This goes out to the nerds on the other side of the spectrum!…read more Comic Quest has more to do with comics than Comic Alley does lately. They stock western comics though and have quite a lot of titles on their shelves. DC, Marvel, Vertigo, Dark Horse... you name it, they probably have it. From the more popular titles to some of the more obscure ones. If you're a collector or just an avid comic book reader, they probably have something you need to put on your shelf. But it isn't just comics. There's a bunch of other things, too. They have My Little Pony vinyl toys and figurines, I've seen a few Avengers and JLA hoodies and shirts... and this is definitely a place you can stock up on Magic cards but the one thing I do have to admit I dream of are their artbooks. Anime artbooks, video game artbooks, those delectable bibles of concept art and behind the scenes sketches... Comic Quest has a pretty sizeable collection of them too. It doesn't matter what you're into. Western comics, anime, video games, cartoons... Comic Quest definitely has something for any shade of fandom. And the staff is pretty knowledgeable too! If you need to figure out preorders or see if they have something you've been looking for, they're sure to give you a hand.

This store is heaven!…read more I walked into this store not knowing what to expect and I walked out with a whole list of toys to buy the next time I come here. I'm going back for their Marvel stuff. They have almost all the characters from Marvel in all shapes and sizes. Some are collectors items that are really expensive while other Marvel toys are smaller and cheaper. I was so happy to see an Agent Coulson toy! Another toy I'm coming back for is their Big Bang Theory figurine/toy of all the characters. It's a set already so I don't have to look for and buy each piece separately. They have something also for the Game of Thrones fans. And basically if you're a fan of any TV series, movie, comic book or any character, they just might have something you'd want to collect.

Alright, I admit it. I'm a nerd. Of course, by looking at my profile, you probably noticed that by…read morenow. Figures are my guilty pleasure. Nendoroids, DXFs (don't judge me. I think they're pretty good), Figma... ah, what I'd give for a good Figma. GreatToysOnline has a pretty good selection. And it's not just figures, either. Plush toys, gachapon, *some* shirts, copic pens... you name it, they can probably find it for you. Of course, you can always check out their website, reserve an item and pick it up at the store. As daunting as the Shoppesville branch looks, I find the Annapolis one a little less fear-inducing. Everything is tucked away behind glass shelves and even if it's less hands-on, the staff is always happy to check the catalogue and search the shelves for you. The climb up though might not be for you but hey, I've done crazier things for my hobbies.

These guys have been pretty good with preorders and preorder bonuses lately and that's always a…read moregood thing. While Datablitz has been a key player in the legit gaming market in the Philippines, I never really thought preorders were a thing that happened here. Same with limited edition sets and *some* form of merchandise but thankfully, they seem to be on top of it. We're not quite there yet but we're getting there. They're no Gamestop either. Some things are there one minute, gone the next and you can't guarantee that they have the exact game with the exact region you're looking for the minute you step into the store. But they're willing to put in reserves and will contact you the minute it gets stocked. Sure, Datablitz may not be the only place to get games and anything you might need but they're a pretty reliant source. The staff is approachable and more than willing to answer any questions you might have before making a purchase, no matter what it is you're looking to buy.

I'm so thankful that someone's concept of a hobby shop included most of my favorite things to play…read morewith, including pets! Unfortunately, this branch of Hobbes and Landes doesn't sell pets per se (there is another store along High Street that does), but they do have a lot of pet accessories that will suit your pet's happiness. They are pretty much one of the few stores that are sure to have a good collection of LEGOs, which brings me back to my childhood. Although they lack a few of the newer Technic models, the rest of the LEGOs have enough variety to satisfy any kid. I also browse through their collection of board games, since they also carry board games that are a bit different from the more famous Monopoly and Game of Life. I enjoy looking through expansions of Dominion and the Settlers of Catan, as a possible birthday gift for a board game newbie. Aside from all the hobby items, they also have a mini frozen yogurt stand inside the actual store, so you can watch your kids play with the LEGOs while the adults enjoy a few scoops. This is a definite stop-over for me during any walk along High Street.

One of the shops in Bonifacio High Street that I always visit even if I'm not going to buy anything…read moreis Hobbes & Landes. There's just so much to see inside! Almost half of the store is dedicated to Lego sets, which is seeing a bit of resurgence nowadays. They've got the coveted Simpsons model house as well as plenty of Star Wars themed ones. The other side of the store is where I usually hang around. This is where you'll see rows upon rows of board games for sale. They're more expensive than other board game places, but there always comes a point where they're the only store which has a particular game in stock so you're forced to buy it. If the weather is particularly hot or you're just waiting for your kid to finish looking around, you can go to the back of the store and have some frozen yogurt. Hobbes & Landes is definitely the best place for kids and the kids at heart.

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!

With board games making comeback, are you wondering where you can buy your own? First stop for most…read moretabletop gamers would be Neutral Grounds. Boardgames, Magic the Gathering and other LCGs (Living Card Games) are readily available, and they sell gaming accessories like dice, protective card sleeves, containers for small game pieces, and figurines (for games like Dungeons and Dragons). Some of the bigger branches (like the one in Centris Walk) have a gaming area too! Their staff are pretty familiar with most of the games they carry, so you can ask them about expansions and other editions of the game. If the game you want isn't available, you can leave your contact number with them, make a reservation, and they'll inform you when they get a copy. No down payment needed but if they message you be sure to confirm your reservation right away, or they might have to sell the game to a ready buyer!

Neutral Grounds has existed way before the tabletop gaming boom in recent times, so they could…read moreprobably have a big fat "Uh yeah, we were here first" sign hanging over their shops. Though I've always known them more as a place for Magic The Gathering cards and Warhammer models and their corresponding supplies: card boxes and sleeves, or paint sets and dice, I've seen them gain a little more steam with all the gaming places that have popped up all over the metro. I've noticed that the stuff they sell are a tad more expensive than you would in the gaming places, but not by much. And since Neutral Grounds is almost everywhere, getting a great game from them would probably be easier as well. This branch is particularly chock full of games that would probably be harder to come by in other branches, since it is in Virra Mall, Greenhills, and come now, how many people actually end up here, at the third floor of Virra Mall, Greenhills?

Anime was a huge part of my childhood. Most of my favorite television shows were anime - Card…read moreCaptor Sakura, Samurai X, Bubblegum Crisis, Flame of Recca, Brain Power and many more. My siblings and I would always rush to the television when we get home from school to watch our favorites. We even memorized the schedules by heart. We were that obsessed! We also learn a bit of Japanese, haha. I remember we would want anime merchandise but there weren't really any stores that only sold anime themed products or you'd have to go to Japan or ask relatives in Japan to buy you some for birthdays or the holidays. The only merch I had were collectible cards and a mouse pad, haha, sad! I'm not a huge anime fan anymore but my younger brother still is and I do appreciate it - sometimes watching some shows and having brother-sister time with my brother. I still find anime merchandise cute and awesome so I'd still buy some products. Comic Alley sells an array of products like hats, bags, jewelry, cards and jackets. The jackets are really cool and I'm not sure if Adventure Time is Japanese (I love that show!) but they have AT merchandise as well!

I sometimes avoid Comic Alley because it gives me painful flashbacks to my weaboo past, a time when…read moreI would devour anything that remotely looks like anime. But also because I know that I'll probably end up buying more merchandise than I can afford. Nostalgia can be a dangerous thing, and for someone who grew up in the 90s, anime was a very big part of my life. Almost everyone I knew who was my age has watched anime and has been a fan of something at one point. Flame of Recca, Cardcaptor Salura, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Gundam Seed, Inuyasha, Naruto...I could go on, but I won't. Comic Alley was where I bought my first ever anime DVD (obviously I hadn't known I could torrent for free yet), and it was Tantei Gakuen Q, and I remember being so happy about it that I couldn't find it in me to be disappointed when there were no English subtitles. Now the selections at Comic Alley have grown smaller, but it remains a place where I can unlock the memories of my childhood.