Walla Walla Comic Shop Celebrates Free Comic Book Day with Community Focus Digital Heroes, a long-standing comic book store in Walla Walla, will participate in Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 2, as part of a nationwide initiative to promote comic book culture. The event, which sees comic shops across the U.S., Canada, and other countries distributing free comics, is a key opportunity for the store to engage with both longtime fans and new customers. Owner Jeff Watson emphasized the significance of the event, particularly in connecting with children who are often surprised to receive free comics. The store, founded in 1993 by Watson, has evolved over the decades to reflect changing interests in the comic book and gaming communities. Assistant manager Adam Gallinat highlighted the store’s mission to showcase the diversity of comic book genres beyond superheroes, noting the availability of horror, fantasy, and surreal storytelling. “There’s incredible horror comics coming out right now. There’s incredible fantasy comics. If you like a genre, there’s a comic for it,” Gallinat said. He and other employees enjoy sharing their passion for comics with newcomers, fostering a sense of community. Watson’s journey with the store began on Boyer Avenue, where he initially focused on comics before expanding into board games after meeting Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering. This shift transformed the shop into a gaming hub, but the rise of digital media in the late 1990s led to a decline in physical comics and games. Watson temporarily closed the brick-and-mortar location, returning to school while continuing to run Digital Heroes through online sales and comic conventions.#free_comic_book_day #walla_walla_comic_shop #digital_heroes #jeff_watson #adam_gallinat
Celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2026 With These Horror Titles The 2026 Free Comic Book Day event will feature a new structure due to the bankruptcy of Diamond Comics Distributors, the long-standing distributor of North American comics. Diamond’s collapse in 2025 led to Universal Distribution acquiring the rights to Free Comic Book Day, which will now be supported by multiple comic companies. Penguin Random House, which also distributes comics, launched its own initiative called Comics Giveaway Day, scheduled for the first Saturday of May. While both events will coexist, they will offer distinct horror-themed comics, with stores stocking both collections. Customers can access free comics, but retailers must purchase them, encouraging buyers to support local shops and take advantage of potential sales. Free Comic Book Day Horror Titles The Nice House on the Lake #1 This issue kicks off a 12-issue miniseries by DC Comics, written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Álvaro Martínez Bueno. The story follows a group of friends invited to a remote lakeside house by an eccentric acquaintance named Walter, only to uncover a series of terrifying events. The series is available in deluxe hardcover or two softcover volumes. Something is Killing the Children: Road to Slaughter Boom! Studios’ latest offering features writer James Tynion IV and artist Werther Dell’Edera. This title sets up a storyline where Erica Slaughter, a monster hunter, faces an organization that trains her to suppress monstrous threats. The comic is part of a 46-issue series, with multiple collected editions available, including nine softcover volumes and two deluxe hardcover editions.#penguin_random_house #free_comic_book_day #diamond_comics_distributors #universal_distribution #comics_giveaway_day
