Ah, it’s that glorious day, when fanboys near and far venture to their local comic book shops and take the opportunity to get free books, hang out with creators and friends, and generally celebrate their love for the four-colored medium we call comics. Yes, it’s time again for Free Comic Book Day 2009. Coming this Saturday, May 2 this is your chance to pick up a select group of free comic books from your local comics retailer. Along with the free swag, most stores (or at least any store worth going to) will be holding creator signings, games, sales, and general fun.

For full details on books are available and where you can find a participating store, simply go to Free Comic Book Day. There, you’ll find the complete list of books being given out this year, as well as interviews and all information about FCBD.

Three books I’m looking forward to this year:

Blackest Night #0: Written by Geoff Johns, with art by Ivan Reis, this is the official prelude to this summer’s biggest comic event.

Atomic Robo and Friends: I’ll give you the tagline; “Who can turn away from the epic battle of Atomic Robo vs. Dr. Dinosaur!?!” Who can turn away indeed?

Avengers: This one is written by Brian Bendis with art by Jim Cheung, so I’d pay full price for this, but it’s free! This story features both the New and Dark Avengers teaming up with Thor to fight the frost giant Ymir.

Also, the awesome folks over at Alterna Comics will have a special FCBD 80-page issue called Attack of the Alterna Zombies featuring Jesus and Lincoln fighting the Zombie Alterna universe in a brand-new original story written by our very talented friend of doom Stephen Lindsay (Jesus Hates Zombies). The issue will also contain preview pages from of all of the Alterna comic books.

And these are just a few titles, but there are books for literally anyone’s tastes so, make sure you take a few minutes on Saturday to check in with your local store and pick up a few books, and if you have kids, by all means take them with you — there will be plenty there for them. More than anything, this day is really designed to get kids reading. Seriously, it’s comics, and it’s free. What’s not to like?