Free comic book day returns on Saturday

PERKINS TWP. — The unofficial national holiday for comic book fans has returned. Free Comic Book Day, an annual giveaway, returns this Saturday, May 2, across the U.S., including the Sandusky area. The event will be celebrated at the Pop Shop, 3104 Milan Road (U.S. 250), Sandusky, across from Oakland Cemetery, and at Rupp's Comics, 335 N. Ohio Ave., in Fremont. People who live in eastern Erie County also might consider going to Keith's Comics, 394 Broad St. in Elyria. The official Free Comic Book Day website, freecomicbookday.com, has a store locator for other locations in Ohio and the U.S. Regardless of the location, expect comics aimed at adults, teens and kids with appropriate labels on the cover to aid parents. The event will be celebrated at The Pop Shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, said Matt Morgan, social media manager for the store. "It is first-come, first-served. Getting there earlier is going to be better. In past years, we've had people lining up at the door," he said. Visitors can expect to choose from more than 30 titles, he said. A pizza truck will be on hand, and local artists Ryan Holman, Zane Fannin and Shawn Butler will be there. Local art teacher and comics creator Steven Myers and local author Douglas Hildebrand will also be featured. Performers in costume will be present, and everyone is welcome to attend while dressed in family-friendly cosplay outfits. Meanwhile, Rupp's Comics in Fremont stated on its Facebook page that it will be celebrating the event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Special guests Frank Mastromauro, Peter Steigerwald, Alex Konat and Chris Ehnot will be signing and sketching all day and the store will also be running sales. The annual event is aimed at both serious comics fans and also at people who might not realize what comics have to offer in 2026, Morgan said. There are titles that hardcore collectors won't want to miss, such as an issue of Spider-Man, Morgan said, but the event is also very approachable for newcomers, he said.