Celebrate Free Comic Book Day with 2000AD, Doctor Who and more

By John Freeman on May 6, 2017

Today is Free Comic Book Day, an industry-led annual promotion to encourage you to visit your local comic shop. Not only to pick up free comics, but to hopefully buy some from that shop too – and generally have fun with fellow comic fans.

Many comic shops will be having special events today, with comic creators doing signings – or they might simply be having a bit of fun with some cosplay and refreshments alongside the comics on offer.

To find out where your local comic shop is in the UK, check out our British and Irish Comic Shop Map – or the FCBD Comic Shop Locator page if you’re reading this beyond our shores.

There’s more about Free Comic Book Day here: www.freecomicbookday.com – note that not every free comic offered is available in every store

All the major publishers have free comics on offer, including some British ones…

2000AD #FCBD2017

(W) Matt Smith, Pat Mills, Guy Adams, Dan Abnett, Kek-W (A) Phil Winslade, Kei Zama, Jimmy Broxton, Dave Kendall

The galaxy’s greatest Eisner-nominated SF anthology returns to Free Comic Book Day with a 32 page, 40th anniversary special. Judge Dredd is confronted by someone with a personal vendetta in Forty Years of Hurt from Matt Smith and Phil Winslade; the treacherous A.B.C. Warrior known as Blackblood faces off against a new nemesis named General Public from Pat Mills and Kei Zama; private investigator Mallory Hope encounters occult forces in 1940’s Los Angeles from Guy Adams and Jimmy Broxton; Judge Anderson attempts to capture the alien bounty hunter known as Trapper Hag and his evil sister Skinner Hag in Hag Team by Dan Abnett and DaNi; and Judge Death attempts to disclose the identity of a murderer in Dreams of Deadworld by Kek-W and Dave Kendall.

If that wasn’t enough, this ghafflebette tome includes some exciting, free digital content!

TEEN: Read a Preview

NoBrow Press: Hilda’s Back

(W) Luke Pearson (A/CA) Luke Pearson

The last time anyone saw Hilda, she had lost all her clothes, turned into a troll, and woke up in a cave! (Her hair, thankfully, is still blue.) And while our fearsome young adventurer loves a surprise, she’s still got school to worry about!

With the help of her mom, magic and some new friends, our young hero will be home and human before she knows it. Hopefully, that is!

ALL AGES: Read a Preview

Humanoides Inc: The Incal

(W) Alejandro Jodorowsky (A) Moebius, Moebius

In its first ever FCBD offering, Humanoids presents one of the most influential and original comics in sci-fi history: The Incal. A full 30 pages of the seminal work originally published in Métal Hurlant and created by the artists’ artist Mœbius and the avant-garde director, writer, mime and spiritual guru Alejandro Jodorowsky.

A perfect introduction to Humanoids, and specifically to the “Jodoverse,” an incredible and continually expanding sci-fi universe, full of love, revenge, intrigue, betrayal, and redemption.

MATURE: Read a Preview

Titan Comics: Doctor Who

(W) Alex Paknadel (A) Mariano Laclaustra (CA) Photo

Take a spin through the past, present, and future of Doctor Who universe, in the company of the twelfth Doctor and his brand-new companion, Bill!

Featuring Bill’s first Titan Comics appearance, this all-new story is an unmissable experience for fans new and old, with plenty of tantalising teases from Doctors past and present, including incredible clues to the year ahead for all of Titan’s Doctor Who series!

Keep your Sonic Screwdriver at the ready and unlock a world of adrenaline-fuelled time traveling adventure!

ALL AGES: Read a Preview

Plus there’s comics from Marvel, DC, IDW, Boom!, Archie and many more!

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.