Best. Promotion. Ever.

It's a given that "The Simpsons" graphic novel aficionado, Comic Book Guy, would be out early Saturday to celebrate the eighth annual Free Comic Book Day.

Time Tunnel Comics and Collectibles at the Lebanon Shops in Castle Shannon is expecting a good crowd throughout the day as area stores participate in a national giveaway.

The store opens at 11 a.m.

"They [the books] are all different. We have Marvel and DC, which have all kinds of superhero books, but we also have kids' books, Archie, Dark Horse,'' said store owner Patrick Donley.

"From what I heard, it started with this guy who had an ice cream shop. Once a month, he'd give away a free scoop of ice cream and people would come in and go crazy.

"So someone said, 'I wonder if we could do this with comics?' "

The full-size graphic novels are free to the public, although Mr. Donley has to pay between 10 and 15 cents for each copy.

"It's always the first Saturday in May, when the big summer comic-book movies come out. I think it started with 'Spider-Man.' "

Hugh Jackman's "Wolverine" opens tomorrow and another blockbuster, "Star Trek," will be released the following Friday.

"Last year, I think, it was 'Iron Man,' " he said.

No matter the movie, the promotion has been a big success, he added. Although only the big publishers sent "free" books when it all began, just about all of them do now. According to the promotion web site, www.freecomicbookday.com, titles range from "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" to "NASCAR Heroes."

Judging from the many boxes shipped to his store over the last few weeks, Mr. Donley said, he'll probably be getting more than a thousand books.

"And I'm just a small store," he said.

Although many people figure a "comic-book store" focuses on children's literature, the average customer is male, teen-age to middle-age.

"We're on the border of Mt. Lebanon and Castle Shannon and we're seeing a lot of people bringing in their kids now. It's pretty expanded."

Mr. Donley, who operated Time Tunnel at a different location until six months ago, said the promotion isn't strictly one-to-a-customer.

"I'm pretty generous. If they want one of each, that's cool with me. A lot of stores are: 'You just get one.' But if someone takes one of each and if I have enough of something, no problem."

He said any age-appropriate leftovers probably will be donated to area schools or libraries.