On Saturday, May 3, downtown Rochester will be overrun with Star Wars Storm Troopers. They won’t be there to extend the empire, but to participate in Free Comic Book Day, a national event organized locally by Jetpack Comics on Portland Street. The event, held on the first Saturday of May for the past seven years, is meant to get people excited about comics and introduce a wider audience to the craft by giving away free books.

The event started in California, where store- owner Joe Fields organized the first Free Comic Book Day. At Jetpack, doors will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday. A number of artists and writers will be on hand to sign comics and discuss their work. In addition to free comics, Jetpack will also give away posters, pins, buttons, bookmarks and other comic book swag.

“A lot of people don’t realize that comic books are still around and they’ve changed. Comic books have grown up,” said Jetpack owner Ralph DiBernardo. He believes that there is a comic book out there for every age and interest. He sees Free Comic Book Day as a way to bring new enthusiasts into the fold. “Every year, I’ve tried to do something bigger and better,” he said.  

This year, Jetpack is working with the Rochester Main Street Association to present the first-ever citywide event, in the form of a scavenger hunt. Fifteen downtown businesses have signed up to participate and give away free comics. After visiting each of the businesses, participants can turn in their scavenger hunt cards at Jetpack and enter to win an original drawing by Ed McGuinness, one of the industry’s top artists. “For a comic book fan, this is a super big deal, the chance to win this,” DiBernardo said.

DiBernardo estimates that more than 500 people showed up for Free Comic Book Day last year. He will try to limit people to no more than three free comics per person and six per family. Participating stores put up a significant amount of money for the event, but publishers and distributors also donate for the cause.

Professional comic creator Scott Wegener will be among the guests at Jetpack, and he has produced a comic book exclusively for the occasion. Wegener is part of a wave of young talent that has infused the comic book industry with new vitality over the past decade. Comic books struggled in the latter part of the 20th century, but a spree of television programs and movies based on comics have helped spark a revival, DiBernardo said.

In Portsmouth, Jumpgate is also planning to give away free comics, but the Lafayette Road store is waiting until the weekend of May 23 to hold any sort of big celebration. According to manager Dan Rose, that weekend is Jumpgate’s 11th anniversary and will be celebrated with a three-day sale.

Nellie Woe’s Comics ’N Such on Central Avenue in Dover will also give away free comics on Saturday, but the store isn’t planning any other special events.

DiBernardo expects visitors in Rochester to dress up as comic book heroes. At the Rochester Opera House, there will be a life-size Jabba the Hutt and, hopefully, a slave Princess Leia in a metal bikini.