Archie Comics offers up "The Mighty Archie Art Players" for this year's Free Comic Book Day

From Archie Comics

On May 2, the eighth annual Free Comic Book Day event will be held in comic shops across the country. In the past seven years, scores of free comic books have been given away by participating retailers not only to thank comic book aficionados, but to introduce the wonderful world of comics to new readers and fans as well! Archie Comics has contributed to past events by creating special issues that really capture the magic of comic books, the dedication of comic book fans, and the eternal popularity of Archie and his wonderful supporting cast from Riverdale, USA.

This year, Archie offers not one but two special issues. First up is the return of the Mighty Archie Art Players. The Mighty Archie Art Players were a mainstay of several Archie titles throughout the years including LAUGH and various digest comics. The concept was simple: present stories that exist in an “alternate universe” separate from the continuity established in the mainline Archie titles. This was achieved by framing each story as a “play” put on by Archie and his friends. Each took on a character role to tell tales set in various times and places. In this special Free Comic Book Day edition, the Mighty Archie Art Players have a rip-roaring good time in the old west, put a modern-spin on the classic Snow White fairy tale, tell a “big fish” story – literally – with Betty as a mermaid, and cater to the whims of Veronica, transformed into the ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Their curtain-raising performances will leave you laughing in the aisles!

Next, Sonic the Hedgehog speeds into action with a special Free Comic Book Day edition! In "Evolution of A Hero," you’ll get a look back at the long-running hit comic series that has been thrilling fans for over 15 years! What’s the connection between Sonic and the Freedom Fighters? Who are Shadow the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna? What’s the deal with that Robotnik guy, and what’s going on in the series now? You might even get a special sneak-peek into the world of Sonic after the epic issue #200. Whether you’re a new reader getting up to speed or a veteran enjoying a trip down memory lane, this is one issue you just can’t miss! Fan-favorites Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley! bring the fast-paced excitement to life.

Archie comics appeal to an audience of young girls and boys, the perfect entry-level customers for comic shops. Archie is clearly one of the most prominent publishers addressing the reading needs of adolescents.

Demographics is just one of the reasons Archie Comics considers itself "READER BREEDERS." Another reason is accessibility to a general audience: with over 90 percent self-contained story lines, Archie titles make the perfect "impulse purchase." They are read, cover-to-cover, several times over. Furthermore, research shows that children who begin reading comics with Archie often develop a lifelong love of reading.

In addition to children buying Archie comics, parents and guardians also purchase them for their children. In fact, Archie is one of the only lines of comics passed on from one generation to the next. Parents who grew up reading Archie continue to buy these comics for their children, because they know Archie is fun, believable and safe for kids.