This weekend is a trifecta for comic book fans.

On Friday, the highly anticipated (and hyped) movie “The Avengers” hits cinemas. Click here to read all about the film and the Marvel Comic book from which it spawned.

Saturday night, the Superhero Lady Armwrestlers of Portland (SLAP) will hold their inaugural arm-wrestling competition — in superhero costumes! — at Mayo Street Arts in Portland. Read Ray Routhier’s column giving you all the dynamic details.

And all day Saturday is Free Comic Book Day. This is perhaps the best event of all, because, well, it’s free. Every year, comic book publishers ship special issues to comic book shops to give away to customers. You don’t have to buy anything. Just walk in, grab some free stuff, and leave.

How cool is that?

Here’s a peek at what’s being offered for Comic Book Day 2012:

“Avengers: Age of Ultron Point One”: Ultron is one of the Avengers’ biggest and oldest foes, and apparently, Marvel has a big “high-stakes” event involving the killer robot coming soon. This issue serves as a primer.

“DC Comics: The New 52 Special Edition”: Last fall, DC re-launched all 52 of its monthly titles in bold fashion, with new origins, characters and even super-powers. (Superman is less super, for example.) Get a preview of what happens next with this comic.

“Image 20”: Image Comics celebrates its 20th anniversary with six all-new stories previewing new Image titles.

“Peanuts Adventure Time Flipbook”: Two stories. Two boys. Two dogs. One story features Charlie Brown and Snoopy, and the other — eh, who cares?

“Mouse Guard: Labyrinth and Other Stories”: This one is a keeper — a 48-page, hardcover book of all-original, all-new material based on characters from the 1986 movie “Labyrinth” (starring David Bowie!) and more, written by Eisner Award winners and nominees.

“My Favorite Martian Special Edition”: This is one for the parents, kids. You don’t know the character, so just keep reading.

“Spider-Man: Season One”: Celebrate Spidey’s 50th anniversary with previews of the upcoming “Season One” graphic novel.

“Zombie Kid”: It’s like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” but with zombies. Cool.

“Graphic Elvis Preview”: Comics legend Stan “The Man” Lee lends his hand to this book, an homage to Elvis and his love of comic books. The cover alone makes it worth getting.

For a complete list of comics being released for Free Comic Book Day, and to locate a participating comic book store near you, go to: freecomicbookday.com/Home/1/1/27/992.

To see Dave Nabor’s FCBD promo video for Casablanca Comics in Portland and Windham, go to: vimeo.com/41358587. (Disclaimer: You won’t get a free copy of “Giant-Size Man Thing.”)

Deputy Managing Editor Rod Harmon may be contacted at 791-6450 or at:

rharmon@pressherald.com

Twitter: RHarmonPPH

 

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