This article has been updated since its publication.
Diamond have announced the Gold tier titles that will be available on Free Comic Book Day, which will take place this year on Saturday, August 14. The participating publishers and titles are:
– AfterShock Comics: “We Live: The Unknown Journey” (rated Teen), a prequel to Roy and Inaki Miranda’s apocalyptic fantasy series, following a group of kids in the Broken Lands. “On the adventure of their lifetimes, these friends face the seedy world of Bracelet Diggers — the dark underground of criminals dealing life-saving bracelets, to those who can afford it most.” The creative team behind the comic will reunite for the story.
– Archie Comics: “Archie: Past, Present & Future Fun!” (all-ages), in which Archie Andrews will team-up with himself on a dimensionhopping adventure to save the multiverse. Writers include Bill Golliher, Angelo DeCesare, and Fred Van Lente, while the art team consists of Pat and Tim Kennedy, Dan Parent, Jim Amash, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore, and Jack Morelli.
– BOOM! Studios: “Enter the House of Slaughter” (Teen), a spin-off of “Something is Killing the Children” centered on Erica Slaughter’s family. Writer James Tynion IV and artist Werther Dell’Edera will return for the comic.
– Dark Horse Comics: “Critical Role & The Witcher” (Mature). The former story will be another entry in “The Mighty Nein Origins” series by Jody Houser and Tyler Walpole, while The Witcher story will be an original one (starring Geralt of Rivia himself) created in collaboration with CD Projekt Red, by Bartosz Sztybor, Nil Vendrell, Miquel Muerto, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
– First Second Books: “InvestiGators: Ants in Our P.A.NT.S. Sneak Peek” (all-ages), a preview of the upcoming fourth entry in John Patrick Green’s bestselling series (due out September 28). The book will see Agent Brash getting replaced by RoboBrash after falling into a coma.
– IDW Publishing: “Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures” (all-ages). Written by Daniel José Older, the comic will follow Yoda, Buckets o’Blood, and their Padawans on an adventure that takes place before the main series.
– Image Comics: “Lady Mechanika” (Teen). The book will introduce new readers to Joe Benitez & Marcia Chen’s steampunk detective (whose adventures were originally published by Aspen) with extracts from various stories, and include a preview of the upcoming “Monster at the Ministry of Health” (which Image will publish sometime later this year.)
– Marvel Comics: “Hulk/Venom” (Teen), nothing was disclosed about Marvel’s book other than the title, but the comic will be released after the conclusion of Don Cates and Ryan Stegman’s “Venom” run, and around the time Al Ewing and Joe Bennett’s “Immortal Hulk” ends.
– Penguin Workshop: “Who Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?” (all-ages), a preview of a Rosa Parks biography, written by Insha Fitzpatrick (“Oh My Gods!”), and illustrated by Abelle Hayford. The full book, which is part of Penguin’s Who HQ line, releases in paperback on October 12.
– Titan Comics: “Blade Runner” (Teen). “Blade Runner 2029” and “Blade Runner: Origins” creators Mike Johnson, K. Perkins, Mellow Brown, Andrés Guinaldo, and Fernando Dagnino will collaborate on the issue, which will connect the story of both monthly titles.
– Tokyopop: “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla & Dynasty” (Teen), previewing two upcoming translations of books from Chinese publisher Tencent. The Valhalla tie-in by Feng Zisu follows the Viking Jarl Stensson and his brothers, Ulf and Björn, as they raid England in the 860s; while “Dynasty,” by Xu Xianzhe and Zhang Xiao, follows Li E, a Chinese Hidden One during the 8th century.
– Viz Media: “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead/Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” (Teen), which contains extracts from Haro Aso and Kotaro Takata’s zombie action series, and Koyoharu Gotouge’s monster hit.
This year’s Free Comic Book Day will be the first since May 2019, after last year’s day was canceled and replaced with Free Comic Book Summer as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Diamond hopes delaying the event to August will mean “much of the uncertainty and disruption related to COVID-19 will have passed.”
It also marks the first time a DC comic is not part of the Gold tier of titles, after they cut ties with Diamond in favor of Lunar Distribution last year. However, DC have announced they will still participate, meaning a DCU title ought to be among the 39 Silver tier comics being announced tomorrow.
