Just got back from Komikon 2010

Just got back from the 6th Komikon and boy the crowd was huge. There are so many people that had attended this year. I am still very tired, but here are some of the pictures that I got from the event. I will post more pictures once all the dust had settled down and I got some desperately needed sleep.

I was kidnaped by the Kambal.


They even took a copy of my comics and my Kalayaan action figure. :-)


And my Kalayaan action figure found his Bayan Knight buddy 'PAG-ASA'.

Goofing around with kuya Myke and ate Robin. :D

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Here are some of the video that I took during the event. I apologize for the quality since I just took it from my phone.

Most watched youtube video

I was just curious on what is the most watched video on Youtube. I was wondering what is the world is so interested in seing. So I googled it and got this top 10 YouTube video. And the winner is, with over 374 Million hits, Justin Bieber is at number 1.

My First Radio Interview

First of all, I want to thank every body in Sonshine radio for giving me an opportunity to guest in their show. Everyone was so accommodating, and very kind. I was very impressed on their equipment, aside from their broadcast on 1026 AM radio. They also have a studio camera that is streaming live on their website. That is why there is a word "TV" on their name "Sonshine TV Radyo". There is also this computer just beside the host that is constantly receiving all the Text Messages that was coming from their listeners on real time.

They were also kind enough to give me a copy of the entire interview on an MP3 format. So for those that have not listened to the show yesterday. You can download it here (to download the file, right click the link and choose the "save link as" option ). It is a 27MB file download and about 29 minutes long.

I really enjoyed the entire conversation with host of the show. I hope that I would have another chance to do this kind of thing again in the near future.

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Sonshine Radio Guesting

I have said in my past blog post that a radio DJ approached me during the PICCA event and said that she wants me to guest on her radio show. Well, the radio station is non other than Sonshine TV Radio, it is DZAR 1026 on your AM Radio. And they have asked me guest in their show 'Byahe at Gimik' tomorrow (November 10) between 2pm to 3pm. I hope that they would allow me to get a copy of an audio interview tomorrow so that I could post it here.

2nd Bikol Komiks Convention

It is amazing to know that there will be a 2nd Bikol Komiks Convention on December 20,2010. I must confest that I have known about this only recently. I did not even know that there were even a first. Special thanks to Noel Cervantes for informing me about this through facebook.

I personally think that the media people should be informed about this, so that they could spread the word about these kind of events on a massive scale. And so that people will know that the local comic industry is still here. It is very much sad to say that majority of the people still thinks that the local comic industry is DEAD. But as you can see, even as far as Cebu and Bikol, the spirit of comics are very much alive.

Cyfer Profile

CYFER
Real Name : Ryan Calalang
Height : 5’7” (without Armor), 5’10” (with Armor )
First Appearance : Kalayaan #4

Cyfer is the younger brother of Rhea Calalang (the genetic engineer/scientist that had created Kalayaan). Cyfer does not have any super powers, but what he lack on that area, he makes up in Computers, Electronics and Robotics. In a nut shell, he is a Tech-Genius.

As a young boy, he has discovered that he has the capability to understand things that seams very hard to comprehend by a normal ordinary people. He could reverse engineer computer programs easily. He could Cypher and Decypher codes that has a strong encryption algorithm that could take MIT students years to crack. Thus he got the name Cyfer.

When Cyfer was constantly being accelerated by all of the advance school in the Philippines that he is attending. His parents decided to send him to Japan to continue his studies. He later on returned to the Philippines when his parents was killed due to a kidnapping incident. Both Rhea and Cyfer was depressed because of this tragedy. While Rhea started his research for ‘Project Kalayaan ’, Cyfer decided to return to Japan because their place reminds him too much of their parents.

While in Japan, Cyfer maintains a constant communication with Rhea through the Internet. Cyfer even helps her sister with ‘Project Kalayaan’ by designing and making the Kalayaan Armor and its Nano Technology.

When Cyfer founds out from his sister that their house exploded due to a sabotage by Vorgon. He decided to went back to the Philippines for good, to help Rhea rebuild their house and safe guard his sister for other future threats.

My reaction after reading Invincible 75

This is my reaction after reading Invincible #75. Hol#$% Mother Father. BEEEEEP is DEAD. And the great BEEEEEP is DEAD as well. He ripped his F@$%*# head off, and after that, he squeesed it with his bear hands. This Emperor is one @#%^&* BAD ASS. I am guessing that many smart ass Invincible readers from now on will refrain from calling him a Freddy Mercury look alike.

After an agonizing long wait for the latest release of Invincible. Comic Odyssey finally text me this morining, telling me that it is now available at their store. During our lunch break at the office, I rushed to Comic Odyssey to bought my copy (that alone will tell you how much I am addicted to this series).

I thought that Invincibles battle with Conquest was already a top notch action, emotionally draining and kept me on the edge seat when Atom Eve almost died. This issue is a 100% sure to keep you in the edge of your seat (if your already an long time invincible reader). As far as I can recall, I have never been this excited (in reading a comic book) and crave on what will happens next.

I have said this once before. But in my humble opinion "INVINCIBLE" is the best superhero comic book of all time.

Issue #75 is literally a jaw dropping issue for me.

Mr. Kirkman.... you did it again.

FLIPGEEKS interview

Flipgeeks.com is a site created by Filipino Geeks for Filipino Geeks and others. And because I'm a geek my self, they decided to interviewed me. CLICK HERE.

Mersenario and Kalayaan

This is a long over due art request by Juan Carlo Villaverde. He is a long time Kalayaan comics supporter that requested me during Metro Comicon last August to draw his character Mersenario together with Kalayaan.

Mersenario will have it's first appearance in Bayan Knights #5, to be release in November 13 Komikon. Mersenario is actually a villain that is a member of 'Bangis'. And as of this writing, Bayan Knights #5 is already heading for the printing press. I have already seen most of the pages of BK5. The Knights will go on a head to head battle with the Bangis team. This is one action packed issue. Be sure to get a copy this November 13 in Starmall at the Komikon event.

Kalayaan in Comic Quest

Kalayaan comics is now available at Comic Quest SM North EDSA. Thanks to Mrs. Sherry Baet-Zamar and Mr. Vin Simbulan for making this possible. As of this writing, only the first issue is the only issue being consign at Comic Quest. This is because I am still re-printing more copies of all back issues. Many of my old stock was sold out in the last PICCA event. I would probably deliver in Comic Quest after the Komikon event in November 13, when all the dust have settled down.

Komikon Sulyap Interview

PICCA aftershock

The first day of PICCA was very fruitful for me. I have met many people that would help me boost the visibility of my comics and my character. There was a radio DJ that took my number and said that I would be guesting in their radio show to promote my comics. There were an iPhone game developer that was interested in developing a game for my character. There is also a group that is interested in making my comics into a motion comics. These are all fun, but I always keep my expectation very low. I really do not expect hearing from them again, but if I do, that would be awesome.

Also on the first day, I have met in person Mr. John Lent. He is such a mild mannered man, a very soft spoken guy. On this picture there were actually 4 camera men taking the picture. So as you can see, Mr. Lent is looking at the other camera while I was looking at Macoy (the one who took this shot, thanks Macoy :D). He did not bought any of my comics but it was still an honor meeting him.

I also met Stanley Chi, A comedian/TV host and who also happens to be a cartoonist and has a series entitled 'Chopsticks'. He took a video interview with me,Gilbert and Levy for his TV show. Medyo na windang nga lang ako sa mga tanong nya. Ano raw ang paborito kong Anime at kung pwede ko raw kantahin yung Japanese intro song. Sa isip sip ko, pag drawingin mo na lang ako at wag mo na akong pakantahing in front of a camera. At eto pa ang matinding tanong.....tinanong nya, "Kilala mo ba si Maria Osawa?". Sabi ko .... "Syempre, sikat na celebrity yun eh." hehehehe.

This is the sacred mountain table together with Levy and Gilbert Monsanto.

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I did not make it to the 2nd day of PICCA as much as I want to. My old ulcer illness suddenly came back. I threw up many times at our house. My body was rejecting any food that I eat. My stomach ache was excruciating that I was bed ridden most of the day. I have only eaten water and crackers most of the day.

But the good news is, on this day, I have received via email, the reference number of the BDO (Banco de Oro) remittance of Forex (my publisher abroad). It is the payment for the royalty fee for Kalayaan #3 that is soon to be release abroad. Yeheyyyyyyy :D.

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My body felt much better on Sunday. There were a little stomach ache at I feel, but compared yesterday, this one is much mild so I decided I would go to the PICCA event.

The 3rd day(Sunday) of PICCA was the most profitable for me. Issue #1,2,5 and 7 got sold out (that was a first time for me). I was also very surprised that two individual took a set (from issue #1 to #10) of my comics. I was actually expecting that I will not sell anything because of what Jon Zamar said that Saturday was a very slow day for every one selling their comics. He also told me that the rest of the Bayan Knights was not coming back on that day because of the low sales of Saturday. I was so glad that was not the case on the 3rd day.

I have met Mr. John Lent again and this time he bought my comics together with and issue of Boy Ipis. Thanks Mr. Lent :-)

My seatmate on the 3rd day was non other than the creator of Boy Ipis... Mike Ignacio who also sold pretty well that day.

PICCA event

The 2nd Philippine International Cartoons,Comics and Animation Festival (PICCA) will have a Trade Show to be held at the 4th Floor of CyberZone, Annex, SM City North EDSA. It's a 3-day
event from October 22 (friday) to October 24(Sunday). I will have a table there and will be selling Kalayaan #1 to #10. I hope to see you all there.

RP ‘komiks’ fight for survival

Philippine comic books have nurtured talent for international TV and animation blockbusters, but the once-mighty industry is fighting to survive as it comes up against the Internet and other new media.

Comic books that have dominated the local publishing industry just a couple of decades ago are now largely relegated to photocopied titles sold in a few specialty stores and at conventions, lamented veteran artist Rico Rival.

“There are still a lot of good Filipino artists. They just don’t have an outlet anymore. They just photocopy their own works,” said Rival who has worked for local publications as well as US comic and animation companies.

Read more about it here.