Fully Booked celebrated Free Comic Book Day last Saturday, May 23rd. With all their branches participating, it was sure that there will be free comics for all! And there’s also the 20% discount on graphic novels.
There are 2 branches relatively near where I live- One at the Trinoma mall; and the other just across the street at SM City North Edsa’s The Block. I went early and first hit the Trinoma branch. I arrived a little before 11 A.M. and was expecting a line– but when I reached the store I saw none. The table of comics was laid out just inside the entrance. I approached the table to look at the selection and then asked how many they were giving away per person. The store clerk manning the table said that only one comic per person.
line at the BHS branch (photo by Azrael)
I was looking for the X-men comic but they didn’t have any. Neither did they have the Avengers. So I settled for the G.I. Joe/ Transformers double feature.
Next, I went across the street and headed straight to the branch at the Block. The branch, which was on the third level, didn’t have a queue either. Although, there were a few people surrounding the table, checking the selection laid out. I finally edged my way to the front and was able to see what they had. It was more than what the Trinoma branch had on offer. I saw the X-men and Avengers comics, and decided to pick up the Avengers one after browsing the pages of both. I liked the artwork more; and it had a cool storyline. More of what the storyline is later. The policy regarding the number of comics one can get is the same : one per person. I was attending a blogger event at The Block that same day, and I encouraged my fellow bloggers to go get a comic for themselves.
photo by Azrael
I don’t know if the branches I visited eventually got crowded since I didn’t have time to check back on them. I was already ….engrossed at the blogging event I attended in the same mall.
line at the BHS branch (photo by Azrael)
I did hear that the Bonifacio High Street branch fared much better when it came to crowd turnout so early in the day. As was the case last year, there was quite a line outside the store. Plus, they probably had the most selections of free comics amongst all Fully Booked Branches. Just look at these pics by line at the BHS branch.
photo by Azrael
I was a bit disappointed that not all branches had the same comic books to give away. More so that they only gave out one comic per customer. But I guess they did that so they’d have enough stocks for everybody! So that’s Fully Booked’s Free Comic Book Day 2009 celebration. Here’s hoping they’ll give out more next year!
In addition to snagging a free comic, did you purchase anything? I mean, you have to support your local comics outlets, right?
How much do comics cost in Manila? The cover price here is… gosh, I don’t know, it’s been a while since I actually looked. They’re, like, three or four dollars (US), I think.
Are most of the comics available over there the same as U.S. releases? Are there special covers, or are they translated? Do you have more access to Asian comics?
One of my serious comics-fan friends is coming to visit in late July, so I’ll be hitting the “local” comics shops (there are only a few) then. They’re all about an hour drive from my house, so they’re not exactly “conveniently located.” Of course, Borders Books has lots of “graphic novels.” Sometimes I get the impression that manga novels and DVD box sets are the main products at the so-called “book stores” anymore.
From the photos you post here, it looks like “free comic day” was a success. I hope it generated sales, and perhaps created some new fans.
It’s fun to see some girls — cute girls, even — lined up outside a comic book store. One of the local stores here, which is heavily into manga titles, seems to attract a few female customers. The other shops have the traditional (or cliche) clientele — dorky post-adolescent guys (like me) with bad complexions, poor posture, and chubby tummies who actually believe they could get a date with Jessica Alba… if Jessica Alba just happened to walk into a comic book shop full of dorky post-adolescent guys with bad complexions and chubby tummies who are standing around discussing… well… how to get a date with Jessica Alba.
Or are comic book guys all about Summer Glau and Mila Kunis these days? Whatever happened to that “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” chick? Remember when she was the fanboys’ favorite?
Anyway… free comics. Yeah. Fun.
(I need to check my collection, see which back issues of “Vampi” I’m still missing.)
actually, i was only there for the free comics! lol. i’m kidding. but to answer your question, no i didn’t buy anything. fully booked only sells trade paperbacks and not comics per se, so there really wasn’t anything for me to buy. i was however, looking tp buy the essential dazzler paperback, but unfortunately, they didn’t have in stock.
i think it did generate sales for them. I do know from experience that the other free comic book day held earlier at comic odyssey generated lots of sales for them. i saw collectors buying left and right because most of the comics were on 50% off. i actually picked up just one title, because somebody beat me to the other 3 i was eyeing.
just about every us release is available here. re: the price i think the current price ranges between 150- 300 pesos which is roughly 3-6 dollars. i haven’t really checked as i’m most concerned with getting back issues of the titles i collected when i was still a kid. and there are no special covers for the releases here, and they are all in english. the only asian comics i ever see here are mangas from japan, and ofcourse the local labels.
i was actually surprised myself to see female comic book fans. there were so few that i encountered from when i was younger. lol seriously, i dont even know who summer glau is. lol
wow an hour. that’s kinda far. it’s a good thing that there are 2 malls near where i live with comic book stores. but those are considered comic book store chains here. i do miss the independent neighborhood type of comic book store which yopu really have to go out of your way sometimes just to get there. too bad there’s not much of those left here.
i wanted to collect vampi before, but they thought it was too racy for me during that time so they refused to sell me any. 😛
thanks for stopping by! i hope you and your friend have fun on your comic hunting trip! =)