May 3 is Free Comic Book Day. No, you're not reading that wrong: Saturday is the day comic book fans, aficionados, collectors and curious newbies can actually get free comic books at local comic book stores participating across North America.

Here is some help for beating the rush.

First, either call your local comic book shop or preview the shop's Facebook page or website to see its rules and regulations for Saturday, and what kind of extra events may be taking place. In addition, some comic book shops give out only one or two comics, while others give out more. It would be a good idea to plan ahead and map out how many comic book stores you want to visit.

This Free Comic Book Day event marks its 12th year. At least 2,000 comic book shops will be participating. Many famous comic book writers and artists are expected to attend events in Los Angeles and New York City, including Marc Silvestri and Chris Burnham; even Stan Lee is advertising the event, as the LA Times Hero Complex reported.

There will be at least 60 comic book titles to choose from, including a new Archie Comics offering, "Archie Digest No. 1," which features a new introduction to the Riverdale gang, according to LA Times Hero Complex.

As i09 reports, you can also pick up the new "Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck" for free, which tells the stoy of a villain character named Magika Despell turning Scrooge and Donald's gravity horizontal. There is also a "Guardians of the Galaxy" introductory comic, in preparation for the film coming out this summer. Also, Nickelodeon and Dark Horse will be issuing "Avatar: The Last Airbender," IDW comics will be previewing the classic "Transformers Vs. GI Joe," and DC comics will debut "The New 52: Future's End Issue #0," which features Batman Beyond coming from the future to stop Brother Eye from destroying all of the world's heroes and villains.

Enjoy your Free Comic Book Day, comic fans!

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