Free Comic Book Day is upon us again! The 17th annual celebration of independent comic book stores happens on Saturday, May 4, and promises plenty of local programming (and, more importantly, free issues of select comic books). The official website at freecomicbookday.com/catalog lists all the titles that may be available for free. Individual stores are free to make their own rules, so don’t go in thinking you’re going to walk out with a wheelbarrow full of titles. Some stores, like Challengers on Western, will have a day full of in-store appearances by local artists and illustrators. And parents who are interested in teaching their children the value of the disco nap can haul out the family at midnight to be first in line when Chimera’s in Oak Lawn opens. Some of the stores listed will be open but not necessarily participating in the official Free Comic Book Day proceedings, so be sure to call ahead or check out the store’s websites to see what they are planning. v
First Aid Comics 1617 E. 55TH 773-752-6642 firstaidcomics.com
Graham Crackers Comics 77 E. Madison 312-629-1810 grahamcrackers.com/chstore.htm
Quimby’s 1854 W. North 773-342-0910 quimbys.com quimbys.com
Challengers 1845 N. Western 773-278-0155 challengerscomics.com
Chicago Comics 3244 N. Clark 773-528-1983 chicagocomics.com
G-Mart Comics 2641 N. Kedzie 773-384-0400 g-mart.com/chicago.html
Dark Tower Comics 4835 N. Western 773-654-1490 darktowercomics.com
Alternate Reality 3149 W. 111th 773-881-4376 myalternatereality.com
Chimera’s Comics 4915 W. 95th, Oak Lawn 708-422-4900 chimerascomics.com
