Among those lesser-known national holidays is National Free Comic Book Day, which the North American graphic-narrative industry annually declared as the first Saturday in May.

The date was picked to coincide with the onset of summer-film season, which, lately means plenty of comic-book action. The first, for example, was held on May 4, 2002, the day following the release of Spider-Man, with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.

Since then, the celebration has centered around giveaways designed to feed the passion of existing fans and perhaps interest new devotees.

According to the coverage from Max Bennett and Eric Kiefer in the Bryn Mawr-Gladwyne Patch, Showcase Comics, 1015 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, is participating.

But the National Free Comic Book Day website lists additional shops in Montgomery County that are saving fans from a lack of epic content on their special day:

• Krav’n Comics, 349 Upland Square Drive, Pottstown
• Uncanny!, 160 N. Gulph Road, Ste. 2361, King of Prussia
• Mazz Comics, 24 E. 4th Street, Bridgeport

“The variety of this year’s comic book selection is really exciting,” said Ashton Greenwood, National Free Comic Book Day spokesperson. “There’s something for every kind of fan, from the long-time reader to the comic book curious.”

More on National Free Comic Book Day is at the Bryn Mawr-Gladwyne Patch.

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Visits to a local comic book store were common on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.