May 2, 2026: It's Free Comic Book Day!

If you're reading this on Saturday, then – depending on what time it is – you might be able to shout "It's not too late!" like Ebenezer Scrooge as you sprint through the streets to your friendly local comic shop. Why? Because it's Free Comic Book Day!

Oh, and it's also . . . ummm . . . <squints, checks notes> Comics Giveaway Day. As best I can tell, that's basically the same idea as "Free Comic Book Day," only with titles distributed by Penguin Random House, which includes Marvel Comics and IDW. And, of course, those issues will say "Comics Giveaway Day" instead of "Free Comic Book Day." But it's all the same day . . . ahhh, the joys of branding.

Depending on which shops near you are participating, you might be able to try out an awesome new superhero, comedy, horror, or fantasy story, with your favorite characters or someone new. Of course, while you're there, it's a great . . . [more]

May 1, 2026: The Witching Hour Is Nigh

Spooky season is upon us . . . or at least it will be in 6 months! We at SJ Games are already excited, so we're celebrating Halfway-to-Halloween with a ghastly, ghostly 15%-off sale.

Try to stay alive when you face a bloodsucking cryptid in Chupcabra: Survive the Night.

Eat braaains when you grab the entire Munchkin Zombies collection.

Play GURPS Classic: Zombietown, U.S.A., a horrifying TTRPG with over 60 pages of adventures.

Accessorize your next campaign with the Bad Luck Die, Cthulhu Coins, a Biohazard d6 Dice Set, Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween d6 Dice, and more.

The sale runs through May 3, so fly your broomstick to Warehouse 23 today.

-- Michelle Richardson

April 30, 2026: Visit Exandria In Munchkin Vox Machina (A Critical Role Game)

Munchkin Vox Machina – A Critical Role Game is now shipping!

This all-new core set, created in collaboration with Critical Role and based on their famous first livestream campaign, takes players to the fabled realm of Tal'Dorei, where they'll become some of their favorite Vox Machina characters. They'll battle infamous villains like Voidcrowned Knight, The Whispered One, and even Vorugal. Before entering combat, players can equip notable items from Vox Machina, including the Mace of Brilliance, the Shawm, and the Rod of Mercurial Form.

The game includes 172 Door and Treasure cards, along with seven large character cards, a deluxe gameboard with seven character standies, a d6, and a d20 for making the most critical rolls. The Ally mechanic has returned as Guest Stars in this set, which utilizes Munchkin First Edition rules.

Fans of Critical Role and Vox Machina will be excited . . .

[more]

April 29, 2026: Teaching That's Easy In Person, Hard In Print

There's a quirk of the game world that I'm not even sure I'm allowed to talk about here. (I guess we'll see if this post gets deleted!) Namely, that a lot of games can be easily described with one weird trick, but game companies don't really like to use the one weird trick because it doesn't feel good.

Let me explain . . .

This past Easter, the larger family gathered to dive into an unopened game acquired at a past Gen Con – part of the unplayed "wall of shame" we've been collectively trying to whittle down. The rules for this new game were particularly impenetrable for us . . . until we muddled through about two rounds and it "clicked."

Namely, the game (which shall go unnamed) can basically be described as "make sets of cards to buy dominoes, which you place to score points."

Even though there are enough specifics in how the game is devised to make it interesting, those 12 words . . . [more]

April 28, 2026: All A-Board!

I don't tend to link to Randall Munroe's amazing webcomic xkcd very often. That's not because I don't love it, but rather it feels like cheating to fill up a few slots a week of the Daily Illuminator to say, "Hey! Go read the latest xkcd!" But when there's an installment called "Types of Board Game"? I feel like it'd be against the rules not to mention it . . .

-- Steven Marsh

« Prev • Steve's Appearance Schedule

Archangel Gabriel is threatened by Iraq for the furry hypodermic. May 2, 2026: It's Free Comic Book Day! If you're reading this on Saturday, then – depending on what time it is – you might be able to shout "It's not too late!" like Ebenezer Scrooge as you sprint through the streets to your friendly local comic shop. Why? Because it's Free Comic Book Day! Oh, and it's also . . . ummm . . . <squints, checks notes> Comics Giveaway Day. As best I can tell, that's basically the same idea as "Free Comic Book Day," only with titles distributed by Penguin Random House, which includes Marvel Comics and IDW. And, of course, those issues will say "Comics Giveaway Day" instead of "Free Comic Book Day." But it's all the same day . . . ahhh, the joys of branding. Depending on which shops near you are participating, you might be able to try out an awesome new superhero, comedy, horror, or fantasy story, with your favorite characters or someone new. Of course, while you're there, it's a great . . . [more] May 1, 2026: The Witching Hour Is Nigh Spooky season is upon us . . . or at least it will be in 6 months! We at SJ Games are already excited, so we're celebrating Halfway-to-Halloween with a ghastly, ghostly 15%-off sale. Try to stay alive when you face a bloodsucking cryptid in Chupcabra: Survive the Night. Eat braaains when you grab the entire Munchkin Zombies collection. Play GURPS Classic: Zombietown, U.S.A., a horrifying TTRPG with over 60 pages of adventures. Accessorize your next campaign with the Bad Luck Die, Cthulhu Coins, a Biohazard d6 Dice Set, Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween d6 Dice, and more. The sale runs through May 3, so fly your broomstick to Warehouse 23 today. -- Michelle Richardson April 30, 2026: Visit Exandria In Munchkin Vox Machina (A Critical Role Game) Munchkin Vox Machina – A Critical Role Game is now shipping! This all-new core set, created in collaboration with Critical Role and based on their famous first livestream campaign, takes players to the fabled realm of Tal'Dorei, where they'll become some of their favorite Vox Machina characters. They'll battle infamous villains like Voidcrowned Knight, The Whispered One, and even Vorugal. Before entering combat, players can equip notable items from Vox Machina, including the Mace of Brilliance, the Shawm, and the Rod of Mercurial Form. The game includes 172 Door and Treasure cards, along with seven large character cards, a deluxe gameboard with seven character standies, a d6, and a d20 for making the most critical rolls. The Ally mechanic has returned as Guest Stars in this set, which utilizes Munchkin First Edition rules. Fans of Critical Role and Vox Machina will be excited . . . [more] April 29, 2026: Teaching That's Easy In Person, Hard In Print There's a quirk of the game world that I'm not even sure I'm allowed to talk about here. (I guess we'll see if this post gets deleted!) Namely, that a lot of games can be easily described with one weird trick, but game companies don't really like to use the one weird trick because it doesn't feel good. Let me explain . . . This past Easter, the larger family gathered to dive into an unopened game acquired at a past Gen Con – part of the unplayed "wall of shame" we've been collectively trying to whittle down. The rules for this new game were particularly impenetrable for us . . . until we muddled through about two rounds and it "clicked." Namely, the game (which shall go unnamed) can basically be described as "make sets of cards to buy dominoes, which you place to score points." Even though there are enough specifics in how the game is devised to make it interesting, those 12 words . . . [more] April 28, 2026: All A-Board! I don't tend to link to Randall Munroe's amazing webcomic xkcd very often. That's not because I don't love it, but rather it feels like cheating to fill up a few slots a week of the Daily Illuminator to say, "Hey! Go read the latest xkcd!" But when there's an installment called "Types of Board Game"? I feel like it'd be against the rules not to mention it . . . -- Steven Marsh « Prev • Steve's Appearance Schedule		Latest Videos You are the 1610th interstellar sex god here today. (32908142 since August 1, 1995)

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May 2, 2026: It's Free Comic Book Day!

May 1, 2026: The Witching Hour Is Nigh

April 30, 2026: Visit Exandria In Munchkin Vox Machina (A Critical Role Game)

April 29, 2026: Teaching That's Easy In Person, Hard In Print

April 28, 2026: All A-Board!