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What is Halloween ComicFest?

Halloween ComicFest (HCF) is the comic book industry’s premiere fall event – a single day when participating comic book specialty shops across North America and around the world give away specially published comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their shops. HCF is the perfect event to experience comic shops as destinations for Halloween and horror-themed comic books, collectibles, and other merchandise! In other words, Halloween ComicFest is the Spooky Free Comic Book Day!

Every year, on the last Saturday in October, the industry comes together to give away free comics and encourage both curious, first-time comic book readers and seasoned comic book fans to flock to the best place in the comic book community: local comic shops. Each one is unique in its community, with a style and personality all its own, and each one carries a full line of spooky comics, graphic novels, toys and related products. Local comic shops are the hubs of our community, where fans can come together to discover new comics, make lifelong friends, and find a sense of commonality.

Major publishers such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, and Image Comics, along with a slew of independent publishers, put out free comics for fans to enjoy at the thousands of local comic shops that participate in Halloween ComicFest, a.k.a. Spooky Free Comic Book Day! Over the years, Halloween ComicFest has featured a variety of beloved horror-themed titles such as Hellboy, Goosebumps, John Constantine: Hellblazer, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, as well as other popular titles such as TMNT, Pokémon, and Spider-Man.

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In addition to passing out free comics on the last Saturday in October, many comic book shops make a whole day out of the event by hosting cosplay contests, creator signings, and photo opportunities with costumed characters, as well as giving out candy, prizes, and holding raffles throughout the day!

Another great way to get involved with Halloween ComicFest is through The Greatest Halloween Costume Contest Ever! Coordinated by Halloween ComicFest, The Greatest Halloween Costume Contest Ever gives fans the opportunity to win a $50 or $500 shopping spree to their local comic shop! Fans dress up in their best Halloween costume and take a photo. Then they submit that photo on Halloween ComicFest’s website to one of five categories: Comic Book/ Superhero, TV/ Movie, Horror, Video Game, and Original Character. On November 1, six winners will be selected at random. Five first prize winners, one from each costume category, will receive a $50 shopping spree to their local comic shop. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $500 shopping spree to their local comic shop. In order to be eligible for the $500 Grand Prize, fans must be holding a Halloween ComicFest 2019 comic in their contest entry photo. 

So how you get involved in this spooktacular day? We’re glad you asked! Use the Official Halloween ComicFest Store Locator, which you can use to find a list of participating shops close to you. Simply input your zipcode and hit enter, and the Locator will generate a list of comic shops near you that are participating. Then, all you need to do is a pick a shop from that list and show up there on the last Saturday in October to get your free comic books!

Happy Halloween!  

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