Free Comic Book Day returns on Saturday, with four local shops participating.

Regular customers, nostalgic fans and curious newcomers alike are welcome to snag a samplingat no charge of what today’s comic publishers are offering.

Fair warning: You can’t just go in and grab any comic book off the shelf or out of the back issue bins (I may or may not have tried; Fifth Amendment).

There are 51 free selections to choose from — 12 “gold” comics that every shop will have and 39 “silver” titles they can choose to carry. Between the shops in Belpre, Marietta, Parkersburg and Vienna, all 51 will be available. The complete list is available at FreeComicBookDay.com.

Each store has their own guidelines as to how many comics you can receive. Coordinating with friends and family is not a bad idea. That way, you can get more titles and share them.

You can use those online previews to check out the recommended ages for the titles. For example, younger kids may be excited by both the “Avengers” and “Spider-Man” titles Marvel is putting out, but they’re recommended for teens. The Spider-Man issue includes the kickoff to a storyline called “Absolute Carnage,” featuring Venom’s far more violent offspring. The Avengers issue highlights the Savage Avengers, a surprising new roster of violent characters — including the Punisher and Conan the Barbarian — that is intriguing but probably not the best pick for young readers.

DC’s gold comic features an excerpt from the upcoming “Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale” and is recommended for ages 15 and up as it features “adult language, scenes of abusive behavior and a scene of animal cruelty,” along with resources for preventing self-harm and abuse.

There are a couple of mature reader titles — “Deadly Class” and “Our Favorite Thing is My Favorite Thing is Monsters” — but those are outnumbered by all-ages books.

On the familiar character front, “Dear Justice League” features two chapters from an upcoming original graphic novel in which DC’s top heroes answer letters from young fans. American Mythology Productions will kick off its new monthly series featuring Casper the Friendly Ghost with “Casper’s Spooksville.” Tokyopop is giving away the first chapter of its manga-style “Descendants” story starring Dizzy, the granddaughter of Cinderella’s wicked stepmother. Disney’s “The Incredibles” will share a comic with an original “Minecraft” story, while Viz Comics is reprinting two Pokemon tales in one issue.

Less recognizable but looking like fun for youngsters are “Blastosaurus Annual” #1, starring a 6-foot triceratops fighting crime in Freak Out City, and “Wolfie Monster and the Big Bad Pizza Battle,” whose title seems to speak for itself. Cristiano Ronaldo goes from soccer star to superhero in “Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Force 7,” leading into an upcoming cartoon series.

The art for Oni Press’ “Ghost Hog” and rating suggest all ages, but after reading the synopsis focusing on “the ghost of a young boar, fueled by fury towards the hunter who shot her down,” I think I’ll read that one before handing it off to one of my children.

Properties you might be more familiar with from other media will be well-represented on Free Comic Book Day.

This year’s “Star Wars Adventures” featuring Han Solo and Chewbacca comes with double significance since Saturday is also May the Fourth.

The 13th Doctor will be featured in Titan Comics’ “Doctor Who” issue, while Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly cast will star in “Welcome to Whedonverse” from BOOM! Studios. Archie Comics’ entry this year presents an all-new story set in the continuity of the “Riverdale” TV series. Dark Horse Comics will present a story set between the first two seasons of Netflix hit “Stranger Things,” alongside a story from Jeff Lemire’s award-winning “Black Hammer” comic series.

Free Comic Book Day is a great time to sample something new. That opportunity presents itself this year for titles like “Animosity,” “The Wrong Earth” (with “Dragonfly and Dragonflyman), “Grumble vs. The Goon,” “Lady Mechanika,” “Lumberjanes” and “Vampirella.”

New stories will also be launched this Free Comic Book Day, including Red 5’s “The Dark Age,” Humanoids’ “H1 Ignition” (the kickoff of a new comic universe), Source Point Press’ “Hope” and Scout Comics’ “Midnight Sky.”

Some free comics are reprints, such as Image’s “Spawn” #1, whose protagonist (whose name is short for “Hellspawn,” FYI) is about to return to the big screen, and classic comic “Little Lulu.”

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Area Participating Stores

* Asylum Comics, 213 Third St., Marietta — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

* Comic Sense, 2007 Washington Blvd., Belpre — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

* Lost Legion Games & Comics, The Vault, 517 21st St., Vienna — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

* Multiverse Comics, 2107 Pike St., Suite 7, Parkersburg — noon to 8 p.m.

Find information on all the free comics available at freecomicbookday.com