Free Comic Book Day, taking place on the first Saturday of May, is an annual promotional effort by the North American comic book industry to help bring new readers into independent comic book stores. Retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California brainstormed the event in his "Big Picture" column in the August 2001 issue of Comics & Games Retailer magazine. Free Comic Book Day started in 2002 and is coordinated by the industry's single large distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors; this is another event like the Comic Book Day which started in USA and is now celebrated across countries in Asia and Australia. In 2001, retailer Joe Field was writing columns for an industry magazine, saw how successful feature films based on comic book franchises were providing the comic book industry with a positive cultural and financial turnaround from the speculator bust of the late 1990s, Field proposed Free Comic Book Day in one of his columns, received positive reaction to it. Then-Image Comics publisher Jim Valentino suggested having the first Free Comic Book Day on the same weekend as the opening of the 2002 Spider-Man feature film, in order to take advantage of the film's heavy promotion and related press about the comic book medium, thus the first event was held May 4, 2002, one day after the film's opening.

However, not all events have corresponded with the release of a film based on a comic book. In 2004 it was held in July, but it was moved back to the first Saturday in May the following year and has been held on that day since. On Free Comic Book Day, participating comic book store retailers give away specially printed copies of free comic books, some offer special deals and creator signings to those visiting their establishments. However, retailers do not receive the issues for free. In addition to comic books, some stores give away other merchandise, such as mini posters and other movie tie-in memorabilia. In its first six years, more than 2000 retailers in more than 30 countries gave away more than 12 million Free Comic Book Day special edition comic books; the success of the promotion rests with each participating retailer. Most participants agree that Free Comic Book Day has been part of a healthier comics market and growing comic book sales over the last several years. Free Comic Book Day has garnered press coverage in the news media.

In 2014 the free publicity for the Free Comic Book Day event, the comic book industry, from Facebook, over 1000 television news stations, over 4000 online news outlets was estimated at $3.4 million. In 2015 the number of shops participating in Free Comic Book Day increased 8% over how many participated in 2014 and the number of comic books ordered increased by 21%. In some communities, the day is more grandly organized such as in London, Canada where most of its major comic book retailers, such as Heroes Comics, as well as the London Public Library's Central branch participate. On that day, these establishments cooperate in a major cross-promotion in which visitors are invited to collect stamps of each participating establishment for entry in a prize draw upon completion as well as various other activities which has evolved into a street festival in the city's downtown core; the 2013 event collected over 2000 such completed ballots, which does not account for more casual visitors. Some stores have treated FCBD as mini-conventions complete with artist alleys and cosplaying fans.

FCBD has a positive impact for independent artists as it became an opportunity in marketing their works. In conjunction with Free Comic Book Day on May 6, 2006, TwoMorrows Publishing hosted a promotional Free Magazine Day. Visitors to their website were able to order any in-stock issue of their magazines Back Issue, Alter Ego, Draw!, or Write Now! for free. In 2012, Diamond Distributors created the annual Halloween ComicFest. Similar to Free Comic Book Day, Halloween ComicFest with Halloween themes, it takes place on the Sunday near Halloween. In 2013, the event took place on October 26 and 27. For Free Comic Book Day 2017, the Arizona Comic Mini Expo teamed up with several comic artists to raise money for the HERO Initiative and the ACLU of Arizona. Germany and Switzerland launched their own day for free comic books, Gratis Comic Tag, on May 8, 2010; the Netherlands and Flanders began their own Free Comic Book Day on May 5, 2012. Inspired by Free Comic Book Day, the pen-and-paper roleplaying game industry started Free RPG Day on June 15, 2007.

It is a moveable event held on the third Saturday in June. Free Comic Book Day Miller, John Jackson. Original magazine article suggesting "Free Comic Book Day, from 2002 to today"; the Comics Chronicles

Non Evans is a Welsh sportswoman who has competed internationally in four different sports, rugby union, judo and freestyle wrestling. Evans made her debut for Wales against Scotland in 1996 and has played 84 times for her country up to the start of the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup, she is the World all-time leading points scorer. She announced her retirement from International Rugby in December 2010, she scored a record 64 International tries for Wales, a World record for Men & Women's rugby. She won silver medal at both the 1992 and 1996 Commonwealth Judo Championships and competed for Wales at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Evans finished 9th in the under 63 kg class at the 2002 Commonwealth Games where she became the first woman to compete in two sports at the same Games. In 2010, she placed 2nd in the under-59 kg class at the British Championships and earned selection for the Welsh team for 2010 Commonwealth Games, she became the first woman to compete in three sports at the Commonwealth Games.

In 2012, Evans was a BBC commentator at the London Olympic wrestling events. In 1997 Evans competed in the sixth series of Gladiators but was defeated before the quarter finals due to a decision by referee John Anderson In 2000, Evans appeared nude with a sexy massage for S4C's Chwaraeon/Sport 2000 promotional video. Evans was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to sport, was the first female rugby player to receive the award. Non Evans on IMDb 2010 Women's RWC Profile

Nickelodeon was a New Zealand television channel that targeted audiences aged 3–14. The channel launched on 1 August 2006 and was available on Sky Television Channel 041; the channel closed on 30 November 2010, New Zealand schedule is now managed by Nickelodeon Australia as their timeshift feed. The channel used to be headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, shared with fellow Viacom channel MTV New Zealand; the Southeast Asian version of Nickelodeon made available to the viewers on Sky Digital and UHF in New Zealand in January 2000. According to the NZPA, MTV Networks New Zealand announced in September 2010 that it would close its New Zealand offices from 1 December 2010, with the networks' portfolio continuing to run from the MTV Networks Australia's Sydney offices; this meant that Viacom's television channel operations in New Zealand were to be overseen from Australia, with both Nick Jr. launched and MTV Classic announced to launch in New Zealand. On 1 December 2010, the Australian version of Nickelodeon replaced the New Zealand version.

MTV New Zealand SKY TV Announcement Nickelodeon NZ Launch Party