Are you doing anything on May 3? If you're not, then perhaps you should go to the nearest comic book shop. Why? Because May 3, 2008 is Free Comic Book Day and on that day an issue of Shonen Jump Magazine is being given out in participating stores, among other free comics. Viz Media has decided to provide a condensed issue of Shonen Jump in order to appeal to comic book fans, new manga fans, and already established fans everywhere during Free Comic Book Day.

This issue of Shonen Jump contains 32 pages of manga goodness, including previews of Viz’s series Bleach, Naruto, and Slam Dunk. Other popular series such as One Piece and Yu Yu Hakusho will be included and a special poster of Bleach will be inside the magazine as well.

For a free magazine, that sounds like a pretty good deal. I'd get it just for the poster. Plus, you can get other free comics at the same time.

Free Comic Book Day was first started by the Diamond Comic Distributors in 2002 and is a yearly event to showcase upcoming new comics and to entice new fans into the comic book domain. Graphic novels (manga) are also now participating in this annual treat. Viz is joining the ranks of comic book companies Archie, Bongo, Dark Horse, DC, Dynamite, IDW, Image, Marvel and Virgin... and hopefully we will see more manga companies in the future.

Source: Anime News Network