I was flipping through TV channels some nights ago when I caught a bit of Spartacus: Blood and Sand on HBO (It's on HBO here in the Philippines). It got me wondering... Why do all shows about ancient Rome (and even the new series The Borgias, set in Italy) utilize British accents? It's kind of silly, right? Shouldn't they be speaking with Italian accents? :)

Metro Comic Con 2011 starts this Saturday, May 7 at the Megatrade Hall 2 at SM Megamall. It will run until Sunday, May 8. So if you're looking for something different to do this Mother's Day, this is the place to be! :)

Artist David Lloyd (V for Vendetta, among other things) will be one of the guests so don't miss out on meeting him and all the other comics creators like Tony DeZuniga, Philip Tan and a lot more at the con.

Saturday is also Free Comic Book Day, and Comic Odyssey is the most fervent supporter of this event in the Philippines. So you can also head on over to their branch in Robinson's Galleria to get free comics. I've heard that the first 600 in line will get as much as 50 free comics, so get there early, THEN head on over to SM Megamall for the Metro Comic Con! What a sweet day for comics!

Tomorrow will be my second day of teaching kids about comics creation. I'm still a bit nervous, truth be told. The first day wasn't a complete disaster, I just had a hard time having the kids open up and tell me about the stuff they like. They're good kids, albeit a bit shy. They don't even talk to each other. As Charlie Brown would say, "Good grief!"

I could tell that some of them had a hard time grasping the basics of anatomy, since all of them were more into cartoon comic strips and manga than the traditional "realistic" stuff that I do. I'm hoping I haven't bored them too much and that they'll all still be in class tomorrow. He he.

Here's hoping the activity I've got lined up tomorrow will be more to their liking. Also, it will be a group effort, so I'm hoping the interactive nature of the project they'll be doing will break the ice and they'll finally have fun with each other.

Fingers crossed!

The April issue of Previews has the solicitation for Captain Action King Size Special #1, and I am very excited. I never thought I'd see the day when a comic I drew would have a cover by one of my childhood idols, John Byrne.

The stories in this issue were supposed to be Captain Action Season 2 issues 4 and 5, but to give readers more bang for their buck Moonstone collected two issues into one big special issue. Hopefully those of you who'll pick it up will agree it's worth it. :)

A Jam-Packed MRT Moment...

Woman: (Raised voice) Aray ko! Dahan-dahan naman po!
Elderly Man: Masikip eh, maraming nagtutulakan.
Woman: (Raised voice again) Eh bakit naman kasing hindi magdahan-dahan!
Elderly Man: (Now raising his voice too) Eh masikip nga di maiwasan maitulak!
Woman: (Still with raised voice) Kayo pa ang galit kayo na nga nakasakit! Nakakahiya, pumapatol sa babae!
Elderly Man: Mas nakakahiya ka pumapatol ka sa matanda!

And thus the exchange ended.

Summer Komikon will be on April 16 2011, Saturday at the Bayanihan Center, Pioneer Street, Pasig City. It's at the Unliab compound if you're familiar with that. If not, coming from EDSA, you can get off at Boni Avenue then take a tricycle from Robinsons Forum. At the tricycle stop just walk a few steps further and you're there. More info at this link.


Also, the Bayan Knights will be having IndieXclusives at the Komikon. Each Bayan Knights team will have their own one-shot issue, so check those out. You canc heck out the titles going on sale at this link.

See you there!

Comics Creation at Discovery Summer Camp

Channel your creativity and sharpen your eye for detail. Find out how fun it is to draw just like in comic books. Learn from one of the country’s top comics illustrator. The lessons will cover basic anatomy, perspective and composition, storytelling and a lot more.

• Instructor: Reno Maniquis
• Age group: 11 -14 years old
• Course length: Five, two-hour sessions
• Schedule: Fridays, April 15- May 20, 2011
• Fee: P5,500 + book donation, fee is inclusive of Discovery Kit and basic materials

Graduation exhibit at The Podium, May 23 to 29, 2011. Graduation rites at The Podium, May 29, 2011. For inquiries, please call Michelle Lamar and Rowena Gulle at (63 2) 719.8888 / 719.6910 or email us at marketing@discovery.com.ph

2011 will bring Captain Barbell to the TV screen for the second time on GMA. I was tasked to do the costume design once more, and also some artwork for merchandising and stuff like that. Here's the model sheet I did...


I was a bit reluctant to do a re-design, since the previous one was fairly recent. But the Ravelos wanted a sleeker look this time around, and this became the final design (after going through several ones). So, which one do any of you prefer, this one or the one that came before?

I'll b posting more artwork at my capsulezone website one of these days.

And if you like, you can also watch the trailer for the TV series below...

I've just been interviewed over at the Comic Book Catacombs. It's all about my work for the upcoming Captain Action Winter Special slated for release this January. Click here to read the entire thing.

Thanks to Chuck Wells!

The guys of Sketch Pad Studios (which includes me) will be at National Book Store Power Plant Mall on December 5, 2010 starting at 2pm. Hope you guys drop by!

Oh, and there's this obscure comics artist named Leinil Yu who's gonna be there too. :)