Chimp's Comix is participating in Free Comic Book Day Saturday for the fifth year.
It's also the third year the comic store will collect non-perishable food goods for the local Salvation Army.
Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores. The purpose of Free Comic Book Day is to promote comic books and literacy.
According to Nick Kelley, owner of Chimp's Comix, 919 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw, Free Comic Book Day will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Each person who comes into the store can pick two free comics from 38 different titles to choose from. For each non-perishable food item donated, a person can pick an additional comic. Extra donations to help feed the needy will be accepted.
Some of the comics are returning from last year, Kelley said. However, there will be 26 new titles for selection. "Hot new ones," he said, will be "The Green Lantern Blackest Night Zero," "Wolverine," "New Avengers" and a reprint of the original not-for-kids "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" No. 1 from 1984.
Eight comic titles are directly geared toward kids, Kelley said. There also will be a book from Aspen Entertainment featuring the artwork of the late Michael Turner. Turner is the original artist on "Witchblade" and has done many covers for Marvel, he said.
But the important event, he said, is the collection of food goods for the Salvation Army. Kelley said he's been told the Salvation Army is in need of food items to help the local community's less fortunate.
In 2008, Chimp's Comix collected 536 food donations for the Salvation Army on Free Comics Day. Kelley said he wants to top that number this year.
"We're definitely trying to blow those numbers out of the water," he said.
Kelley has 1,100 comics to give away this year. When he first started five years ago, he had 200.Additionally Saturday, Kelley said, the store will have several sales.
Comic books back issues, signed and Comics Guaranteed Company comics and select action figures will be 50 percent off. Comic sets will be 25 percent off the already reduced price. Patrons can buy 30 $1 comics for $15. Make your own comic grab bag for $1.75. Graphic novels will be 15 percent off.
Magic Booster Packs will be $3 each or less, Magic Decks $8 each, Magic Booster Boxes $90 each and Magic Singles 40 percent off.
The unadvertised sale this year, Kelley said, will be that if a person spends $50 in the store, they get a free graphic novel. He said there will be 12 graphic novels to choose from in the store.
For more information on Free Comic Book Day, visit the Web site at www.freecomicbookday.com
