Celebrating 10 years on Main Street, Lansdale shop marks annual event with free comics, charity support for Hydrocephalus Association
Light up the Batsignal, crack open the long boxes and ready the pull lists — Free Comic Book Day is flying back into Lansdale for the 10th year.
Comic Zen will once again host the annual celebration on the first Saturday of May, joining comic shops around the world in giving away special, free comic books to anyone who walks through the door.
The event, launched in 2002, brings together major publishers like Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics and Image Comics to showcase a wide range of titles designed to celebrate the diversity of comics — from superheroes to video game tie-ins, and stories for readers of all ages.
At Comic Zen, Saturday, May 2 comes with more than just free reads. The shop will also roll out its annual “Big Sale,” offering deals throughout the store, along with additional giveaways.
“The shop was eight months old for my first Free Comic Book Day, and 10 years later, it remains one of my favorite days of the year,” owner Tim Hershey said. “Readers of all ages. Veteran comic book fans. New comic readers. So many smiles. Such a fun day, for me.”
The event also carries a charitable component, with Comic Zen. a member of the Lansdale Business Alliance, collecting donations for the Hydrocephalus Association, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by hydrocephalus.
Hershey, a West Ward Lansdale resident and Discover Lansdale board member who opened Comic Zen in 2016, said the shop has long aimed to be part of the Lansdale community, working with local organizations including York Avenue Elementary and the North Penn Valley Boys & Girls Club.
Now approaching its 10th Free Comic Book Day, the shop continues to build on that mission.
And for fans looking to double up on their fandom fix, the shop will celebrate this Saturday with Superman Day, with DC highlighting Supergirl as part of its “Summer of Supergirl” initiative, featuring special editions and new entry points into her storylines — along with a few nods to Superman himself.
After a year of uncertainty in the comics industry, Hershey said the event remains as strong as ever.
“This will be my 10th Free Comic Book Day, and I couldn’t be prouder to participate in this event, which was created to celebrate all that comics and comic shops have to offer,” he said.
Free comics, big sales and a community of fans — for one day, at least, Main Street becomes a universe of its own.
