MCC in UP Diliman

Tickets to Manila Comic Con are now available!

(click image to enlarge)

Born on the 4th of July

Born on the 4th of July, 1932
Jose M. Paredes, Jr.


Happy Birthday Pa.
The best dad in the world.

Ed Tadeos tribute to MJ

I am a Michael Jackson fan ever since I was a small child and I am also a video game fanatic in my early years. One day, my kuya Gerry and ate Gene gave me each a gift for my B-Day. They gave me a brick game console and a tape album "Dangerous" of MJ. They were both surprise when I rush towards them and grab the tape of MJ. Akala nila ay mas gusto ko yung brick game. It was then that they discovered that I am more of a Michael Jackson fanatic than a video game fanatic.

It was very nice of Ed Tadeo to stop working just to make this tribute video. Just like me, Ed is a Michael Jackson fan, it is nice to know that we artist also share the same interest like music. :D

Bakit mabenta ang Kikomachine? Now I know.

My intensions for posting "Bakit ba mabenta ang comic strip na ito." a few days ago is actually to gather information. It is like a feasibility study for me on the things that we should do to make a comics (or any product) to make it a hit. This list can also be applied to any product in business in general. And thank you very much to those that have contributed on answering this question. And here are the list.

1.) Be nice
And yes, Manix Abrera of Kikomachine is a very nice guy. It is not forced, but rather comes out naturally from him. Noong last comic-con nakasalubong ko sya bandang miryeda time. Without any hesitation, he smiled at me and I smiled back. Yung iba kong kasama, ang sabi sa akin ay kinamayan nya kaagad kahit hindi nya naman kilala talaga ito. Ganyan talaga sya ka bait. I think it is a common sense that if you want your product to sell. You should be friendly with your customers. When I was still in elementary, we had a family sari-sari store. Customer are always piling up, I think it is because my father is a very friendly person. He always tell jokes and make people laugh in our store. And I think that it is a key ingredient to have a in any business.

2.) Know your target market
Kaya daw mahaba ang pila sa table ni Manix noong last Komikon ay dahil swak na swak daw ang target market nya dun sa UP area. Dahil ang Kikomachine ay na ka setup sa isang student/collage life setup. Tamang tama ito para sa mga buyers nya sa UP. At ang mga umatend ay karamihan ay estudyante or atlease ay nakaka relate sa story nya. In business, I think knowing your target market is very important.

3.) Do your research
Isa sa nag post dito sa blog ko ang nagsabi na pinag isipan daw talaga ni Manix ang mga script nya kaya patok na patok at kwelang kwela. Nakabasa ako online ng mga gawa nya. And I very much agree, some of my friends even says that they laugh their ass off every time they read his comic strip. Hindi daw ito katulad ng ibang comic strip na parang naubusan daw ng idea or parang pilit daw ang dating. Product research are constanly being done by companies and even individual that wants to better their products.

4.) Good product
Good product is always a key factor for the customer to like it, with a compromising cost(of course). Buyers will always goes for a better quality product. You must constantly upgrade your comics in terms of story, art and the quality of the paper it self. Always try to reinvent your product for the better.

5.) Love what you do
Manix realy love what he does. And it shows naman dahil kwelang kwela ang mga komik strip nya. At ang mahabang pila sa Komikon ang magpapatunay nito. So in comic strip making, you must have a good sense of humor. If you are a serious person that wants to do a funny comics strip, I sudgest that you do a serious story instead like drama, action or suspense. Because you will be much effective there. Loving what you do, or investing something that you like, it is much probable that you will succed there. There is also a saying that "If you love what you do, you will never work a single day of your life."

If I still miss something else, please feel free to add more on the comment area.

GMP Project : Bato

I have penciled and inked this one more than a month ago.
It is only now that I had the time to color it.

Character owned by Gener Pedrina

Albert Customs

Biotrog custom action figure by Randy Albert. This guy really impressed me by doing many custom action figure, both western and Filipino characters. Please do check his site to see more great stuff.

We once meet in the last toycon event. He approached me and introduced him self. He also said that he will be doing a Kalayaan custom action figure soon. I just can't wait do see ito.

Things why Bayan Knights is exciting for me.

In the past few months, we have been struggling on creating and distributing Bayan Knights comic book. And with in those time, we have received many criticism that would depress the most excited comic book creator. I am writing this for the sake of re-energizing the spirit that have bonded us together in the first place. So I will list down the things why BK is still very exciting for me.

1.) My character “Kalayaan” is there. My very own creation, is appearing on another comics other than its own title. To me, this is exciting because I am able to see the beautiful rendition of Kalayaan by none other than Gilbert Monsanto him self. I get the chance to see my character in the hands of a true professional.

2.) Almost 50+ original Pinoy character is there (and counting). To other readers, introducing many character in one book is very confusing. But for me, it is a treat. We have a chance to discover many new and never seen before Pinoy character on a pages of a comics. I always bring a copy of BK issue with me every time. It is fun for me look at each and everyone characters appearing there. I will say to my self, “I wonder who this guy is and what power he has. This one looks cool and that one too.” :D

Without BK, there will be a very slim chances that these characters will see the light of day. If we are going to be realistic. This characters will just fade away into oblivion. And the sad thing is that no one will even know (or care) that they exist and just fade away. Except of their creators of course.

3.)It is a collaboration of many artist. The main goal of Bayan Knights embodies what a country, organization or group should be. And that is helping each other to achieve a single goal. Pulling each and everyone resources to make the group more stable. Because of this group, I was able to meet a very talented colorist like Omi Remalante, Jr. who was very helpful on coloring the covers of Kalayaan. Since I really sucks on coloring, he was a heaven sent to me, through BK.

4.) For me BK is exciting. Because it gives me hope. A shining light in the mids of darkness. A hope that there is still a chance that the ailing local comics industry needs. And hopes someday that it will be revive once again. I also hope that this small comics will inspire future comics creator to do their own titles. A hope that Bayan Knights book will spawn multiple comics title. Each one of those characters that started as an extra in this book will shine and produce its own title.

For others, they may say that I am just dreaming. But without dreams, what is the purpose of doing what we do? What is the purpose of a business man to engage on a investment or business venture, if he does no dream of becoming rich? What is the purpose a righteous man doing the good things that is written in the holy book, if he does not dream of going to heaven? What is the purpose of an athlete to train hard everyday, if he does not dream of winning an Olympic gold?

Sino ba namang independent comics creator dyan ang hindi nangarap na maging main stream?

I hope that anyone who would read this will join us and support us on our little journey. Bayan Knights is very exciting for me, and I hope that it will be exciting for you too.

Commission 001

This is my very first paid commission. I draw it on a 11x17 sized paper. A very big piece compared to the once that I often do. It really gave me a hard time to finished because of the customer wanted a "BULIK" wings. A wings just like the native chicken here in the Philippines. It took me a long time to finish all the stripes on those feathers. But it is worth it since the out come turn out pretty well.

Kalayaan 7 in comic odyssey

I just delivered the latest issue of Kalayaan yesterday at Robinsons Galleria. Kalayaan 7 is now available at

Comic Odyssey
Robinson's Galleria
Robinson's Place Manila
Eastwood

SPUTNIK
Shop 60 at the Cubao Expo on Gen.
Romulo Ave., Cubao, Q.C.

Please support Filipino independent comics.


.

Something to think about

I just came back from my delivery of Kalayaan 7 at Sputnik comic shop in Cubao. And while there, I have also meet up with a Kalayaan comics fan that wanted me to sign his copies. All seven issues of it. And while there, we have talked about many comics stuff. More particularly the comics industry in the Philippines. But one topic that have grab my attention is when he said something about the Bayan Knights comics. It is more like a constructive criticism. He said to me with an out most respect for me (medyo takot sa akin at nahihiya) "Kasi po sir, wag po sana kayong magagalit. Para po kasi masyadong cramped at story ng Bayan Knights. Masyado pong maraming character ang pinapakilala na sabay sabay. Hindi po katulad ng isang title na nabibigyan ng characterization ang isang character". I have completely understood his side. Since I have been told about this by many people already. Pinaliwanag ko na lang sa kanya ang pinaka basic idea for the Bayan Knights. And that is to legitimize and protect those original characters that is floating around the internet where anybody could copy the idea and make it their own. And second is to help the creator and character to jump start his/her own comics. I explained to him (in my perspective) that we are creating a nuclear like explosion, where the Bayan Knights is in its focal point. Ground zero if you will. And from there, multiple individual comics of each character will go on its own way.

Hopefully that the realization of this idea will push through. And that is why we are working very hard to accomplish this. So just follow along the series for now and you will see in the end its total potential.

KOMIKON AWARDS 2009

The first ever KOMIKON AWARDS was held back in 2006 on the 2nd year of the Philippine Annual Komiks Convention. It is with great delight that we bring it back in a bigger and better venue and in celebrating the event’s 5th year. Once again, let us give recognition to those who continue to pour their heart, soul and income to a said “ailing industry” that still thrives to bring entertainment to future generations.
The categories are as follows:

Best Comic
This is for the ultimate… the chosen one. This is for the best among the rest. This means that the comic has achieved its ultimate potential; it’s all that and then some. This covers the mainstream comics, published and sold in the major local bookstores. This is for those that have reached the pinnacle of comic making; it’s up there, head and shoulders above the rest, looking down on us through a magnifying glass. This is for the comic that embodies all the things that made us love comics in the first place. The Best Comic award is divided in four categories:

:bulletblue:Best Graphic Novel / Anthology*
Graphic Novels are defined as novels whose narrative is related through a combination of text and art, often in comic-strip form. On the other hand, an anthology is a collection of stand alone comic book stories collected in one publication by a group or one author. This award aims to honor the best comic book creator or group of creators for their exemplary work.

:bulletblue:Best Serialized Comic*
A comic series published regularly in a magazine, newspaper or comic book publication.

:bulletblue:Best Comic Magazine
This award is given to the best comic book magazine still seeing print be it a single story or made up of several.

:bulletblue:Best Comic Strip Compilation
Here’s a step from the day-to-day print to more lasting impressions. One strip is never enough.

Best Comic Creator/s*
This award recognizes the talents of a solo artist or team of artists in making the best comic there is.

Best Cover*
A cover dictates how people see your comic. Sales also depend on the cover. And here we salute those covers that made us look and look hard. And the effort to it took to conceptualize, pencil, ink, and in some cases, to color the cover. The award shall go to the artist or group of artists that created such masterpiece.

Best Cartoonist*
The award acknowledges the countless comic strip artists whose works are published in newspapers, tabloids and magazines. Some might say that comic strip artists don’t get the props that they deserve. They give us the simple delight of a smile, a chuckle or an all-out laugh. They’re one of those everyday things we tend to pass by, yet they’re sometimes important as their humor is sometimes the only solace in those dreary days.

Grassroot Award*
This award is for those countless photocopied mini-comics that we now fondly call “indies”. That among those countless black and white comics stood out and proved to be the one with the most Oomph! of them all. This is for the indie that made the biggest dent among the populace be it good or bad, it made enough noise for people to look and take notice. It made enough of a statement that people actually stopped and listened. It brought something new and fresh that has never been done or seen before. Be it the concept, the art, or the story, it was a breath of fresh air among the masses of photocopied, folded in half and stapled twice in the spine comics. This is meant for those who dreamt of making a mark on the comic industry, and have succeeded, quite magnificently at that.

Best Webcomic*
A lot of effort goes into the webcomics we see and enjoy on the net. And they do not get the credit they deserve. But that’s why we are here, to give props to those under-appreciated webcomics, to give to where it is due.

Komiks Character of the Year
This award is for the most memorable, the funniest and most unforgettable komiks character. It could be male, female, a robot, an animal…anything. This is for our respective favorites, villain or hero.

Best Comic Scene
Who would forget that first kiss, that most tragic death, that most exhilarating fight, or even that scene that brought you to tears or made you curl up in laughter?


Comics Aid Award
Komiks would have not been possible if creators did not have any help. This is for those who have helped take comics from concept to fruition, from the little things to the humongous tasks. For all those who helped from photocopiers to publishers, family and friends, for artists, fans and fellow believers who continue to spread awareness about the industry, this is for those who have helped make what we see before our eyes.


NOMINATIONS
* Different titles created by a single artist/group can be nominated in one category.

• Nominated works, whether published, independent, or web comic, should have been released from 2006 until May 2009.

• Artists and works that have been nominated during the first KOMIKON Awards can still be nominated considering that their work/s is/are still being published during the nomination period.

• Nomination period will begin on July 1, 2009 and end on July 15, 2009.

• E-mail your nominations to komikon.awards@gmail.com with the subject: KOMIKON AWARDS NOMINATION. Only e-mail nominations will be accepted.


VOTING

• Voting period will be from August 10 – September 20, 2009. The voting procedures will be announced.

For inquiries about the awards, please feel free to comment or direct your questions to komikon.awards@gmail.com

Up up and away

Many people noticed that my character resembled Supermans attributes. Even random buyers on events are always saying that my character looks Supermanish in his looks. Even an old friend of mine once blunted out (teasing me) "Eh si Superman yan eh".

It really does not bothered me at all. In fact, I am kinda flattered that people have noticed that. I assure you that it is not intentional. It is just a coincidence that I wanted the same powers to my character. When I was conceptualizing my character back then. I wanted character that could (and hope) represent our country to the international community. I wanted to create a Pinoy Superhero we can all be proud of.

Being compared to the "man of steel" is just a big WOW to me. I mean, this is Superman that we are talking about here. He is a classic Superhero that other Superhero look up to. An icon of strength and purity of good. My character and I, are just unknown entity compared to him.

Delivery noticed

I will be delivering some copies of the latest issue of Kalayaan (number 7) to Sputnik Cubao this Wednesday (tomorrow) . I will arrive there at around 7pm since I often leave our ortigas office pass 6pm. One Kalayaan fan is already going there to meet with me for a copy of Kalayaan #7 and an autograph and requested a free poster.

Anyone would also like to come, just come there. Here is the exact address of the place.

Sputnik comic shop
Shop 60 at the Cubao Expo on Gen. Romulo Ave., Cubao, Q.C.

This place is near Alimall.
See you na lang there guys.