Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday, to be held at Chautauqua Comics, 214 Fairmount Avenue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chautauqua Comics owner, Al Steffens, said this event is held nationally each year, with this year being the 24th year of it.

“Free Comic Book Day is a national event to kind of give back to the community and make people aware of, you know, that comic books are still out there, and to inform some people that comic books aren’t for just children,” Steffens said. “There’s comic books for all ages. It’s very much a collectible item. In an economic time where the market is going up and down, our 401Ks aren’t doing great, comic books are on a steady incline as far as value.”

Action comics are number one on that value list, with Steffens adding that the first prints of Superman recently sold for around $9 million. Steffens said the overall event was to give back to the community, remind people they are still here and to show people that comic books are a “great medium for everyone to enjoy.”

Comic books are something Steffens said he still enjoys, even while in his 60s, and he wants to be able to share the comic book medium with everyone. Additionally, he said a lot of movies coming out soon are connected to comic books, such as the new Supergirl, Spiderman and Avengers movies scheduled to release this year.

Chautauqua Comics will be holding the annual Free Comic Book Day event this Saturday.

The event also raised money for a cause that Steffens said is very important to him, with funds collected at the event through raffles going towards St Susan Center Soup Kitchen.

“We are not even close to the largest fundraiser, but we figure every little bit helps,” Steffens said. “Every year I talk to local businesses and they donate items for us to raffle off for St Susan Soup Kitchen, and this year is going to be no different.”

Steffens also has had customers donate items for raffles to help raise money for St Susan, including an authentic Captain Kirk Star Trek costume. Gift cards for places such as Applebees, Johnny’s Lunch and KwikFill will also be raffle items. One individual, Steffens said, has donated hundreds of dollars worth of items to be raffled off for St Susan Soup Kitchen as well.

“It’s also a good opportunity for people who read comics regularly and are regular customers,” Steffens said. “In the spring and the fall is when they start to release new stories, and this is the opportunity to get a sneak peak at what those stories are going to be about. Every single one I can tell you right now will probably end with a cliffhanger, but it gives you the first part of the story.”

There are multiple other events going on throughout Free Comic Book Day, and Steffens said a person does not need to be present in order to win an item being raffled for St Susan Center. If someone wins who is not there, Steffens said they will call them and have them come pick it up. Other activities include a costume contest, a contest where people can fold up a box for the chance to win a comic themed storage box, trivia questions will be asked while people are in line, and Steffens said he will be handing out comic books and t-shirts. Everything is free of charge.

There will also be barbecues and a huge tent sale outside the store, with books that usually sit in the basement due to the lack of room. Over 7,000 books that are not normally on the shelves will be available in the tent sale.

“This is a great medium,” Steffens said. “It’s a great idea. You’re getting free comic books, there’s no hitch to this. You don’t have to buy stuff in order to get in for this. I’m going to be handing out at least two, maybe three free comic books to every person who is there; so if there’s a family of four, they’re walking away with 12 comic books absolutely free.”

Steffens emphasized that no one has to buy or sign up for anything in order to get the free comic books. He added that people can sign up for his Facebook group if they choose, but no one is being forced to do anything to get the free comic books. Hopefully, he said, the weather will hold out, and he said the raffle tickets for St Susans are also relatively cheap, especially as gas is very expensive these days and two gift cards are for KwikFill.

The most important thing for people to know when it comes to this event, Steffens said, is that it is free.

“There’s no alternate motive here other than for me to share what I love with everybody else,” Steffens said. “I’ve been reading comic books since the 1960s. We want to let parents and adults know that it’s OK to read comics. There’s comic books for all ages. If you’re enjoying a TV show now on TV, more than likely you can almost trace it back to a comic book or there’s a comic book of that TV show.”

If people are into soap operas, romance, intrigue, action and adventure, all of that, Steffens said, can be found in comic books. He reemphasized that everything is free and there is no ulterior motive for people to come and no one is required to buy anything or do anything besides pick up their comic books and leave. The event will be held rain or shine, with tents that will be outside in case of rain.

“There will be food down here,” Steffens said. “There will be fun down here. It’s OK to come dressed in costume, it doesn’t have to be a superhero; it can be whatever costume they want.”