Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:42 am

Just watched “The Avengers: Infinity War” and want to catch up with the comics? Here’s some good news: National is Saturday.

Established in 2002, Free Comic Book Day is an annual event arranged by the American comic book industry to help bring new readers into the comic world and get shoppers into local comic book stores.

Summit Comics & Games is one of Lansing’s participating stores. Artists Alec Smith and Hector Dorado will be at the shop taking commissions for drawings and selling their original artwork.

Usually, there are four or five different choices for child-friendly comic books, Summit Comics & Games manager Matthew Hunt said. Titles for children include DC Super Hero Girls, Disney Princess Ariel Spotlight and Pokémon: Sun & Moon & Horizon.

Other activities happening at the store include Heroclix tutorials, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a Call of Cthulhu board game event from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Summit will also have a number of different comic book issues available for just one dollar.

Aaron Solon, owner of Hollow Mountain, said his store has been doing Free Comic Book Day since its opening. “I think it will be our fifth one,” Solon said. Hollow Mountain will have 20 percent off all graphics novels in the store as part of the occasion.

“Other than having the free comics, we’re trying to get some artists to come in and do signings and sketches, or sell their original works,” Solon said. “We also have a friend of the store bringing his collection. He will be selling some old comics and giving away issues he doesn’t want anymore.”

Big publishers like Marvel and DC usually have three to four free issues to give away. Other small publishers usually print out one or two issues, Solon said. Popular titles this year include Avengers: Captain America, Infinity Watch Amazing Spider-Man, Doctor Who #0 and Riverdale. You can see more titles online on Free Comic Book Day’s official website.

Free Comic Book Day is beloved by comic book fans, and provides a lot of foot traffic for local comic shops. “All the people get excited for it. It is usually the busiest day of the year,” Solon said. “We usually do sales on the regular stuff, so customers can pick up other comic books along with the free ones.”

Free Comic Book Day

Saturday, May 5

Summit Comics & Games Opens 11 a.m. 216 Washington Square South B, Lansing (517) 485-2369 www.summitlansing.com

Hollow Mountain Opens 11 a.m. 611 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing (517) 708-7191 www.hollowmountaincomics.com

The Fortress Comics & Games

Opens 1 p.m. 425 Albert Ave., East Lansing (517) 333-0435 www.facebook.com/the-fortress-comicsgames-inc