Shi: Way of the Warrior creator Billy Tucci and J.C. Vaughn, President of Gemstone Publishing, are just two of the creators who will be at comic shops across the nation on Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), Saturday, May 2, 2026.

They’ll appear on Long Island at L.I. Comic Shop, 1 Stauderman Avenue in Lynbrook, New York 11563, from 11 AM to 1:30 PM, and Fourth World Comics, 3 NY-111, Smithtown, NY 11787, from 3 PM to 5 PM.

Tucci, who provided the Lady Death and Shi covers for The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #54 and the cover for our next book, The Overstreet Guide To Grading Comics – Seventh Edition, will have recent Shi comics, prints, and original art for sale.

Vaughn will have copies of Vampire, PA, Al Capone, Vampire, and Captain Action vs. Al Capone, Vampire for sale. In addition, he will have limited editions of his latest comic, Dreaming With Mary Sutherland, including an L.I. Comic Shop exclusive variant cover by Tucci, which is limited to 30 copies.

Tucci and Vaughn also recently collaborated on the crowdfunded hit Shi: Gatecrasher.

Free Comic Book Day is the comic book industry’s annual event in which retailers give away comics for no charge to new and returning customers. Many different publishers produce comics for the event. Additionally, many stores have back issue sales and other promotions, as well as creator signings.

Since there are now multiple distributors, in addition to FCBD and some publishers comics will be labeled “Comics Giveaway Day.” Regardless, with its long, rich, and successful history, FCBD certainly still seems to be the most commonly accepted name.

“FCBD is one of the truly great days on the calendar each year. It’s a chance to get out and tell people what we love about comic books,” Vaughn said, “and there’s a lot to love!”