Poor Superman. In recent years, Batman has pulled ahead as the de facto mascot of DC Comics.
The character and his Bat symbol can be seen almost everywhere, and Batman-related comics continue to be some of DC's biggest sellers month after month.
Batman is so popular, in fact, that DC gave him his own made-up holiday in the form of Batman Day. This year, that day falls on Saturday, Sept. 17, and DC is looking to help fans celebrate their love of Gotham's Caped Crusader with a number of freebies for the occasion.
The big prize this year is a free copy of Batman #1 from the comic publisher's recent Rebirth initiative (it's a good read, in case you were wondering). All the participating retailers will be giving away the issue free of charge. Retailers celebrating Batman Day include Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Six Flags theme parks, Pottery Barn Kids and more, as well as local comic shops, schools and public libraries. You can find a full list of participating locations here.
In addition to the free comic, fans can also download a free Batman activity kit, which includes various Batman-themed puzzles, trivia and games. That can be downloaded from the DC website here.
If you happen to live in a major city, prominent DC and Batman creators will be at various comic shops for special signings. At Midtown Comics in New York City, Frank Miller, Tom King and Scott Snyder will all be present, while creators like Jim Lee, Paul Dini and James Tynion IV are set to appear in various locations throughout California, including Los Angeles.
Last but not least, DC will be celebrating the event with a massive sale on digital Batman comics. The sale will last from Sept. 13 to 19 and include both individual Batman comic issues as well as popular Batman graphic novels. Graphic novels will be on sale for $5.99, while single issues will be discounted 75 percent. Prices for digital Batman comics will be the same across all platforms where digital DC comics are sold, including Comixology, the DC app, the Kindle Store and others.
All in all, it's not a bad way to celebrate everything the Dark Knight, even if the whole affair likely makes the Man of Steel more than a little jealous. When does Superman get his own day? Make it happen, DC.
