Free Comic Book Day this Saturday is a worldwide event, and many local comic book shops are celebrating with special fanfare.

Before I give you the details, if your child is struggling with reading or perhaps considers reading a bore, please bring him by the comic shop and let him pick out the comic book of his liking. There's something about the colorful illustrations and straightforward scripts that makes reading comics enjoyable for the kids.

Many of those great superheroes we see in the movies started as comic book characters. Take the kids by locally to New England Comics, 2184 Acushnet Ave. near Tarkiln Hill Road. They are having the actual creators and illustrators make special appearances. Curtis Parvin and Drew Kelly from Splash Page Comics will be there at 11 a.m., and then Roger Andrews, freelancer and Hasbro illustrator, will be there from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. doing free sketches for the kids.

Other comic book shops in the area are also taking part, with special events throughout the day.

Free Comic Book Day is so cool for families. You go in and select free comics in any genre, and remember, comic books aren't just for kids. It's a one day, global event that's filled with excitement and best of all, it's free! It's always the first Saturday in May; this year it will fall on May 4.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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