| Free Comic Book Day has become an annual event that most comic book readers look forward to. In the Philippines, it has become an annual tradition thanks to Comic Odyssey, which first initiated this annual celebration for fans in the country, and bookstores and other comic shops followed suit.
It has become a tradition, and Free Comic Book Day; with that, Comic Odyssey localized the event dubbed “Araw ng Libreng Komiks” in Tagalog, the native language of Filipinos, as Komiks with the ‘K’ has an industry in its own right dating back to the late 1930s. It’s an appropriate “Tagalized” event. |
In the years since Comic Odyssey began organizing their own FCBD event, comic shops have come and gone, and this comic shop has stayed true to form despite the economic challenges it faces, including rising printing costs and tariffs. As they say, the show must go on.
There was also the other thing to know about Free Comic Book Day, which was first organized in the US back in 2002, and was under the control of Diamond Distributors, the same company that is the sole distributor for all comics publications has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2025, and everyone thinks it’s the end for Free Comic Book Day as the worlds have known for.
But that changed when Universal Distribution acquired the rights for Free Comic Book Day. This year seems oddly strange when another “parallel event” called “Comics Giving Day” was announced, which was by Penguin Random House (PRH) as their version of FCBD, which is the same concept since they can’t use the FCBD copyright that is owned by Universal.
Technically, there are two versions of FCBD, while the other is with Penguin Random House, which is the distributor for Marvel Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, and other publications under their banner. Unlike years of being handled by one entity, FCBD was split in half.
Local Flavoured FCBD
For years, FCBD has been presented by various bookstores and comic shops over the years, and Comic Odyssey has stayed consistent in hosting it for the last five years, except during the time of the pandemic happened. They used to be partnered with Fully Booked from 2013 to 2019, being held at the Fully Booked flagship store in Bonifacio High Street.
But after COVID happened, Comic Odyssey and Fully Booked went their separate ways and returned in 2022. Both stores would collaborate one more time in 2023 before hosting their FCBD on their own. Comic Odyssey would focus on localizing the FCBD event, having local and Philippine-based international artists become part of the fan experience.
Kits for PH
Besides hosting FCBD as the usual event around the world, the changes are also about giving back and helping out the less privileged, collaborating with a non-profit organization named Kits for PH, and they have been helping children of bus and jeepney drivers, setting up local activities, and creating social impact for the youth community in the last three FCBD events with Comic Odyssey.
If you are seeing kids celebrating the event on stage, they are there, so you’ll not miss it. Kits for PH put a spotlight on the less privileged youth, creates a safe space for these children with their struggling families, and uplifts them through the Free Comic Book Day initiative.
A Community Experience
FCBD is not just an annual event that you can just line up and get your free comics, but also getting to know people who have stood in line with you as early as the sun comes up. This year was evident that it’s not as wild as it used to be, during the times when someone lined up at the venue as early as Thursday afternoon.
The crowd has evidently matured in the last five years, and it's more organized now. Comic Odyssey continues to show its impact in the comic fan community, not just another comic shop, but it can cater to everyone who would be interested to pick comic book or a graphic novel and being part of the ever-growing community.
In case you missed out on this year’s festivities, there will always be another year, so make sure to brush up on the history of FCBD in the Philippines, because there are good stories behind the scenes, and good people in the community, too.
Free Comic Book Day is held every first Saturday in May, organized by local comic shops. For more details about event you can follow Free Comic Book Day Philippines on social media via Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter at: @FreeComicBookPH
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