It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Free Comic Book Day!

What's This?

Rob Day (left) and Vinny Farrell shop for their free haul on Free Comic Book Day in May 2012 at Newbury Comics in Boston.

Image: Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

By Melissa Goldin2014-05-03 23:03:40 UTC

Free Comic Book Day is a tradition that even Sheldon Cooper could get behind.

As the name suggests, comic-book lovers flock to participating specialty stores around the world every first Saturday of May to stock up on select complimentary items, with some showing up dressed as their favorite superheroes (or villains).

See also: Flex Your Nerd Muscle to These Pop Culture Workouts

The first Free Comic Book Day took place in May 2002. The event was launched to promote the comic-book industry to those who weren't familiar with it (and as a treat for those who were). Many parents even bring their children to encourage them to read, or to share their passion for the art form. The international event is similar to Record Store Day a tradition that began in 2007 to encourage people to celebrate their love of vinyl.

In true geeky fashion, many people tweeted about this year's event, often under the hashtag #freecomicbookday, which trended online Saturday. Some showed off stacks of comic books bought on the cheap, while others commented on long lines and enthusiastic fans. We've collected the cream of the crop, below:

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Topics: comic book, costume, day, free, geek, Lifestyle, nerd, Travel & Leisure, World