Free Comic Book Day THIS Saturday!

That's right. Free Comic Book Day. And what could be better than a free comic? How about all those OTHER comics you'll invariably walk out with, the ones that your friendly neighborhood retailer certainly hopes you'll load up with in addition to the free titles... After all, the retailers don't actually get them for free -- they end up paying 12-50 cents for the privilege of giving them away. So spend a few bucks while you're in there!

From the official FAQ: ""As the name implies, Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book specialty shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their shops."

It's an awesome event to take your kids to, especially if there are multiple comic shops in town with cool events. Go ahead. Expose them to a little culture and support independent retailers (hint: no free comics at Borders or BNN). Or, take a friend who hasn't read a comic or graphic novel in a while. There's a bevy of titles -- Marvel, BONGO, Disney, Transformer, Love and Rockets -- and everything in between.

My son and I will be hitting up Dr. Comics and Mr. Games for our geek-fix. Check out their store locator to find a participating store near you.

Let's not forget what a powerful role comics have played in American, and global, culture. From the official site:

"Comic books began in the 1930s as a unique American art form that has grown - like so many American forms of entertainment - to spread around the globe. From Japanese businessmen reading manga on the subways of Tokyo to French artists re-interpreting Proust with words and pictures, comics have changed entertainment and challenged perceptions. These days, there are comic books for every taste, from slam-bang super-hero adventures and thoughtful slice-of-life to thrilling science fiction and intense drama."