So the first order of the day was to look for the box. Lucky for me when I entered the venue, an opportunity to hit 2 birds with one stone presented itself. Right smack when I entered was the booth of Comic Odyssey with their boxes of comic books all priced at Php 20 pesos!

It took me a while to actually get to the comics because there were so many people surrounding the booth, scouring boxes upon boxes of those comic books being sold so cheaply! I eventually did manage to wrangle my way to the front ( after waiting patiently for my turn, of course) so that I may take my turn in going through the boxes.

As I was going through the boxes, I asked the lady owner ( I forgot to ask her name) if they had storage boxes for sale. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any. But the kind soul that she was, she told me where I could buy since they don’t currently sell them at any of their shops.

But! Luck was on my side! I found issues 2 and 4 of Cursed, a comic I picked up at the Free Comic Book Day event.  I also picked up an X-men Vol 2 Issue 2! I’ve been wanting to get my hands on it for years and finally I have it. And at Php 20 pesos each, I sure got lucky!

I moved on to Hobby Point’s booth which is just on the right side of Comic Odyssey’s booth were I picked a WildCATS Vol 1 Issue 2 for Php 100 pesos- still quite inexpensive because the last time I saw one, it was being sold at Php 200 pesos. It made me one comic book closer to completing the Jim Lee mini-series.I already have issue 4, and I know I have issue 1 somewhere in the house so all I need is issue number 3.

I went around the venue countless times, going though boxes and stacks of comics and books. I managed to pick up some locally made comic books. I bought my very first Mangaholix comic book at the Mangaholix booth. I bought issue 1 for only Php 40 pesos and it also came with a free sketch! The artists at the booth were very accommodating when I requested for a sketch of a particular character. I have read it from cover to cover and I  enjoyed reading the stories. And the art was amazing! I’m going to get the other issues next chance I get.

I also got the Kubori Kikiam book “Kubori Strips For The Soul”! It’s been so long since I have read a Kubori Kikiam comic! I last saw the strip a few years ago when Culture Crash published it’s last issue. The artist, David, was kind enough to sign it for me and even pose for a photo.

The book is a compilation of Kubori Kikiam strips from kuborikikiam.com and was sold for Php 80 pesos. I’ve finished reading the book and I have to say it was such a hoot!

Going around, I also picked up two titles from independent publishers. Gerilya Komiks  and Aswang Files: Declassified. Gerilya Komiks is published by Saging Komiks.

I got all three issues in the series. Each issue contained 3 stories. Each issue was sold for only Php 15 pesos!

Another indie title I picked up was issue 1 of Aswang Files: Declassified. It was Komikon 2006′s winner of the Best Indie award!

The comic book was sold for Php 50 pesos and came with a short novel titled ” Pare I love You.” The artists say the next issue will debut at the next comic con later this year.

I also had an artist do a sketch of myself. Actually I walked away with 2 sketches since another artist joined in and started to sketch me as well. The sketches had no set price. There was just a tip box on their table where satisfied “models” could place any amount.

After a snack and one more round of going around the venue, I left the Summer Komikon. While I may not have fully accomplished goal number 1, I did accomplish goals 2 and 3, with a few more kicks thrown in. I went home tired, but truly satisfied with my first Komikon experience! I can’t wait for the next one!

Hey comic fans! Join Comic Odyssey as they celebrate Free Comic Book Day! It will be held on May 2nd, 2009 at their Robinson’s Galleria branch. The comic giving starts at 12 noon and ends at 4 PM. There will be prizes to be raffled off every half hour!

Comic Odyssey has also invited comic book artists as guest. Among those who are going to  make an appearance are Gerry Alanguilan, Leinil Yu, Ed Tadeo, Stephen Segovia, Mico Suayan, Noah Salonga, Harvey Tolibao, Wilson Tortosa, Gilbert Monsanto, and Kajo Baldisimo. Artists Jay David Ramos, Budjette Tan, Elbert Or, Romulo Fajardo, and Jan Michael Aldeguer, will also be at the event, plus lots more of other comic book artists.

You may have your favorite artist sketch a character for you at the event. I don’t know whether there’s a fee or if it’s free. Either way, you may send in a request in advance. Email Comic Odyssey at fcbd2009@comic-odyssey.com.

For more information, you may call them at (632) 914-0040; visit their website http://www.comic-odyssey.com; or, email your query to the email address given above.

P.S.- Don’t forget, Fully Booked is also celebrating Free Comic Book Day on May 23rd!

Comic Odyssey
Level III Expansion Mall
Robinson’s Galleria
Edsa, corner Ortigas Avenue
Quezon City
Tel. No. (632) 914-0040