| 05.07.2016 – Free Comic Book Day in the Philippines is one of the most anticipated events of the year. This is part mini-comic con, Christmas, all rolled into one massive event party for comicbook fans!
FCBD in the Philippines has become an annual event since 2007 which started by Comic Odyssey and the rest has followed the tradition to cater for their fans, would-be comicbook readers and people who are getting interested reading comics again. |
There have been four comic shops who have organized Free Comic Book Day since 2015 who promoted this year’s event. Comic Odyssey and Fully Booked is counted as one store that put together the biggest event since joining forces in 2013.
The other comic shops that held their FCBD event are DK Collectibles located at the Fort Strip, Filbar’s at SM Megamall, and Planet X Comics in Glorietta, while Comic Odyssey’s other branch in Fully Booked Alabang and Robinsons Galleria branch gave one one comicbook per customer.
Fully Booked have selected stores also gave away one free comicbook per customer the main event belong to Comic Odyssey and Fully Booked boasting a complete line-up of FCBD books, having local comicbook artists as guests led by Pugad Baboy’s Pol Medina and held other activities until everyone had their fill of this event.
Filbar’s held their own promotional event at SM Megamall with guests the same happened at Planet X Comics and DK Collectibles. For those who avoided the huge crowd lining up at FCBD they went mostly to DC Collectibles and ‘hole in the wall’ Fully Booked stores that rarely visited by people, which you need to do your research and inquiry the branch participating this year.
|
|
|
|
A Brief History
Comic Odyssey is not the pioneer of organizing FCBD this belongs to the former CCHQ (Central Comic Headquarters) based in Quezon City, which organized the annual event in the early 2000s. The original idea of FCBD started fifteen years ago as a promotional event in the US by Joe Field, an American retailer who owns Flying Colors Comics in Concord California.
The rest as they say is history but the true reason why FCBD was put together is also to bring back the interest in reading comicbooks as most of the younger generation has been into videogames that they’ve lost interest for this art form. This also help comic shop retailers benefit in promoting their store and healthy interest about comibooks for the young and old that has become an annual global event.
|
|
The Stories Standing in Line
If you have been standing in line every FCBD event there you would hear stories of people how they got there and why the experience can be mutual. The line started forming on Thursday at 11:30 PM courtesy of the same guy from 2013 who started this trend camping out way earlier than the usual time before Fully Booked started opening their doors.
But that’s not the heart of this story though he has been around the ones that are worth noting are those who have been there sharing their reason why they would brave an early morning trip to Fully Booked before the sun came up.
|
|
Katrina’s Story
One individual named Katrina was there since 3 AM and this was her third time to participate on lining up for FCBD and she was accompanied by his 74 year old grandfather.
Katrina says she’s been annually participating in this event because not only the thrill, but to get her hands on the copy of Doctor Who published by Titan Books. It’s the second time Titan has participated in producing an issue of Doctor Who for FCBD.
As you all know going to FCBD once the store opens won’t give you the chance to get your favorite comicbook as they only have limited copies and Katrina being a diehard Doctor Who fan won’t want to miss that opportunity who is also accompanied by one of her best friends.
|
|
|
|
Celebrated Event
These are one of the stories that were shared and you might be also one of these people to tell your story too. Going to FCBD is like preparing to go to a convention for most of those comicbook fans they also have day jobs, but to avoid conflict some would file a vacation leave for this and it’s a valid reason why this is one of the most celebrated event to look forward to every year.
It’s like Christmas in May the only difference is that comicbook readers are lining up at the annual FCBD event organized by local retailers. Comic Odyssey and Fully Booked gave away three FCBD titles per customer plus some other freebies to the first one hundred people who was there since Thursday night.
Besides the reason why you line up every year there are featured local artists as the guests at the Top Shelf, which you get to meet and have them sketch your favorite super hero or any particular comic book character. There are cosplayers too and that scheduled trivia game at 1 PM, but the best part of the experience is the stuff that’s on sale up to 50% percent off that includes freshly stocked comic bins for you to dig in.
Overall another successful event courtesy of these retailers including Comic Odyssey and Fully Booked hosting their biggest one for this year. The acknowledgement goes to the local comicbook scene with Komikon Inc giving out local version of the FCBD “Araw ng Libreng Komiks” and other sponsors who participated on this event.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is celebrated EVERY FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY. The Next FCBD will be on May 6, 2017 and for more about the event LIKE Free Comic Book Day Philippines on Facebook and follow on Twitter at: @FreeComicBookPH
No comments:
Post a Comment