Though the comic book superhero movie “Iron Man 3” is premiering this weekend, the most popular comic book Saturday is expected to be “The Walking Dead,” according to Nick Kelley, owner of Chimp’s Comix & Video Games. Saturday is Free Comic Book Day. It’s held on the first weekend of May every year to promote reading and comic books. Chimp’s, 919 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw, is giving away comics from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each person can get two free comic books. If someone wants more than two, they can donate a non-perishable food item for the Salvation Army for each additional comic they want. There is a maximum limit of one of each free comic per person. “There are 46 new ones for this year, and 27 returning ones,” Kelley said. He highlighted several, including “The Walking Dead.” “I expect this one to go very fast so I’ve been telling everyone to line up early for that one,” Kelley stated. Since there’s a new Superman movie this summer, there’s also a Superman comic to help build up the hype, he said. While the animated television shows “Young Justice” and “Green Lantern” will be leaving the DC Nation Saturday morning lineup, they are being replaced by new shows “Teen Titans Go” and “Beware of the Batman.” To help plug those new shows, DC Comics is offering comics of them Saturday. The “Ninja Turtle” issue 1 comic available Saturday is based on the new animated series. The show is doing so well, it’s already been renewed for two more seasons, Kelley said. Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” will be back on the shelf Saturday. On the Marvel Comics side, Kelley said, “Infinity” will kick off Marvel’s next big event, “Thanos.” Thanos was the villain audiences glimpsed at the end of the 2012 movie “Avengers.” Marvel also has new cartoons coming out and is advertising those with comics. They are “Hulk & the Agents of Smash” and “Avengers Assemble.” The last comic Kelley highlighted from the selection was “Star Wars.” A new “Star Wars” movie is expected in the next couple of years. Last year, Chimp’s collected approximately 650 non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army, which Kelley hopes to beat this year. In addition to the free comics, Chimp’s also is having a huge sale. Comics are 35 percent off back issues, 20 percent off comic sets, 10 percent off complete comic series, 35 percent off signed comics, 25 percent off graphic novels and 15 percent off key issues. In the discount comic bin, all 50-cent comics are 20 cents each, and all $1 books are 50 cents each. Select sealed toys are 25 percent off. Buy three DVDs, get one free. There’s also 25 percent off strategy guides (not sets) and 10 percent off statues. People are invited to come dressed in costume Saturday to make it a fun day, Kelley said.
