Happy Birthday to my Unica Hija... JADE!!!!

I made a pin-up for Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo's Exhibit 13 featuring various artists' take on their characters from TRESE. You can check it out (and a ton of great art) at the link below:

EXHIBIT 13

Another KOMIKON has come and gone... and it was a blast! It was a lot roomier this time around, the tables weren't packed so close to each other. I don't know if it's because there were less exhibitors or not.

From the time the doors opened until about lunchtime, there weren't that many people. Bong, Dodo and I were contemplating if it was a bad sign. But after 1pm, people started coming, and soon after the place was packed! I think it's safe to say that more people went this year than the last.

Sales (komiks-wise) were also better this time around. Maybe it's due to the fact that we were selling more titles than last year. Our bestseller, of course, was the MARVELOUS KOMIKS preview, followed by ASKALS. I sold more MASKARADO titles this time around, but I guess that was due to the discounted price. The Ravelos also sold some merchandising stuff like pins and shirts.

Our MARS RAVELO Character displays got a good reaction from the crowd, most of them asking when the titles are coming out. Hopefully next year! (Pressure, Dodo!) I guess we've fulfilled the purpose of joining the Komikon, and that's to get people excited about these classic characters again. I was amused by one person who asked why we copied the Captain Barbell costume used by GMA 7. We quickly pointed out that we were the original designers and not the other way around.

We were joking around that maybe we should do manga to attract young girls, since most people asking around our booth were mostly guys in their 30s. hehe.

One guy with his girlfriend was looking at the MASKARADO komiks I had on display,and asked if this was the same Maskarado that was published in Tempo before. It always makes me happy taht some people still remember Maskarado from his original incarnation.

Komiks creators who came to visit us were Gerry Alanguilan, Edgar Tadeo, Jonas Diego, Jac Ting Lim, Randy Valiente, Budjette Tan, Andrew Drilon, KC Cordero, Tobie Abad, Ner Pedrina, Gilbert Monsanto and so many others that it would be difficult for me to name them all. Komiks historian Orvy Jundis also dropped by for a bit. Thanks for the support, guys! Special thanks also go to Budjette for giving me free copies of TRESE and to KC for giving me a complimentary copy of FILIPINO KOMIKS. And to Tobie Abad, too, who gave me a CD copy of his DILIMAN. Much appreciated, guys!

As always, Ka-jo Baldisimo never ceases to amaze me. I was milling around their table and got to see him do a TRESE sketch with a brush pen. It was awesome, not to mention fast!

I got to do some sketches of my own, I did around five, I think. Two Maskarados and three Captain Barbells. Sketching on the spot is always difficult for me to do. Nakaka-conscious. I'm sorry if the sketches turned out scratchy, guys! Bong also did some sketches, too.

Another young creator who has impressed me is Josel Nicolas. Watch out for more things from this young man.

I don't have any pics, because I'm a bit lazy when it comes to taking photos. You can mill around the 'net for photos taken by other people, though.

All in all, a satisfying experience. Hopefully, next year will continue the trend set by the first two KOMIKONs.

Ugaliing magbasa ng Pinoy Komiks!

Just testing to see if I can upload videos here on blogger...

Here's a MASKARADO cartoon I tinkered with. I did this waaaayy back in 2001, I think. I was into BATMAN BEYOND at that time, so I did this short in that style. Every single frame of animation here was done on Photoshop and edited on iMovie.

An article on Philippine Komiks by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean is now up at NEWSARAMA. They emailed me about it some time ago, but alas I didn't open my yahoo mail until recently and didn't get to reply to their questions about Philippine komiks. My apologies, Mr. Ong Pang Kean. But I know Gerry, Budjette and the other komikeros were more than able to give Newsarama their money's worth (figuratively speaking). Link to part 1 of the article below...

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

And for the KOMIKON tomorrow, here's a look at the cover of the preview comic...



Bili kayo!

Just a quick announcement for today. At the KOMIKON this Saturday, all MASKARADO Komiks will be 50% OFF. Yep. That's right, same MASKARADO goodness for less!



I'll be manning the MARS RAVELO booth with Bong Leal, Dodo Dayao, newcomer Cheyenne Quintana and, of course, the Ravelos. Bong and Dodo's ASKALS will also be available, and hopefully some other good stuff.

Budjette e-mailed and texted several local talents to participate in a special TRESE Friday the 13th (that's tomorrow). I wanted to do something, but I'm kinda rushing something for the KOMIKON, on top of my busy schedule at work.

I owe you a pin-up, Budj.

So, just to show you guys something that will hopefully come out at the KOMIKON, here's a little sneak peek...



Heck, it's Thursday, so it must be...



Jonas Diego
Edgar Tadeo
Ariel Atienza
Jerald Dorado

KOMIKON 2006



UP Bahay ng Alumni. October 21, 2006, Saturday. 10am to 8pm.

Everybody else is blogging about typhoon Milenyo this fine Monday morning, so I guess I'll shut up about it. Though I did spend Thursday clearing the gutters in our compound with the neighbors to prevent the flood waters from coming into the house. No such luck though, a small amount still managed to seep in the front door.

Okay, shutting up about it now.

Instead I give you... BLOG FILLER #8!

The Husband Store!

A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates. You may visit the store ONLY ONCE !

There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights. There is, however, a catch... you may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building! So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.

On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men have jobs and love the Lord.

The second floor sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids.

The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely good looking.

"Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead good looking and help with the housework.

"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!"

Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 4,363,012th to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.

Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!