There are several levels of fandom, as I've seen. There's the new fan or the fan that can still be…read moresaved. They usually like the new stuff, whatever's popular. Then there are those beyond saving who like stuff that's so obscure, the only place they can get their fix is from Facebook sellers and online stores. Guess which one I am. Anyway. Comic Alley is pretty much any Filipino anime fan's entry level store. Waaaaaaaaay back in the day, they used to sell posters, wall scrolls and Chinese manga. Nowadays, it's mostly necklaces, plushies and posters and usually of whatever's popular. The more obscure series are rarely represented let alone have anything noteworthy. Yet, I suppose for what it is, you can still find some pretty decent things. Their jackets are nice and they do still have some pretty sturdy bags so I suppose not all is lost. They don't sell manga anymore though. If you're looking, best to head to a bookstore for that. If you want gachapon, jackets and/or bags... you might find something you like here if your fandom happens to be in vogue that season. My one gripe though is the staff. While they're friendly, they can be a little *too* friendly. Sometimes, you just want to browse the shelves by yourself but I can't seem to do that in peace with one of the attendants hounding me every minute asking me what I'm looking for.

Comic Alley is one of those places where you can get a lot of mainstream anime items. They usually…read morecarry pieces of jewelry, notebooks, watches, bags, stuff toys and the like. What I really like about them are items you can use for cosplay. For instance they have that Akatsuki jacket from the Naruto Shippuden series, which can be a basic piece for the full costume. I love the unique Chikara hats like the Chopper and the Kuma hats. They even have a mushroom one for Mario Brothers. I've been looking for one forever and even had to make my own for my baby when we did a family cosplay of the Mario, Luigi and the toadstool. I also got the Mario and Luigi hats from them. I love that this kind of store exists here given how much Filipinos love anime and cosplay. I think they could push the boundaries even more with complete cosplay costumes and accessories and inclusion of the more obscure anime series.

Unprofessional, disrespectful and rude! If I could rate them 0 stars I would, the attendants was…read morevery rude. my friends and i entered and started browsing and talking about comic books we liked when all of a sudden we heard the attendants behind the counter say "wala yan, magpapalamig lang yan" (they're just here to cool off, they wont buy). we got annoyed, paid for our comic books and just left. we've bought from this branch multiple times before but we're never going back there again.

Believe it or not, Filbar's has been around since 1979. I remember going here with my dad and my…read morebrother -- both comic geeks -- when I was very young. It made such an impression on me that I found myself going there years later to feed my own nerdy needs. To categorize them just as a comic book store would be a big mistake. While bulk of their products do include comics from big wigs like DC, Marvel, Vertigo and more, they do have so much more than that. Graphic Novels are among the many things you'll find here. We'll technically speaking, it can fall into the comic book category as well. What I love about Filbar's is that they carry works by local artists. I was extremely impressed that they have Arnold Arre's collected works for Mythology Class and it's priced at less than P500. For someone who has pored over every page of Mythology Class in my college days, this is really a gem of a find. When famous Pinoy inker and local graphic novel legend Gerry Alanguilan came out with Elmer in 2011, this was my first place to look for a copy. Thankfully, I did get my hands on one. They also have a lot of comic-inspired shirts, posters and bags. Of course, they have collectible toys, too. I've been looking into collecting Funko POP lately and of course, they would be my top pick for sourcing my first ever piece. I can't wait to get my hands on that Dancing Groot Funko POP. Filbar's keeps the fangirl/geek in me alive!

Filbar's is as classic as the comic books that it sells. Even when I was a kid ths palce was…read morealready selling comic books and other similar materials to kids. I mean, I cannot recount the number of times that I have walkd into this store to look and salivate at all the comic books and comic related materials that I could find in his place. I basically had a nerdgasm every time I went here as a kid. It was just one of those really cool places that I had to go to when I found myself in SM Megamall. Many years have passed and yet, this place is still standing. It just goes to show that the comic book following in this country was strong then and still is now. I'm glad this place opened and is still open. Like I said, this place is a classic and deserves a lot of respect, love, and attention. Go and buy something here.

I consider myself as a major geek. At my age, I still read a lot of comic books and play trading…read morecard games. Filbar's provides me with almost everything I need to keep the geek in me alive and kicking. They also have an extensive selection of local and foreign magazines that caters to various fields and special interests. I was able to get my hands on some photography and fashion magazines when I was there even though I wasn't planning in getting any. Aside from selling old and and current issues of magazine titles, they also have toys and cards that collectors and hobbyists would find interesting. I go here occasionally to update my Magic: The Gathering decks and check on new expansion and booster packs available. They also have cards sold by the piece if you're looking for anything specific. Sales people may seem smug at times but they're not that annoying, get past that and they can actually be quite helpful.

"What's that?" I asked. "Let's go! It looks like a comic…read moreshop," my friend Mica said. We were on our way out of the mall already when we saw the posted for Planet X Comic Shop. We went back to the third level of Glorietta and checked out the store. It was small, but well lit. The staff greeted us immediately and within seconds we found out their names were Jay and Sol. We told them it was our first time to the shop and they said it was obvious as we were oooh-ing and ahhh-ing and drooling over the things we wanted. Mica went crazy over the comics. Remember I said it was a small shop? It is. But they have a good selection of comics. I was interested in this book they had about Marvel and the way they do things. Then I checked the price and knew I wasn't going home with the book that day. "Mica, I need a job," I wailed. "I want this Captain America toy but it's 12K," Mica replied. Jay and Sol assured us that they have sales and everything becomes cheaper for a few days. Well, I can't wait for that day. For now, I'll be checking this shop every time I'm here to see what other new items they have.

In the Makati area, this is the best comic book shop where you can have comics (either new or…read morebackordered) reserved to you on a weekly basis (called a pull list). Customer service is awesome because of Eric, the shop's proprietor. I've been a patron of theirs since 2009 and even though there are other bigger comics shops in Manila, I always go back here. Plus, on every first Saturday of May every year, they are among the local comic book shops in Manila that participate in Free Comic Book Day, where anyone can get a free comic book of they choosing, free of charge, no strings attached.

With more and more interest going into the "nerdy" or "geek" culture, comic shops and hobby shops…read morehave arisen to provide specialty shop services to the growing population. So, where would one go for both? One option would be Filbar's, which manages to sell comic books, cards and figurines of superheroes and occasionally favorite fantasy characters from Japanese Anime as well. With these shops scattered all over, one can imagine a network of these subcultures managing to tell each other about the latest small place where one can pick up a comic or a toy or even a card game that caters to their hobbies and interests. This branch of Filbar's in particular is conveniently located inside a mall and looks more like an open stall than an enclosed store thus permitting even girls like me to get in on the trend. The layout and location of the store diminishes any sense of hesitation that uninitiated yet curious passersby may feel and the general interest magazines displayed in the front portion seems to be an effective ploy to get any mall-goer to do the first step: check out the store. With Filbar's around, we can be comfortable showing our curiosity and openness for this new culture.

Comic Quest. Of course I'll give it four stars. Any store that specializes in selling comics or…read moreanything relate to it's characters and so forth is always aces in my book. These sort of stores is what makes visitng malls worthy of my time. Not the food or the clothing, but the stuff that I can read. My brain needs food after all and printed material is often the best, most nutritious and satisfying source of brain food. Comic Quest goes a little bit beyond most comic book stores because it also likes to sell other items that are related to comics. For example, they also sell shirts with super hero themes. It's a common thing sure. Nothing new or original in that idea, but few comic book stores actually do this sort of things nowadays if at all. I'm not going to say that this is a part of a dying breed, but it is a uncommon sight. Feel free to walk right in since you might find something you like.

Just In Magazine Corner is just a small kiosk found at the second floor of Promenade Mall in…read moreGreenhills. Even so, I still visit it whenever I'm at the mall. I always believe that there are hidden treasures in shops that sell pre-loved books. I have found many of my hard-to-find book collection this way. Indeed, this particular stall does not have a lot of titles. But they have a lot of Archie comic books. Actually, the main business of the stall is selling magazines, both local and international. I must admit that they have an impressive variety of imported magazines. I have seen publications about weddings, brides, guns, cars, travel, hobbies, sports, fashion, and showbiz. Nothing special, you say. But what if I tell you that the magazines, even if out-of-date, all look pristine and new? Somehow, this magazine corner knows how to preserve their inventory. The only thing that I don't like about this kiosk is that they don't have their own lighting. They rely on the mall's yellow lighting. The problem is they are located in a corner. So the shop can be dark and gloomy, especially for guys with poor eyesight just like me. I can't spend a lot of time at the kiosk browsing through what they have to offer.

Most people resort to online shopping when it comes to toy-collecting. Hey, they're not just toys…read more They're "the" toys. I may not be much of a figure collector, but I have a bunch and I love them enough to understand how an avid collector feels. What I love about toy shops like these is how most of them interact to the customers. If there's something you want to buy that aren't anywhere to be seen locally, you can contact them and they might be able to order a piece just for you. That's how it usually works for the rare pieces, as far as I know. Now, Hobbypro Central is one of the places to go to if you're into Magic cards. My brother was interested in joining Magic: The Gathering tournaments and didn't know where to begin at first. So word of advice: ask the hobby shopkeepers.