Supergirl Day | The Maiden of Fandom

The end of June is closing in, but local events like Supergirl Day aren’t celebrated quite as often as most major comic book events like Free Comic Book Day, but it’s always a welcome situation when it is about a comic book character never quite the conversation. The premiere week of the movie Supergirl was the right time for it. In the Philippines, how often do you get something like this compared to the recent event that just wrapped up at SM Mall of Asia, which did not even invite a local comic shop like Comic Odyssey to sell their Supergirl comic books? But this one not only promotes the movie, but also brings in local artists who worked on the books!

Comics Signing Event | Whilce Portacio

Comic Book signings have been the norm when a local comic shop organizes a signing event it promotes the artist, the book he/she is currently working on at the same time promoting the comic shop that hosted it. But back in the day, there was no such thing as a comic book signing until the original Filbar’s had one and brought in an artist who did a book for Marvel. That guy was Whilce Portacio, and it was sometime between December 1991 that he came to visit the country for the first time to spend and reconnect with relatives in Manila. The rising career of Whilce Portacio at that time he was doing work for Uncanny X-Men starting with issue 281 as part of the X-Genesis launch of X-Titles.

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.

Halloween ComicFest | Social Activity for Everyone

10.28.2019 – Halloween ComicFest is an annual event promoting literacy through giving away comicbooks at the same time trick or treating for kids who would be encouraged to find interest in reading them. In short, it’s the Halloween version of Free Comic Book Day in a small scale that is more targeted to a general audience. The event started in 2012 and in the Philippines Comic Odyssey and Fully Booked became pioneers of celebrating this annual event. Filbar’s did participate a couple times, but for the succeeding years, they along with other local shops had shifted focused heavily to celebrate comicbooks through FCBD instead.

Pop Home | Han Solo & Greedo Shakers

05.20.2019 – There’s the Duel of the Fates and then there’s that discussion ‘Who Shot First?’ in Star Wars lore. But for those avid fans out there who cares? As long as there are movies that fuel the merchandise machine for Lucasfilms there’s plenty of those where it came from at that is where things get interesting. Hasbro and previously Kenner have the action figure market dominated with the Star Wars toys. But there are others too that build up the merchandise arm with that Funko has been churning up those Pop vinyl figures like it was flowing water that they never run out of iterations until they make it to your home with this…

Halloween ComicFest | Routine in Manila

10.28.2018 – Halloween Comic Fest in the Philippines just happened yesterday and it was quite a routine for someone who used to worry getting into this event in one area around four comic shops. But here’s the thing about Metro Manila is one big city composed of other cities and too many grounds to cover. Saturday was something unusual for someone who used to live outside the city and in the suburbs that takes you a forty-minute bus ride to town. But the advantage now is the distance no needed to take the bus and you only need is to walk your way to the nearest mall about almost 2 km since it was a busy weekend.

FCBD 2013: The Wild Perspective

05.05.2013 – The stories at Free Comic Book Day had a huge impact on a lot of people. Now it depends what kind of individuals think of the annual event that started with Comic Odyssey and with Fully Booked in 2008. Arguably the best single event when everyone got the chance to take some comic books home absolutely FREE. But what makes this event so big in the Philippines that a lot would line up as early as 1AM just to get first dibs on your favorite title? Everyone all over the world knows it’s a promotional event to bring old and readers but there are others who completely don’t know what it really meant to some who just appreciate meeting new people.

Happy Birthday Stephen. A Prelude to STGCC?

08.26.2012 – After Mico Suayan’s comic book signing at The Forum in Fully Booked at High Street in Taguig Sandy or Comic Odyssey invited us to dinner at Italianni’s Restaurant just a few shops after Fully Booked. The group that greeted Mico at the store was Stephen Segovia and Jason Paz with their friends. Gab Cheekee of the Filipino band Parokya Ni Edgar with his girlfriend was present. Mostly before everyone went down for Italianni’s the discussion started with what went down at SDCC 2012 last month with Sandy and Gab’s girlfriend talking about the freebies that Punky picked up during that event.

Comic Odyssey x Fully Booked: The Team Up of a Lifetime!

05.16.2012 – Last night dropped by and checked out the newest branch of Comic Odyssey at the fourth level of the flagship store of Fully Booked at the Bonifacio High Street in Taguig. The last time we first saw the shop taking shape was last Saturday and it was just an empty space getting cleaned. A few days later early last night before heading back home we passed by to take a glimpse on the development of the store. Indeed Comic Odyssey will be a bit busy this Saturday as they open up their fourth branch in fifteen years of its existence in the country since it opened its doors back in 1997.

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.

Tony DeZuniga Remembered (1932-2012).

05.12.2012 – Tony DeZuniga passed away in the morning or May 11, 2012 at 1:30AM based on Sandy Sansolis’ announcement post at the Comic Odyssey’s Facebook Group Page. Mang Tony as fondly be called by everyone is the first Filipino to break into the international Comics industry. DeZuniga pave the way to other aspiring artists to make it in their own in this field. He co-created some of the dark and interesting characters for DC Comics. He is most popularly known for his creation of the western anti-hero in Jonah Hex with John Albano (who passed away in May 2005).

Counting the days before David Finch in Manila!

03.05.2012 – Saturday afternoon was not your usual extravagant event though for comic book junkies it’s a preview of what are things to come. The guys and gals who went masquerading as their Batman Family of characters for Fully Booked to promote David Finch’s arrival for next Sunday. This was received by photo opportunity and individual portraits from all walks of life. While they scour the grounds of Bonifacio High Street I took the liberty and checking out the set up display to promote the up coming event. Fully Booked teams up with Comic Odyseey to bring one of DC Comics’ well known artists to the country next week.