Superman takes center stage on Free Comic Book Day

WORD BALLOONS

Comic book stores around the world will celebrate the ninth annual Free Comic Book Day on Saturday.

Classic superheroes such as Superman and Iron Man will join favorites including Archie, Toy Story and Shrek.

“We are thrilled to be a part of Free Comic Book Day,” DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee said in a news release. “This is a great opportunity for comic shops to showcase their stores and celebrate all the creativity and excitement comic books have to offer.”

DC Comics will offer “War of the Supermen” No. 0 as one of its Free Comic Book Day releases. The issue is co-written by James Robinson and University of Oklahoma graduate Sterling Gates.

“I’m really excited to be writing a Free Comic Book Day issue,” Gates said. “Getting a chance to help put the focus on the world’s most recognizable superhero on comics’ greatest holiday is a complete thrill.”

Prior to “War of the Supermen,” a group of superpowered aliens from Superman’s home planet founded New Krypton, in orbit around Earth’s sun. But not everyone on Earth believes the two planets can live in peace. In “War of the Supermen,” those tensions explode.