Diamond Comics Distributors has announced the 12 Gold Sponsor comic book titles for 2018’s Free Comic Book Day, which includes titles from DC, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW and more. While many publishers use the opportunity to kick off events or new series, Image is doing something interesting this year — their FCBD title is Barrier #1, bringing to print Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente’s pay-what-you-want digital comic.
Barrier #1 kicked off the five-part series two years ago, a massive 53-page comic that was only available via the Panel Syndicate website (where you can still download the series). It followed the trio’s work on The Private Eye, which won both an Eisner Award and Harvey Award in 2015.
Now, Image will bring the series to print as a five-issue, weekly comic series — and the first issue’s on them (all 53 pages of it). It will be printed in its original “landscape” format (side-stapled for convenient shelving, the FCBD site says), with no plans for a collection — meaning if you want it in print, you’ll need to get your hands on the single issues.
Barrier #1 joins Overwatch/Black Hammer, Riverdale, Marvel Avengers/Captain America, a “top secret” DC book and more on May as part of the annual Free Comic Book Day event. Additional free comics should be announced this week.