(Image Source: Diamond Distribution)
First held in 2002, Free Comic Book Day was a promotional event organized by Diamond Comics. Working with publishers and comic book stores, Diamond produced multiple giveaway comics as part of the event. It came to be held annually on the first Saturday in May, and usually coincided with the release of a superhero movie.
The fate of Free Comic Book Day was called into question in 2025 after Diamond Comics declared bankruptcy. Thankfully, the name and rights to the event were purchased by Universal Distribution, who are keeping the tradition going. However, rival publisher Penguin Random House have started their own parallel Comics Giveaway Day, featuring the publishers they acquired after the Diamond Comics shutdown.
Despite the competing names and events, things shouldn’t change much for comic readers. Most comic book stores are participating in both events and are carrying both sets of books. To that end, SuperHeroHype has assembled all the titles being released this year.
DC’s Free Comic Book Day Offerings
(Image Source: DC)
DC is using Free Comic Book Day 2026 to promote their new Next Level initiative. The DC Next Level FCBD 2026 sampler offers previews of the new Lobo, Batwoman, and Deathstroke series. The rest of DC’s offerings are split between kid-friendly fare and a horror series from the Vertigo Comics revival.
Aquamanatee #1 FCBD Special Edition — A bumbling but big-hearted manatee strives to help Aquaman protect the ocean in this fun, kid-friendly comic.
DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #1 FCBD Special Edition — The Justice League join forces with Sonic and his friends to save their worlds from Darkseid.
The Nice House on the Lake #1 FCBD Special Edition — The first chapter of the acclaimed horror series about a vacation trip with a sinister twist.
Marvel’s Comics Giveaway Day Offerings
(Image Source: Marvel)
Similarly, Marvel is using Comics Giveaway Day to build hype for their line-wide events. Amazing Spider-Man #1000/Queen in Black #1 will set-up the Spider-Man anniversary issue and the upcoming Venom event. Armageddon/X-Men #1 will similarly set up the story of this summer’s big Avengers and X-Men events and the return of Doctor Doom. Additionally, Marvel has two more books for Comics Giveaway Day 2026.
Alien, Predator & Planet of the Apes #1 CGD 2026 — A sampling of stories based on the 20th Century Studios properties.
Spidey & His Amazing Friends #1 CGD 2026 — Jeff the Land Shark vs. Symbie. Need we say more?
Other Free Comic Book Day Offerings
(Image Source: Titan Comics)
Apart from the four DC books, there are 20 more Free Comic Book Day 2026 titles. They include two tales of Conan the Barbarian and an introduction to Image‘s Energon Universe. There are also comics based on Street Fighter, Supernatural, Flash Gordon, and Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Ablaze — The Cimmerian: The Pool of the Black One
AMP Comics — Greatest American Hero
Archie Comics — World of Archie
AWA Studios — Preview of Ultimate Oz Universe Vol. 2: Into the Outerlands
Dynamite Entertainment — Stitch #1
Dynamite Entertainment — Supernatural #1
Image — Energon Universe FCBD 2026 Special
Keenspot Entertainment — Spotlight 2026
Keenspot Entertainment — Toybox 2026
Mad Cave Studios — Flash Gordon #1
Mad Cave Studios — Terrorbytes #1
Oni Press — Mind MGMT/Fort Psycho Special
REKCAH Comics — Future is ****** Annual 2026 #1
Titan Comics — Conan the Barbarian: Tides of the Tyrant King #0
Titan Comics — Gun Honey: Doubles Down #0
UDON Entertainment — Street Fighter Forever #0
UDON Entertainment/Manga Classics — Journey to the West
Vault Comics — Dungeon Crawler Carl #0
Vault Comics — Inanna: The Name She Lost #0
Other Comics Giveaway Day Offerings
(Image Source: Dark Horse Comics)
Not to be outdone, Comics Giveaway Day 2026 has 18 comics apart from the Marvel titles. Chief among these is a Masters of the Universe/Dungeons and Dragons flipbook from Dark Horse Comics. However, there are also comics centered around Power Rangers, Garfield, Jem and the Holograms, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
BOOM! — Garfield CGD 2026
BOOM! — Jem and the Holograms/My Little Pony Flipbook CGD 2026
BOOM! — Power Rangers #0 CGD 2026
BOOM! — Something is Killing the Children: Road to Slaughter CGD 2026
Dark Horse Comics — Avatar: The Last Airbender – Legends/Minecraft: Heart of Cobblestone CGD 2026
Dark Horse Comics — He-Man and the Masters of the Universe/Dungeons and Dragons CGD 2026
IDW Publishing — Lock & Key #1 CGD 2026
IDW Publishing — Sonic the Hedgehog #1 CGD 2026
Ignition Press — Minotaur: The Cold Open Cover CGD 2026
Kodansha — Blue Lock: Full Color Selection & Dragon Circus CGD 2026
Penguin Young Readers — The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade: The Graphic Novel Sampler CGD 2026
Penguin Young Readers — The Whole Wide World of Mable Mulligan: A Graphic Novel Sampler CGD 2026
RH Children’s Books — Pizza and Taco CGD 2026
RH Children’s Books — School Bus Graveyard CGD 2026
Ten Speed Graphic — Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel Sampler CGD 2026
Ten Speed Graphic — The British are Coming: The Graphic Edition, Volume 1 Sampler CGD 2026
Tokyopop — Disney Manga: Stitch! Best Food Forever! CGD 2026
Wattpad Webtoon Studios — Webtoon Unscrolled Preview CGD 2026
Free Comic Book Day 2026/Comics Giveaway Day 2026 is Saturday, May 2, 2026.
