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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- With "The Avengers" drawing big crowds to movie theaters this weekend, comic book stores around the region took part in a special promotion to get people to check out the source.

Free Comic Book Day is held the first Saturday in May each year. Participating shops give out free copies of comics specially prepared for the day by publishers.

The goal is both to introduce new customers to the world of comics and to encourage everyone to read.

Retailers say comics offer a range of options to cover all tastes.

Comix Zone Manager Randy Wilson said, "There's funny, superheroes, action. Marvel Comics has recently done classic literature, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Moby Dick. So there's a little bit of everything."

Two thousand store were expected to give away about three million comics nationwide Saturday.