The Philippine Online Chronicles

If you're sitting at home reading this article the day it comes out, then--unless you've got a bundle of free comics next to you--you're doing it wrong. As today is the glorious first Saturday of May, that means today is Free Comic Book Day 2010, and you should be out there at your favorite comic book store, getting your favorite creators to sign their works, with your unwilling extended family in tow (siblings, cousins, even grandparents) so that you can find a way around the per-person-quota that stands between you and a complete collection of free comics.

Here's a rundown of participating comic book outlets in Metro Manila--much thanks to the folk at indie complex for helping out with the information in this article:

Comic Odyssey - Level 3, Expansion Mall Robinson's Galleria, Quezon City - Free Comic Book Day starts at 10:30 in the morning. Lenil Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, and Edgar Tadeo will be at Comic Odyssey from one to three in the afternoon. There will also be a launch of the first issue of Ultimate Avengers: Crime and Punishment, pencilled by Leinil Francis Yu and inked by Gerry Alanguilan In addition to the free comics, all back issues will be only fifty pesos each, and discounts of ten to fifty percent will apply to the rest of the merchandise in stock (which includes manga, figurines, and toys). Also, for every P100 purchase, receive a raffle ticket that will get you a chance to prizes like graphic novels, variant covers, and many more. Raffles will be drawn every half-hour. And for the minimum purchase of P1,000, receive a commemorative FCBD 2010 eco-friendly shopping bag. They'll also be selling FCBD'10 shirts - you can see some images of these promotional products here.

I was here last year and let me tell you, if you want the good stuff, you'd better arrive bright and early.

• Comic Quest - (I'm assuming they're joining) Basement 1, Megamall Building A.
• Druid's Keep - Unit 315 Gateway Center, Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City - Free Comic Book Day starts at noon and lasts until eight in the evening. (Update: Carlos Pagulayan will be here for FCBD, though I haven't been able to find an exact time.)
• Fourth Wall Comics - 5082 Filmore Street Palanan, Makati City.
• Planet X Comic Book Shop - [Glorietta 4 branch] Level III Ayala Mall, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center Makati City - there will be special discounts for those who confirmed attendance via the store's facebook page.

(Note: Fully Booked branches do participate in Free Comic Book Day, but not on the first Saturday of May. This year, they'll be holding Free Comic Book Day on May 22.)

• Sputnik Comics - Shop 60 Cubao Expo (formerly known as the Marikina Shoe Expo) on Gen. Romulo Ave., Cubao, Q.C (near Pure Gold supermarket). Store hours: Fridays, Saturdays, 6 - 2 AM

• Kizoic Presents: Shrek & The Penguins Of Madagascar (Ape Entertainment)
• Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock (Archaia Entertainment)
• Archie’s Summer Splash! #1 (Archie Comics)
• Toy Story (Boom! Studios)
• Doctor Solar/Magnus (Dark Horse Comics)
• War Of The Supermen #0 (DC Comics)
• Yow! The John Stanley Library (Drawn & Quarterly)
• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155½ (Idw Publishing)
• Fractured Fables (Image Comics)
• Iron Man/Thor FCBD 2010 Edition (Marvel Comics)

Other titles (Silver Comics) available include the following:

• Sonic The Hedgehog: Hide & Seek & Destroy! (Archie Comics)
• Worlds of Aspen (Aspen MLT)
• Fearless Dawn/Asylum Press Sampler (Asylum Press)
• S.E. Hinton’s/Fame (Bluewater Productions)
• Bongo Comics Free For All (Bongo Comics)
• Irredeemable #1 (BOOM! Studios)
• DC Kids Mega Sampler (DC Comics)
• Del Rey Showcase (Del Rey Comics)
• Green Hornet #1 (Dynamite Entertainment)
• Weathercraft: A Frank Comic (Fantagraphics Books)
• The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics (Gemstone Publishing)
• Library of American Comics #0 (IDW Publishing)
• Love and Capes #13 (Maerkle Press)
• Iron Man:Supernova (Marvel Comics)
• The Tick #1 Special Edition (New England Comics)
• Oni Press Free-For-All (Oni Press)
• Sixth Gun #1 (Oni Press)
• Radical: Bigger Books! Bigger Value! (Radical Publishing)
• Atomic Robo and Friends (Red 5 Comics)
• Freedom Formula: Speed Metal Overtures (Storm Lion)
• Stuff of Legend/Mortal Instruments (Th3rd World Studios)
• Owly & Friends (Top Shelf Productions)
• Artifacts: First Look (Top Cow Productions)

There will also be a few komiks from Filipino creators being given away or launched (read: not free) today as well:

1. A preview of komik Yo Bo! will be available at Comic Odyssey;
2. Edgar Tadeo will be launching "Yew Stupid Basturd #3 featuring Jacara Zar" at Comic Odyssey;
3. The komik Laban! will be running a Comic Hunt promotion, where free copies will be hidden at various locations around Metro Manila (hints to these locations were gradually unveiled on the Facebook fan page of the komik).
4. On his facebook, Andrew Villar stated that he, Hazel Manzano (Callwork) and Amos Villar of no parking comics will be giving away comics and ashcans at Comic Odyssey.