: Having reviewed a digital copy of the first preview in the past that I rather enjoyed, I wouldn’t mind another look at this series about a superhero duck that isn’t a parody. It’s light fun, though. Plus I like supporting all-ages superheroes.

I may look at other titles if I go, but my currently drained finances and no income (can I please stop being sick now?) aren’t the only reason I’m considering not going. Remember those comics and other clutter I want to sell off? I need the money but they’re also taking up space. Do I really want to add to the comic collection I’m trying to trim down? Well, if Saturday comes and I’m up to going, look for the X-Twitter hashtag #BW_FCBD as I live-tweet reviews of the comic and do fuller reviews in the Tuesday comic review slot. If not, I’ll post there that I’m not doing it and we’ll think of something else for Tuesday. Some of them may get digital releases after the event. Enjoy Free Comic Book Day, and remember to buy something to thank the store owners for taking part. They pay for these special edition comics so you don’t have to. A little thank you would be a nice gesture, especially with the current closing fest of comic stores.