Immediate Post Komikon Update

Immediate Post Komikon Update

Whew! Just got back from the Komikon. That's me and veteran Filipino comics illustrator Jess Jodloman who visited the Komikero booth. I'm just dropping this note to say what a terrific time everybody at Komikero Publishing had, and I have to say this is far FAR better than last year's Komikon. There are LOTs more people, lots more new Philippine komiks seeing publication, lots more pros in attendance. I gotta say, I really enjoyed myself, and I came away carrying really good feelings about comics, and being a creator of comics. It's such a great job to have, and such a great community to be part of.

Right now, I just want to collapse in bed after all the drama of finishing Elmer #2 and preparing for the con(the printer delivered a few minutes before the Komikon doors opened). I'll be posting a far FAR longer article specially for Newsarama on what went on, but I'm afraid it won't be as comprehensive as I would have wanted. I was tied to my table for most of the time signing, sketching and meeting people, and I didn't have much chance to go around.

But I think I got some really OK photos, videos, for an extra long video blog.

(Thanks to Erwin Cruz for the photo!)

Komiks on Newsarama!

CELEBRATING 120 YEARS OF KOMIKS FROM THE PHILIPPINES I: THE HISTORY OF KOMIKS

Newsarama's Benjamin Ong Pang Kean has begun a series of articles on Philippine comics. Click the link above for the link or go here. For those who've yet to find out, Newsarama is one of the biggest comics news sites on the Internet. Newsarama has been described as:

"Today the most reputable and popular publication of any kind covering the comic book industry and one of the most successful completely independently owned and operated entertainment websites on the Internet, ...Newsarama.com has become a regular stop for nearly 2 million unique visitors every month, is read daily around the world, and hosts the largest comic book reader message board community on the Internet. As comic book fans have come to know, if you want to know what’s going on in comics, you’ve got to read Newsarama. "

In the article, Benjamin interviews not only me but a lot of Filipinos working in comics today including Whilce Portacio, Gilbert Monsanto, Budjette Tan, Carlo Pagulayan, Francis Manapul, Hai Ibardolaza, Joel Chua and many more.

I'll be linking more articles here as they come in.

Penultimate Komikon 2006 Post

Komikon 2006 is just a day or so away! For those who haven't heard of what Komikon is, it's the annual Philippine Comics Convention, now on it's second year, and it's held at the UP Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. This year it's on October 21, doors open at 10am. I previously announced closing at 6:00 pm, but in fact, it's 8:00 pm.

The convention is unlike other professional conventions in the country. It is not simply a gathering of comics professionals and publishers, but a day of interaction between fans and those professionals and publishers who create those comics.

The con venue is arranged so that pros, publishers and sponsors can rent tables and booths to sell and promote their comics, and interact with their readers. Below is a plan of the venue:



Here's an updated rundown of the pros that will attend, if they have a booth or not, and if they have something to launch, promote, sell, etc.

Well, Komikero Publishing will of course be launching ELMER #2 at the con, the very first venue that it will be available at. In fact, I managed to finish putting together the issue at the very last minute so much so that the printer will be delivering the comic books on the day of the con itself. I have no definite time, but they did promise around lunchtime. So if you are interested in getting a copy, drop by sometime after lunch.

I will also be selling Original Comics Art of those comics I inked (from Superman: Birthright, Batman: Danger Girl, X-Force, New X-Men etc) at special Philippine prices.

Unfortunately, I think Fudge Magazine won't be having a booth this year. I did offer to carry issues of the latest issue so I can have Humanis Rex to promote and sell as well.

Jonas Diego has announced the finalists to his Lead Slingers contest at his site. He also has a video of his company (IAS) and their preparations.



Henry Anima II and his group will launch Paper Clip Komics. Photos at their blog.

Gilbert Monsanto will launch his own imprint Sacred Mountain with TWO comic books right off the bat entitled Tropa and Rambol Komiks!

KC Cordero and Ner Pedrina's Filipino Komiks will be launching their first issue and will include industry heavyweights like Karl Comendador, Jose Mari Lee, Randy Valiente, Romeo Tanghal, Nar Castro and many more!

Budjette Tan and Ka-Jo Baldisimo will be there to promote their terrific comic book TRESE.

Reno Maniquis will be manning the Mars Ravelo booth along with Askals' Bong Leal and Dodo Dayao. Reno will be selling sets of his Maskarado at 50% discount!

I'm assuming Visprint will be having a booth since three of their major talents will be on hand at the same booth: David Hontiveros, Manix Abrera and Carlo Vergara (ZsaZsa Zaturnnah).

Many comics professions, indie comics creators, and newspaper cartoonists will most likely be milling around the venue even without a booth. Those that I definintely know are coming include:

Leinil Francis Yu
Carlo Pagulayan
Wilson Tortosa
Jeff Huet
Edgar Tadeo
Karl Comendador
Orvy Jundis
Taga-Ilog
Ryan Orosco
Joanah Tinio
Ariel Atienza
Syeri Baet
Jon Zamar
Lyndon Gregorio
Nar Castro
Randy Valiente

And really, a lot more than I can possibly mention. I expect I'll be adding more names there right up to the very last minute. There's bound to be a lot of pros who will show up unannounced just to mingle and see what's up with komiks today.

I will be doing a Komikon report for Newsarama, so expect me to just go around taking pictures, videos and just generally making a pest of myself.

Comics Reporter Interview

I have an interview with Tom Spurgeon of The Comics Reporter. Click Here. This interview is a big deal personally for me because Tom is one of the toughest critics in comics and I knew for sure that when I sent him ELMER, I would get an honest, no holds barred, brutal truth about my work. I was bracing for what he would say, and I would take it, and learn from it. I never expected that he would go so far as to do an interview with me. I just can't believe it.

Tom Spurgeon is a writer and editor living in Silver City, New Mexico.

Tom has written about comic strips, comic books and editorial cartons for various publications since 1982. He worked for five years 1994-1999 as Managing Editor and then Executive Editor of the lauded and controversial industry trade magazine The Comics Journal. The magazine won several industry awards under his stewardship. He is a former contributing writer at The Stranger and for the late satirical web 'zine Suck.com. As an editor, Tom helped assemble volumes in The Collected Pogo series and books such as Bob Levin's The Pirates and the Mouse. As a writer, Tom co-wrote with Jordan Raphael the historical profile Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book and he was privileged to write for the King Features Syndicate strip Wildwood from 1999 to 2002. (bio from The Comics Reporter site)

Thanks Tom! This is something I deeply appreciate.

Komikon Updates

Komikon, Elmer, Humanis Rex Updates


One week to go to Komikon! And I'm *still* drawing Elmer #2! It's going to be tight, but I think I'll come out with the new issue right on the very day of the con. I'm really happy with how the issue is turning out so far, and I can't wait to finish it and let it go.

Unfortunately, this also means there won't be an installment of Humanis Rex! for Fudge Magazine's November issue, and for this I wholeheartedly apologize to the readers, and to my editors. However, right after finishing Elmer #2, I'll do several installments of Humanis Rex all at once so I won't ever have to skip an installment again.

Two Weeks To Komikon 2006!

Two weeks to go to Komikon 2006! And I'm *still* drawing Elmer #2! I only have a week left to finish drawing it before I have to turn it over to the printers. So this week will be... well... interesting to say the least.

Even though I know the printer's deadline is bearing down on me, I can't help but pick the most difficult of shots to draw, and the ones requiring the most detail. I can't *not* do it because I believe it helps tell the story. Ultimately for me, it's all about telling the story the best way I can. I won't say right now exactly how many pages I have left to draw, because I myself don't know.

I'll talk about the process of doing Elmer later on when I've actually finished it.

I've done Elmer and Philippine Comics interviews with two major Internet comics news/commentary news sites. One of them is scheduled to appear right before Komikon. I'll provide a link whenever any of these come out. Thanks to Tom and Benjamin! I really appreciate it!

Forbidden Planet has once again ordered huge amounts of not only Elmer #1, but even more copies of #2! I can't disappoint them now!

Back to work!

Comic Odyssey Opening/Comic Book Signing

Comic Odyssey Opening/Comic Book Signing
Komikero Video Blog #13
It was a reunion of sorts at the signing yesterday. I haven't been together with my Superman Birthright team of Leinil Yu and Edgar Tadeo in a while. We're all working on many different things. Leinil is pencilling New Avengers, Ed is coloring The Innocents (and inking something else), and I'm well, writing and drawing CHICKENS. Damn it, what a job!


Me, Leinil and Ed
Other guys who came were Carlo Pagulayan and Jeff Huet, the team working on Incredible Hulk at the moment, and Wilson Tortosa who.... I forgot what he was currently working on, but he did work on the Tomb Raider comics as well as Battle of the Planets.

Trese's Budjette Tan and Mango Jam's Karen Kunawicz came by to visit as well, along with Westside's Ariel Atienza, 50 Peso Ninja's Lico Reloj and I'm sure a lot of other people came, but I can't remember because it was quite crowd and we were all proccupied signing and sketching.

About sketching at these events, apologies to all those who asked for sketches, but like I've already rather embarassingly admitted to some of you (and have proven), I'm a bad sketcher. I'm not really a fast drawer so it takes me a long time just to draw. And don't ask me to draw a woman because that would just give me panic attacks. I have difficulty drawing that even when I'm home.

But in case you're hell bent on asking a sketch of something say, Wolverine in his original costume from 1975, well, bring reference will you? Even though we do work in comics, we don't have these things memorized. Someone asked me to do a Robin and Batman yesterday, but I tell you, I don't even remember what they look like exactly enough for me to draw them accurately. At the Komikon, if you're going to ask for a sketch, I'll already apologize in advance for not doing it very well.

However, ask me to sketch a chicken, well, I can do THAT. I'd be HAPPY to do that. I draw nothing but chickens right now. My head is FILLED with chickens. That's my entire world. I'd have no problem drawing chickens, and I'll even THANK YOU if you asked me to draw it. I did several Jake sketches yesterday and it was great fun!

Komikon 2006: The 2nd Philippine Comics Convention

It's Komikon time again! For those of you who missed the first one last year, you can find pictures of it here and here. I'll be once again bringing my camera to cover the event through pictures, video and commentary. Last year was well attended and an enjoyable atmosphere permeated all throughout, inspite of the heat. The UP Diliman venue is good, but it might be inaccessible to many, and a venue with air conditioning might be a better idea.

For any official info about the con, check out their official blog here. Here is the official poster of the event:



Once again, I'll be taking a booth, this time for "Komikero Publishing". Last year I really had nothing to sell, simply promoting Philippine Komiks Art. This time, I'll be promoting and selling ELMER, and specially launching ELMER #2! Here's a sneak preview!



You can also check out my continuing full color sci-fi series HUMANIS REX! from Fudge Magazine, which I'm sure they'll be selling at their own booth.

Here's a run down of other stuff my pals have going on at the Komikon:

My pal Jonas Diego, webcomiker and now an executive boss at his own storyboarding company IAS, and co-presentor at the con, is conducting an art contest called Lead Slingers Challenge!, and the ultimate prize is 10, 000 bucks and a two week contract job at his office. If you are a good artist, this is the office to work for, guys. I can vouch that his office is the most fun and coolest office to work for. Just check out some of the videos that his nutty crew are doing.



Lead Slinger Challenge Contest Rules Here.

Komikero Henry Anima II will be launching Paperclip Komics with the release of a preview of his upcoming comics Mutya and the Book Of Answers.





Henry is slowly becoming one really good artist. I thought his earlier comic book, Children of the Dam was really good. I can't wait to read this one.

Gilbert Monsanto will be launching his own comic book publishing company called Sacred Mountain with the release of TROPA.





Gilbert is a kumpare of mine, and I'm really glad he's finally dipping his toes into the world of self publishing. And he's taking along other guys with him like Lui Antonio, Kriss Sison, Jim Jimenez and Marvin Maglaque.

Budjette Tan and artist Ka-jo Baldisimo will be around to promote their comic book Trese, now on it's sixth issue!



If you haven't read Trese yet, you're missing out on one of the most remarkable local comic books published in recent years. Budjette has finally tapped into something that gushes out these excellently and imaginatively written stories.

Budjette has uploaded a lot of complete stories online which you can check out here.

Rising superstar Carlo Vergara, creator of the wildly popular Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, will be having a booth that he will share with writer David Hontiveros and Kikomachine's Manix Abrera.

The Mars Ravelo Family, along with writer-artist Reno Maniquis (Maskarado) and dynamic duo Dodo Dayao and Bong Leal (Askals) will be setting up a minor sponsors booth.

Risingstar Printing Enterprise is coming out with Filipino Komiks featuring the talents of many young and veteran comics creators including Jose Mari Lee, Karl Comendador, Rico Rival, Nar Castro, Romeo Tanghal, Gilbert Monsanto, Dante Barreno, Randy Valiente and more!



I'll be announcing more activities as the event nears.

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October 7 Signing at Comics Odyssey, Robinson's Galleria

Just a reminder for those who are interested, Comics Odyssey will be opening a new branch in Robinson's Galleria, Ortigas this October 7 at 12noon-3pm. In attendance will be Leinil Francis Yu, Wilson Tortosa, Carlo Pagulayan, Jeff Huet, Edgar Tadeo and myself to help open the branch and sign stuff. See you there!

See you There!

Typhoon Milenyo

Typhoon "Milenyo"
September 28-30, 2006
San Pablo City

A few hours after my last post, power got knocked out when a particularly strong typhoon hit our town directly (as well as many other heavily populated areas including Manila). "Milenyo" as it is named locally, hit San Pablo City around 8 in the morning, and hung around uprooting trees, toppling and breaking electric posts, peeling off rooftops, flooding streets, and generally making a huge mess for the next three hours. I took some footage of the early rains the night before here.

On the day itself, I managed to take some footage of the effects of the Typhoon, as well as photos of the devastation afterwards.



The power was knocked out for several days. Which wasn't too bad because it was a great opportunity to just hunker down and draw ELMER. And I managed to do much more work because of it! I took advantage of the daylight on the porch during the day, and worked by candlelight at night. We had plenty of food and water stored so those things never became a problem.

We were lucky, considering what happened in many other places. As of this writing, 76 people are confirmed dead, and hundreds of homes have been demolished.

Comics inker and colorist Edgar Tadeo (Wolverine, Silver Surfer, Iron Man) also made a video from his perspective in Manila:

Comics Odyssey Opening/Signing/ELMER/Crescent Shield

Comics Odyssey Opening
Comic Book Signing
October 7, 2006
12-3pm
3rd Level, Expansion Mall
Robinson's Galleria, Ortigas

I know I said I'll be going away for a while, but I just had to post this announcement about this upcoming event I'll be in.

Comics Odyssey will be opening a new branch in Robinson's Galleria in Ortigas on October 7, Saturday, and several Filipino comic book artists will be making an in-store appearance to help launch the store and do a signing!

The following artists have confirmed their attendance:

Leinil Francis Yu (New Avengers, Ultimate Wolverine, Superman Birthright)
Gerry Alanguilan (Superman Birthright, Wasted, Elmer, Humanis Rex!)
Edgar Tadeo (Silver Surfer, Wolverine)
Wilson Tortosa (Tomb Raider, Battle of the Planets)
Carlo Pagulayan (Hulk, Fantastic Four)
Jeff Huet (Hulk, Fantastic Four)

See you all there! Unfortunately, Elmer #2 won't be ready yet by this time, but if you haven't checked out my newest comic book yet, the store will certainly be carrying copies of #1.

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Crescent Shield has finally released the cover that I did for their debut album. Check it out here.

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Work continues on Elmer #2. It's tight, but I really think I'm gonna make it for Oct. 21. This issue is probably the most emotionally draining to do so far, but I can't wait to finish it and share it with everybody. I thought there would be little opportunity to incorporate some of the art sent to me, but it turns out I will be able to include a lot.

Some of the initial reaction to my announcement of this project back in March was met with some skepticism. It's understandable because a story about chickens couldn't be anything but comedic and it's assumed perhaps I'm once again dicking around like I've done with Crest Hut. Make no mistake, dicking around is fun. I love doing Crest Hut and I'll continue to do them later on after I've gotten Elmer out of my system.

Inspite of the chickens, I'm approaching the material as seriously as I can. I want to see how far I can go with a ridiculous concept and treat it as seriously as possible. It opens up a lot of interesting storytelling possibilities.