Comic Odyssey Closes BGC Branch

Comic Odyssey is a well-known and beloved comic shop in the Philippines that has long history going back to the late 1980s in Pasadena, California. Its original store first opened in the early 1990s and it is a family owned business that has slowly grown as the go-to shop for comicbooks fans based in Metro Manila that also established itself from supporting the local scene. The store continues to reach out to support the local art scene and its indie grassroots. In 2012, it expanded in collaboration with Fully Booked, the biggest bookstore in the country. Comic Odyssey opened two branches within the giant bookstore in Bonifacio High Street and in the Alabang. But the later short-lived and the BGC branch was part of Fully Booked until COVID-19 happened.

For eight years Comic Odyssey has captivated the comicbook scene in Bonifacio Global City that started the collaboration with Fully Booked the biggest Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) event as well as signing in-store events supporting Manila-based artists that have worked in the US comicbook scene.

There were so many bittersweet memories that were produced. With the ongoing pandemic, Comic Odyssey and other local comic shops struggled with the lockdown, and in early July 2020 that they announced the closure of their beloved brand inside Fully Booked.









It was difficult for the Comic Odyssey Family & their staff to say goodbye, but it’s not the end they still have their branch at Robinsons Galleria which will be now their flagship store and their newly opened branch in Eastwood where they used to have a branch in 2007. Below are some of the images of the dismantling of the comicbook shelves as well as their glass display a contrast to the sneak peek prior to the shop’s opening back in 2012 during FCBD.

There was a lot of rubbish scattered and the clearing you can see Sandy Sansolis, the store’s proprietor just taking a break before going back to work in helping out the clean-up. Surely, the fans who visited the store have shared their fondest memories of their experience visiting some of the events held in these hallowed halls. It was a good eight-year run and this place is considered the home of FCBD, which was also canceled this year as announced early in March 2020.









For those who truly support the comicbook scene, please do continue to support them buy some of the titles in their back issue bins or graphic novels that would probably suit your fancy to keep them open. Not only Comic Odyssey, but also support the other shops like Comic Quest, Filbar’s, and Druids Keep because they are the stores that drive the local art scene not only bring you comicbooks from all over the world, but also the local indie publishers.

For more about Comic Odyssey you can follow them through social media via Facebook, Instragam, and on Twitter: @ComicOdyssey Acknowledgments & Photos by Nick Sansolis