Via PR:


Top Cow Productions, Inc. is proud to announce today its plans for this weekend’s Free Comic Book Day, Saturday, May 1st, which takes place in comic shops across North America.  Free Comic Book Day is an annual event where participating direct market stores give out free comics to anyone that walks into their store.
 
This year’s Top Cow Free Comic Book Day offering is Artifacts #0, by Ron Marz (Witchblade, Magdalena) and Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade, Angelus).  The issue serves as an introduction to the publisher’s maxi-event that’s been over five years in the making.  Building on the success of First Born and Broken Trinity, Top Cow will finally reveal the identity of all 13 Artifacts, which include The Darkness, Witchblade, Angelus, Magdalena’s Spear of Destiny and 9 others.  Launching a massive 13-issue event beginning in July 2010, the series will define and redefine the nature of the Top Cow Universe.  The final identity of the remaining Artifacts will be revealed, characters will perish and the very existence of the Top Cow Universe will be at stake. 
 
As a special treat for LA locals, Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri will be participating in the festivities and serving as the Guest of Honor at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA.  Joining Silvestri at Collector’s Paradise is the first art team on the Artifacts series, Michael Broussard (The Darkness), who will also be signing at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood, CA.  On the east coast, Marz will be signing Artifacts #0 at two New England Comics locations: Brockton and Harvard Square.
 
Other Top Cow creators making appearances in the Los Angeles area include Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik, Rick Loverd (Berserker), Rob Levin (Broken Trinity: Pandora’s Box, The Darkness: Shadows & Flame), Rahsan Ekedal (The Crazies, Echoes), Nelson Blake II (Pilot Season: Murderer, Magdalena), Sal Regla (Pilot Season: Murderer, Magdalena), Sheldon Mitchell (Pilot Season: Stealth, The Darkness), Joshua Hale Fialkov (Pilot Season: Alibi, Echoes), Rick Basaldua (Pilot Season: Stealth, The Darkness) and Ryan Winn (The Darkness).  Additionally, Tyler Kirkham (Strykeforce, Witchblade Takeru Manga) and Phil Hester (The Darkness) will be appearing in various parts of the United States to celebrate the annual event.
 
Below are Top Cow’s full event plans for FCBD:
 
4 Color Fantasies
7172 Archibald Avenue
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701
(909) 563-8751
Creator: Rick Basaldua
 
Beach Ball Comics
3024 West Ball Road
Anaheim, CA 92804
(714) 826-6127
Creators:  Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla
 
Brave New World Comics
22722 Lyons Avenue #6
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
(661) 259-4745
Creators: Sheldon Mitchell
 
Collector’s Paradise
7131 Winnetka Avenue
Canoga Park, CA 91306
(818) 999-9455
Creators: Marc Silvestri (1-3pm), Michael Broussard (12-3pm), Rick Loverd (12-3pm)
 
The Comic Bug
1807 ½ Manhattan Beach Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA
(310) 372-6704
Creators:  Rob Levin, Rahsan Ekedal, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Ryan Winn
 
Daydream Comics
21 S. Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 354-6632
Creator: Phil Hester
 
Earth-2 Comics
8967 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge, CA 91324
Creator: Filip Sablik (12-2pm)
 
Hee Bee Gee Beez
1968 N. Hill Field Road, Suite #2
Layton, UT 84041
(801) 392-5094
Creator:  Tyler Kirkham
 
Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-7223
Creators: Michael Broussard, Rick Loverd (4-6pm)
 
New England Comics – Brockton Store
East Crossing Plaza
744 Crescent Street
Brockton, MA 02302
(508) 559-5068
Creator: Ron Marz (10:30am-1:30pm)
 
New England Comics – Cambridge Store
Harvard Square
14A Eliot Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 354-5352
Creator: Ron Marz (4-7pm)