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WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Ah comic books, the corner stone of the modern mythos. Our new legends and heroes born of panels and ink bring exciting explorations of humanity, morality and the delicate balance of power and responsibility. Experiences you can discover for yourself in places just like this. Comic book stores have become more scarce in recent years but that’s been slowly changing as a want for physical media is driving new readers and customers to stores just like Bankston’s. With Free Comic Book Day and May the 4th coming up I wanted to get some insight on what this celebration of the inked page means to local shops like this and what we can expect from them this year.

Bankston’s owner Brent says his shop has been around since Free Comic Book Day began, championing the idea with events just like the ones you’ll find there this weekend.39 years is a long run for a local shop like this, and as I browsed the selection of artistically rendered stories and colorful memorabilia I wondered what all this meant to the man himself.

Comic books aren’t the only pop culture touchstone hosting a celebration, -Brent says May the fourth be with you- Yes, in a true serendipitous happenstance, Star Wars Day falls on Free Comic Book Day this year. The Holiday born of a dad joke and carried on by fans has risen to become an unofficial official holiday for the storied space epic.

While many may see the series through the lens of its action set pieces Brent and I also share a fondness for the values the series imprinted on us.

While Bankston’s will be packed with comic book fans, Star Wars fans can join the fun with a free comic of their own, some awesome patches and of course the joy of seeing other fans.

You can find out more about Free Comic Book Day and May the 4th celebration details here: Comics | Bankston’s Comics And Collectibles | Waco (bankstons.com)

With nerd culture being much more mainstream it’s nice to have these traditions carried on, introducing a new generation of readers to the fantastic world of comics and the galaxy far far away. Free Comic Book Day is on May the Fourth and both can be celebrated at your favorite local comic book store. For Hardwired Gaming, I’m Andrew Hamilton and May the fourth be with you, always.