It’s everyone’s favorite time of year - FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

And we’re pulling out all the stops this year with not one but TWO amazing local food vendors and TWO extremely talented local artists, ONE MASSIVE SALE, give-a-ways, your favorite cosplayers & characters and a few surprises!

With over 40 different titles from almost a dozen or more different publishers to choose from, the free comics are by far the most attractive part of the day. Come by early to grab some of your favorites or take the opportunity to try out a new title or publisher that you’ve been meaning to dive into! That’s what the day is REALLY about - trying new things and embracing what you love! Check out some of the awesome comics that will be available:

Next up - the SALE!

We’re offering - for ONE DAY ONLY - 20% OFF EVERYTHING in the store like:

• Graphic novels

• Toys

• Statues

• Novelty items

• Select wall books and minor keys

• Comic sets

• Funko POPs

• and more!

Items NOT included in the sale are the following items:

• New comics

• Dollar comics

• Supplies

• Cards

• Artwork by local artists

We are also offering ALL BIN BACK ISSUES at 50% OFF! If it’s in a bag & board and sits in our bins, it’s 50% off! It’s that simple!

Please note: anything on hold prior to FCBD, in pull boxes or previously reserved before May 6, 2023 are NOT eligible for FCBD discounts. Fully stamped reward cards also cannot be combined with FCBD discounts.

Hmm. What’s a good pairing with a really good read? Delicious food!

East Side Mags is proud to welcome back Notorious BBQ! Montclair’s #1 BBQ-maestro will be here with deliciousness like you’ve only seen on Food Network! David will be here starting at 12pm and will have the smokey goodness on hand until he sells out! If you’re not following Notorious BBQ on Instagram then you don’t know about the monthly pick ups - and you should! Make sure you follow and keep up with David and crew!

But what’s savory without sweet to follow! That’s where we’re proud to bring you: A Butter Life! Jenny is true perfection in her craft. This year’s theme is Cookies, Comics & the Force - Star Wars inspired cookies based on various Star Wars characters (4-5 kinds) and fan-favorite Batarang cookies! Each cookie will be individually wrapped or in a sampler box, available for purchase directly from Jenny herself! The sugary deliciousness will be here from 10am-2pm.

And what would Free Comic Book Day be without beautiful art from local artists? Local legends and up-and-coming artists Paul Belliveau (10am-2pm) and Ava Schrager (3pm-7pm) are going to be here sketching for customers on blank cover comics and more! Got a favorite character? Or maybe an idea of a mash-up like Winnie the Pooh crossed over with Spawn? Or a motorcycle-riding Ariel the Little Mermaid? Or how about a group of 6 or 7 chipmunks all fighting it out with lightsabers? Just talk to Ava and Paul! They’ll make it work and, most importantly, they’ll make it look SPECTACULAR on a blank cover comic!

And stick around because we’ve got give-a-ways for kids like stickers, lollipops and more. We’ll have exclusive FCBD stuff like Funko POP Vinyl X-Men #1 Comic Covers featuring Gambit, Spider-Man 2099 tin lunchboxes, Deadpool fleece blankets, Doop and Sentinel plushes and the highly-coveted Invincible Omni-Man vs Invincible Funko POP Moment figure. We’ll also have dozens of cosplayers throughout the day and you can see the likes of who have shown up in the past! This year is expected to be no different and you’ll never know (or guess) who’ll pop their heads in!

The fun starts at 9am and goes until 7pm so come hang out with us and let’s party like it’s 2024!

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year - FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

And we’re pulling out all the stops this year with not one but TWO amazing local food vendors and an extremely talented local artist, a MASSIVE sale, give-a-ways, your favorite cosplayers & characters and a few surprises!

With over 40 different titles from almost a dozen or more different publishers to choose from, the free comics are by far the most attractive part of the day. Come by early to grab some of your favorites or take the opportunity to try out a new title or publisher that you’ve been meaning to dive into! That’s what the day is REALLY about - trying new things and embracing what you love! Check out some of these awesome comics that will be available:

Next up - the SALE!

We’re offering - for ONE DAY ONLY - 20% OFF EVERYTHING in the store like:

• Graphic novels

• Toys

• Statues

• Novelty items

• Select wall books and minor keys

• Comic sets

• Funko POPs

• and more!

Items NOT included in the sale are the following items:

• New comics

• Dollar comics

• Supplies

• Cards

• Artwork by local artists

We are also offering ALL BIN BACK ISSUES at 50% OFF! If it’s in a bag & board and sits in our bins, it’s 50% off! It’s that simple!

Please note: anything on hold prior to FCBD, in pull boxes or previously reserved before May 6, 2023 are NOT eligible for FCBD discounts. Fully stamped reward cards also cannot be combined with FCBD discounts.

Hmm. What’s a good pairing with a really good read? Delicious food!

East Side Mags is proud to welcome back The Beastro! After all the wild, rave reviews from last year, we wanted you to know we HEAR YOU! We SEE YOU! And you’re right - The Beastro is the best private chef/caterer this side of the Hudson and he’s back with delicious East Side Tacos from the other side of Cinco de Mayo! Come by and try out his delectable shells filled with a variety of savory goodness!

But what’s savory without sweet to follow! That’s where we’re proud to bring you: A Butter Life! Jenny is true perfection in her craft. Cookies, scones, rice crispies treats and more - Jenny is bringing out all the stops to show you what a sweet-tooth really needs.

And what would Free Comic Book Day be without beautiful art! And geez - do we have something special for all of you! Local legend and up-and-coming artist Paul Belliveau is going to be here sketching for customers on blank cover comics and more! Got a favorite character? Or maybe an idea of a mash-up like Winnie the Pooh crossed over with Spawn? Or a motorcycle-riding Ariel the Little Mermaid? Or how about a group of 6 or 7 chipmunks all fighting it out with lightsabers? Just talk to Paul! He’ll make it work and, most importantly, he’ll make it look SPECTACULAR on paper!

And stick around because we’ve got give-a-ways for kids like stickers, lollipops and more. We’ll have exclusive FCBD stuff like the sought-after Etrigan FCBD Exclusive POP Vinyl (regular or blacklight chase; limited quantities; while supplies last). Spider-Man himself will be here and he’ll be bringing some of his web-tastic comic book friends with him throughout the day (who knows who you’ll see? pics from previous years below) and we’ve got some surprises too!

The fun starts at 9am and goes until 7pm so come hang out with us and let’s party like it’s 2023!

We are so excited to see Free Comic Book Day back in May for 2022 and even more excited that we get to celebrate in our awesome new space on Bloomfield Ave!

We’ve got some really great stuff in store - most importantly - FREE COMICS! Here is a sampling of what we’ll have available:

Next up - the SALE!

We’re offering - for ONE DAY ONLY - 20% OFF EVERYTHING in the store like:

• Graphic novels

• Toys

• Statues

• Novelty items

• Select wall books and minor keys

• Comic sets

• Funko POPs

• and more!

Items NOT included in the sale are the following items:

• New comics

• Dollar comics

• Supplies

• Cards

• Artwork by local artists

We are also offering ALL BIN BACK ISSUES at 40% OFF! If it’s in a bag & board and sits in our bins, it’s 40% off! It’s that simple!

Please note: anything on hold prior to FCBD, in pull boxes or previously reserved before May 7, 2022 are NOT eligible for FCBD discounts. Fully stamped reward cards also cannot be combined with FCBD discounts.

We love characters and what would FCBD be without some of your favorites! We’ve got COSPLAYERS who will be coming by to hang out and take pictures including (with more to come)!

Last we’ve got the always amazing Camp Veritans in Haledon, NJ (right next to William Paterson University) as our special guest. They are a really awesome summer day camp (not sleep-away) that runs for 8 weeks throughout the summer and offers a massive variety of activities for all ages including a variety of sports, archery, arts and crafts, cooking, ropes and challenge courses, gymnastics, dance, STEM and so much more including swimming in a solar heated pool! Make sure you stop by their table and check out all they have to offer!

The festivities start at 9am and go until 7pm! We can’t wait to see everyone again!

UPDATE (3/19/20): In light of recent events regarding COVID-19, Free Comic Book Day is being postponed to a date TBD later in the Summer. Please stay tuned for more information. As always, feel free to reach out to us directly via the Contact Page, phone, email, Facebook, etc. We thank you for your understanding and still look forward to an awesome FCBD in 2020!

It’s the most. wonderful. time. of the YEAR!!!

It’s Free Comic Book Day at East Side Mags! And we’ve got a TON of great stuff going on so won’t you join us?

First and foremost, we’ve got FREE COMICS! Check out some of the awesome titles available:

Next, we’ve got a MASSIVE SALE going on:

• 50% off ALL BIN BACK ISSUES

• 20% off just about everything in the store including (but not limited to)

  • Funko POPs

  • Action figures

  • Statues

  • Select Wall Books

  • Novelty items

  • Toys

  • Trade Paperbacks and Hardcovers

  • T-Shirts and Hoodies

  • DVDs

  • and MORE!!!

Don’t forget we have silver age to modern age comics for ONE DOLLAR and new/modern comics for TWO DOLLARS!

We’ve got Keiki Explorers Summer Camp here with information about their amazing summer program (with a few surprises!).

We’re also rolling out the return of our new and improved COMMUNITY ART PROJECT!
We’ll have a GIANT 6’ x 8’ canvas with plenty of brushes and paint for everyone who comes by to use! The giant canvas will be made up of smaller canvases ranging from 6” x 12” up to 24” x 30” to create one large canvas! Once the canvas is finished, we’ll be breaking it apart and raffling off the pieces with 100% of the proceeds going to support Allwood Play & Learn in Clifton, NJ!

We are also donating 10% of our total days’ proceeds to Allwood Play & Learn!

Finally, we’ve got our famous ESM DOLLAR RAFFLES with awesome prizes to be announced on our Facebook page and Instagram as we get closer to the event!

Don’t miss this amazing day full of art, fun, comics and community!

Montclair Center is taking over Montclair State University…AGAIN!

And East Side Mags will be there with some awesome dollar comics and give-a-ways for anyone who pops by and says hi!

Join us outside the Student Center (or inside the Ballroom if it’s raining).

The fun starts at 9am and goes until 1pm!

See you there!

Right next door to Montclair's Oktoberfest, this second annual family festival (Familyfest) is full of fun-filled, free activities for families.This is a non - alcoholic event.  This year, every vendor will offer a free child or adult activity. There will also be live - entertainment for kids and adults.

East Side Mags will once again be joining the festivities with TONS of comics for $1 each and some special deals on new comics as well as a FREE BUTTON MAKING STATION! 

We'll also be promoting a ton of great events we've got coming up like signings with Artists and Writers, live music, open mic comedy nights, Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, Magic the Gathering tournaments and MORE!

Come say hi and enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family!

East Side Mags is proud to partner with Montclair Center for a massive sidewalk sale! 

Come to Montclair Center and enjoy the weather, great food and sales, discounts and specials from dozens of your favorite eateries and retailers!!!

We are happy to announce that, in addition to our amazing, one-of-a-kind signing taking place that day, we are donating 10% of our overall sales to support the victims of the Las Vegas shooting.

In addition, we will have a LIMITED collection of DVD movies for sale - ranging from $3 to $8 each!

Did we mention our massive collection of dollar comics? We've got so many dollar comics that we're offering 12 dollar comics for $10 or even 25 dollar comics for $20!!! Come check it out!

It's the most. WONDERFUL. Time of the YEAR!

It's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY and we've got some real exciting stuff planned so keep up with our Facebook page to get updates but the basics are all here!

We're opening EARLY - like 9am early. So you have time to get your hands on some awesome issues!

There are some truly awesome FREE COMICS that will be available including, but not limited to Riverdale, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, DC Comics, Barrier by Brian K Vaughn, Avengers, Pokemon, Miraculous, Simpsons/Bongo Comics, Adventure Time, Legend of Korra, Amazing Spider-Man, Spongebob Squarepants and MORE!!!

We've got almost everything in the store ON SALE for 20% OFF except new comics, dollar comics, supplies, select wall books and art work.  But that still means you can save BIG on items like Funko POPs, action figures, statues, trade paperbacks, hard cover books and bin back issues!!!  

Our famous DOLLAR RAFFLES are back and we'll have some really, truly awesome items available so stay tuned to more info!

Also - if you spend $100 or more, you will get a fully stamped reward card PLUS five (5) extra stamps ($50 value)!!!

Did someone say guests?  We've got some great guests for you!

How about legendary painter / artist GREG HILDEBRANDT! Greg will be joined by the amazing Angela Fernot and will be here from 12pm-5pm.  He'll be taking sketch requests, have prints for sale as well as copies of his Tolkien book!

Greg is happy to sign items that customers either buy from ESM or bring themselves - up to 3 FREE! After that, there is a $10 charge per additional signature.*** Military veterans (with Military ID required) get special pricing and up to 6 free signatures. 

***Greg's cover for Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 is the only exception. There is a charge to sign this of $50 as Greg will ONLY EVER sign 50 copies lifetime!

Greg will NOT be sketching in store but will take requests to be mailed to customers once completed at his studio.  Customers who want a sketch must buy a sketch cover from East Side Mags and leave it with Greg in addition to payment BEFORE leaving the store including $10 for shipping.  Pricing is as follows:

• Pencil sketch by Greg - Head Sketch ($50), Bust Sketch ($100), Full Figure ($150) with additional figures $100 each
• Inks available by Angela Fernot (over Greg's pencils) - Inked Head ($30 additional), Inked Bust ($50 additional), Inked Full Figure ($100 additional) with additional inked figures $75 additional each
• Color sketches (pencils by Greg, inks by Angela Fernot, coloring and final art by Greg) start at $150+ with final price to be determined per individual request

Greg is also happy to take commission requests from interested buyers but will only be accepting painting and black board commissions.  Sketch commissions will only be available via Sketch Covers purchased from East Side Mags.

Greg is also happy to take photos with fans!!!

We've also got KEIKI EXPLORERS SUMMER CAMP in the house! If you've got kids, this is the BEST summer experience you can imagine!  Each day is a special field trip somewhere and the experiences your kids get will last a lifetime!

Last, we've got out amazing COSPLAY CONTEST with special guest judges! Come by in costume or cosplay and we'll take your picture and contact info.  At the end of the day, our special COSPLAY CONTEST JUDGES will vote on a BEST KIDS COSTUME and BEST ADULT COSTUME (Adult as in age NOT appropriateness so let's try to keep it clean, huh?).  We'll have some really awesome prizes for the winners too!

Spring is here and we're so excited for the new weather that we're having a sale!

ALL OF OUR BACK ISSUES in the BINS are on sale for 40% off! Including the DRAWER BOXES under the BINS!

We'll also have extra dollar boxes with new stock available and a SPECIAL on WALL BOOKS! SELECT WALL BOOKS will be 30% OFF!

Come by, bring your collection list and check it out!

The holiday season is officially here!  While everyone is polishing off their leftover turkey and stuffing, we're all thinking the same thing - SH*T! Did I get my holiday shopping done?  Well - have no fear!  East Side Mags is HERE with some awesome holiday news and deals for YOU - the people!

Alexia Veldhuisen - artist extraordinaire and Kubert School graduate - will be here sketching for customers!  Do you have an artist or art fan in your life?  This is the PERFECT gift - the gift of original art! Pick a blank cover and included in the purchase is a FREE pencil sketch.  But wait - there's more!  You can upgrade to black & white inks and/or full color (or buy a commission) and pay the additional charge to the artist directly!  That means you get a piece of original art, you've supported your local comic shop AND you've supported a local artist ALL IN ONE SHOT!  Happy holidays to EVERYONE (literally).

We're also having an awesome SALE on tons of merchandise throughout the store! For ONE DAY ONLY - we're giving you:

20% off the following items:

• Trade paperbacks
• Hardcovers
• Action Figures
• Novelty Items
• Select Wall books

plus you can get 50% off:

• Bin back issues
• Statues

and as always we've got our dollar comics special - get 12 for $10 or 25 for $20!

Finally - we'll have a really awesome Batman/Harley Quinn coloring station that's FREE for kids or really anyone who wants to join in!  We're having the coloring station in part with Montclair Center BID's AMEX Small Business Saturday Passport program!  Pick up your passport on Church St. in Montclair on 11/25 and take it to participating businesses and get stamps.  Once your stamps are collected, you are eligible to enter to win a ton of great prizes from a ton of local Montclair businesses!  To get our stamp, all you need to do is color in an awesome Batman or Harley picture!  It also makes a really great gift too!

Last - we'll have our famous dollar raffles!  Raffle prizes will get listed on our Facebook page so LIKE US today and get all the updates!

New Jersey Comic Expo is an annual event held at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center each Fall. It's a celebration of comic books and pop culture that showcases the exceptional works of talented writers, artists, illustrators and creators of all types of pop culture.

Join East Side Mags at the show!  We'll have dollar comics, discounted trades and hardcovers, wall books and some surprises!

Joining us at the show are some truly awesome friends and creators like:

For tickets and more info, check out NJ Comic Expo's website.

It's that wonderful time of year: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

What's better?  You tell us!

This year, we're excited to announce some fan favorites returning as well as some new surprises!

First and foremost, we're opening out doors EARLY!  9AM opening for you early birds out there!

Most improtantly:  FREE COMICS!  We've got a TON of great FREE comics available for you to pick up!  You can check out the full list here but these are some we're REALLY looking forward to:

Dollar Raffles: We'll have a total of SIX different dollar raffles to enter into.  As per usual, raffle tickets are $1 each and you can drop your tickets in any bag you want!  You can enter as many times as you want and we'll announce the winner after FCBD!  Prizes this year will be announced on our Facebook page as we lead up to the event!  You can check that out here.

Keiki Explorers Summer Camp will be joining us again!  They'll have a table set up outside with some fun and games and information on their great summer program!  Sign up for a week or 2 weeks or a whole month!  Every day is an awesome field trip, lunch, another trip and you're home by the end of the day!  Tons of activities and fun for everyone!

Here's what you've been waiting for:  SIGNINGS!

This year we are HONORED to have these amazing people joining us from 12pm-6pm:

Jamal Igle.  The amazing artist behind the Black Mask Studios series Black returns to East Side Mags by popular demand!  He has a creator owned book called Molly Danger out by Action Lab Entertainment too!  He's worked on comics such as Firestorm the Nuclear Man, Nightwing, Superman, Supergirl, Zatanna and MORE!  We'll have copies of Black #1 on hand for Jamal to sign as well as a plethora of sketch covers to draw on!

Magdalene Visaggio.  Writer extraordinaire! She is tearing the comic world up with amazing books from Black Mask Studios like Kim & Kim and the newest Quantum Teen Are GO!  She's got a new Kim & Kim book coming out called Kim & Kim: Return of the Hipster Freaks so if you haven't already checked out the original, we'll have plenty of copies of #1 and the trade paperback on hand!

Scott Koblish.  He draws Deadpool for Marvel Comics and a TON of other stuff.  Some of his earlier work includes some Marvel Comics Presents from the early 1990s, a run on Excalibur in the late 1990s, Infinity Man & the Forever People, Wolverine, X-Men 92, Worlds Finest (New 52) and MORE!  If you don't know Scott's work, come by.  It'll blow your mind!  We'll have copies of his work on hand to get signed as well as a ton of sketch covers for Scott to grace with his art!

Plus - we're giving you - the customers - 20% off just about everything in the entire store except: new comics, dollar comics, supplies and select wall books.  That means ALL back issues, toys, select wall books, figures, POP Vinyls, collectibles and MORE are on sale!  Plus, we're having a SPECIAL sale on ALL STATUES!  Get 50% off sticker price on ALL STATUES!  50% OFF!  Seriously!  (Sale CANNOT be combined with fully stamped reward cards or any other offer.)

As a special treat for our customers, we'll also have a special offer - SPEND $100 or more and get (5) extra reward stamps ($50 value)!

Stay tuned for updates on actual raffle prizes and more surprises as we get closer!  Come on down on May 6th!  This is STILL the best FCBD event you'll find!

Come hang out with us at an amazing local comic show in Flemington, NJ!

Location:

Flemington Elks Lodge #1928

165 State Route 31, Flemington, NJ 08822

Admission : $3.00, Children 12 and under are free.

First 100 people will receive a free 5 comic book pack. There will also be chances to win show cash and door prizes. 

Cosplay contest. 1ST place $35, 2ND place $25, 3RD place $15. 1st thru 3rd place will receive show cash, to spend with any vendors or artists. Everyone that enters the cosplay contest will win a prize.

There will be golden to modern age comics, graphic novels/trades, Funko pops, action figures, Magic the Gathering cards, comic book pictures, miniature standups, local artists and more. Will update page as more vendors get tables.

Make sure you come out and say hi!  We'll also have dollar comics, $10 trade paperbacks and hard covers and some FREE GIVEAWAYS!

Join East Side Mags and dozens of other awesome vendors for the Clifton NJ Comic Show!

10am-4pm

Comics ranging from Golden Age to Modern Age, discount toys, trades and hard covers as well as the ever-coveted dollar comic boxes!  Specials, give-a-ways and MORE!

Check us out at the Clifton Community Rec Center at 1232 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011

Join East Side Mags and dozens of other awesome vendors for the SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION of the Clifton NJ Comic Show!

10am-4pm

Comics ranging from Golden Age to Modern Age, discount toys, trades and hard covers as well as the ever-coveted dollar comic boxes!  Specials, give-a-ways and MORE!

Check us out at the Clifton Community Rec Center at 1232 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011

Join East Side Mags and dozens of other awesome vendors for the Clifton NJ Comic Show!

10am-4pm

Comics ranging from Golden Age to Modern Age, discount toys, trades and hard covers as well as the ever-coveted dollar comic boxes!  Specials, give-a-ways and MORE!

Check us out at the Clifton Community Rec Center at 1232 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011

Join East Side Mags and dozens of other awesome vendors for the Wayne NJ Comic Show!

10am-4pm

Comics ranging from Golden Age to Modern Age, discount toys, trades and hard covers as well as the ever-coveted dollar comic boxes!  Specials, give-a-ways and MORE!

Check us out at the Regency Hotel in Pompton Plains - 140 Rt. 23 North in Pompton Plains (just on the border of Wayne, NJ)!

Join East Side Mags and the NJ Jackals for an amazing night at the ball game!  Come by Yogi Berra Stadium on July 29th for the NJ Jackals game because it's STAR WARS NIGHT!!!

We'll have a table set up with some freebies and some great deals including dollar comics!

The NJ Jackals will be auctioning off the special STAR WARS jerseys the players will be wearing along with character appearances, prizes and MORE!

Take someone out to THIS ball game!  You won't be disappointed!  May the force be with you!