In 2019, a gray haze descends on planet earth and reduces every known metal to worthless piles of rust. With no technology remaining, humanity reverts to a violent feudal system ruled by knights of wood, stone and plastic, this is the new Dark Age. Also included is the return of Afterburn, soon to be a major motion picture! After a solar flare wipes out half the earth, Jake and his treasure hunters raid what’s left behind. Post-apocalyptic mayhem is unleashed in Russia in this original short story.
Rating: Teen
My first reaction: Okay…so all metals are useless. (I’ll ignore the “rust” explanation above. If it’s a chemical reaction, it can be reversed.) Carbon nanotubes are highly conductive, so that’s one way around this conundrum. Even if that’s not feasible, steam engines will still work, so at worst, society is at an early Industrial Age-level of technology. But if we ignore that…
Post-apocalyptic world. Wait for the trade, see how it develops.
As for Afterburn… we meet treasure hunters raiding a wasteland. Again, me, I wonder why the West doesn’t methodically, surgically, clean up the Eastern hemisphere? 

A new graphic novel from the Eisner Award-nominated creator of MERMIN that deftly navigates loss, vengeance, and acceptance! Truff is the ghost of a young boar, fueled by fury towards the hunter who shot her down. She has a lot to learn about her new afterlife, and thankfully the forest spirits Claude and Stanley are there to guide her! However, they soon find that her parents, along with their fellow animal villagers, have been kidnapped by the malicious mountain demon Mava! Truff wants to help, but… the hunter is finally within her grasp, and if she lets him go, she may never get her revenge!
Reprint Material
Rating: All-Ages
Hmmm… I think this will read better as a full book. There’s a good foundation presented, that will appeal to to both kids and adults.

The radical reimagining of beloved sci-fi anime Robotech gears up for a brand new event, and bestselling writer Brenden Fletcher joins the superstar creative team alongside Simon Furman (Transformers) and artist Hendry Prasetya (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers)! Free Comic Book Day is the perfect place to jump aboard the SDF-1!
Rating: Teen
Uh… there’s a time loop? I see lots of glimpses of story, but I don’t know what’s going on, who the characters are, or even what’s being teased. I think this is preaching to the choir, so if you enjoyed the cartoons from long ago, check this out. 

What would you do if you discover your son isn’t really your son? He may look like him, act like him, but deep down in your soul you just know…that he’s been replaced. Then your worst fears are realized when the light hits his face just right and you accidentally see his true appearance for yourself. But he isn’t the only one you discover; your neighbor, your friend, even your husband. Do you scream? Do you run? Or do you fight back? And how can your daughter be the best and, perhaps, last hope for mankind? Enter the dystopian world of the Midnight Sky. Also: a special prequel to Long Live Pro Wrestling, an original story of Gutt Ghost, and previews of four upcoming 2019 Scout Comics titles: Devilreaux, Red Winter, Dust, and Snow White Zombie Apocalypse.
Rating: Teen
More dystopia. Geez…I guess that’s the current Zeitgeist, huh? Anyway… we’re teased, but don’t really understand what’s happening.
The second story is more intriguing, as a Pro Wrestling emcee breaks kayfabe and his rant goes viral.
Gutt Ghost is … indie? I don’t really get it, maybe it’s a buddy story where one of the buddies hates the other guy?
There are some other one-page previews in the back. Crucified is the most intriguing, about a hitman sent to assassinate a messiah, then converted by the target, and then becoming a target himself. Take a look at the others, there are a lot of different genres presented.  

Relive the historical launch of one of the most successful comic book series of all-time this FCBD with a reprint of SPAWN #1 featuring a new, exclusive cover by Francesco Mattina. Longtime readers of this record-breaking, iconic series following anti-hero Al Simmons will enjoy a nostalgic look back at the issue that started it all. And new readers will have a chance to embark on the SPAWN adventure in time for the release of the film adaptation starring Jamie Foxx, Jeremy Renner, and directed by Todd McFarlane himself.
Reprint Material
Rating: Teen

If you have to limit your selection of free copies, this is still available as an Image First edition for $1. (Some comics shops might have copies of the original issue at affordable prices…it ain’t exactly scarce.) 

(W) Ed Kuehnel, Matt Entin, Josh Fadem, C. W. Cooke, A.C. Medina, Mina Elwell (A) Dan Schkade, Kit Wallis, Trevor Richardson (A/CA) Kelly Williams
Starburns sure has some strangeness on the horizon! Is that a beer-swilling Sasquatch behind the wheel of a vintage Corvette, burning rubber on the dusty highway? And are those lights in the sky actually war-mongering aliens from Planet Wrestletopia itching for a grudge match against the people of Earth? No! To the left of those other lights, see? It’s the Starship Gryffen, fleeing a galactic Federation promising a Utopia enforced by clandestine fascism. And that spark of fire in the distance? Don’t mind that, it’s just Cherry, the devil’s prankster granddaughter. And because it isn’t really a sneak peak of Starburns Industries Press without some quirky comedy, Josh Fadem of 30 Rock fame offers a sneak-peek of his humor tome, A Whole New Set of Problems!
Rating: Teen
A satisfying chunk of introductory chapters. Starburns gets the award for best accessibility…they place a Comixology reminder at the end of each story, so you can read more!  Nasquatch looks like fun, but it could turn darker. Planet Wrestletopia is intriguing. Hellicious is confusing, but it looks like a multipath adventure? I’m not exactly sure what’s going on in B-Squad. Gryffen features a political prisoner whose plans for revolution are more like anarchy. Let’s see how that story proceeds. Grab a copy if you want something out of the ordinary.

(A) Ken Reid, Leo Baxendale, Robert Nixon, Reg Parlett, Trevor Metfalfe, Steve Bright, Mike Lacey, Martin Baxendale, Sid Burgeon, Gordon Hogg
It’s time to put the funny back in funny pages! This Free Comic Book Day, the Treasury of British Comics presents a stack of silliness in a folio of frivolous foolishness with a trove of classic cartoon characters! Infant delinquent Sweeney Toddler commits crimes from the crib! Just when you thought it was safe to parody Steven Spielberg shark films, along comes the terror from the depths, GUMS! Martha’s Monster Make-Up and Faceache strips are both a scream! The egg-straordinary adventures of super-zeroes Birdman and Chicken are sure to get you clucking; You can count on Deadley Hedley The Vampire Detective to be up to your neck in laughs when he joins a stake-out at a monster Christmas Party! A bounty of belly-laughs for kids of all ages!
Rating: All-Ages
All sorts of classic characters from Britain, loaded with good cheeky fun! Not much story, just lots of gags! RECOMMENDED

(W) Christopher Preist
July 2019 is the 50th anniversary of Vampirella, and to celebrate, Dynamite is relaunching the title that very month, with a very special preview to come in this year’s FCBD special, Vampirella #0!  Featuring work by legendary Vampirella creator Forrest J. Ackerman along with legends in the own right, Mark Texiera, Ty Templeton and Bruce Timm, Vampirella #0 will also unveil our lights-out new creative team as they present the prologue to a story so big, we had to hold it for Vampi’s birthday!
Reprint Material
Rating: Teen
Vampirella has gone viral, and has a young acolyte she doesn’t want, and a mean girl who outed her on social media. That’s followed by a reprint from 1993 by Kurt Busiek and Art Adams. RECOMMENDED.

(W) Guido Nolitta (A) Gallieno Ferri (CA) Michele Rubini
When Zagor’s archnemesis, professor Hellingen mysteriously disappears from a scientific military base Skylab, Zagor is bracing himself for a crisis of colossal magnitude. Still, nothing prepares him for what comes next.
Rating; Teen
This is a reprint/import from Italy. Zagor is set in the wilderness of 1820s Pennsylvania. The art is typical 1960s adventure strip, and generally works, even if it looks like the panels were enlarged for the comic. Zagor battles extraterrestrials in this issue. 

Presenting two stories that are fun for all ages, are you ready? First, in the world of Minecraft a heartless Griefer runs rampant, but she discovers her actions end up having real world consequences. Then, in Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl are ready for a date night, but when someone is up to no good, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack are determined that this villain will not ruin their parents’ night off!
Rating: All Ages
[Whoops. Looks like I forgot to grab a copy! I’d probably grab a copy if I didn’t work in a comics shop, if only for the Pixar story. ]