By: Bryce Morris
The annual Free Comic Book Day event represents a celebration in which comic book readers within the United States can catch up on the adventures of their favorite heroes and villains free of charge. However, not every fan is lucky enough to snag a copy or even make it to the single-day event, often missing out on the exclusive novelties and materials that premiere comic book companies have to offer. Marvel Comics, in particular, has opted for this very contingency with the release of Marvel Zero, a one-shot compilation of all their major Free Comic Book Day releases.
This year’s selection of exclusive Marvel titles included Free Comic Book Day: Avengers/X-Men and Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man/Venom. Both of these issues play an active role in promoting some of the “House of Ideas” most anticipated comics of 2023. These are sneak previews of the fall’s most anticipated titles, from Jonathan Hickman’s (Fantastic Four) all-new series, G.O.D.S., to the X-Men’s Fall of X era of storytelling.
Additionally, highlighted within Marvel Zero will be Zeb Wells’ (Hellions) The Amazing Spider-Man title, which has gained a tremendous amount of controversy for killing off a beloved Marvel superhero. Even the wall-crawler’s symbiotic nemesis, Venom, gets to share some of the spotlight with a look into his own solo series. Alongside the collected issues, Marvel Zero features exclusive bonus material and concept art that complements the affordable cover price.
While Marvel Zero is not exactly a trade paperback collection of stories, this one-shot can act as a prime entry point for new fans to not only become accustomed to Marvel’s core heroes but also to the series they are currently headlining. Priced at $6.99, Marvel Zero is available for fans to purchase at their local comic book stores as well as online retailers.
Is this one-shot a definite pickup, or an easy pass? Let us know in the comment section below.
