Looking for a comic book shop in Phoenix where you can nab your free comic for Free Comic Book Day?
These are the Phoenix comic shops (within 15 miles of Downtown) that are known to participate:
Comic Shops in Phoenix, AZ
The following Phoenix comic book shops take part in the Valley of the Sun’s celebration of Free Comic Book Day each year:
Samurai Comics
1602 E Indian School RdPhoenix, AZ 850163
(602) 265-8886
Hours
Monday-Tuesday/Thursday-Saturday: 11 am – 6 pmWednesday: 9 am – 8 pm
Sunday: Noon – 5 pm
Drawn To Comics
5801 W Glendale AveGlendale, AZ 85301
(623) 847-9090
Hours
Monday: ClosedTuesday/Thursday-Saturday: 11 am – 6 pm
Wednesday: 10 am – 7 pm
Sunday: 1 pm – 6 pm
Ash Avenue Comics & Books
806 S Ash AveTempe, AZ 85281
(480) 858-9447
Hours
Monday-Tuesday/Saturday: 11 am – 7 pmWednesday: 10 am – 7 pm
Thursday-Friday: 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm
Brandon’s Comics
Southern Village Shops1833 E Southern Ave
Tempe, AZ 85282
(480) 838-0467
Hours
Wednesday-Friday: 11 am – 6 pmSaturday-Tuesday: 11 am – 4 pm
Other Comic Shops in Phoenix
While these comic shops don’t participate in Free Comic Book Day yet (that we know of), you can still pick up your newest issues (or vintage/collectors’ issues) at them throughout the year:
Collectors Marketplace
(Vintage & Collector)
1945 E Indian School RdPhoenix, AZ 85016
(480) 442-1117
Hours
Monday-Friday: 11 am – 7 pmSaturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm
Jesse James Comics
5140 W Peoria Ave Ste 100Glendale, AZ 85302
(480) 531-0267
Hours
Monday/Saturday: 10 am – 6 pmTuesday-Thursday: 10 am – 7 pm
Friday: 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 4 pm
Comic Book Stores & Free Comic Book Day FAQ
When is Free Comic Book Day?
Free Comic Book Day is on the first Saturday of May each year.
Gee… wonder what series you might get when it falls on May 4th.
Do all comic book stores give away free comic books on Free Comic Book Day?
No, but a lot of them do.
Any comic store in the world can sign up to participate.
More than 2,300 stores in the U.S. currently take part each year.
Why don’t all comic book stores participate in Free Comic Book Day?
Despite the name, Free Comic Book Day isn’t free for the stores.
They do have to pay for the issues. (Though, there’s typically a discount).
Smaller stores may not have the room in their budgets to buy a bunch of comic books to give away for free.
And some stores may not want to deal with the hassle.
For a lot of stores, Free Comic Book Day brings in more people, but doesn’t increase their profits.
So, if a store is small or has limited staff, Free Comic Book Day can be a drain on their resources.
Where else can I get comic books?
Aside from dedicated comic book shops, there are a few places that carry comic books.
These places include:
- Traditional book stores
- Grocery stores
- Big-box retailers (like Wal-mart)
- Gas stations
Typically, these places carry the most popular comics only.
They also don’t generally participate in Free Comic Book Day.
Do libraries have comic books?
Yes, most local libraries do carry some comic books.
So, if you just want to read, but not own, comics, they are a great resource.
Just keep in mind your pickings may be limited.
Since most libraries operate on a request basis, they are likely to only have (and only be willing to get) comics that they think most patrons will want to borrow.
But there are also online libraries.
There is a large collection of comics at Comic Book Library, a website operated by the World Library Foundation.
All you have to do is sign up for a World Public library card.
GoComics also has free comics with a free subscription, though they are more “comic strip” type comics than “superhero franchise” comics.
But, yes, there are libraries of comic books out there.
The largest collection of them is in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.
What’s the largest comic book store in the U.S.?
Mile High Comics in Denver.
It’s Jason Street Mega Store is 45,000 square feet!
Do comic book shops buy used comics?
Most of them do, but not all of them.
So, if you’ve got some comics to unload from your collection, always check a store’s website to make sure they buy before hauling your boxes in.
Also check their procedures.
Some stores have a maximum number of issues they’ll look at per customer per visit, so you may have to break up a large collection into smaller sets.