Museum Updates



Uploaded is Rudy Florese's profile with lots of artwork and a biography written by his daughter and my wife Ilyn. There are scans of original artwork from "Mga Kwento Ni Kengkoy" and Tarzan, as well as scans of promotional ads and comic book pages. Whenever possible, with regards to original art pages, I tried to include the cover of the comic book from which the art came from as well as a scan of how the artwork looks like in print.

This is also true for the latest featured artwork, this time from Alfredo Alcala from "Halik Sa Apoy".

http://www.komikero.com/museum/

I'll try to update the online museum as often as I can, when work permits. I'm currently working on a couple of scripts which are needed (like right now!), as well as finishing Peace Tree with David Hontiveros and my story for SIGLO: PASSION. There's also the third installment to Johnny Balbona for Mwahaha #3, as well as something for a super top secret project that I'm not yet at liberty to announce (because I still might get kicked out of it. he.he.)

Toycon 2004

Good thing I didn't flake out and skipped the Toycon. I had a great time!


The Komikero booth and the Kenkoy booth. Manning the Komikero booth here are Komikeros Jac and Jerald (and guest Lyra). Manning the Kenkoy booth is komiks art collector/publisher Dennis Villegas.


Komikeros Jonas, Jac and Jerald.


Wilson Tortosa (Tomb Raider artist), Carlo Vergara (writer-artist of Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah) and ME!


The con venue was was literally bursting at the seams with people! Divisoria at Megamall!!


Komikeros Raipo and Mylene having fun at the YoYo show.


Komikero Johnny and Mr. Vincent Kua III (Siklab)


One special event at the con was the launching of the 1934 Kenkoy Album reprint, the very first comic book in the Philippines. The event was graced by the extraordinarily energetic 80+ year old widow of Kenkoy's creator Tony Velasquez. Here she is being interviewed for UNTV, while Dennis Villegas looks on.


At the end of the con, Jonas collapses in a heap, drooling all over the original art.


Tired, me and Ilyn take a snack. Who is that girl in the background? She is actually smiling and posing for the shot and we didn't even see her.


Knowing that we will be staying really late in Manila for this con, me and Ilyn decided to get a room at a hotel near the venue. This is a shot from the 22nd floor the following day. Megamall, the venue of the con is on the extreme right.

Philippine Comics Art Museum



There's not much there yet, and in fact it contains some of what the main Komikero site contains, but the Philippine Comics Art Museum is finally online.

http://www.komikero.com/museum

I'll work on the site whenever I get a break and I'm quite sure that by this time next year, the site will be pretty huge. I've already upgraded the account so the site can handle bigger files and bandwidth.

What's really new with the site is Noly Panaligan's profle which you can find here. This profile will serve as a template/format by which other profiles will follow and adapt. Speaking of Noly, I had the chance to visit the wake yesterday in Sucat. I really wish I could have met him in person. The family seems like such a good bunch of people. I was able to meet other komiks artists like Yong Montano, Angel Martinez, Rico Rival, Abe Ocampo, Noly Zamora, Ben Pabulos and this strangely, but amusingly eccentric painter by the name of Leonardo Cruz.

Toycon is today! See you all later if you're coming. For some strange reason, I don't want to go. I'm not really excited by it. I wish I could just stay home and sleep. Really. The other night I dreamt that I still wasn't finished with Birthright and I still have HALF an issue to finish. I woke up panicky and sweating.

NOLY PANALIGAN

Noly Panaligan, one of the pioneering comic book illustrators in the Philippines, whose work first appeared in the first serialized Philippine comic book Halakhak, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2004 of heart disease.

His body lies at MOLAVE CHAPEL of LA FUNERARIA PAZ in MANILA MEMORIAL PARK in SUCAT, PARANAQUE.

Fellow filipino artist is giving him a tribute this Friday June 25 at 4:00 PM.

***********

After meeting Francisco V. Coching when he was 16, Noly found a hero, who Noly believed to be the best and greatest Filipino Komiks and magazine illustrator, and he eventually became Coching's pupil. Recognizing Noly's talent, Coching gave him a break by recommending him to be one of the artists on Halakhak Komiks in 1946.

Noly eventually created "Payaso", a serial he wrote and drew for Tagalog Klasiks in 1953, which many believe to be Noly's masterpiece. He has worked in American comics for several companies most notably for Warren Publishing where he drew the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.


PAYASO
Tagalog Klasiks #93, January 24, 1953



Sherlock Holmes: The Study in Scarlet
The Rook #13, February 1982
Warren Publishing

Check out Noly Panaligan's cover to Payaso on the Front Page.

Kenkoy Book

Got my copy of "Album ng Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy" ni Tony Velasquez today courtesy of Dennis Villegas. Thanks Dennis for this advanced copy!



Browsing through the book I get the feel for what it must have been like in 1930's Philippines. Spanish terms were still very much in vogue, and the proliferation of English terms and western clothing indicates a growing assimilation of American culture. It's fascinating how all three, Spanish, Filipino and American sensibilities present a picture of what we were like during that time.

While Tony Velasquez would eventually reach maturity as an artist many years later, here we can see an artist struggling and growing in his craft, literally exploding with potential.

The book is like a time capsule that took 70 years before being unearthed to be appreciated by a whole new generation of Filipinos.

TOYCON 2004

The Kenkoy book will be officially launched at the 2004 Toys and Collectibles Convetion this coming Sunday, June 27 at Megamall. The event will be graced by Tony Velasquez's widow Pilar Velasquez.

I will be having a booth there, just beside Dennis Villegas's Philippine Collectibles booth. My booth will be split by the Komikero Artist's Group, as well as my mini exhibit that will formally launch the online version of the Philippine Comics Art Museum. See you all there! I don't know if Leinil is coming, but I'll certainly mention it to him.

The Very First Comic Book In The Philippines
Available Again!


Album Ng Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy
ni Tony Velasquez

Contrary to popular belief, Halakhak Komiks #1 (1946) was not the very first all comics magazine/book that was published in the Philippines. It was "Album Ng Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy" by Tony Velasquez,published in 1934. It was a compilation of Kenkoy strips that previously appeared in Liwayway Magazine.

A pristine original copy of this book recently resurfaced and Filipino komiks collector Dennis Villegas worked immediately to get the book widely available again. Dennis had 1,200 copies printed,95 pages, black and white on thickset quality paper. Each copy will be numbered and will be limited to only 1200 copies.

The book will be officially launched on June 27, 2004 at the 3rd Philippine Toys and Collectibles Convention at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall, Metro Manila. Regular retail price is PHP 130, but for the convetion, there is a special discount price of PHP 100.

After the Toycon, it will be first be made available at Old Manila Bookstore, 4th Floor Megamall, and the Angel Thrift Shop at 17 Marikina Shoe Expo, Araneta Center, Cubao. It will eventually be available at Filbar's, National Bookstore, ComicQuest, and possibly Booksale.

If you wish to order in advance (for Philippine buyers), or just for any info about the book, you can get in touch with Dennis Villegas at his cell: 0921-5312888

Komiks Art Book Update

A gathering of Filipino Komiks artists based in the US was held on May 31, 2004 at the house of Romy Lopez in California. Dell Barras sent us these pics of the gathering. Attendees included Alex Niño, Tec Mañalac, Danny Taverna, Jo Luna, Ernie Guanlao, Danny Tolentino, Madz Sanggalang, J.C. Ponce, Leo Partible and Romy Lopez. Huge thanks to Dell Barras for working on my behalf in getting in touch with these artists for their participation in the comics art book. Thanks sir!




I'm getting in touch with more and more artists word gets around about the site and the projects that are being planned. Some of the artists (and writers) that I've corresponded with recently include Joe Dalde, Ismael Esber, Danny Taverna, Randy Valiente etc.

I knew Ismael and Joe from my days in Terror Komiks where I started out. Ismael sent over a bunch of really amazing artworks, one of which I included here.



Dell also sent over several Nestor Redondo drawings, including the one below which Nestor produced while working for Cailico, a California animation company.



The main page of the site has been updated with a Nestor Redondo artwork from Espesyal Komiks from 1958. Click here for the FRONT PAGE.

Superman: Birthright Collection

Just popping in really quick to share some bit of news:

* Scheduled to arrive in stores in October:

SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT Hardcover
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, and Dave McCaig
$29.95 US/$45.95 CAN, 304 pages

No news yet about the softcover....

Filbars 2

Here's some pictures I took from the Filbar's Anniversary.


Lots of people!


Me, Leinil Yu (Superman: Birthright), Wilson Tortosa (Tom Raider) and some guy in a REAL loud shirt.


Dennis Crisostomo (Emma Frost inker), Wilson, me


Worm's Eye View of AZ!


Me with Camy Francisco and Mark Cerbo

I won't be posting for a while again as I need to go and lock myself up in a room, tie myself to a chair and table as I try and deal with this huge Superman deadline. It's the last issue and it seems kind of sad that this thing is finally going to be over soon. But it's been great, but it's not over yet. See you guys soon.

:)

Filbar's 25th Anniversary

Yesterday's event was a blast! It's nice to see the guys again, and it was staggering to see so many people supporting the event. It goes to show that comics is still alive and well here in the Philippines.

I took it as an opportunity to take some footage for the Komikero Theater and so here it is!

KOMIKERO THEATER
Now Showing!
Filbar's 25th Anniversay!

CLICK HERE!!
(28 secs full color, filbarsthing.mpg, 2.3MB)

Starring!

Leinil Francis Yu, Wilson Tortosa, Dennis Crisostomo, Edgar Tadeo, Gerry Alanguilan and Andrew E!

TORN

Me and my wife Ilyn are HUGE Lord of the Rings fans. Both of the books and the movies. Consequently, we both frequent the most popular Rings fan site on the net, The One Ring dot Net (TORN). And hey, we both got featured in "TORN Fans And Their ROTK DVD!". Check it out! he.he.
http://www.theonering.net/scrapbook/group/1422/view/13189