PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Buoyed by a pair of big-budget superhero films this summer, retailers and publishers are poised to give away more than 3.5 million free comics at events aimed at building communities among longtime fans and at capturing new readers.

What began 11 years ago with just four publishers in a few cities has blossomed into an international event involving hundreds of stores in 46 countries with 40 publishers — big, small and self-run — and millions of comic books, all for free.

"This grand plot for world comics domination is continuing to steam roll," said Joe Field, who owns Flying Colors Comics in Concord, Calif., and helped launch the annual event.