A huge celebration of comics and pop culture will be held Saturday at Big Bang — a local store with toys, comics, and games — as part of Free Comic Book Day. In addition to free comics, there will be activities, games, costume contests, and prizes for all ages, plus a meet-and-greet with local comic creator Charlie McFarland. The event will also lean into a “May the 4th be With You” theme as it coincides with Star Wars Day.
Free Comic Book Day occurs at comic shops all over the country annually on the first Saturday of May. Big Bang, located in the Towne Square North shopping center on the south end of Frederica Street, has participated since it opened in 2010.
It’s become their biggest day of the year.
“The reception has been tremendous with whole families coming to spark their interest with free comics exclusively on that day, and we host activities, games, and contests for kids and adults to participate in,” said Big Bang’s Daryl Allen. “In years past, people have lined out the door down the shopping center.”
Allen said Free Comic Book Day is a unique celebration because it offers fun for the whole family.
“Comic Books are where it all started before the movies, the cartoons, and the video games,” he said. “Free comics are a great way to get kids to read and get interested in characters and storylines that haven’t yet made it to the big screen.”
Allen said comics have made a resurgence in recent years.
“People get excited with new characters, catching up to things in the books they never heard before, and the thrill of arriving every week to see the new comics that are available,” he said. “For Big Bang, it means that people of all ages get the opportunity to release their inner child and dream limitlessly. It means recapturing childhood memories for those who have grown up. Comic fans can bond with others, discover they are not alone, and forge friendships with strangers.”
Saturday’s celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. with free comics and game demos, along with coloring activities and a coloring contest. A carbonite rescue challenge begins at 11, with a Genosian droid building factory at 11:30 and a Jedi trial at noon.
The kids costume contest will take place at 12:30 p.m. followed by the adult costume contest at 1. A video game challenge is scheduled for 1:30 and the final prizes will be given away at 2.
Big Bang will also have a sidewalk sale, offering items at discounted prices starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until the late evening. They will be giving away more than $400 in prizes for those who make purchases on Saturday.
McFarland will be on site to meet guests. He is a lifelong Owensboro resident that has been writing comics since he was 8 or 9 years old, when he read his first “Captain Underpants” book. After graduating high school, McFarland decided to take it more seriously and look for a professional artist.
In 2021, McFarland wrote a series called “The Citizen” about an ordinary man living in a city of superheroes.
Earlier this year, OT talked to McFarland about his newest venture, “Pistol Shrimp.” He describes the comic as an action/comedy under-the-sea Western about a shrimp who becomes separated from his wife after their fish tank gets dumped into the ocean. It follows his adventures as he attempts to reunite with her.
