#1 – Secret Wars #1 – Marvel Comics

Captain Obvious with this one(especially if you’re a Marvel fan). The creative team of Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribic is enough to get my attention, but the fact that they’re bringing back a beloved title of my fan boy youth and seemingly changing/consolidating the whole Marvel Universe gives this FCBD offering the top slot for me!

http://marvel.com/comics/events/323/secret_wars_2015

#2 – Comics Festival 2015 – TCAF & Beguiling Books

Ever since the first edition of Comics Festival came out with that great Darwyn Cooke cover years ago, this has been the one comic to seek out on FCBD for me! It comes in at #2 this year just because I can’t resist my nerd-gasm over the previous selection, but consider it more of a #1b. The stellar cast of creators includes the likes of Kate Beaton, Zac Gorman and Faith Erin Hicks. Comics Festival comes out every other year from the folks at The Toronto Comic Arts Festival and Beguiling Books to coincide with TCAF.

http://torontocomics.com/comicsfestival/

#3 – Fight Club – Dark Horse Comics

I hear that this is a big deal, so I’m curious to check it out. Since I’m a David Fincher fan(although Fight Club is not one of my favorite Fincher films…) and because of the impressive art team of Cameron Stewart & David Mack, I choose this Dark Horse comic as my #3. This comic kicks off the upcoming Fight Club 2 series, which continues the story from the book/film exclusively in a comics format.You also get some new Goon action by Eric Powell and a Strain story.

https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/28-100/Free-Comic-Book-Day-2015-Fight-Club

#4 – Spongebob Freestyle Funnies 2015 – United Plankton Pictures

This is always a favorite of mine, because there’s usually new material by cartoonist legends Graham Anable(Boxtrolls) & James Kochalka(American Elf), plus other talented artists. Hey, even if it’s reprints, it’s still FREE!

http://www.freecomicbookday.com/Home/1/1/27/1041?stockItemID=STK666911

#5 – Hip Hop Family Tree 3-IN-1 featuring Cosplayers – Fantagraphics Books

I admire Ed Piskor’s work on Hip Hop Family Tree and although I haven’t become a full-fledged reader of those books yet, I’m looking forward to giving the book a second chance when they start rolling out the floppy editions. I think that it will find a new audience in that format. Besides that, I mainly chose this comic at #5, because I’m interested in checking out Dash Shaw’s series Cosplayers(this comic includes an all new 24 page story) and the fact that Robert Crumb, Jim Rugg & Ben Marra contributed exclusive pin-ups to this book.

http://www.fantagraphics.com/browse-shop/hip-hop-family-tree-three-in-one-free-comic-book-day-2014–2.html

Honorable Mentions:

Valiant 25th Anniversary Special – Valiant Comics

I’ve heard good things about the new Valiant Universe and this comic includes new stories by Jeff Lemire & Robert Venditti.

CBLDF Defend Comics – Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

It’s always good to support the cause of the CBLDF and they always have a solid group of contributors for this. I’ll definitely be looking for this one come Saturday!

Note: Sorry, DC fans. I’m having a tough time grasping the whole Convergence/Divergence event and it sounded like it’s just previews of upcoming comics, so it didn’t make the cut.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2015 is this Saturday, May 2nd.

Follow this link to see the complete list of free comics!