What is Free Comic Book Day?

Every year, Free Comic Book Day takes place on the first Saturday in May. It’s an international event that celebrates comic books and the local comic shops that provide them to their communities…

In 2019, Free Comic Book Day will be held on Saturday, 4th May!

What’s in store?

Special Guest in Colchester: Phil Elliott

British comics writer, artist and colourist Phil Elliott had such a great time at Ace Comics in Colchester for Free Comic Book Day in 2018, he will be returning in 2019, appearing in store from 10am to 4pm.

Phil has been active in the comic book industry since the mid 1970s. He launched and co-edited the Fast Fiction fanzine in the 1980s where he introduced his bequiffed character, Gimbley and was a regular contributor to the influential and groundbreaking magazine Escape.

Phil drew for Marvel UK’s successful The Real Ghostbusters series and has worked with Dave Thorpe on Doc Chaos and with Glenn Dakin on various comics and strips including Greenhouse Warriors, Mr Night, The Rockpool Files and The Man from Cancer, which appeared in Marvel UK’s adult-orientated title Strip!

Phil’s other work includes Illegal Alien and Bluebeard written by James Robinson, Lucifer with Eddie Campbell, Tupelo with Matt DeGennaro and writing Absent Friends for Paul Grist. He has also coloured comics illustrated by other artists including the Judge Dredd Megazine strip Demon Nic and work by Paul Grist, Mark Buckingham, John Ridgway, Steve Yeowell, Pia Guerra, Tim Hamilton, Hunt Emerson and Horacio Domingues.

Phil will be sketching for customers at the Colchester store throughout the day, donating all proceeds to charity. He will also be available to sign items that visitors bring in and he has 100 pages of Real Ghostbusters art for sale!

FREE Comics

There are 53 free comics released* for Free Comic Book Day, including fan-favourites and new comic book characters that encourage readers to explore the fun and excitement that comics have to offer. There’s a free comic for everyone’s taste from superheroes to action/adventure and all-ages titles.

So that everyone can enjoy some great free-reading, there is a limit of five free comics per person (maximum ten free comics per family) at Ace Comics in Colchester and three free comics per person (maximum six free comics per family) at Ace Comics in Southend. These will all be on a first-come-first-served basis while stocks last – they are usually all gone by the end of the day, so make sure you don’t arrive too late.

The Free Comic Book Day 2019 line-up…

* We cannot guarantee that all of the Free Comic Book Day comics will be available in store.

Back Issues

We are holding another 50p Back Issue Sale for Free Comic Book Day, with thousands of specially selected back issues available, only in the Colchester and Southend stores. Take a look through the selection – you could unearth some comics treasure!

Graphic Novels

There will be a limited selection of graphic novels available for just £5 each. Again, to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to grab a bargain big read, we are imposing a limit on the number of Graphic Novel Sale books you can buy to three-per-customer, so choose wisely!

There is, of course, no limit on the number of other graphic novels available to buy in store. With thousands to select from, there are some amazing stories waiting to be read!