Saturday, May 2, is Free Comic Book Day

In an era being labeled the Great Recession, a day where comic-book stores give away free merchandise is like an invitation to return to childhood — for a little while, anyway.

Since 2002, visitors to participating comic-book stores — at least a dozen are located in the Seattle area — have been able to walk in on the first Saturday in May and walk out with one or more free comics printed especially for Free Comic Book Day.

"It definitely appeals to the kids, but it's definitely intergenerational," said Ganny Hochberg, a longtime employee at Pike Place Market's Golden Age Collectables (206-622-9799 or www.goldenagecollectables.com).

FreeComicBookDay.com's shop locator finds participating stores by ZIP code.

Besides the comics giveaway, local FCBD events include an appearance starting at 10 a.m. by sketch artist Jesse Munoz today at Tacoma's Comic Book Ink (1625 E. 72nd St., Suite 800, Tacoma; 253-761-4651 or www.comicbookink.com). Writer Neal Bailey of the Female Force comics series, which has chronicled Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin, is signing copies of his work at 3 p.m.

In addition to handing out free comics, the Shoreline branch of the King County Library System is hosting a noon video-game session today featuring games inspired by comics, as well as a 3 p.m. drawing workshop with comic artist Elizabeth Guizzetti.

And at 2 p.m. Sunday, also at the Shoreline library, graphic artist and author Ellen Forney will discuss where she gets her ideas and how they transform on paper. Forney illustrated Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" (345 N.E. 175th St., Shoreline; 206-363-7550; www.kcls.org).

Blythe Lawrence: blawrence@seattletimes.com