FREE COMIC BOOK DAY AT ALL STAR COMICS MELBOURNE DAY DETAILS 2026

 

                              
While we've said it before, it's never not true.
The biggest and best day on the comic book calendar is upon us.

This Saturday, May 2nd is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2026.

We've been doing this for 15 years now and think we a finally getting the hang of it,
so the plan is to basically do a repeat on last year.

We believe more information you have, the better chance you’ll have of planning your day and getting the most out of this event.

So here are the details for the day to help make it as fun and enjoyable time out as possible while giving you an idea of what to expect.

OPENING HOURS:

Each year we try to make a focus on introducing younger readers into the world of comics.

However we’ve found that the hectic nature of the day wasn't always perfectly suited to younger fans and for some can be overwhelming.

So to help with this we’ll be continuing our:

FAMILY HOUR: 10AM-11AM

The idea is families with kids under 12, will get the chance to get in early while the store is still somewhat more relaxed.

Hopefully this we will make younger fans more comfortable, while parents can also grab some free books for themselves.

REGULAR TRADING HOURS: 11AM-5PM

After the Family Hour, the store will be open for regular trading to the general public 11am-5pm.

At this time we will have representatives downstairs to let a limited amount of people into the store via the building's foyer as a way to control the crowds so it makes for an easier browsing experience.

FREE COMIC BOOK STOCK AND STORE LAYOUT:

Our Free Comic Selection will again be on display and available in the foyer of 53 Queen Street.
There will be no free books available upstairs.

Our hope here is that we will be able to control the line more directly, while thinning the crowd upstairs on the shop floor from folks that are only looking to pick up the Free Comics on the day, hopefully providing a better shopping experience for those looking to actual browse our shelves and perhaps buy something (Please buy something).

Anyone keen on shopping in store on the day will enter via the lift in the foyer as usual but will exit via the fire escape stairs when leaving the store, again to help the flow of foot traffic on the day.

Of course people with prams or access ability requirements will be able to use the lift to exit.

ALL STAR FCBD CHECKLIST

Like previous years to help more people get the Free Comics they want faster we'll also be handing out a Title Checklist this year's selection to those waiting in line.

While waiting you will have the chance to look over list and mark off the ones you want.

This will save a massive amount of time when it comes time to get your picks.

It will be literally as easy as handing the Title Checklist over and you'll have your books in moments.

The lines can be long earlier in the day, yes but this will keep them moving faster, getting you your FCBD picks quicker!

We hope you won’t be waiting in line too long but the only way it will move faster is with your help!

If you haven't we invite you to check out our

ALL STAR COMICS RECOMMENDS: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2026 REVIEW BONANZA

from All Star columnist, Cameron Ashley, this year with the addition of his 8 year old, Edgar,
will give you the most in depth reviews of this year's selection of Free Books anywhere in the WORLD!

Just click right HERE.

OUR FCBD SELECTION OF TITLES

The GENERAL READERS SELECTION

 

FCBD 2026 ALIEN  PREDATOR, & PLANET OF THE APES #1

FCBD 2026 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1

FCBD 2026 ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1

FCBD 2026 AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER-LEGENDS/MINECRAFT HEART OF COBBLESTONE

FCBD 2026 AWA SNEAK PREVIEW OF ULTIMATE OZ UNIVERSE VOL 02 INTO THE OUTERLANDS

FCBD 2026 CONAN THE BARBARIAN TIDES OF THE TYRANT KING #0

FCBD 2026 DC X SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #1 FCBD 2026 SPECIAL EDITION

FCBD 2026 DEICIDIUM OMENS FCBD 2026 PREVIEW

FCBD 2026 DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL #0

FCBD 2026 ENERGON UNIVERSE FCBD 2026 SPECIAL

FCBD 2026 FLASH GORDON #1

FCBD 2026 FUTURE IS ****** ANNUAL 2026 #1

FCBD 2026 GREATEST AMERICAN HERO

FCBD 2026 GUN HONEY DOUBLES DOWN #0

FCBD 2026 HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE/DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

FCBD 2026 INANNA THE NAME SHE LOST #0

FCBD 2026 KEENSPOT SPOTLIGHT 2026

FCBD 2026 KODANSHA BLUE LOCK FULL COLOR SELECTION & DRAGON CIRCUS

FCBD 2026 LOCKE & KEY #1

FCBD 2026 MANGA CLASSICS JOURNEY TO THE WEST

FCBD 2026 MEGA MAN SHOWDOWN SPECIAL #1

FCBD 2026 MIND MGMT FORT PSYCHO SPECIAL

FCBD 2026 MINOTAUR THE COLD OPEN

FCBD 2026 MISTER MAGIC

FCBD 2026 NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE #1 FCBD 2026 SPECIAL EDITION

FCBD 2026 POWER RANGERS #0

FCBD 2026 SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN ROAD TO SLAUGHTER

FCBD 2026 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #1 IDW

FCBD 2026 STREET FIGHTER FOREVER #0

FCBD 2026 TERRORBYTES #1

FCBD 2026 WORLD OF ARCHIE

NUMBER OF BOOKS YOU CAN PICK:

We hope to give everyone at least the choice of 4 titles.

This will change during the day pending stock levels.

Due to all stock being limited title availability can not be guaranteed throughout the day.

THE ALL STAR KIDS SHOWBAG

FCBD 2026 AQUAMANATEE #1 FCBD 2026 SPECIAL EDITION

FCBD 2026 GARFIELD

FCBD 2026 JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS/MY LITTLE PONY FLIPBOOK

FCBD 2026 PIZZA AND TACO CGD 2026

FCBD 2026 SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1

FCBD 2026 THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH AND THE ZOMBIE PARADE

The All Star Kids Showbag is limited to one per family with kids under 12.

The Showbag contains the listed above 6 TITLES!*

Since we only have a limited number of the showbags, to be fair to those kids that attend the event on the day it will only be available to families with kids under 12 in attendance at the event with a limit of one showbag per family.

These titles are not available individually outside of the Kids Showbag.

*Pending stock levels

STORE REPRESENTATIVES

Store representatives will be recognisable on the day as anyone sporting store lanyards and they will be able to help you with any questions you may have.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY ALL STAR COSTUME CONTEST

This year photos for the costume contest will be taken at the photo area set up at the back of the ground floor foyer, just after the lifts.

Look for the All Star standing banners

and seek out our photographer and get your photo taken.

If there isn't available just speak to someone in store at the counter.

There are two divisions, Open Division and Kids Division (for entries under 12 years old), so make sure to view all the photos and vote for your favourite in each category.

As per previous years, the entries with the five highest counts of "likes" by the end of our alotted time will be our finalists, then a panel of All Star Staff will pick the 3 best costumes!

The prizes for the Open Division are as follows $100 All Star Gift Voucher for 1st place,
$75 All Star Gift Voucher for 2nd
and $50 All Star Gift Voucher for 3rd.
Prizes for the kid’s division will be $50 All Star Gift Voucher for 1st place,
$30 All Star Gift Voucher for 2nd place
and $25 All Star Gift Voucher for 3rd place

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 10% OFF EVERYTHING* INSTORE SALE

And for those kind enough to want to make a purchase on the day,
we are offering EVERYONE our regular/ standing order discount of 10% OFF nearly* everything in store.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

WHAT ABOUT THE ALL STAR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY ARTIST ALLEY ?

While this has been aspect of our event has been a stable for our earlier FCBD events, it will sadly be missing this year.

Again as part of our revaluating of this event in our new setting and taking into account the current financial climate, we were not in the position to host this most incredible line up of local talent.

Hopefully that will change for future events but we are still super thankful for the generosity of all the artists who have ever lent us their skills for our past FCBD’s.

CAN I RESERVE MY FREE COMIC BEFORE THE EVENT?

The simple answer here is no. 

This is not something we have ever done as the event's sole reason for existing is to get people into comic book stores or interacting with them on that day.

If this was something we offered there would be little chance we've have any free comics to give away on the day!

Please also remember, these comics are NOT FREE TO US.
They are valued at over a $1 a comics.
Stores are literally giving money away to hold the event.

Our first thought is to the folks that make it out to our event on the day.

While we appreciate that might not work for everyone's schedule, we do hope you understand that it is truly in the spirit and reasoning for the day existing in the first place.

MY "INSERT HERE" COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY. CAN I GET SOMETHING FOR THEM TOO?

See above.

Also perhaps sacrifice a couple of your picks to something your "insert here" might like and you'll be their real life hero!

WILL FREE COMICS BE AVAILABLE ONLINE VIA YOUR WEBSTORE ON THE DAY LIKE PREVIOUS YEARS?

Sadly due to the logistics of running an event of this size, we are able to only run it in one format, either in store or online but sadly not both at the same time.

Again we appreciate that this is not perfect but hope folks can understand our situation.

Our hope is that whatever we have left over from the Saturday, we will make available on our webstore on the Sunday.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the store, please be aware that there will likely be some lining up outside at certain points of the day.

Please keep in mind that this is Melbourne, so check weather forecasts before heading in.

We'll keep our fingers crossed for sunshine.

Most important of all,

HAVE AN AWESOME FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!!

THE ALL STAR CREW