The Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) Committee have announced the Gold Sponsor titles releasing during next year’s event, which will unfold on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
– Andrews McMeel Publishing: “Unicorn Crush,” reprinting a selection of Dana Simpson’s comic strip “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” (2012-), following the adventures of nine-year-old Phoebe Howell, and her best friend, unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils.
– BOOM! Studios: “The Worlds of James Tynion IV,” featuring a selection of Tynion’s “most terrifying and thought-provoking stories” at the publisher. Expect “Something is Killing the Children” to among the titles featured.
– Dark Horse Comics: “Hellboy/Stranger Things.” The former segment, which reunites Mike Mignola, Márk László (“Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: Time Is a River“) and Dave Stewart, sees Hellboy consult a fortune teller to help solve a murder, while the Stranger Things portion will see “Argyle and Jonathan swap fantastical and scary tales as they make one last pizza delivery for the night.”
– IDW Publishing: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” The description simply says, “Fans will be treated to two all-new short stories as well as an exclusive preview of what’s next for TMNT!”
– Image/Skybound: “Transformers & G.I. Joe: Welcome to the Energon Universe,” featuring three new stories from the publisher’s recently launched Transformers, G.I. Joe, and “Void Rivals” universe, “from some of the biggest names in comics.”
Marvel:
– “Ultimate Universe/Spider-Man.” The synopsis and cover tease the return of the Green Goblin ahead of next year’s “Amazing Spider-Man” #50, and the debut of a “powerful new hero” in the newly rebooted Ultimate Universe’s segment.
– “Blood Hunt/X-Men,” which kicks off next year’s vampire-themed Avengers crossover by Jed MacKay, Pepe Larraz, and Marte Gracia. The X-Men segment will give “a glimpse of the future of mutantkind,” where “Jubilee learns that you cannot go home again!”
– Papercutz: “Disney’s Encanto & Turning Red: The New Adventures.” The Encanto segment will see Mirabel, Camilo, and Antonio “battle a bully by spinning a yarn about an even bigger baddie,” while the Turning Red one will see Meilin Lee turning to her friends and family for help controlling her inner red panda.
– Random House Graphix: “Witches of Brooklyn,” showcasing Sophie Escabasse’s middle-grade graphic novel series of the same name, which began in 2020, and currently consists of four books. The series follows Effie, a girl who discovers magic runs in the family, and the FCBD issue will contain “a one-of-a-kind, magical adventure featuring fun activities” for her and her friends.
– VIZ Media: “Pokémon Adventures: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire/Splatoon 3.” In the former segment, Pokémon trainers Sapphire and Emerald enlist Ruby’s help to stop a meteor, while the Splatoon portion will see Goggles travel to the Splatlands, and meet an inkling named Braid.
DC also confirmed a FCBD Gold title, but would not disclose any details on it at the time of writing, other than it being for “an exciting new project.” Ashton Greenwood, a spokesperson for the event, said “We’re looking forward to another great year of celebrating comic books and comic book shops! This year’s lineup has a title for everyone. Whether you’re new to comics or a longtime reader, you’re sure to find a title that grabs your attention. And with the event falling on Star Wars Day this year, that adds a little extra excitement to the day!”
The Silver tier of comics, which will consist of 36 titles, will be announced on Thursday, November 16.
