Diamond Comic Distributors have confirmed to ICv2 that retailers have ordered a record 2.7 million copies of comics that will be given away on Free Comic Book Day, which will be held just 30 days from today on May 7th.  Diamond’s Roger Fletcher told ICv2 that the previous record for FCBD orders was set in 2009 when 2.4 million copies of the free books were offered.

 

The orders from retailers reflect the fact that the slate of free reader-friendly books offered by publishers is simply outstanding (see “Maybe FCBD’s Best Year?”). The lineup of participating publishers is impressive and ranges from comic publishing giants Marvel, which in addition to a Spider-Man comic is offering a book featuring Thor and Captain America that should appeal to movie fans excited about Marvel Studios’ two summer movies, and DC, which has prepared a comic featuring the big screen-bound Green Lantern plus a preview of the Flashpoint event, to mid-range publishers like Dark Horse, which is previewing its new Avatar: The Last Airbender series, and IDW, which is showcasing the horror comic Locke & Key that is heading for TV in the fall, to smaller more narrowly-focused companies Papercutz, which is prepping a flip book featuring the Smurfs and Geronimo Stilton, and Bongo Comics with its Simpsons Comics “Free for All.”

 

There are lots of other great books for younger readers including a Darkwing Duck offering from Boom! Studios, a Kung Fu Panda/Richie Rich flip book from Ape Entertainment, a Super Dinosaur Origin Special from Image Comics, an Inspector Gadget comic from Viper, a Mouse Guard/Dark Crystal flip book from Archaia Entertainment, and the superb John Stanley’s Summer Fun comic from Drawn and Quarterly.  For a complete list of the FCBD offerings, visit the FCBD Website.