The Free Comic Book Day Committee has announced the Gold Sponsor comics for 2011, with what may be the best array of new reader-friendly titles since the annual event was launched ten years ago.  The event is planned for its usual slot on the first Saturday of May, May 7, 2011.  And as usual, there's a tentpole comic-based movie premiering that weekend:  Marvel's Thor.

 

Ape Entertainment is presenting a flip book from its Kizoic kids imprint featuring Kung Fu Panda and Richie Rich.

 

Archaia is also presenting a flip book, with its bestselling Mouse Guard on one side and Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal on the other.

 

Archie Comics is offering a Betty & Veronica comic with scripts, cover, and art from Dan Parent.

BOOM! Studios has a flipbook featuring two sold-out Disney #1s:  Darkwing Duck and Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers.

 

In a revelation, Dark Horse’s kid-friendly flipbook features Star Wars Clone Wars on one side and Avatar:  Last Airbender on the other.  Del Rey has been publishing bestselling (in bookstores and mass) Avatar graphic novels featuring images from the animated series; this is the first we’ve heard that Dark Horse has a license.

DC’s project is too secret to reveal, for now.

 

IDW’s offering is Locke & Key, soon to be a media tie-in (see “Locke & Key Gets Director, Star”). 

 

Image Comics will be promoting Robert Kirkman’s new kid-friendly title (is he atoning for the adult-skewing The Walking Dead?), currently too secret to reveal.

 

Marvel’s title is promoting its big summer Spider-Man event with a free comic by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos. 

 

Papercutz presents another kid-friendly flipbook, featuring The Smurfs and Geronimo Stilton.