The caped crusaders are coming. And they’re offering their superhero services for free.

Saturday is Free Comic Book Day. The event, which is in its seventh year, is as advertised: a day to get a free comic book.

“Stores give them out to get new customers,” said Elissa Lynch, spokeswoman for Diamond Comic Distributors, coordinator of the nationwide event. “Every year it gets bigger and bigger.”

This year, more than 2,000 comic book stores are participating. The comic book publishers and distributors pass along 44 selected comic books at cost to retailers, who then offer them to the public for free.

“Most people don’t even know about local comic book stores. Comic books have grown so much in the last 10 years. People think comic books are for kids or for guys. But there are so many genres now.”

Among the 44 comics involved in the giveaway are Avengers, Transformers and Archie. But there are also such titles as Love & Capes and Love & Rockets.”

“We found that a lot of people who read comic books bring their friends. And they can get a free comic book, and it just takes one to spark their interest.”

If you’re interested, there are five participating comic books stores in our area:

•Allsport Collectibles, 1 Waseca Ave., Barrington.

•Rah-Coco’s, 152 West Park St., Providence.

•The Time Capsule, 537 Pontiac Ave., Cranston.

•Wayne’s Cards & Comics, 2654 Hartford Ave., Johnston.

•Wildtime Comics, 703 Washington St., South Attleboro.

For more information, including a list of all the comic books from which participating stores may choose, visit freecomicbookday.com.