Comic Odyssey: Through The Years.

05.13.2012 – Comic Odyssey has live up to its name giving us a wide variety of back issues that we can’t find in other comic shops in the Philippines. The store is originally based in Pasadena and San Diego California in USA. The first shop opened back in 1989 and it had a rocky start prior to its opening since an earthquake destroyed it. But since the store was insured Comic Odyssey got back on its feet and opened up. Sandy Sansolis the owner and proprietor shared the store’s history. The original store that opened in the Philippines was located at the former Market Place in Madaluyong City in 1997 and then moved to Robinsons Place Ermita.

The Robinsons Manila store was originally located where Fitness First now is standing at the third floor near the food court. The shop was smaller and as what Sandy describe as dusty and had bad lighting.

The original staff considered of fine people there has now moved on to their own lives and at that time Sandy was still based in the US when I first stepped in to the shop in 1997. You’re not only treated as a regular customer you feel like having an extended family.

The store at Robinsons Place Manila moved to a bigger location sometime in April 2005 after Fitness First took the entire section where it was originally located along with the arcade gaming area.

Comic Odyssey's old shop in 2005 which is where Fitness First now stands.

The third branch in Eastwood opened in December 2007.

By the following year in October 2006 a second branch opened and then followed by a third branch in Eastwood by December 2007.

Sandy along with his family finally made a permanent resident back to the Philippines and has been hands-on managing all the Manila stores. He left the US branches to his close friends and relatives which will eventually closed up soon.

Whenever there’s a need Sandy flies back to the US to help manage the branches in Pasadena and San Diego based stores. But after he left they are scheduled to be closed before this year's end.

There where countless highlights Comic Odyssey has contributed to the local komiks scene like organizing comic book signings and pioneering what Free Comic Book Day in the Philippines was all about in 2007.

Comic Odyssey's current location in Robinsons Place Manila. Notice the logo design in April 2005.

The old location of the second branch in Robinsons Galleria which opened on October 7, 2006.

They also celebrated the stores 10th anniversary in 2007 at the Robinsons Place Manila branch where the fabled image of me was taken lining up for an autograph signing. That particular image was used by BleedingCool in their article a couple months back about Mark Millar coming to the Philippines which eventually will happen on May 27, 2012.

There are so many memories that I’m associated with Comic Odyssey but I leave that story to Sandy how I came closer with his family. This year marks the store’s 15th anniversary in the Philippines and its fourth branch opens this Saturday at Fully Booked during their Free Comic Book Day event on May 19, 2012.

The store's 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Robinsons Place Manila Branch on October 27, 2007.

The image associated with the breaking news of Mark Millar's coming to the Philippines used by BleedingCool.

The soon to open store at Fully Booked.

Inside the new location of Comic Odyssey at Fully Booked.

Happening next Saturday at Fully Booked which you don't want to miss it!

We hope you can drop by at the 4th level of Fully Booked at the Bonifacio High Street to be part of this very special occasion. They will also have another sketch drive in support of the late Tony DeZuniga who passed away last May 11, 2012.

Free Comic Book Day for Fully Booked is special and this is their way of giving back appreciation to their fans now with Comic Odyssey added to their family the collaboration is the best of both worlds!