Free Comic Book Day 2020 may have been cancelled, but Marvel is pushing forward. In July, the publisher is releasing two titles previously slated for the event, including the first of Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men since issue #9’s March 25 release, as well as Donny Cates’ Spider-Man/Venom.
Both stories were planned to kick off events in their respective corners of the Marvel universe but, well – COVID was and is still a thing. Publishers are still trying to figure out how to return to their regular publishing schedules after months of pushing titles back, which means events like the much-hyped X of Swords is almost certainly not going to be the summer blockbuster crossover Marvel had originally planned. For instance, instead of its May 1 debut, Free Comic Boko Day 2020: X-Men #1 is instead hitting shelves on July 15. That book collects two stories: one from Hickman and Pepe Larraz and the other from Tom Taylor and Iban Coello, which is also said to foreshadow an upcoming epic tale.
Similarly, Free Comic Book Day 2020: Spider-Man/Venom #1 will begin two major storylines connected to the ongoing titles Venom, Amazing Spider-Man, and Black Cat. The first is by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, while the second is from Jed Mackay and Patrick Gleason. Spider-Man/Venom arrives one week after X-Men does, on July 22.
But – before running into your store to pick up these titles, remember to call ahead to ask about any new policies that may be in place as a result of COVID-19, and, of course, don’t forget the mask and social distance.
