Another year, another wrinkle, my friends. Which is another way of saying, courteously, that we’re one cycle closer to the grave. However, fret not, mortal companions, because before we individually – or collectively – shuffle off into the sunset, like players on a classic John Wayne production, we have some reading to do. For what is an existence were it not accompanied by comics? Loads and loads of colorful, dialogue-ridden comics; and, with another year of decomposition, comes another year of free comic books. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this Saturday, May  7^th 2016, is Free Comic Book Day. It’s a time to gather in and around your local comic shop, discussing important, worldly issues like:

• DC or Marvel?
• Team Cap or Team Iron Man?
• Does the Russo’s adaptation of “Civil War” hold a candle to the source material?
• Who died in the season finale of “The Walking Dead”?
• Has Bruce Banner ever ripped completely out of his pants when the rage takes him?

Yessiree, important issues which keep most of us awake at night. But, besides dropping into, and invading, your personal cyberspace with a reminder to support the cause this weekend, I’ve also come to provide you with a few purchasing options to satiate your reading sensibilities; because, procuring free swag doesn’t do our shop owners any good if a cash deposit isn’t made into their respective registers. So, with that being said, here are a few books for you veterans, as well as the newbs:

• Elephantmen by Richard Starkings (Image)
• Civil War by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven (Marvel)
  • Read the source material that inspired the Russo brothers’ latest feature
• reMIND by Jason Brubaker (Coffee Table Comics)
• Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (Vertigo)
  • Greatest. Comic Book. Ever.
• Star Trek Ongoing by Mike Johnson (IDW)
• Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen (DC)
• Rachel Rising by Terry Moore (Abstract Studios)
• Deadly Class by Rick Remender (Image)
• Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson (Marvel)
• Art Ops by Shaun Simon and Gerard Way (Vertigo)
• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by James T. Tynion IV and Freddie E. Williams II (DC)
• Harrow County by Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook (Dark Horse)
• Huck by Mark Millar and Rafael Albuquerque (Image)
• Star Wars: Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca (Marvel)
• Superman: American Alien by Max Landis (DC)
• Wonder Woman: Earth One by Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette (DC)
• Ultimate Spider-Man (2000) by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley (Marvel)
• Infinite Vacation by Nick Spencer and Christian Ward (Image)
• Supercrooks by Mark Millar and Leinil Francis Yu (Marvel/Icon)

And there you have it, true believers. A few options to peruse after you pick up your free loot. Of course, this is merely an infinitesimal fraction of the great storytelling which awaits your grubby, little mitts; but it’s a good place to begin (or continue) your journey. Every single one of these is a solid read, and will provide guaranteed stimuli for all of your senses. Now, go forth, consume, and above all else, support. Art requires patronage, friends. Don’t be cheap.