Get a free comic book on Saturday

Comic books aren't cheap these days, selling for an average of $3 each. Except for one day each year.

Saturday is the fifth annual international Free Comic Book Day.

On this day, the public can choose from more than two-dozen special comic books at participating comic-book dealers and take them home at no cost. There are no gimmicks, no hidden costs, just free comics — while supplies last.

Thousands of stores around the world gave out free comics in last year's event. In northern Utah, at least 13 stores from Provo to Ogden will be offering the free comics. A store locator and more information on the event is available online at www.freecomicbookday.com.

Organized by Diamond Comic Distributors, the main company that ships comic books to stores, the event also has support from DC and Marvel comics, as well as Archie Comics, Dark Horse, Image and a dozen more publishers.

• DC Comics is giving away a copy of "Justice League Unlimited No. 1."

• Marvel is handing out "X-Men/Runaways."

• Dark Horse Comics is providing "Stars/Conan Flip Books."

• Archie Comics has a 65th-anniversary bash issue.

• Gemstone has Donald Duck.

• Devil's Due Publishing is using "GI Joe Sigma 6 No. 1."

• And IDW Publishing will provide "The Transformers/Beast Wars Special."

There are 21 other free comics as well. But plan to arrive early, soon after the stores open, for the best selection.

Some stores will have special guests on Saturday, as well as costumed heroes roaming around.

According to Diamond Comic Distributors' Web site, "Comic books began as a unique American art form that has grown — like so many American forms of entertainment — to spread around the globe. From Japanese businessmen reading manga on the subways of Tokyo to French artists re-interpreting Proust with words and pictures, comics have changed entertainment and challenged perceptions.

"These days, there are comic books for every taste, from slam-bang superhero adventures to quiet slice-of-life to thrilling science fiction to intense drama. If it's been a while since you've read a comic book, prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the breadth of variety available."

Comics books started in the early 1930s and have survived more than 70 years. But overall comic sales have been struggling nationwide during the past six years, so this Free Comic Book Day is intended to attract new readers, as well as to encourage reading in general.

The best-selling comic at present is DC's "Infinite Crisis," with more than 201,800 issues pre-ordered for the month of March. Spider-Man comics sell more than 90,000 issues a month; X-Men, 79,000; Batman, 70,000; Superman 66,000; "Star Wars," 31,000; and Donald Duck, 4,500 a month.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com