FREE COMIC BOOK MAY 2025

MK1's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY runs a little differently now.  We call it FREE COMIC BOOK MAY :  instead of one day in May, we stretch the fun out throughout the month  (May is Mk1's birthday month - in 2025 we turn 36 years old!).    

We order as many of the Free Comics that we can afford to ship to NZ and add them to all orders containing a comic  placed through the MK1 website in May 2025 free of charge. There is a limit of one free comic per order shipped with a maximum of one free comic per week.   

If you are a current MK1 comic subscriber in good standing, we have already added Free Comics to your subscription folder  (we chose comics based on your subscription list).  

For non Mk1 comic subscribers : All web orders containing a comic placed from now through to the end of May 2025  will receive a free comic automatically while stocks last (limit: one free comic per week). We match orders with an appropriate Free Comic selection based on the accompanying order.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why no instore event?  Free Comic Book Day was huge at MK1.  The store would be packed with people with long queues down the street.  At it's peak over 2000 fans rolled through our doors during the day.  The cost of international freight has increased dramatically and shipping that many comics is unaffordable.  There is no easy way to dial back expectation & enthusiasm so making it an online event is the only way we can manage things.

Are all Free Comic Book Day comics advertised on the FCBD website available? No.  Some comics will not ship to New Zealand due to licensing restrictions and some have a minimum order that we judge will exceed demand.  We choose a selection matched to the comics that sell well at MK1.

Can I preorder specific Free Comic Book Day comics from MK1? No.  We wait till the last minute to place our Free Comic Book Day orders.  We purchase the free comics and pay for delivery in US Dollars.  Our ordering budget and the amount of comics we order and ship here is dictated by the exchange rate at the time.  Because we order later than the catalogue deadline there will be some titles that will have sold out from the publishers already.  We will be trying to  offer most of the main Gold & Silver level titles but as we can't guarantee supply we can't in good faith take preorders.  

Can I purchase Free Comic Book Day issues through MK1?  No. The titles are sold to retailers at a subsidized rate under a strict condition that the titles will be given away free of charge.  Unfortunately  international freight is not subsidized.

I thought Free Comic Book Day Comics were free?  No,  they are sold to retailers at a subsidized rate by the publishers and distributors but there is still a per issue or per bundle cost.  The cost of the comics is dwarfed by the freight cost of getting them here.  Hence this page.

Will MK1 ever host a future Free Comic Book Day event in store again?  Never say never but I can't see it happening anytime soon.

What does Current MK1 Comic Subscriber in good standing mean?  Current subscribers are customers that have an order for a current monthly shipping title.  A good standing customer is a customer who regularly pays for their orders at least once a month.

 

 

 

MANAGE COMICS QUICK GUIDE : Click this Link for the full Manage Comics guide. IMPORTANT : Preorders are only accepted if we have your mobile phone number, email and physical address - please make sure we have those details.

First Preorder? Do this

We will send a confirmation email that you will need to reply to confirm your account. Once confirmed your preorders will show on the MY SUBSCRIPTIONS tab

Contact MK1 and make sure we have your physical address and mobile number. Message MK1 shop@mk1.co.nz or use the Chat With Us website messaging.

Not all Items Listed are Available from MK1

Manage Comics listings are created using a data feed from the GEEKFETCH database. We don't have direct control over every individual listing showing. 

Not every item showing can be ordered - we will reach out if a request is not available through MK1. 

Pricing: 

The Price showing is the estimated MK1 price in NZD$. MK1 will reach out if the items price proves wildly different than the estimate - we can cancel your order on request if you are no longer interested.

Subscribe to Series Button

Do you want every issue of a comic series going forward? Press the Subscribe to Series button.

The SUBSCRIBE TO SERIES button is the "set & forget / I want them all" button .  If you click on this MK1 will put aside a copy of every new issue released of this title from the next available issue on .

IMPORTANT : The next available issue may not be the next issue to ship - it will be the next issue that hasn't passed it's Final Order Cutoff date. After adding a subscription jump to the MY SUBSCRIPTIONS page and you should be able to see what issue your subscription will start from (it will be marked as first pull). If you want to start from an earlier issue contact MK1 to see if this is possible,

A pop up  box will allow subscribers to choose between subscribing to A or B covers (or both).  Covers beyond A and B can not be subscribed but can be individually preordered by selecting the PRE ORDER COVER button. The series info will display the next issue due for release up the top of the page along with available to order Variant covers. 

Please either subscribe to a series or preorder an individual issue - don't do both unless you want multiple copies of the same comic.

Pre Order Issue or Pre Order Cover button

Single issues and variant covers that can be preordered will have a PRE ORDER ISSUE or a PREORDER COVER button.

Selecting that button will place that issue or cover on order with MK1. 

IMPORTANT: If you preorder an issue that you are already subscribed to this will create a second request - which will lead to multiple issues being ordered for you.  The easiest way to avoid this is to either Preorder or Subscribe - don't do both!

Final Order Cutoff date

This is the last date that MK1 can adjust our orders for this title. Preorders, or changes to existing preorders for this title should be made before this date.

If the Final Order Cut Off date has passed you can message MK1 (shop@mk1.co.nz or use the Chat With Us website messaging) and we will advise if extra copies will be available or can be sourced.

Handy Hint: MK1 publishes a weekly blog post where we summarize all the major new series from the various publishers that are up for Final Order Cut Off. Check them out here.

No Longer Available For Pre Order Indication

In some instances issues will display as   "No longer available for Pre Order"  - often because that issue's  Final Order Cut Off date has passed.  If you are still interested in obtaining this issue message MK1 ( shop@mk1.co.nz or use the Chat With Us website messaging) and we will advise if extra copies will be available or can be sourced. 

Shipping Date

This is the release date in the USA (and in USA format Year-Month-Day). If the title releases on time MK1 will receive our copies in the same week as this release date.

DC and Image and some Indie Publishers arrive on the same day as the advertised date.

Marvel, Dark Horse, IDW & the rest of the Indie publishers will arrive on the closest Thursday or Friday following the advertised release date.

My Subscriptions

On the MY SUBSCRIPTIONS Page : The button shows all current subscriptions for your active titles.

View your ACCOUNT PAGE to see a record of paid orders and their shipping status.

Pulled Orders & Billed Orders Tab

These tabs can be found on the MY SUBSCRIPTIONS Page

Pulled Orders = items that have arrived at MK1 that have yet to be invoiced to you. These Pending items will be moved to the Billed Orders tab when a payment link is generated (usually at the end of each week).

Billed Orders = The items that we have sent a payment link for and are due to be paid. Subscribers can pay for items via the emailed link or via the Pay For Order button on this tab.

View your ACCOUNT PAGE to see a record of paid orders and their shipping status.