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Marvel is officially ditching Free Comic Book Day for a rival event in 2026 (but you'll still get free comics)

Marvel Comics has announced that it will be releasing 4 free comics for "Comic Book Giveaway Day" in May 2026

The cover of Armageddon/X-Men CGD 2026
Image credit: Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics is saying "Free Comic Book Day no more!" Instead, the House of Ideas is teaming up with Penguin Random House to put on a new event, curiously scheduled for the first Saturday in May (May 2, 2026), called Comics Giveaway Day. 

According to a press release from Marvel Comics, you can head down to your local participating comic book shop to get "FOUR Comics Giveaway Day™ issues from Marvel Comics!" Those books will be as follows, with descriptions from the publisher:

  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026 - written by Joe Kelly, Al Ewing, and Phillip Kennedy Johnson, with art by John Romita Jr., Iban Coello, and Nic Klein, with a cover by Dike Ruan - The road to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000 takes a big turn here as fate bears down on Peter Parker! The Queen in Black has been coronated, and Mary Jane Watson as Venom is not ready for her! The Eldest has taken control of the Hulk, and what happens next will make every past Hulk battle look like a skirmish!
  • ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026 - written by Chip Zdarsky, Jed MacKay, and Ryan North, with art by Federico Vicentini, Frank Alpizar, and Delio Diaz, with a cover by Ryan Stegman - The heroes of the Marvel Universe assemble to take on the Red Hulk in a critical story by Chip Zdarsky that sets the stage for this summer’s Marvel event… ARMAGEDDON! Armageddon is here, and no one is safe from the coming end. PLUS: Your first look at this summer’s big X-MEN event…and DOOM!
  • ALIEN, PREDATOR & PLANET OF THE APES #1 CGD 2026 - written by Saladin Ahmed, Jordan Morris, and more, with art by Roland Boschi and more. Cover by Davide Paratore. - In this issue, you’ll find stories from across 20th Century Studios – from ALIEN to PREDATOR to PLANET OF THE APES! Saladin Ahmed presents a tale set on a planet that’s already succumbed to Xenomorphs! And in Jordan Morris’ story, a Yautja warrior stalks one of Earth’s greatest fighters. All this and a return to the Planet of the Apes!
  • SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 CGD 2026 - Written by Danielle Kreger, with art by Goodman Yamada. Cover by Paco Medina. SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, Spin and Ghost-Spider, think they have their web-shooting hands full when JEFF THE LAND SHARK pays them a visit! But they haven’t seen anything yet – because shapeshifting alien SYMBIE is here to turn Jeff’s world upside down!

Free Comic Book Day, the event that Marvel has participated in for years, takes place on the first Saturday in May each year. For context, Free Comic Book Day was an event primarily spearheaded by the comic book distributor, Diamond Comics, which has now been acquired by Universal Distribution. The publishers that are confirmed to be going forward with Free Comic Book Day 2026 so far are DC Comics, Archie Comics, Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Oni Press, Titan Comics, Udon Entertainment, and Vault Comics.  


Get ready for what's next with our guide to upcoming comics, how to buy comics at a comic shop, and our guide to Free Comic Book Day 2025.  

Jules Chin Greene

Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.

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