Free Comic Book Day today

Iron Man may be blasting his way into movie theaters this weekend, but he and his comic book brethren can be found for free at comic book stores nationwide on Saturday.

"Free Comic Book Day is mainly a chance for people who have never read a comic to see what comics are like," said Erika Blanco, owner of Rogue Comics in Brownsville.

The event is held annually to encourage new comic book readers and get former fans back into the reading habit. Many companies see FCBD as a chance to show off what else comics can do.

"Certainly there are more and more people becoming aware that comics aren't just Batman or Superman anymore," said Rod Espinosa, submissions editor for Antarctic Press.

Antarctic is putting out three 100-page graphic novels for the event, volumes one, two and three of Espinosa's epic "Neotopia."

"'Neotopia' is a futuristic story set on earth, really, in the future when people have learned how to live with the environment," Espinosa said. "Of course, there are certain forces that want the world back as it was. ... It centers around a small crew that leads the battle against the evil doers."

Originally from the Philippines, the San Antonio-based artist's style is inspired by European, American and Japanese comic books. Espinosa said comics can be a lot more than spandex and superpowers.

"For a long time comics in the U.S. was the purview of young men and boys," he said. "People in newspapers are still going POW and WHAM, and that's not comic books anymore."

Different stores will receive different books from dozens of different companies, and Blanco believes there will be something for everyone.

"They might go in to find a comic book about Iron Man but find something else entirely," Blanco said, adding parents should bring timid readers to comic stores on Saturday to show them a new way to learn.

"Kids feel threatened by reading a giant novel, and this is a ... a good way to get the kids started in reading," she explained.

Antarctic Press will ship different graphic novels to each store.

"There first three books are scattered throughout the land, depending on where you are you might get number one or number two or number three," Espinosa said. "The hope is people who might pick up one might want another."

FCBD: www.freecomicbookday.com

Rogue Comics: www.myspace.com/roguecomics

Rod Espinosa: www.rodespinosa.com

Participating Retailers:

Rogue Comics

13 North Park Plaza, Brownsville

(956) 574-0484

Cosmic Comics

207 S. Commerce, Harlingen

(956) 428-9136

Comics Unlimited

1418 E. Tyler, Suite 9, Harlingen

(956) 412-7808

ComiCastle

1300 E. Military Hwy., Ste. 281, Pharr

(525) 556-9748

Cyber. Comics LLC

4201 W University Dr., Edinburg

(956) 316-2526

Myth Adventures

4617 N 10th St, McAllen

(956) 687-3104

Hobbies and Heroes

5401 N 10th St., Suite 127, McAllen

(956) 668-9700

Hastings

4500 N. 10th St., Suite 400, McAllen

(956) 972-1276