Free Comic Book Day is held on the first weekend of May every year to promote reading and comic books. The annual event also happens to be the opening weekend of a big comic book-based movie. This year’s big movie is “The Avengers: Age of Ultron,” and Marvel’s contributions to Free Comic Book Day this year are two Avengers comics – a comic featuring a new team of Avengers and Issue #0 of a new Secret Wars, with Issue #1 continuing the story Wednesday. The new team of Avengers includes Vision, a female Thor, Nova, Falcon as Captain America, Miles Morales as Spider-Man and a version of Iron Man. Avengers fans can pick up their copies at Chimp’s Comix & Video Games, 919 E. Winona Ave., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. while copies last. Each person who comes to the store can get two free comics. Additional comics are available for a donation of one non-perishable food item each, which will be given to The Salvation Army. Owner Nick Kelley said his store is offering 52 new titles this year for Free Comic Book Day. He’s still determining how many comics are returning from previous years. Along with Marvel’s contribution, DC Comics will offer “Divergence” and “Teen Titans Go” comics. Other comics available Saturday will include a teen “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Highlights of the all-ages selections will be “Transformers,” “Rabbids,” “Spongebob,” “Pokemon” and a “Sonic” and “Mega Man” flipbook. Additionally Saturday, Chimp’s will have a huge sale on items in the store. Back issues and signed comics will be 35 percent off, and graphic novels will be 25 percent off. In the discount comic bin, all 50-cent comics will be 25 cents each, and $1 book will be 75 cents. Statues will be 10 percent off, DVD movies will be “buy one, get one half off” and Blu Rays will be “buy two get one free.” Magic the Gathering packs will be $3; My Little Pony packs will be $2.50; and Pokemon packs will be $3.50. Sealed Heroclix product will be 10 percent off. Kelley encourages everyone who comes in to come in dressed in a costume. For more information, see Chimp’s website at www.chimpscomix.com or visit it on Facebook under Chimp’s Comix.
