Comic book stores across the nation will be opening their doors to hand out free comic books, and Hammond is no exception. 

Every year on the first Saturday of May, Free Comic Book Day takes place to help promote awareness of comic books, and Wyatt’s Comics and Cards will be welcoming those to grab a free comic. Though Wyatt’s comic book shop tends to lean more towards collectors, he is setting up the store to grab old readers as well as draw in new fans to the world of comics. 

“For Free Comic Book Day, I am going to be doing things a little differently from how I normally run the store,” said Wyatt Higginbotham, Southeastern graduate and owner of Wyatt’s Comics and Cards. “One thing I am going to be doing is focusing a lot more on the readership aspect, and less on the collector aspect. When it comes to comic books, a lot of people fall into the spectrum of either being a collector or reader. You will find both, but most people will come in and could care less about what’s something worth. They just want a good story to read. That’s what Free Comic Book Day is for.”

Those looking for a new read will have a wide selection of options as well as special discounts for the day.

“The companies are kind enough to send us 50 issues, interspersed between Marvel, DC, IDW and all the different companies and literally give free comic books that you can’t get anywhere else except that day,” said Higginbotham. 

Activities will also be offered for children and a chance for a rare photo opportunity. 

“We are also going to be doing things for the kids,” said Higginbotham. “We are going to have Spiderman here. I did that last year, and it was a huge success. But this year, more on the collector end, I am actually going to be taking my first appearance of Spiderman out of the vault. I am fortunate enough to have an ‘Amazing Fantasy 15,’ and we are going to do a photo-op with Spiderman. So, that will kind of appeal to collectors and fans of Spiderman. We are also doing face painting because at the end of the day, I think a big part of comic books that is important is the artwork and face painting is artwork.”

Those who are planning to attend Free Comic Book Day are enthusiastic about having the chance to see the comic that started it all for Spiderman.

“I am really looking forward to seeing Wyatt’s copy of Amazing Fantasy 15,” said freshman criminal justice major Morgan Zimmerle. “It’s the first Spiderman comic ever, and I think it is really impressive that he is going to have it on location to show people that come in the store.”

Wyatt’s Comics and Cards is located on West University Avenue, and those who are currently enrolled students of Southeastern will receive a 10 percent discount on the majority of stock in the store upon showing their student ID. Wyatt’s Cards and Comics can be contacted via phone at 985-542-9852 or on their Facebook page.