Comic Odyssey’s celebration of Free Comic Book Day May 2nd was a success! Droves of comic book fans and collectors turned up and joined the celebration of this world wide event.

The store started giving out the free comics at exactly 12 noon, at which time a line outside has already formed. The line was long enough that it even reached the newly opened Saizen store down the hall!

The front of the store was packed with people who surrounded the tables set -up for the guest artists who posed, signed autographs, and did sketches.

Each guest was allowed to choose 3 comics of their choice from the selection of free comics they had laid out. Those who wanted to get in-line to get the free comics was given a stub that had a number on it. This stub had to be presented at the store entrance before you are allowed to go in. This stub also served as a raffle ticket.

At every half-hour, the organizers randomly drew stub numbers and gave out comic books and trade paperbacks as prizes. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring home any special prize, but I did bring home these free comics:

It truly was an exciting experience for me. Thank you Comic Odyssey for bringing this to Manila. I can’t wait for the next one! Which by the way, isn’t too far from now, since in two weeks time fully booked will be holding it’s Free Comic Book Day celebration!

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

I was online earlier and I saw Rotch’s message about the Free Comic Book Day at Fully Booked. I clicked on the link she posted so I could get more details. FREE COMIC BOOK DAY at Fully Booked is on May 23, 2009. There’s no need to buy anything–you just need to show up and you get free comics.

I first learned about Free Comic Book Day from my Flickr contact, Shaun. He is from Singapore and is a toy and comic book collector. He posted some pictures he took during the past Free Comic Book day that he attended; since then I’ve been wishing for the Philippines to participate in its celebration. Imagine my surprise, and excitement, when the Phillipines held it’s first Free Comic Book Day celebration last year! Unfortunately, I learned about it too late, so I wasn’t able to go. Hopefully this year, I’ll be able to make it– there’s a Fully Booked branch that’s only 20 minutes away from where I live, ohohoho!

Freecomicbookday.com defines Free Comic Book Day as “a single day when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores.” It is a promotional effort by the North American comic book industry to help bring new readers into independent comic book stores, and is usually held on the 1st Saturday of May. The first one was held back in 2002 in the US.

The Free Comic Book Day comic giveaway at Fully Booked starts at 10AM on a first come-first serve basis. It will be available in all Fully Booked branches. They are also slashing 20% off the regular price of graphic novels.

You may visit Fully Booked Online for more information about this event. To learn more about Free Comic Book Day, please visit www.freecomicbookday.com.