Begun, the free comics wars have. After Diamond Comics Distributors went bankrupt, the brand Free Comic Book Day moved over to Universal Distribution. And while that particular company has managed to rope in Lunar Distribution for the May 2, 2026 event, and will even expand into trading card stores… Well, they were not able to convince Penguin Random House to join in on the fun. So instead, PRH will be launching their own competing event: Comics Giveaway Day, which includes four recently announced titles from Marvel Comics.
Held the exact same day as Free Comic Book Day – so awesome for comic book fans, less awesome for the comic book stores who have to deal with ordering comics in this mess – the four books are: Amazing Spider-Man #1000/Queen in Black #1, Armageddon/X-Men #1, Alien, Predator & Planet of the Apes #1, and Spidey & His Amazing Friends #1.
You can probably intuit what they’re all about from the titles, but the first one features new stories leadig up to the 1000th issue of ASM, plus a look at the upcoming Queen in Black crossover that finds a goopy Hela attacking the Marvel Universe — and as a bonus, a tease of what’s to come in Infernal Hulk. Meanwhile, Armageddon is the big summer event from writer Chip Zdarsky, and there’s an “X-Men milestone” down the road as well that that double-issue, along with something about Fantastic Four not on the cover.
The other two are reprints, with stories from the 20th Century Studios line, and all-ages tales including one of Jeff the Land Shark and Symbie meeting.
Check out Marvel’s solicits and covers, below.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026
Written by JOE KELLY, AL EWING & PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art by JOHN ROMITA JR., IBAN COELLO & NIC KLEIN
Cover by DIKE RUAN
The road to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000 takes a big turn here as fate bears down on Peter Parker! The Queen in Black has been coronated, and Mary Jane Watson as Venom is not ready for her! The Eldest has taken control of the Hulk, and what happens next will make every past Hulk battle look like a skirmish!
ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026
Written by CHIP ZDARSKY, JED MACKAY & RYAN NORTH
Art by FEDERICO VICENTINI, FRANK ALPIZAR & DELIO DIAZ
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
The heroes of the Marvel Universe assemble to take on the Red Hulk in a critical story by Chip Zdarsky that sets the stage for this summer’s Marvel event…ARMAGEDDON! Armageddon is here, and no one is safe from the coming end.
PLUS: Your first look at this summer’s big X-MEN event…and DOOM!
ALIEN, PREDATOR & PLANET OF THE APES #1 CGD 2026
Written by SALADIN AHMED, JORDAN MORRIS & MORE
Art by ROLAND BOSCHI AND MORE!
Cover by DAVIDE PARATORE
In this issue, you’ll find stories from across 20th Century Studios – from ALIEN to PREDATOR to PLANET OF THE APES! Saladin Ahmed presents a tale set on a planet that’s already succumbed to Xenomorphs! And in Jordan Morris’ story, a Yautja warrior stalks one of Earth’s greatest fighters.
All this and a return to the Planet of the Apes!
SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 CGD 2026
Written by DANIELLE KREGER
Art by GOODMAN YAMADA
Cover by PACO MEDINA
SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, Spin and Ghost-Spider, think they have their web-shooting hands full when JEFF THE LAND SHARK pays them a visit! But they haven’t seen anything yet – because shapeshifting alien SYMBIE is here to turn Jeff’s world upside down!
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