The national holiday to celebrate comics, Free Comic Book Day, will take place this weekend in over 2000 stores around the world.  Retailers are gearing up for a record turnout, fueled by a successful superhero movie (Iron Man looks like it’s going to open large this weekend), the increasing momentum of the event, growing press coverage, and improved marketing.

Free Comic Book Day founder Joe Field of Flying Colors in Concord, California, issued an appeal for every comic fan to “bring a friend” to the event, a simple step that could make the holiday bigger for everyone. 

For last minute preparations, retailers can consult the Free Comic Book Day Webpage, where numerous retailer tools are available to make FCBD more successful (see “FCBD Retailer Tools Available”).