by: S. Scott Stanikmas – Senior Staff Writer

I love Free Comic Book Day. Every year since its inception I head down to the local comic book store (That’s Entertainment in Worcester, MA!) and grab some free books. While there I also try and purchase some other things to show an independent small business some appreciation, maybe try a trade paperback of a series I wouldn’t normally read or grab some Funko POP! figures for the collection.

And every year I anticipate the list of what comic book companies will be putting out to try and entice fans to get them to read their books. Usually we get the Gold Sponsors first, which are the bigger publishers that every store gets. This year’s list is a little…ho-hum compared to other years.

Archie Comics – Archie No. 1 FCBD 2016 Edition
Bongo – Bongo Comics Free-For-All FCBD 2016 Edition
Boom! Studios – Boom! Studios Summer Blast FCBD 2016 Edition
Dark Horse – Dark Horse: Serenity/Hellboy/Aliens FCBD 2016 Edition
DC Comics – DC Comics Untitled Gold Book FCBD 2016 Edition
Dynamite – Bob’s Burgers FCBD 2016 Edition
IDW – Rom The Space Knight No. 0 FCBD 2016 Edition
Image – Camp Midnight FCBD 2016 Edition
Marvel –  Avengers No. 0 FCBD 2016 Edition
Titan Comics – Doctor Who: Four Doctors FCBD 2016 Edition
Valiant Entertainment – Valiant 4001 A.D. FCBD 2016 Edition
Viz Media – Perfect Square Presents: Pokémon Pocket Comics FCBD 2016 Edition

There are a few titles that jump right out at me. As per usual DC and Marvel are very hush-hush with their offerings. Both companies tend to use the FCBD offering to tie into their latest event series so I don’t expect much from them yet.

Dark Horse was the big winner last year with the Fight Club preview. This year’s book, an anthology featuring three of their biggest properties, looks to have something to please every geek that walks through the door (myself included).

Image is going a different route this year with an all-ages book from Steven T. Seagle. Their book is about a camp where all the attendees, except for one, are monsters.

Archie seems to be offering a reprint of their recent relaunch flagship title (possibly with some extras like sketches or an interview with the creative team or even previews of the other books in the line). Valiant is promoting their newest event which will take place 2,000 years in the future.

The biggest winner of all may be IDW. The company that buys established properties left and right and turns them into comic book gems just acquired the rights to Hasbro’s Rom The Space Knight (once a popular Marvel title) and is looking to bring that back into the public eye, much like it did with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jem and The Holograms and The X-Files. Fans have asked for this for years at Marvel, but it looks like IDW came to their rescue.

Check back with us on Saturday May7, 2016 when Free Comic Book Day happens and we here at Indie Revolver give our thoughts on that day’s event and the books that came out!