No Komikon aftermath post for me! Yep, I don't have anything to say about the Komikon that hasn't been said anywhere else. I'd just like to say that I enjoyed it the third time around, got some really nice indie reading materials (Heubert Khan Michael's UNSTOPPABLE on the top of that list), got to meet some people I've waited a long time to meet (I'm looking at you, Gio!) and got some nice complimentary stuff (thanks, Gerry, for ELMER #3, and Ed, for KADILIMAN, to mention a few). Thank you, too, to Budjette Tan and the Alamat guys (and gals) and to my bro for sticking around to help me at my table.

Sorry if my thoughts are a bit of a jumble. I just had a two-day bout with the flu and I'm not sure if I'm at 100% yet. I think I'll take a nap now.

GAH! I've been so busy lately that KOMIKON 2007 has closed in on me, and I just finished everything I needed to do for that event in the nick of time (I hope).

KOMIKON will be held at the UP Bahay ng Alumni, this Saturday, November 17, 2007. I think the doors will be open by 10:00am.

So... let me pimp a couple of things that will be available from my end...



The fifth issue of TABLOID KOMIKS will be available. It should have been available since the start of this year (and if you look closely at the image above, it clearly states January 2007), but I haven't had the time or means to distribute it properly. Oh, and sadly, it won't be free anymore. But I hope you guys still buy it, since it's reasonably priced at PhP10.00. It's got a great story by Josel Nicolas, illustrated by Ian Iranda (my brother, that's just his pen name, in case you were wondering about the last name). Also, a Maskarado short story by partners-in-crime Dodo Dayao and Bong Leal, and a thought-provoking piece by Randy Valiente.



Also, MASKARADO: VISIONS, the portfolio/comic celebrating 15 years of Maskarado will also be available. The cover above was done by Kajo Baldisimo. It's jam-packed with art by Leinil Yu, Hal Santiago, Gerry Alanguilan, Gilbert Monsanto, Edgar Tadeo, Dell Barras and a whole lot more! Plus a 7-page story by Gio Paredes and myself, and a short prose piece written by Budjette Tan. All for the measly price of PhP30.00! What a bargain, eh?

I'll be sharing a table with Alamat Comics. Stop by and say hi to us! :)

MY DESKTOP(S)

Got tagged by Ed Tadeo, so I have to show what my desktop screen looks like. I use two computers, one at home and one at the office, so I guess I'll show them both here.



My office desktop has a cool Maskarado piece drawn by none other than Leinil Yu himself! It's a bit messy with all the folder icons, since I keep all ongoing jobs on my desktop. That way, it'll be easier for me to find them.



My home desktop is much more kid-friendly, since Jade uses the computer more than I do!

Rules:
1.Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.

2.Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of Icons, things like that.

3.Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

And now I tag... Dodo, Ariel, Annie, Gio and Bong.

OPTIMUS PRIME QUICK SKETCH...



Well, maybe not so quick. My nephew asked me to draw Optimus Prime for him, and I was suggesting he let me draw the cartoon version instead (hehe). But of course, the young 'uns today don't really know the 80s version, so I was stuck with drawing the live-action movie version. All those (not-so-detailed) details took me around 45 minutes to draw. Just think if you had to draw this in a comic book. It would be PUNISHING.

Anyway, I'm one of the few people who didn't see the movie when it came out in theaters. I just bought the DVD, so I hope I can get around to watching it soon.

I've recently opened my online store at cafepress.com. I'm not expecting anyone to buy anything from it, but it was free, so what the heck. And if I get lucky enough that someone actually buys any of the merchandise I'm selling. then I thank you in advance.




You can see the link at the sidebar on the right, or you can click here.

I don't usually show my pencil work, since I'm really not much of a tight penciller. I have always inked my own work, and it was what I was trained to do since I started working in comics two decades ago. Most of the time when I show work samples, they're fully inked.

But I'll make an exception this time. It's a bit of a departure for me, but here are shots of a page I made for a short story from UK-based writer Patrick Tkaczynski.



Whenever I do rough pencils, I usually have a good idea of how I'm going to ink it. Of course, there will be some tweaking from pencils to inks, like the expression on the shop owner's face on panel 3, which I changed from being annoyed to being dismayed. And on panel 2, I eliminated most of the shadows on the woman exiting the store, to keep her farther in the background.

Anyway, I hope you've liked this little insight on my work process.

New Mars Ravelo T-shirt designs...


Classic costumes


Modern versions

They'll be available soon from Branded shirts!

MODERN COMICS MASTER MIKE WIERINGO PASSES AWAY



When I opened Newsarama's website today, I had quite a shock. Mike Wieringo has passed away due apparently to a heart attack. I was dumbfounded and a little choked up. I visit his website everyday, read his daily blog and download the d(almost) daily sketches that he puts up. I didn't know him personally, but because I was following his blog I felt like I had gotten to know him a little bit.

He came off as a very humble, generous and life-loving kind of guy. He was a vegetarian, and he went to the gym regularly. So it really is a shock that he died quite early at the age of 44. I remember him blogging about some back problems he once had, but that's the only health-related problem that he blogged about.

Reading some of his peers' reactions, he was very loved by the comic book community at large. Both by his fellow professionals and fans.

I'll miss reading his blog, and I'll miss looking at his art. Thanks, Mr. Wieringo.

Read more here and here.

You can also check out this great book about him, available from twomorrows.com.

The biggest event in Philippine Komiks is here once again! Like it says in the poster, it will be on November 17, 2007, at the UP BAHAY NG ALUMNI, UP Diliman. I'll be sharing a table with Alamat Comics' Budjette Tan, and maybe a few other creators as well. See you there!

Just got this email from Mr. Boboy Maniquis. Very funny. :)

Top 10 Reasons Why There Couldn't Be a Filipino-American US President

10. The White House is not big enough for in-laws and extendedn relatives.

9. There are not enough parking spaces at the White House for 2 Honda Civics, 2 Toyota Land Cruisers, 3 Toyota Corollas, a Mercedes Benz, a BMW (Big Mean Wife), and an MPV (My Pinoy Van).

8. Dignitaries generallyare intimidated by eating with their fingers at State dinners.

7. There are too many dining rooms in the White House - where will they put the picture of the Last Supper?

6. The White House walls are not big enough to hold a pair of giant wooden spoon and fork.

5. Secret Service staff won't respond to "psst...psst"

4. Secret Service staff will not be comfortable driving the presidential car with a Holy Rosary hanging on the rear view mirror or the statue of the Santo Nino on the dashboard.

3. No budget allocation to purchase a karaoke machine for every room in the White House.

2. State dinners do not allow "Take Home".

AND THE NUMBER 1 REASON WHY THERE COULDN'T BE A FILIPINO-AMERICAN US PRESIDENT IS...

1. Air Force One does not allow overweight Balikbayan boxes!