Free Comic Book Day 2025: The 13 Biggest Comics to Read This Year

May has arrived, and that means it's time for another Free Comic Book Day. Every year, comic shops across the world take part in the event by giving away free books on the first Saturday of May. Many of these books serve as primers for major upcoming storylines or best-selling series, meaning it's usually worth heading out and braving the crowds to try and snag the most important comics.

2025 is no exception. From DC's DC All in 2025 Special Edition to Marvel's Fantastic Four/X-Men and The Amazing Spider-Man/Ultimate Universe books to the latest Energon Universe special, these are the books you should keep an eye out for during this year's event.

The Amazing Spider-Man/Ultimate Universe #1

Publisher: Marvel

The first of several specials from Marvel, this issue offers two original stories in one. The first from writer Joe Kelly and artist John Romita, Jr. serves as a primer of sorts to the recently relaunched Amazing Spider-Man series. The second story from writers Deniz Camp and Cody Ziglar and artist Jonas Scharf is a prologue to the upcoming Ultimate Universe crossover event, which sees Miles Morales drawn into the new Ultimate U.

Blood Type #0

Publisher: Oni Press

Oni Press is expanding its EC Comics imprint this summer with several new series, including Corinna Bechko and Andrea Sorrentino's vampire title Blood Type. If you want an early glimpse of that new series, Blood Type #0 is just the book for you. This issue reprints the short story from the anthology series Epitaphs From the Abyss that kicked off the Blood Type saga.

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1

Publisher: Titan

Titan Comics is developing a habit of using FCBD to debut its annual Conan crossover events. That trend holds true with Conan: Scourge of the Serpent. This issue incldues three interconnected tales that set the stage for a grand conflict between Conan and the serpent god Set.

Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins/Black Hammer #1

Publisher: Dark Horse

Dark Horse's FCBD special spotlights two of the publisher's biggest franchises. This issue includes one tale set in the Critical Role universe, as Beau and Caleb get a little too caught up in an evening of dinner theater fun. There's also a Black Hammer story focused on Colonel Weird, one that highlights both the past and future of the Back Hammer universe.

DC All In: 2025 Special Edition #1

Publisher: DC

Similar to last year's DC All In Special, DC is releasing a flipbook that reveals the future of both the core DC Universe and the new Absolute Universe. On one hand, this issue serves as an introduction to the upcoming Superman Unlimited series from Dan Slott and Rafael Albuquerque. On the other, it features a new Absolute Universe story from Jeff Lemire and Giuseppe Camuncoli.

Energon Universe 2025 Special #1

Publisher: Skybound

Skybound really made some waves with the surprise reveal thaat Void Rivals was actually the launching point for a new shared universe involving Transformers and G.I. Joe. All three pillars of the Energon universe are featured in this issue, which features three new short stories and a twist so big they had to censor the cover.

Fantastic Four/X-Men #1

Publisher: Marvel

Marvel is pairing the X-Men and Fantastic Four for their second big FCBD release. This issue should be on everyone's radar, if for no other reason than it features a new FF tale from Ryan North and Humberto Ramos. On the X-Men side, Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing are revisiting the fateful day Charles Xavier first assembled the All-New, All-Different X-Men and revealing the one mutant who turned him down.

Gargoyles: Demona #1

Publisher: Dynamite

Disney may not be giving Gargoyles fans the animated revival they've all been craving, but Dymanite is certainly making up for that on the comic book side. The Gargoyles line expands with this new special that sets up the Gargoyles: Demona series. Best of all, it's even written by creator Greg Weisman.

Godzilla: The New Heroes #1

Publisher: IDW

In case you missed the news, IDW is launching an entire new shared universe of Godilla comics this summer. This issue serves as a primer for that universe, with a ten-page prelude story accompanied by previews of the forthcoming ongoing Godilla books.

Power Rangers/VR Troopers #1

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

IGN recently broke the news that BOOM! Studios is debuting a VR Troopers series spinning out of the pages of the Power Rangers Prime reboot. This issue gives fans a sneak preview of the new series along with a look back at some of the VR Troopers comics of yesteryear.

Star Wars #1

Publisher: Marvel

Marvel's third and final FCBD release is focused on their recently revamped Star Wars line, which now consists of Charles Soule and Luke Ross' Star Wars: Legacy of Vader, Marc Guggenheim and Madibek Musabekov's Star Wars: Jedi Knights, and Alex Segura and Phil Noto's Star Wars. Fittingly, this issue features three new tales, each tied to one of those three books.

Thundercats/The Powerpuff Girls #1

Publisher: Dynamite

This might just be the pick of the FCBD 2025 crop, purely for how weird and intriguing the premise is. Dynamite is highlighting its Thundercats and Powerpuff Girls comics, not by releasing an issue with one story geared toward each, but by combining the two into one wacky crossover. What happens when Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles travel to Third Earth? We're about to find out.

Let us know in the comments below what books you're excited to pick up on Free Comic Book Day 2025.

Need some ideas for great comics to pick up along with your FCBD stack? Why not check out the top 27 Batman graphic novels and the top 25 Spider-Man graphic novels?

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.