Deep in the heart of a bustling metropolis called Homewood, not even the villainous COVID could stop one mild-mannered comic book store owner from becoming the hero comic book lovers everywhere needed him to be…

After being delayed months because of pandemic restrictions, Free Comic Book Day returned in August to comic book shops around the country. 

At Zone Comics in Homewood, thousands of comic books in myriad genres sat stacked on several long tables in the back of the store for Free Comic Book Day. 

Customers could sort through the stacks and choose up to 10 free comic books. The store also set out goodies like pencils, balloons and suckers, all free for the taking. 

Eric Seye, of Homewood, brought his kids out for Free Comic Book Day, and was letting them choose an armful of comics each. Seye said he enjoyed passing down his love of comic books to his children, 12-year-old Reagan and 8-year-old Gavin.

“I’ve been reading comics since I was about 10 years old,” Seye said. “I was really into G.I. Joe back then.”

Reagan cradled several selections, among them a copy of “Archie,” a series she’s trying out. The character of Archie Andrews first appeared 80 years ago, and comics featuring the loveable high-schooler and the Riverdale Gang continue to be printed.

“I kind of enjoy Archie comics,” Reagan said. “There are a lot of new ones coming out. I have a lot of older ones our grandma gave me, too, and I like those.”

Shopper Mo Williams, of Flossmoor, also found a passion for comic books through generational means, with an uncle inspiring his love for comics. The exciting images helped provide the young boy one pathway to reading, Williams said.

“When I was younger, I thought regular books were boring,” he said. “I’m a more visual person. I got drawn in because they were so artistic, and then through that I started learning new words.” 

Williams began collecting comics as a teenager, and recently revived his hobby. Now the photographer and GSU graduate student finds himself drawn to Justice League comics and a new series called “Future State” that features DC superheroes. 

“Free Comic Book Day is fun because you get to sample different things you haven’t checked out before,” Williams said.

Zone Comics owner Alex Stritar said he missed the huge crowds of past years’ Free Comic Book Days, but a steady stream of customers had been visiting throughout the day.

“Free Comic Book Day gives people an idea, if they’re not familiar with comics, of what comics are really like, beyond what they see on TV or in movies,” Stritar said. “People like free things. Hopefully they find something they like and they come back to the store.”

Each of the comic books given away on Free Comic Book Day — many developed and published specifically for that purpose — is stamped with the comic shop’s information. 

Several of Stritar’s family members helped at the store during Free Comic Book Day. His mom, Beth, straightened stacks of books while welcoming customers and directing them to items of interest. The comics, she said, were arranged by age rating, with more mature titles toward the back.

Beth said she was happy to help out, especially because she finds comic book store customers to be particularly pleasant people to be around.

“Comic book stores have the nicest customers,” she said. “Everyone is so happy. They’re also artistic and creative people.”

Stritar has owned the shop for five years, and the former Homewood Library worker said he often donates comics to the library as a way to give back to the community. 

The South Suburbs feature only a handful of comic book stores, making Zone Comics a beacon for comics lovers from around the region. 

This year, Zone Comics was the choice destination for Aiden Lindsey to celebrate his 11th birthday.

“We asked him where he wanted to go on his birthday, and this is where he wanted to come,” said Raymond Lindsey, Aiden’s father.

The Country Club Hills family frequently visits Zone Comics, and Lindsey was at Free Comic Book Day with Aiden and his other children, Landon, 9, and Lia, 7. He piqued their interest in comics by giving them books he loved as a teenager, including X-Men.

“All our kids have gotten into it, especially with the boom of the Marvel movies,” he said. “I have them stick with their age demographic, and then let them pick comics according to their interest. There are so many different ones.”

Erin Aken, of Crete, was looking over a table of free items during Free Comic Book Day. She said Marvel characters and mystery stories are among her favorite comic books. Aken was at Zone Comics with her friends, brothers Eleazar Lopez and Marco Tovar, of Chicago Heights.

It was the first visit to Zone for Lopez, a fan of comic books and collectible card games, who joked that he spent money pretty quickly at the store. He was grateful his brother suggested checking out the shop, which is one of Tovar’s favorites.

“It was a happy accident that we stopped in here today on Free Comic Book Day,” Tovar said. “My brother wanted to come up to Homewood and I said, ‘We gotta stop at the comic book shop.’”