Free Comic Book Day 2023

Thought I would do a blog post about my day on Free Comic Book Day in Belfast.

For those who don't know Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) usually happens on the first Saturday in May. As the name suggests it is a day where people can go to participating comic stores and get free comics (the ones labelled free of course, not everything in store). Some stores require you to spend something and others will just give them away. 

My first stop was actually the day before in Comber at the store We Sell Heroes. They don't partake in FCBD due to being a newer store but what they did decide to do this week is 10% off everything in store so I went there and bought three graphic novels. The store is run by a Spanish guy called Mario and it was really good to talk to him and geek out a bit. The picture of the store is just one I found on the Internet as I didn't think about doing this blog until this morning. 

On the actual morning of Free Comic Book Day I arrived in Belfast early as there is usually queues outside the shops well before they open. I decided to first go to a store called Coffee and Heroes in Smithfield Market.

Coffee and Heroes does require people to spend money to get the free comics with their purchase but I didn't mind because I was probably going to be spending money anyway and wanted to make sure I got all the FCBD books I wanted.

I also decided to go to Coffee and Heroes for another reason. I have self published my own comic called Tales of Return (available to buy online if in UK/Ireland from www.comicsy.co.uk/talesofreturn) which I am happy to say is stocked by both Coffee and Heroes and another store in Belfast called Comic Book Guys.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure any have been sold by Comic Book Guys as I haven't had the chance to ask, whereas I know Coffee and Heroes have sold a few copies because Alan and Vicky always tell me as soon as I come in. 

Anyway, tangent over.

I arrived really early at Smithfield Market where Coffee and Heroes is so just chilled outside as thankfully it wasn't too cold and just went through the list of comics making sure I didn't miss any.

Another side note but this was a funny poster that was slapped onto a lamp post.

The outside of Smithfield Market started filling up with people waiting to get inside at about 8 45 (This photo of the store front is just from their website as I forgot to take one :/ )

When we got in all the comics were sitting out nicely organized so I just took one of each and then bought my two trades and a hot chocolate. I then sat down and went through my haul. Here is a few pics from Coffee and Heroes:

I noticed a few were missing so decided to take a walk to Comic Book Guys on Great Victoria Street and get the missing books. I arrived there and got my books and a new single issue number one. Aaron and Austin and the rest of the family that run the store are all great and I was very happy to get a few of the comics missing from my haul. I only managed to get a picture of the front of the store due to there being a fair few people inside.

After finishing up at Comic Book Guys I finally went to Forbidden Planet on Ann Street as I was still missing a few comics. Two of which were Star Wars/Avatar and Nightmare Before Christmas which Alan in Coffee and Heroes and Austin in Comic Book Guys said aren't available in the UK but one year before Forbidden Planet had books that shouldn't have been available here so decided to chance my arm and see if they had them. Unfortunately when I arrived they didn't have either Star Wars or the Nightmare Before Christmas books but I did find two others I didn't already have. Also had a quick look round and didn't really see anything else I wanted besides the free stuff but took some pics as the place looks pretty cool.

I then walked back to the car and arrived back about 10:40 for the drive home.

Overall a great day and I would encourage anyone to partake in Free Comic Book Day next year if a shop in their area does it. You can find stores at the link below:

https://www.freecomicbookday.com/StoreLocator

Here is my total haul from today and yesterday and a little map of the route I walked this morning.