Updated CAPSULEZONE website!

A happy, safe and peaceful new year to all! It'll be 2009 in a few hours, so I thought I'd update my old CapsuleZone website to make it easier to use (for me, at least. Hehehe). It's now parked at capsulezone.wordpress.com, but the www.capsulezone.tk address still works. I won't be updating the old geocities site anymore (Lord knows I haven't updated it for more than a year), but I won't be shutting it down, either. It can still be accessed, but I'll be putting up all the content there to the new site pretty soon.

Much of my old and current comics work will be available for viewing at the new website, so please do visit from time to time. :)

Sick and twisted: Mayor beats up 56-year old man and 14-year old kid

Read here for the story. Please spread the word so that people like these won't get away with doing acts like this.

GMA 7 and ABS-CBN have also reported on this incident. Click on the respective links...

GMA news

ABS-CBN news

He's a government peace negotiatior. It would be kinda funny if it wasn't so tragic.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY!

I'm greeting everyone this early because I might not get to blog by the time Christmas vacation comes around.

Anyway, I'll just blog away about some random stuff...

First off, my good friend, writer, and editor at Twenty To Six, Anthony Garcia, has put up some pages for what he's been dubbing our "mystery project." So as not to spoil things, I'll just re-post a couple of pages here for everyone's perusal.

Wall of Angels is still available. Buy it. Now.

Next, here are a couple of pages from a short story I did for writer Robert Heske's COLDBLOODED CHILLERS. It's slated to come out in issue no.3, hopefully available this December or early next year. And if you like what you see here, why not purchase issues 1 and 2, too? You won't be disappointed.

There are a bit more stuff lined up for me in the coming year. I have another project with Robert coming up, another gig for GRAPHIC CLASSICS, in which I'll be working on a script by David Hontiveros. It's a bit amusing that it took a US publisher to enable me and Dave to work on something together, considering we've been acquainted with each other for a long time here in the Philippines. And since we're on the subject, why not get a copy of GRAPHIC CLASSICS: AMBROSE BIERCE. Only $10! Or if you're in Manila, contact me and I can sell some of my copies directly to you. :)

And there's another thingie that's not final yet, but I hope it comes to fruition. I'm very excited by this "thingie," so I'm reaaalllly crossing my fingers on this one.

And on a completely unrelated topic, I just saw ZORRO, THE GAY BLADE recently. I caught a glimpse of this movie on TV back when I was a kid, and remembered the gaudy gold outfit that Zorro wore. After so many years, I finally got the chance to watch the full movie. And I have to say, it was hilarious! George Hamilton was perfect for this role.

To sum it up, Don Diego Vega (I'm assuming it's Diego Vega Jr.,) is requested to come home to California. His father died recently, and the town is taken over by his childhood pal Captain Esteban, now a tyrant. A coffin-like box is sent to Diego, and he discovers his dad was the original Zorro. Either he or his twin brother, Ramon, would have to take up the mantle. After his first outing as Zorro, he sprains his ankle. As fate would have it, his twin brother comes home, now calling himself Bunny Wigglesworth. He takes over the mantle of Zorro while Diego recuperates, but uses a whip and instead of the usual black costume he wears different, gaudily-colored variations of the outfit. Hilarity ensues.

But no, not really. The hilarity began even before Bunny came onto the scene. I was surprised to find myself laughing more at the antics of Diego rather than those by Bunny. Plus, rather than really despise Captain Esteban for the evil man that he is, you end up laughing at the poor sap.

Some Zorro fans have decried this movie (including Howard Chaykin in his introduction to the collected Zorro works by Alex Toth), but this Zorro fan simply loved it. As much as I love Tyrone Power and Guy Williams (okay, even Antonio Banderas), there's a place in the Zorro legacy for George Hamilton.

Now, can anyone tell me where I can get a copy of the 1920 film starring Douglas Fairbanks? :)

IT'S KOMIKON TODAY!

As I type this, the 4th KOMIKON Philippines Komiks Convention is currently underway at U.P. Diliman. It's also the first time I won't be able to attend, since we're moving to a brand new house of our own, and everything has to be packed and moved before the month ends. I'm a bit disappointed that I won't be going, but that's okay since I'm also excited about moving into our new home. So to all the guys out there attending the Komikon, enjoy and I'm sure a lot of you will be having a blast! I'll just be browsing some of the other blogs in the next few days to see what happened.

One other stuff I wanted to blog about is to promote the comic book COLD BLOODED CHILLERS, written and published by a very talented gentleman who goes by the name of Robert Heske.  Issues 1 and 2 are now available through IndyPlanet. And I've illustrated a short story in issue 3 (probably out in December). I hope you guys check it out.

You can also read reviews on the book here and here.

Okay, gotta get back to my packing. Plus I'll have two pages to finish for the next issue of Wall of Angels. Big stuff will be happening for Wall of Angels, writer Anthony Garcia has some stuff cooking. I'm really excited for the book, actually. Watch this space for more announcements! I'd be remiss if I didn't put a link to where you can purchase the book. Click here to order online!

From E-Dispatches from the Great White North... a review of Wall of Angels #5...

"Anthony Garcia's writing is superb with great story-telling and excellent dialogue that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The story is equally matched by Reno Maniquis' stunning artwork that not only is a delight to look at but also is top notch in its visual presentation of the story. This is a good, nope, scratch that, great read, folks. It's fun, fast paced, tightly written and everything else you could hope for in a comic."

Read the rest of the review here.

Thanks to Mr. Jonathan A. Gilbert!

IT'S MY TURN!

My turn to be interviewed, that is. JAZMA ONLINE also interviewed me about my work for WALL OF ANGELS, and also some other stuff about me.

Click here to read the interview.

Thanks to Allen Klingelhoets for the interview!

WALL OF ANGELS publisher, writer and editor Anthony Garcia has an interview up at JAZMA ONLINE.



Click here to read the interview.

FOR THOSE WHO CAME IN LATE...



I really, really like the Phantom. I think he's the most durable character in comics, right? He pre-dated Batman and even Superman. Plus, he still has new comic strips going. Tarzan and Flash Gordon only come out in reprints nowadays. He's matched in that aspect only by Prince Valiant, but then again Prince Valiant only comes out in Sunday strips, while the Phantom has Sunday strips and daily strips, all drawn by the wonderful Paul Ryan.

My first Phantom comic book was a reprint from Alemar's bookstore some years back. I wasn't impressed by it then, since the art was not really spectacular (this being the Gold Key or Dell productions, I think). I would see him in the newspapers, but still didn't follow his adventures much, since I don't read the newspaper everyday when I was a kid. All that changed when I started buying the Phantom comic from DC Comics during the 80s. Mark Verheiden's stories really impressed me, As did Luke McDonnell's art (who I didn't like during his JLA tenure, but he was a perfect fit for the Phantom). From that moment on, I was hooked. I was looking for any Phantom comic I could find. I discovered and tracked down the late, great Don Newton Charlton drawn books. I started clipping out the strips drawn by Sy Barry. I even watched the not-so-spectacular movie starring Billy Zane (and bought the DVD).

I guess what I'm trying to do here is actively lobby for an opportunity to draw the Phantom. So if in the most unlikely chance that any of the Phantom's publishers come across this blog, I am ready, willing and able to draw the Phantom for you. Moonstone Books, Egmont, Frew Publications, even King Features Syndicate (on the slight chance that Paul Ryan leaves the strip)... I BEG you to give me a chance. Oh, and Dynamite Entertainment... I hear you're coming up with your own Phantom title. If you don't have an artist yet, I'm your man!

Hey, Billy Zane lobbied for the role, and he got it, right? So maybe it'll work for me, too.

Oh, the pencils above were' done by me. I'll ink it and post the finished art here sometime in the future.

WALL OF ANGELS no. 6 is now available on WOWIO! Click the link below...



It's free to read online, or download a pdf file for only $0.99. As of this writing, it has been viewed 535 times. That's a lot, right? :)

Also, Graphic Classics Volume 6: Ambrose Bierce - 2nd Edition is available. I've worked on an adaptation of "The Damned Thing" with writer Rod Lott. Also features work from fellow Filipino Carlo Vergara.

And check out Cold Blooded Chillers issue 1. I'll be doing a short story for them in the future. Check out their site at www.coldbloodedchillers.com.

Thanks for your support!

UPDATE: Wall of Angels #6 is now available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com! Click here to order online.

I was on my way to work this morning, as usual catching the train to work. In my zeal to board the train before the doors close, I bumped a couple of people.

The woman that I bumped let loose an angry tirade of words, and I responded in kind. The man I bumped jumped to her defense, saying I bumped him, too. Hotheadedness prevailed and I let loose a few angry words at him, too. Then I told them it was over and done with and shut my mouth for the duration of the ride.

As I was standing there during the ride steaming, I had the chance to cool off and think about things. I realized that I was the guilty party here. My conscience wouldn't let it go.

As my stop came closer, I approached both the man and the woman and told them I was sorry. They both nodded in response. As I got off the train, I felt as if a huge burden was lifted off my shoulders.

Why am I sharing this? It's just to let anyone who reads this that it's always better to have a cool head. it's also better to admit when you are wrong. And it's best to say "sorry" when you are.


Image from www.boardgamecapital.com