tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194919943842828302024-03-14T16:43:27.291+08:00thebackingboardfilesKing's Cross October 2014. Trying to stow away aboard the Hogwarts Express.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger405125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-5468151264412360112020-01-15T18:00:00.000+08:002020-01-15T18:00:06.969+08:00Artist Rian Gonzales’ work on Marvel Comics’ Amazing Mary Jane<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Artist Rian Gonzales’ work on Marvel Comics’ Amazing Mary Jane</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Rick Olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rising cover artist Rian Gonzales has her work featured in Marvel Comics’ The Amazing Mary Jane #4 (the girlfriend and wife of Spider-Man’s Peter Parker).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gonzales’ cover art debuted with Betty and Veronica in 2016 and since then she has seen her stylish art adorn the covers of Josie and the Pussycats, Jem and the Holograms, Marvel Rising, Spider-Geddon, and Venom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In her latest published work, she depicts Mary Jane Watson getting dolled up by miniature versions of Spider-Man’s villains such as Kraven the Hunter, the Vulture, Doctor Octopus, and Electro.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It’s always fun to be able to do iconic characters such as Mary Jane Watson. After all, as a young comic book reader, Spider-Man was one of my favorites,” said Gonzales during a book signing at Comic Odyssey at Eastwood Mall last Saturday, January 11, “I know it’s just a cover or a variant cover, but it is a start. It feels good when people collect your art.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gonzales style is a candy-themed style that while appearing to be feminine, appeals to all audiences for their striking vibrancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Getting to do covers isn’t an easy one,” shared Gonzales between book signings and sketches by fans. “There has to be the right moment for the book and even the right feel to what is going on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gonzales’ work will next appear on Sabrina, the Archie character who has returned to popularity with its horror-themed comic book revamp in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina n 2014 and its wildly successful Netflix series. “That should be out soon. Probably around March or April. Then I have a couple of more works for Marvel that I cannot talk about right not. But it will be worth the wait.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Amazing Mary Jane #4 and back issues of Rian Gonzales’ work can be purchased at Comic Odyssey or through Filbar’s</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-42006497901780020292020-01-13T21:04:00.001+08:002020-01-13T21:04:27.996+08:002020 31 Days of Comics Challenge - Great Holiday Comic Starman #27<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: #101010; font-size: 16pt;">2020 31 Days of Comics Challenge - Great Holiday Comic<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Starman #27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Starman has to be one of my all-time favorite comics. Although Jack Knight isn’t technically a Golden Age superh-hero (I love all these Golden Age stories), he is the son of Ted Knight, the original Starman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Writer James Robinson, who wrote one of the greatest stories ever in The Golden Age (although an Elseworlds tale), has the knowledge and respect for these characters and Starman is a love letter to those halcyon days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Now, Christmas stories are pretty hard to write. Many of them are really fluff pieces. But Starman #27 isn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">There are two stories weaved into one here. The O-Dare family (a family of cops) in Opal City prepare Christmas for their extended family while in the other story, Jack Knight, who inherited the mantle from his older brother, David, and father, Ted, helps a mall Santa Claus find the memory of his lost family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It is a poignant story and only shows the heart that Jack has; one of the aspects that endeared me to this character and comic book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It is a contrast of stories on this special evening and I’ll say they do have a lot of heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-57118308633358499232020-01-11T20:01:00.003+08:002020-01-11T20:01:46.581+08:00Got the MTV Moon Man Funko Pop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-2643785749760391392020-01-10T20:34:00.000+08:002020-01-10T20:34:15.306+08:002020 31 Days of Comics Challenge - A Comic That Totally Blew Your Mind Daredevil #227<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjWdKgi1yxmq7xCNWOTMoSzlHiXOdK7hpEtYx1oYKHk_FjGHWVfFOT2V1MZ3Q0ppo-c5wXt3t-qCNjHnEYMjceONLyG26lQ5iTmKMC5a68CZoUCORKI_2z-UEjnpQf4oHVZrAbHk9YQ/s1600/Daredevil_Vol_1_227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjWdKgi1yxmq7xCNWOTMoSzlHiXOdK7hpEtYx1oYKHk_FjGHWVfFOT2V1MZ3Q0ppo-c5wXt3t-qCNjHnEYMjceONLyG26lQ5iTmKMC5a68CZoUCORKI_2z-UEjnpQf4oHVZrAbHk9YQ/s400/Daredevil_Vol_1_227.jpg" width="260" /></a><b><span style="color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2020 31 Days of Comics Challenge - A Comic That Totally Blew Your Mind</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daredevil #227<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have read ten thousands and thousands of comic books in my lifetime. There have been a of comics that blew me away – the Neal Adams X-Men were some of the first but that was because of his awesome art. I’d say Uncanny X-Men #107 with the introduction of the Shiar Imperial Guard. Crisis On Infinite Earths also blew me away at certain parts. The Ultimates are certainly a comic that had my mouth agape. But if there is one comic storyline that I never saw coming it was Daredevil #227 that kicked off what is now known as the Born Again Saga.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From almost every page I was going like, “Oh, crap!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karen Page turns into a junkie. Sells out Matt Murdock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prose that Frank Miller wrote with Daredevil on the rooftops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He wakes up one morning and his electricity has been turned off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His account is frozen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cop testifies that Matt Murodck committed perjury.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glorianna O’Breen breaks up with Matt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matt’s apartment blows up. And Matt knows it’s the Kingpin behind all this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With every page turn there was this feeling of dread that I felt. Now I read this when this first came out and it was pure agony to wait for the next issue. What was going to happen? How will Matt/DD survive this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I must have read the entire saga over a hundred times in my lifetime and I can quote lines and conversations from the entire series. When I read it today, it still has that same effect that it did all those long years ago. Right away, I knew I held a special comic in my hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were no Diamond Previews during this time. No internet. No promos. Nothing. Just pure storytelling. A sleeper that no one saw comic a mile away even if Miller had revitalized Daredevil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-64082908673698254802020-01-08T21:07:00.001+08:002020-01-08T21:07:33.147+08:002020 31 Days of Comics Challenge - Your Comfort Comic The Rocketeer <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp4au0PEOcKjp-JA7B7Aj8hXMy5A62bDpgSX-P2nlfN9NhnDaoSSvIMGUTbIn4EWFLrmjN5JqUb5y_4wUi34D1c81lkW8VHEkWLuU_C-Y4P3qNKLV08bPay-bQ0jYfkgFqt2Ld7hsAQ/s1600/866511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp4au0PEOcKjp-JA7B7Aj8hXMy5A62bDpgSX-P2nlfN9NhnDaoSSvIMGUTbIn4EWFLrmjN5JqUb5y_4wUi34D1c81lkW8VHEkWLuU_C-Y4P3qNKLV08bPay-bQ0jYfkgFqt2Ld7hsAQ/s320/866511.jpg" width="208" /></a><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2020 31 Days of Comics Challenge - Your Comfort Comic</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rocketeer <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The late Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer from Pacific Comics to Comico to Dark Horse Comics are my comfort reading material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn’t fully into indie comics during my high school and college days. It seemed such an unknown thing for me then. I was intrigued by The Elementals that were sold at this stall at the top floor of the old Virra Mall. Nexus practically scream at me on the racks of Filbar’s – buy me. I held off because they didn’t seem as slickly packaged by the Big Two of Marvel and DC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I saw Pacific Presents #2 at the cheap bins of Booksale at the old Fiesta Carnival, I flipped. What a cover – someone holding a jetpack but his shadow was completely different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was only 10 bucks so I bought it. And I was immediately hooked. Set in 1939 right before the world plunged into a global conflagration, it was a simple adventure story that hooked me. It reminded me of those old Time and Life magazines that my grandfather collected and him of course. He was of that generation and I could really picture those dime-store Indians, Lucky Strikes, Bazooka Joes, pin-up girls, and moonshine bottles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took me a long time to complete all eight issues of Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer. And I own every version from the singles issues to all the collected editions, hardbound tomes, and even the movie adaptations. And I have the massive Artist’s Edition from IDW that cost an arm and a leg. I even have the 3-D version with an audio recording! And that film adaptation? I have the Laser Disc, DVD, Blu-Ray, VHS, VCD, DVD, and pirated copy. I have the first ever toy from ReAction to the Funko Pops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I interviewed British actor Paul Bettany who played the Vision on the Avengers films, I had to ask him about how it feels to be married to an actress who came out also in a “superhero” film? That of course is his lovely wife and my eternal crush Jennifer Connelly who played Jenny (they changed the name from the comics’ Bettie) in the film version of The Rocketeer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reading this always brings me back to my teenage years. They remind me of my grandfather who lived through the years set in the comic book. And they too remind me that good writing and lovely art are simply timeless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-33218056393211377012019-12-21T08:57:00.001+08:002019-12-21T08:57:13.222+08:00Rest in Peace, Gerry Alanguilan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RIP </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=552301105&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARCq31r_6wL96pA2NoQPGJS0rZQWMN5P-99kba56cGOJfqxYQ2t4PAsaP53-uGb47Vt0FjasNiTvHvOI%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/gerryalanguilan?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCq31r_6wL96pA2NoQPGJS0rZQWMN5P-99kba56cGOJfqxYQ2t4PAsaP53-uGb47Vt0FjasNiTvHvOI&fref=mentions" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" title="Gerry Alanguilan">Gerry Alanguilan</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My relationship and friendship with Gerry Alanguilan is one of what could have beens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We formed a group back in 1990 with the hopes of producing a comic book. We got half-way there when two incidents prematurely ended our dreams. Even as Gerry moved on to bigger things, we remained friends and I oft visited him at Starfire Studios in Balete Drive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I returned from a lengthy sojourn abroad, it was Gerry who urged me to finally release my own comics books which I did for a few years before I stopped (I will return in 2020). He was supposed to draw my comic, Dante (that was eventually illustrated by Nino Balita), but his pro comics work got in the way. He did promise to eventually work on something for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, we planned for a trip to his komiks museum in his beloved San Pablo, but we first postponed because of a typhoon and then because of the last komikon. We figured it would be after this Christmas except while I will make that trip to Laguna, it will be to see him off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it hurts, you know. It’s always, but not quite. This is why you should never put off things and do them because you will never know if it is that last parting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gerry and I go way back. We met in the old Filbar’s along New York Street in Cubao. We were looking at Marc Silvestri’s work on Uncanny X-Men (The Fall of the Mutants storyline) but bonded over the old Chris Claremont-John Byrne stories of the same comic book, and Daredevil (particularly the Frank Miller stories). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, we formed Kressh Comics, a group that included Mark Del Rosario, Jaime Fornoles, Richie Ramos, Sandy Gonzaga, Carl Alagar, Ariel Atienza, Oliver Pulumbarit, and others. Later on, Francis Magalona and Michael V joined the gang (and that is another story).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gerry oft came by my old apartment in Cubao. He’d be there twice, or thrice a week along with Mark Del Rosario, Jaime Fornoles (who I invited for that trip to San Pablo a few weeks ago), Richie, Sandy, Carl, and others. Sometimes, we’d hang out at his house outside UST and work on stories or just drink and tell stories. He related his struggles trying to please his parents and his desire to draw comics professionally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was at my apartment where we mostly met and hung out. We had this balcony where we’d all kick back our shoes and talk. I tell you, that was the life! We had so much fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One time, in the fading sunlight, we were there drinking sodas and some beers with some snacks to go. "Man, imagine what we could do," wondered Gerry. "Yeah," I answered. Two of us dreaming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One time, Gerry showed us all his rejection letters from Marvel and DC Comics. In spite of that, we were so proud of him (for having tried). But we all knew that he was talented (the most talented among us as well) and that he would eventually make it. It was there where he first drew Timawa and showed me and Jaime his early work on Wasted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will not forget that day that he arrived and showed us the first pages of that work that would be Wasted. “I know you might not like this,” I distinctly remember him saying, “Because this isn’t super-hero comics.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jaime and I plopped down on the sofa to read that first story. I loved it. I loved it so much that I featured it in the pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Gerry reciprocated that love by reprinting the article in the first ever collection of Wasted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those single Xeroxed copies of all the issues of wasted were some of my most treasured comics. I had them and brought them with me to the United States. I hand carried them when I came back home. Sadly, I lost them to Ondoy (that was a crushing blow to me in many ways). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How deep was that friendship? Gerry was more than a guest; a real friend of the family. He was there during my wedding and for the baptism of my first born son. When my marriage fell apart, Gerry was so angry at me. He urged me to repair it as quickly as possible. Truthfully, that frayed my relationship with him although we repaired it over time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As our lives moved on in different arenas – Gerry in comics and his YouTube stardom and me in media, we occasionally remained in touch talking about music, film, and the initial thing that bonded me and him – comics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I saw Jonas Diego’s post yesterday about Gerry’s being in the ICU, I immediately got in touch with the former. I knew deep inside that this wasn’t good, and yet, I prayed for his return to good health. I awoke around early morning as my phone kept pinging. Friends were tagging me about Gerry’s passing. How do you return to sleep after that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mind kept racing to what could have been and never getting to finish what we set out to do. And that hurts. Doubly hurts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All that I have left are pictures, his signed comics, and that bit of original piece of art from our Kressh comics days that pre-dates anything else he published. But does that even matter?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gerry’s passing hurts. The what ifs and should have done this in particular.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I sat down in my work station, my mind wandered back to the day that we met inside the old Filbar’s that we loved so much. “X-Men fan?” he asked as I leafed through that issue of Uncanny X-Men #227 (Go Tell the Spartans). “Yes, very much,” I answered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we quickly realized that we grew up around the same time and read all the same comics. The next week, he brought to the store his copy of Uncanny X-Men #137. I brought that and my Neal Adams issues of the X-Men. We went to the eatery next to Filbar’s and has some sodas and pancit and talked about what the story meant for us for the next two hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Man, you should have seen how we emoted that time over the “death” of Jean Grey. And on how the Daredevil Born Again saga (that inspired Kressh Comics and its name) touched us to our very core.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two lads with dreams in our minds and passion in our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going to miss you so much my old friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hopefully, next time we get to do what we set out to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your grieving friend.</span></div>
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Rick</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-78221259155618706912019-11-24T21:32:00.000+08:002019-11-24T21:32:38.596+08:006 Comics to get from Komikon Grande<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6 Comics to get from Komikon Grande</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last major local comic book convention has come and gone with dozens and dozens of creators showcasing their latest works at Komikon Grande (November 23-24, 2019) at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are in our opinion, are some of the titles that you should pick up (they will be available in local comic book stores after Komikon Grande or via their respective Facebook pages).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kenkoy Klasiks: Album ng Mga Kabalbalan (Velasquez Characters Komiks)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only 90 copies of this special edition were printed and they sold out fast. I am told that a regular edition will be out before the month ends and should be available wherever local komiks are sold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The apo of the late Tony Velasquez, the man called, “The Father of Filipino Komiks” produced this comic strip back in the pages of Liwayway magazine 90 years ago, and Ian thought it was not only a great way to remember his Lolo but to also reintroduce this character in what was literally, the funnies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a great title to have in anyone’s collection as you will feel the nostalgia (yes, reading it dates the strips because this was during the American Colonial Period) but also the pride at having our own strip. If you like those classic American strips such as The Katzenjammer Kids, Gasoline Alley, Blondie, and Dick Tracy, then Kenkoy is worth adding to your comics collection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ang Mga Huling Awit ng Digmaan (Point Zero Comics)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jon Zamar is a veteran writer and artist and despite his long involvement in the scene remains under the radar. I will say this. He soldiers on even against all trends, he sticks to his guns and stories. And he has brought artists David Sysing (who illustrated Ang Lakambini ng Kahilwayon) and Brian Balondo (who worked in the second chapter Ang Mga Bihag sa Pulang Lupa) whose respective crackles with energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you liked Warlands or Elfquest, then check out Ang Mga Huling Awit ng Digmaan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ugh #5 (Ugh Comics)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Hulyen first released Ugh Comics, I raved about it for its irreverence and sarcastic view on growing up and life. This was our Beavis and Butthead. Our Reality Bites even. At some point, I thought the magic wore off. But Ugh #5 finds Hulyen once more in her ornery irascible self. I thought by expounding her strips and not forcing them to end in a single page or a few panels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am an Ugh hipster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tales from the Kingdom of Tundo Book One <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A compilation of the first four issues of writer-artist Mark del Rosario’s epic alternative mythology. This fantasy epic is everything we loved about local folklore mashed with the stories mark grew up reading from The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia to name some while adding regional elements (Hindu and Buddhist beliefs). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is an epic in the making with loads of potential.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Children of Bathala Volume One (Nautilus Comics)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some stories are sacred. And we shudder to think when creators deem it time for a sequel. It didn’t work with The Dark Knight Returns and I am not crazy about anything that they have done as a prequel or sequel for Watchmen. I wondered about that too when I heard that master storyteller Arnold Arre was cooking up a sequel to his beloved tome, The Mythology Class. In fact, he didn’t just have one sequel, but five.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If The Children of Bathala is the result, then my fears have been allayed. Arre’s work here is the best that he has done. This is the best artwork he has done in his career. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two decades after the events of Mythology Class, our cast of characters are older and the experience of their previous adventure had faded over the years as their respective lives have moved on. But new visitors from the magical world of Ibalon have arrived and a new danger and journey unfolds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strap yourself in for this ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bulwagan ng Misteryo (Kikomachine Komix)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is so easy to pace any work by Arnold Arre or Manix Abrera into this list. But they aren’t living on their reputation. They are the consummate and prolific storytellers and they are once more back with some terrific work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the format of Manix’ new work. It is square-bound in the manner of your favorite Calvin and Hobbes editions. It makes the art easier to look at and the words easier to read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I first read Manix’ work, I thought of Gary Larson’s The Far Side. And while there are differences, the imagination, wit, and madness (I mean that in a good way) are the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This latest work is mind-bending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additional titles to pick up: Trese Deviations: Dakila & Fr. Trese from David Hontiveros and Marvin del Mundo, and D-13 #2 from Ian Velasquez and Rico Rival.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-81202621064946907142019-11-23T14:51:00.003+08:002019-11-23T14:51:38.745+08:00Classic Filipino strip Kenkoy is one of Komikon Grande’s highlights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Classic Filipino strip Kenkoy is one of Komikon Grande’s highlights</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the highlights of this weekend’s Komikon Grande (November 23-24 at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City) Album ng mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 32-page compilation reprints classic comic strips from Tony Velasquez who is acknowledged as “the Father of Tagalog Komiks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Kenkoy” is a character created by writer Romualdo Ramos and illustrator Tony Velasquez and who was featured in a komiks strip in Liwayway magazine on January 11, 1929. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kenkoy was a humorous look at Filipino life during the American Period. The strip became so popular that it was translated into several dialects and even received its own film adaptation in the 1950s featuring icons Dely Atay-atayan, Eduardo Infante, and Lopito.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tome was repackaged and remastered by local artist and Komikon co-founder Jon Zamar according to Ian Velasquez, the grandson of another famous Filipino komiks illustrator Damy Velasquez who created the detective strip, D-13, of which his grandson resurrected with all new adventures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Aside from re-introducing Kenkoy to a new generation of readers, our family aims for more visibility for the character and his creator since we want to pursue Velasquez’ nomination as a National Artist in the near future,” said Ian. “More than publishing the old work, we have been active by traveling and doing exhibits.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reprints of Kenkoy follows the reprints of other famous nobelas or komiks stories created by the late National Artist Francisco Coching that includes El Indio, Saba ang Barbaro, Lapu-Lapu, and Dumagit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Art of Alfredo Alcala was also reprinted by Dover Publications in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only 90 copies will be made available of these reprinted classics (each one has a retail price of P300) and will be available at Ian Velasquez’ table at Komikon Grande.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-91665515091128141852019-11-13T19:47:00.000+08:002019-11-13T19:47:19.163+08:00Comic book artist Gilbert Monsanto bares plans for more Bayan Knights stories & then some.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Comic book artist Gilbert Monsanto bares plans for more Bayan Knights stories & then some.</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comic book artists Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, and Jay Anacleto are some of the local illustrators who garner a lot of attention and acclaim for their work on American comic books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is one other artist who came up alongside them in the famed Starfire Visuals that was put up by the great Whilce Portacio that opened doors for Filipino artists in the American industry, and his fingerprints as well as storytelling, pencils, and inks on many a pivotal local comic book – Gilbert Monsanto.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monsanto along with Roy Allan Martinez were the first among the Starfire Visuals Studios artists to fully draw releases from Image Comics in the mid-1990s and that was Hellcop and Hazard respectively. Although Monsanto drew aa few more titles, he channeled a lot of his energies to the local independent scene. While working with Portacio’s art school in Megamall, he also produced the country’s version of Justice League of Americana and The Avengers in Bayan Knights; a team composed of heroes created by different artists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among the more popular Bayan Knights characters (that have also seen their own releases by their respective creators) include Astiging Boy Ipis that was created by Mike Ignacio and lovingly inspired by Spider-Man, Amely Vidal’s Phantom Cat, Gio Paredes’ super-strong Kalayaan, and Reno Maniquis’ Maskarado. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filipino artists who have made names working on American comics such as Leinil Francis Yu and Harvey Tolibao have provided covers to a few issues of Bayan Knights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since its initial publication in 2008 under his own independent imprint, Sacred Mountain, there have been some nine issues of Bayan Knights with a bunch of spin-off titles featuring the individual characters such Sarhento Sagrado and Phantom Cat among others. That has morphed into the logical progression of Bayan Knights which is The Demigods that has seen a few issues published.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Hindi ko akalain na may impact yung Bayan Knights,” said a grateful Monsanto. “Hindi naman natin ito ginawa expecting that people will like it. Bonus yun. Pero nakaka-inspire lalo kasi I believe that we Filipinos can do even more good work in this medium.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monsanto has been approached to see how Bayan Knights can be developed into something more – perhaps a film adaptation. However, he is protective of the work. The challenge is to maintain control and to not comprise the characters. “Let’s see what happens,” he can only comment.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prolific Monsanto has also published several comic magazines in Rambol and Tropa assuming roles such as editor-in-chief, writer, penciller, or inker depending on the story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to that, Gilbert was a part of the first independently produced local comic in Exodus that was published in November of 1994 that included local creators Mike Tan, Jim Jimenez, Lui Antonio, and Martinez among many others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He also took part in the high profile new millennium release of Darna (from Mango Comics) along with Boboy Yonzon and fellow Starfire Visuals alumnus, Ryan Orosco, and the local magazine reprints of DC Comics where he pens a column on illustration techniques for budding illustrators. He has also worked on a graphic novel series for Black Ink publications titled Hands of the Dragon, and Anthony James Perez’ exorcist story, Patron.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gilbert is working on comics full time. He just finished a Blade Runner comic book in the USA and is doing some work on projects he cannot disclose as of the moment. And hopefully, more Bayan Knights stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is amazed that through this profession – once a mere hobby and a love for the medium – has allowed him to raise a family. “Nothing beats that…. Following your passion, doing something for the industry, and helping your family.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-17922096925846986192019-10-31T16:52:00.000+08:002019-10-31T16:52:32.634+08:00Trese 7: Shadow Witness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-52137100072978588602019-10-27T18:52:00.000+08:002019-10-27T18:52:26.868+08:00Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Aster, the first Filipino-comic book to be published abroad in the US<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvQlrUF7ysLLok-lBdwNMdh_kwXJciADVZLeC10auEyRiCl6ffIL9UYgyegFpv6pcJV7ztmRWqE4FwLaJJIRha9qTCpIN5uMS3T0y44IatsqxiTbHtLELUpTMcbfELM_ZbZB6-UwfGw/s1600/IMG_20191027_091153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvQlrUF7ysLLok-lBdwNMdh_kwXJciADVZLeC10auEyRiCl6ffIL9UYgyegFpv6pcJV7ztmRWqE4FwLaJJIRha9qTCpIN5uMS3T0y44IatsqxiTbHtLELUpTMcbfELM_ZbZB6-UwfGw/s640/IMG_20191027_091153.jpg" width="298" /></a><b style="font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Celebrating the 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Aster, the first Filipino-comic book to be published abroad in the US</span></b><br />
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by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></div>
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One week ago, Starfire Visuals, that studio that opened the door for many Filipino artists to work in the American comic book industry, was feted in the first SuperManila Pop Culture Convention.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In reality, there was another studio that published the first domestic based creative team whose work was produced in the United States…. CATS Studios. <o:p></o:p></div>
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CATS Studios was an offshoot of CATS Comics and Collectibles, a comic book specialty shop that was very popular in the 1990s for its line of independent comics, NBA trading cards, and toys.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On October 26, 1994, American independent comics publisher Entity Comics released Aster #1; the first of several titles that were released by the Manila--based studio. Produced by Don Chin and CATS owner Billy Lim-It, plotted by Ronnie Roxas and written by his younger brother Jun, Aster featured the artwork of Oliver Isabedra who was then a college student at the Ateneo de Manila.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Aster is the last of the Celestial Knights, universal peacekeepers bequeathed power by the Celestial Guardians. He is cast adrift and is amnesiac after taking part in a titanic battle where the combined might of his order and masters defeated the rogue Celestial Guardian Dessa. But defeating Dessa came at a price. Save for Aster, the entire order of Celestial Guardians and Knights were wiped out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unaware of what transpired, Aster crashes into a planet that is actually the same one where Dessa is imprisoned. Upon regaining consciousness as well as bits and pieces of his memory, Aster finds out that Dessa has not only escaped but is actively searching for the Gem of Saghal to once more power his mad ambitions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The story draws heavily from the adventures of Flash Gordon, Green Lantern, Captain Marvell, and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The buzz about Aster actually occurred months before when the ashcan edition (in glorious black and white and containing no word balloons) was released. Isabedra, influenced by then comics superstar George Perez, won over a lot of local fans for its dynamism and energy. When the actual comic came it out, it sported a cover by then-comics superstar, Jae Lee. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Subsequent covers featured other luminaries such as Marvel’s Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti, and George Perez.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Isabedra recalled a time when he spoke to Perez on the phone. “At that time, he (Perez) was about to begin his work on the cover to Aster #0 and I was so surprised that I really couldn’t say anything.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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When Aster #1 was featured in comic industry publications, Previews and Hero Illustrated, the buzz got even louder.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After the first four-issue limited series, another series came out as did others titled, Harriers and Shaiana, all featuring characters for CATS Studios’ imaginary, Fractal Universe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Their studio grew as well. Coming on board were Sonny Fortich III, Jay Anacleto, recording artist and movie star Michael V, Mark Vuycankiat, Gerry Alanguilan, and Leinil Francis Yu.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is with CATS where Alanguilan, Anacleto, and Yu experienced their first published work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anacleto inked Vuycankiat’s pencils on Aster #0 as well as the latter’s work on the three-issue limited series, Harriers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alanguilan was the one local comic book artist who had somewhat of a buzz then. His first published work was a pin-up in Aster #1 and his first inking work on Aster #2 (the regular series).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yu provided full art on Aster #3 (the regular series) as well as four pages of Legacy of the Dark Moon that was printed as a preview in the CATS Tour Book of 1995. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Michael V himself provided pencils for Shaiana #1 with Anacleto embellishing his work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Harriers and Aster: The Last Celestial Knight were my first professional work,” underscored Alanguilan. “I inked five pages or so and my inking wasn’t up to pro standards at that time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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From 1994-95, CATS Studious was putting out three different titles at the same time; an impressive feat for a local studio. Just like that they folded. Anacleto, Alanguilan, and Yu decamped for Starfire Visuals. Isabedra claims he has no idea why it suddenly stopped. As he was already working in an advertising agency, he was too busy to lament its passing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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CATS Studios put out a total of 14 comics in a two-year span. The first ever Aster comic went through a second printing. That is an indication of how well it did. The covers for all 14 comics published saw variant covers that were color coded, foil stamped, and chromium. Not bad for a local studio.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2011, Jun Roxas and Alanguilan planned on reviving Aster and doing a sequel. Gerry’s hectic schedule though torpedoed the plan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Prior to Aster #1 and CATS Studios, Filipinos who wanted to work on American comics had to either go to the United States or work on material provided to them by foreign creators. Aster saw the entire creative work conceptualized and produced by a wholly-local crew.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, there are dozens and dozens of homegrown talent working on American and even European comics. Anacleto, Alanguilan, and Yu are modern day superstars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Aster might be largely forgotten by today’s fans, but it deserves more than a footnote in Filipino comics history. It was for a brief moment, a guiding star in the celestial firmament.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-65060011341888795132019-10-21T10:49:00.001+08:002019-10-21T16:28:15.304+08:00A reflection on my years of being a Marvel Comics fan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am sharing what was essentially my sharing during the Make Mine Marvel panel at the SuperManila Pop culture Convention last Sunday, October 20 (at the Podium) with Jiggy Cruz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My first ever comics were reprints of the X-Men issues re-Enter the Mimic (#75) and Bedlam is the Banshee (#76). My mother bought me these comics at the old Cherry Foodarama along Shaw Boulevard when I was five years old. She got them for me to keep me quiet and distracted while she was buying groceries. These were local reprints. I cannot remember who reprinted them. Was it Alemar’s? How much were these comics – 50 centavos. Yes, this was pre-OPEC oil crisis and during the early 1970s. So I am dating myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My Uncle Rolly had all the X-Men comics. It was a complete collection as he was a fan of the book. While visiting him one time at his home in Novaliches, I saw them and was enthralled. There were others -- Detective Comics, Hot Stuff, or The Avengers – but I wasn’t really into them. Except for the X-Men and Nick Fury Agent of shield. Why the later? Because of the awesome art by Jim Steranko.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">These were American comics and not reprints. I have no idea where he got them, but I do remember badgering him every time I went there if I could have them. When I think about that time, I must have been really annoying to ask those comics – for free. Like he owed me something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Eventually, he did give me everything (like 10 years later) and they weren’t in mind condition but I couldn’t care less. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first real comic that I bought (or my dad did) was Uncanny X-Men #94. We had just come from lunch at the old Shakey’s in West Avenue when we went to the old Mercury Drug Store at Delta. They had this rack of comics and there were quite a lot. But my eyes were immediately drawn to Uncanny X-Men #94 with the mutants being thrown out of their SR-71 Blackbird with the face of a leering Count Nefaria. I asked my dad to buy it but he said no. I was finally able to badger him into getting it one week later. So I guess – considering my Uncle Rolly did give me his X-Men comics – badgering works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And I guess, you can say that X-Men were my first favorite comics and with Jonathan Hickman’s work, have reclaimed that title. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I got my first Fantastic Four comics at a PX good store in Tarlac where my grandfather lived. I still have that actual comic which is coincidentally, the first time Johnny Storm wore his red costume.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But comics collecting back then was difficult. There were shops in Manila that sold them but you couldn’t bet on your favorite comic being there next month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I got my first Captain America comic book (Jack Kirby’s Mad Bomb) at the old Army & Navy Club along Roxas Boulevard. That was a club for military men and since my uncle was an officer, we would go there to swim, eat pizza and ice cream, and buy comics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I got my comics at this shop (where Papelmelroti is today and right in front of Gerry’s Grill) and comics cost about P7 which was a lot of money back then. It took me a year before I get could the follow up to The Doomsmith Scenario. In fact, the next X-Men issue that I got was #96 that was against the N’Garai. Then it was X-Men #107 that was the first appearance of the Imperial Guard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I got this hardbound trade of Amazing Spider-Man stories that featured the debut of the Spider-Mobile and him going up against the Jackal, Hammerhead, and Green Goblin. That cost 20 bucks and my parents refused to buy it. So I went to my grandfather. Being the eldest grandchild, he got it for me much to my parents’ chagrin. And they scolded me when we got home. And I loved that comic book to death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first Filbar’s branch was a small shop located at the corner of Edsa and Aurora Boulevard. It was hot and stuffy inside. He only had an electric fan and he sold his comics wearing a sando, shorts, and slippers. It was Annabelle who was his only helper back then. And comics sold for 10 bucks. He wasn’t able to secure a licensing deal yet as he relied on a friends of his – a stewardess to buy comics for him in the US.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">He moved to New York street in Cubao when that building complex at the corner of Edsa and Aurora burned down. Yes, it burned down along with everyone’s comics. It took what – six or seven months before he re-opened at the New York branch. I remember going there with some other fans who would eventually become good friends to this day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">That is how I met Gerry Alanguilan, Oliver Pulumbarit, and others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Filbar’s was ahead of its time in terms of the comic book specialty shops. Maybe that was because we were so far from the United States. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The mecca then for comic book fans was Greenhills. You had two branches of Filbar’s, Comic Quest – first in the old PCI Bank Arcade then in Shoppesville -- CATS, Comic Express, and Christhareth. In Ali Mall you had Platinum Comics. You had two in Katipunan and more. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When I couldn't find what I wanted, I made that two hour bus ride from Manila to Dau, Mabalact that was just outside the largest American Air base outside Europe and North America, Clark Air Base. At the flea markets outside Clark, I could buy second hand (mostly) Marvel Comics. The downside was some of the time, they had this stamp or paper on it that said, "The subscription of Airman so and so or what have you." Yep, some had this subscription tags on them. Sometimes, they didn't. But did I care? Nope. Beggars cannot be choosers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I picked up the early Punisher series – Circle of Blood and continued it when one Whilce Portacio became its penciller (Mike Baron was writing it, Scott Williams inking and Jim Novak doing letters). That was Punisher #8. Whilce drew like some Japanese artist. The name wasn’t Japanese so I wondered if he was Hispanic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In 1991, Fil Barbasa told me that he was bringing over Whilce Portacio who he said was a Filipino. At that time, I followed Whilce onto X-Factor, a comic I never really collected except for its first three issues). And that was amazing stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In 1991, Fil confirmed that Whilce was Pinoy and he had invited him over for some promos (since he was on Uncanny X-Men at that time). When Whilce arrived in January of 1992, being good friends with Fil (he went on to become ninong to my son Matt along with CATS’ Billy Lim-It), he said, interview Whilce. Fil also knew that back then while working at an ad agency, I also wrote for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back in college, I wrote for the Inquirer and did part time work at McDonald’s New fro tier to earn extra money for dates, and buying comics and records. I also augmented my earnings by doing the homework of some of my classmates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Anyways, that February 1992 article on Whilce was the first ever article about him anywhere. And I was immensely proud of that. That actually opened the door for me writing about comics – Gerry Alanguilan’s Wasted, writing about Alex Ross’ Marvels, and others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">However, prior to that an incident prompted me to sell my entire collection to Fil Barbasa for 20,000 bucks. A King’s ransom back then but considering it was a complete collection of X-Men #1-204, it was a good price. And this was 1988 currency. Inflated but not what it is today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">During one class while in college (I had already sold my comics to Fil Barbasa), I saw a classmate of mine reading Uncanny X-Men Annual #11 written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Alan Davis. The X-Men went up against Horde and featured Havok. He returned to the team in Uncanny X-Men #119 if I am not mistaken. I asked my classmate if I could read it and he lent it to me during class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">While reading it, my professor asked me a question. It is a good thing I studied and was paying attention prior to my reading the comic. I was able to answer the question leaving him to say, “Okay, you may go back to reading your comic book.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The next day, I marched into Filbar’s except they sold out on Uncanny X-Men Annual #11. So I got my copy at Comic quest at the old PCI Bank Arcade. Then I picked up the Excalibur prestige format debut and went got into the Fall of the Mutants storyline. I was back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I tried to buy back my old collection from Fil Barbasa but he refused to sell it back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">How big a fan was I of Marvel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My eldest son’s name is Matthew. I named him after Matthew Murdock aka Daredevil. DD is my fave character outside the X-Men. I got into DD when Gil Kane was drawing the book and read it to this day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And I guess like the old school fans, I wrote letters to the editor. I wrote after the death of Jean Grey in Uncanny X-Men #137 (not because she died, but I guess, how tastefully and heroically the story was). I wrote to Mark Gruenwald to tell him how much I enjoyed the Captain America and Diamondback storyline. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Four of the five Marvel Comics where I had a letter printed.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But my first letter to be printed in the pages of a Marvel comic was Daredevil #358 followed by Groot #3, Power-Man and Iron Fist #3, and Silver Surfer #200. I also have an issue of Fantastic Four where I had a letter printed. This was during Karl Kessel’s run (unfortunately, I lost that comic to Ondoy).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In fact, when I stopped reading Marvel and all other comics after my outrage over AvX, the Cap-Nazi story, and Steve Rogers not being Cap (for the nth time), I wrote a very scathing letter to Marvel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was upset. I was the fan who read and bought a lot of comics. I even defended Marvel from Todd McFarlane who I engaged in an online debate several years ago after he took shots at the company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As a fan, I read Marvel and other comics from cover to cover. I poured over the soapboxes, bulletins, letter cols, and even the ads. Yes, the ads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I also submitted entries for No-Prizes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When I was working in New York, I would sometimes camp outside the Marvel offices at Park Avenue south waiting for anyone (we didn’t know who was who so we figured anyone carrying a portfolio bag was a freelancer) we could hand over our scripts, resumes, artwork. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I wrote a story for Cap titled, “A Line in the Sand” and one for the X-Men titled, “Monaco” that was inspired by an old Modesty Blaise story that I read. Yes, I love Modesty Blaise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One time, Alex Ross was signing books at Midtown comics and I didn’t go to work that day. How long was that line? For those who have been to Midtown Comics in West 40<sup>th</sup> Manhattan, you are close to Times Square. And the line for Alex Ross reached all the way to Port Authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When I got up to Alex, he asked, what do you want me to write? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I said, “Can you write, ‘Happy Birthday, Ricky?’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Is it your birthday now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Got proof of that? Your driver’s license?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I showed him my license and Alex stood up and said, “It’s Rick’s birthday today and I’m signing all his books.” Some guys in the line said, “It’s my birthday too!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yeah, yeah, laughed off Alex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">During book signings in the US, you can only have two or three books signed at one time. if you have any more, you go back to the end of the line to have the rest signed. It is actually good practice. Except that isn’t practiced here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Unfortunately, I lost almost all those Alex Ross books – signed Marvels, Kingdom Come, and the over-sized treasury editions to Ondoy. Only three survived Ondoy – Mythology, Liberty and Justice, and a sketch book. I do have video of that signing with Alex but it is on Video8 cassette. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have been able to buy back all those lost Alex Ross works and more. However, they are not signed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jiggy asked me to distill 80 years or my 50-plus years on this Earth reading Marvel into my three stories that define an era.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I chose X-Men #137 The death of Jean Grey/Phoenix because this was a storyline that ran for 40 issues over a four-year span. The comics if I am not mistaken were bi-monthly for a while. The gradual story made it a great one. There was anticipation and proper development of an X-Men canon that still exists to this day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My copies of Daredevil #227-233 that I bought way back in 186-87.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I chose the Daredevil “Born Again” arc from #227-223. That was the beginning of these grim and gritty stories. Frank Miller brought a crime noir storytelling approach to comics and became the template for everyone wannabe who shows a hero’s breakdown and descent into madness before finding redemption. Plus, it is a powerful story that even the Netflix version of DD borrowed from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And lastly, Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross. Aside from the different point of view of the story – an ordinary man – this brought to fore painted comics. Deep story telling returned (that Busiek brought to Astro City). It was also a series that made Easter Eggs popular; ones that were copied heavily by the MCU.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The second time I stopped reading Marvel and comics in general was four years ago. I stopped because I was not happy with this Captain America as a Nazi storyline, the legacy characters, and constant reboots. Plus, I was upset at what marvel was doing to the X-Men. You cannot tell me that Cyclops is a bad guy and that One More Day is a good story by any chance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I went back after one dinner with now Marvel Editor-in-chief CB Cebulski. I joined Jiggy Cruz, Leinil Yu, and CB for dinner at BGC and he took me aside. Both CB and I read the same comics, liked the same creators, and felt generally the same about what was wrong with comics today. He also knew that I had stopped reading and sold a lot of my comics after I got pissed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">CB asked me, “What can I do to make you go back to reading Marvel?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I cited three things:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Send the original X-Men back to their era.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->End this Cap as a Nazi storyline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Have these legacy characters go to their own title and put Tor back in Tor, Tony Stark back in Iron Man, and Steve Rogers back as Cap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Stop all these meaningless crossovers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">CB said “Done” to the first two. The third, he was trying to cut the down and had nixed two of three proposals on his table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I do not mind diversity. I just do not think it should be rammed down our throats. You cannot tell me that this character changes his or her persona overnight. That is a joke. If it has been weaved into a storyline over time, then I and I am sure even the older fans can accept it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Comics for the younger generation are good. But do not disenfranchise your older readers who made you who you are. The newbies have no track record to begin with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Anyways, I am back reading The Immortal Hulk (that takes me back to the Bruce Jones days), House of X and Powers of X, and its spin-offs, Venom, and Daredevil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have always been a Marvel fan. I stopped twice, and I don’t think there will be a third time. When that happens, I would have shifted this Mortal Coil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Excelsior!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thanks to the SuperManila organizers Sandy Sansolis, Jacob & Eric Cabochan, and Ivan Guerrero.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-63545097129693031332019-10-20T13:00:00.000+08:002019-10-20T13:00:02.306+08:00Archie comics to feature variant Manila cover<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DIMn32KHx-A-6TmTwgeF6zvb0AYBTWzUlWxzZt6RmeL2R2Ox3D9oSYZMjjYJ5PNO-vk-O-tvs64bB1SFQLJSFBFPbrHovpgnfXQxE0LcRoax7rhxr8z7kfH0wJuv0lyzi9ZE0yXMYg/s1600/Archie+%2526+Friends.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DIMn32KHx-A-6TmTwgeF6zvb0AYBTWzUlWxzZt6RmeL2R2Ox3D9oSYZMjjYJ5PNO-vk-O-tvs64bB1SFQLJSFBFPbrHovpgnfXQxE0LcRoax7rhxr8z7kfH0wJuv0lyzi9ZE0yXMYg/s400/Archie+%2526+Friends.jpeg" width="260" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Archie comics to feature variant Manila cover</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Rick Olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">World-famous Archie Comics, celebrating its 80<sup>th</sup> year of publication this 2019, will give Filipino comic book fans an early Christmas gift when they release a variant cover of Archie and Friends Travel #1 featuring the timeless and fictional cast of teenagers at the Rizal Park in Manila.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The news was the big reveal during SuperManila Pop Culture Convention last Sunday, October 20 at the Podium in Pasig City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Painted by rising Filipino digital artist Miguel Mercado, the cover will feature Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Jughead Jones, and Reggie Mantle hamming it up for selfies in front of our national hero’s monument in Luneta.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The comic book, a special project by local comic book specialty shops Filbar’s and Comic Odyssey, is slated for release this late November and is the first ever Philippine retailer exclusive cover by Archie Comics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Archie has enjoyed a revival in 2015 after its relaunch by chief creative officer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and the relaunch of the flagship title, Archie, that featured a modern take by noted writer Mark Waid and artist Fiona Staples. That success has translated into a television series, Riverdale, developed by the CW that is currently in its fourth season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mercado has previously illustrated covers for Robotech, Sea of Stars, Sparrowhawk, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, and Lady Mechanika among many others. His work on Archie and Friends Travel #1, is a fulfillment of a childhood dream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I grew up reading Archie and I was very happy for the opportunity to do this more so with the cover in a Philippine setting,” said Mercado during the SuperManila Pop Culture Convention opening last Friday, October the 18<sup>th</sup>. “I chose the Rizal Park because it is iconic and what better place to set the Archie characters there. I am happy with the work I have done but this is something definitely enjoyable.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Added Filbar’s President Jacob Cabochan, “Miguel’s aesthetic has a way of blurring time and space. Somehow, he makes old school charm feel both current and nostalgic. It’s uncanny.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For his part, Comic Odyssey’s Sandy Sansolis said that this retailer exclusive “shows how important the Philippine market has become.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The SuperManila Pop Culture Convention was organized by Filbar’s and Comic Odyssey.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-88991387228051790812019-10-15T20:38:00.000+08:002019-10-15T20:38:28.791+08:004 things to do this SuperManila Pop Culture Convention<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 things to do this SuperManila Pop Culture Convention<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Rick Olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MANILA, PHILIPPINES – It will be Christmas in October when Filipino pop culture fans get to stuff their goodie bags in the first ever SuperManila Pop Culture Convention at the Podium in Pasig City this October 18-20.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SuperManila Pop Culture Convention offers local fans three days of comic book signings from a battalion of Pinoy comic book legends and stars, but also panels featuring top creators, exclusive toys, a sneak preview of an upcoming Filipino variant of a comic book, artwork, and more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are four things for the Filipino fan to do in these three days of geek bliss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Meet this galaxy of Filipino talent<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filipino illustrators have worked in American comics since the 1970s beginning with Tony de Zuniga, Nestor Redondo, Steve Gan, Alfredo Alcala, Ernie Chan, Romeo Tanghal, Danny Bulanadi, and many others. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilce Portacio and Rafael Kayanan carried the torch for Filipino talent in the 1980s when they worked the Punisher and The Fury of Firestorm respectively. And they presided over the second wave of talent that made a splash with the independent comics boom of the 1990s. Among those creators who came up from Portacio’s Starfire Visuals that was located at 55 Balete Drive in Quezon City include Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, Jay Anacleto, Roy Allan Martinez, Edgar Tadeo, Gilbert Monsanto, and Ryan Orosco who all worked on various titles for the burgeoning Image Comics<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this new millennium, a whole cavalcade of other creators have made names for themselves. Lan Medina is the first Filipino to win the prestigious Eisner Award for his work on Vertigo Comics’ Fables. Fans will get to meet Pol Medina (Pugad Baboy), Harvey Tolibao, Carlo Pagulayan, Stephen Segovia, Mico Suayan, Rod Espinosa, and many more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Check out the FOUR Funko Pop exclusives for SuperManila! <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Philippines is acknowledged as one of the biggest pop culture collectors’ markets and this weekend, fans are in for a treat when the exclusive Funko Pops of the Arkham Asylum Purple Chrome Joker, the corrupted Venom, glow-in-the-dark Phoenix, and Harley Quinn as Robin Pop become available!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Attend those informative, exciting, and geeky panels. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Panels are a staple of pop culture conventions and one of the biggest attractions. There will be several panels with two each hosted by noted fans and hosts Jay Ignacio of local alternative band, Da Pulis, Jiggy Cruz and Jason Inocencio. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ignacio will moderate the “A Look Back at the 55 Balete” panel on Saturday, October 19 at 2pm. That address – 55 Balete – was the location of Starfire Visuals, the studio put up by Whilce Portacio that opened doors for Leinil Yu, Gerry Alanguilan and others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sunday, October 20 panels will have Cruz moderating the “Make Mine Marvel” panel at 12 noon as well as the “Spider-Talk” panel at 3pm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inocencio will preside over The Creator Focus at 2pm where he sits down Whilce Portacio and Rafael Kayanan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Await the big reveal of the exclusive Filipino variant of an upcoming comic.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SuperManila organizers have promised that the big reveal of this Filipino cover variant of an upcoming comic will be senses shattering!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the success of the Wave cover variants of the New Agents of Atlas and Aero comics, prepare to be astonished when this timeless character is given love and a taste of sugar by one of our rising artists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And speaking of Wave, during the convention, fans are encouraged to sign the petition for the character’s very own Funko Pop and Marvel Comic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are a fan of pop culture, then the SuperManila Pop Culture Convention this weekend is the place to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The SuperManila Pop culture Convention is organized by Filbar’s and Comic Odyssey, </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-52293514733194980492019-10-10T21:30:00.000+08:002019-10-10T21:30:00.756+08:00Fil-Am artist & Hollywood trainer & stunt man Rafael Kayanan to grace SuperManila<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fil-Am artist & Hollywood trainer & stunt man Rafael Kayanan to grace SuperManila</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the first SuperManila Pop culture Convention unfolds this coming October 18-20 at the Podium in Pasig City, it will be quite a homecoming for Rafael Kayanan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 56-year old Kayanan was born in Manila but migrated to the United States when he was eight. His last trip back home was when he was 12 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kayanan made a name for himself illustrating the adventures of DC Comics’ Fury of Firestorm about a nuclear-powered hero from 1984-86. He jumped into the world of independent comics after where he worked on Hawkmoon for First Comics and Phaze for Eclipse Comics. In the 1990s, he caught even more attention drawing Conan the Adventurer and the Amazing Spider-Man for Marvel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He will be joined in SuperManila by Whilce Portacio, another Filipino who migrated to the United States in the 1980s and became a big name back in the late 1980s up the mid-990s when he worked on titles such as The Punisher, X-Factor, and Uncanny X-Men for Marvel Comics, and his self-produced, Wetworks, for Image Comics, and other current Pinoy stars like Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, Elmer Damaso, Mico Suayan, Edgar Tadeo, Carlo Pagulayan, and many others for this massive gathering of Filipino talent in comics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What makes Kayanan’s run on Conan poignant is that he followed the great Alfredo Alcala, Ernie Chan, and Tony de Zuniga – all Filipinos -- who worked on that character that was created by the great Robert E. Howard. “I believe many Filipinos like Alcala, Chan, and de Zuniga were what black and white magazines like Savage Sword of Conan needed due to their exceptional depiction of value and texture. Unless (American) John Buscema was going to ink his own work, very few could ink his open and loose breakdowns, and make it look good for that format.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kayanan’s own work on Conan (that was published in 1994) was highly detailed and emotive. There was an energy to the art work that made the title jump out at the reader from the cover alone.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Most of the time, it was surreal drawing characters I had grown up reading,” reflected Kayanan about his work on the four-colored page that is comics. “One through line was my history with the classic Spider-Man story, ‘The Death of Gwen Stacy.’ Gerry Conway wrote that story and he was the writer on my first comics job. When we met in New York, he invited me to my first ever Broadway show. Little did I know that many years later, I would be the main illustrator for Julie Taymor’s Spider-Man on Broadway; illustrating that same Gwen Stacy story that Gerry wrote.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, Kayanan eventually made the jump elsewhere. To Hollywood in fact where he put his master-level status for Sayoc Kali (a martial art that makes use of edged weapons) to good use. He has choreographed fight sequences and trained actors Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones (for The Hunted), Sam Rockwell (in George Clooney’s Confessions of A Dangerous Mind), and NCIS: Los Angeles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“No matter where I have traveled in the world, people have seen The Hunted or an episode I did on NCIS: LA. Sayoc being featured in a mainstream American film like The Hunted forged the way for Filipino Martial Arts into action scenes from John Wick to Mission: Impossible, Game of Thrones, and the Bourne Identity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sayoc Kali is acknowledged to be the “art of the blade” that was developed by the late Pamahana Tuhon, Chris Sayoc Sr.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regarding working with Hollywood elite, Kayanan shared this: “As far as working with talent like LL Cool J, Liam Neeson, Priyanka Chopra, Benicio del Toro, or Sam Rockwell, one standout story for me is working with Fil-American actor, Ernie Reyes Jr. Literally, Ernie was the sole Filipino face of Hollywood as an action hero. Ernie has been away while raising a family and I reached out to him to see if he’d like to guest star on an episode of NCIS: LA.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The New York-based Kayanan is proud of all the Filipino talent making waves in international comics today. “They are all amazing,” enthused Kayanan. “They have such diverse styles and I am always curious when I see a Filipino name in the credits.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I really look forward to seeing the comic book culture in Manila,” said Kayanan. “It would be nice to meet the fans and the other pros. I met a few of them years ago in the DC Comics offices. It would be a blast to meet them all again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The SuperManila Pop Culture Convention is organized by Filbar’s, Comic Odyssey, Rocketsweep, Hot Toys, Funko, Lego, Pilot, and Epik. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-49560727751915515052019-08-11T09:07:00.000+08:002019-08-11T09:07:00.654+08:00Darna adds to the growing Filipino-themed Funko Pops & toys<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: center;">Darna adds to the growing Filipino-themed Funko Pops & toys</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just when you think it couldn’t get any hotter after the best-selling Jollibee Funko Pop, the latest Filipino themed vinyl product featuring fictional super heroine, Darna, is selling like crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the superheroine, created by the late comic book writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo in 1950, has added to a cool and already impressive line of local characters including the best-selling and popular Manny Pacquiao Pop (available as a boxer or basketball player), Aswang, Siokoy, White Lady, and Jollibee (two version including the original mascot and one in a Barong Tagalog).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A similar line of vinyl toys on legendary Filipino band, The Eraserheads, designed by Korean wunderkind Coolrain Lee for local toy shop, Secret Fresh, are considered collector’s items.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under the heading, Ravelo Komiks Universe, Darna, listed as #23 in Funko Pop Comics, has been a certified best-seller at Big Boys Toy Store, the exclusive seller of the Darna Pop, with its branches in Shoppesville Greenhills, Fisher Mall and Century Mall.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2011, Funko Pops have taken pop culture fans by storm with its impressive, creative, and eye-candy line of vinyl figurines and bobbleheads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big Boys co-owner Sean Madrazo shed some light on the development of the Darna Funko Pop. “As the biggest dealer of the toys in the Philippine market, Big Boys has been pushing for more Filipino characters to be developed. We have been trying to get iconic Philippine characters designed to make Funko Pops more relatable to the Philippine market.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shared pop culture fan J.A. Lukban, “I think the Darna Funko Pop is historic because we are getting recognized as a toy collecting country. It adds to one of the vehicles that opens our rich culture to the rest of the world. We recently had Wave as a highly-publicized Filipino Marvel superhero who is also now in a game. Then there is Trese being developed into a Netflix series. It is a very interesting time to be a pop culture fan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Revealed Madrazo, “Twice in the last several years, we tried to acquire the rights to the Pugad Baboy characters, but they are just too expensive. It isn’t easy as it sounds. We need to consider that we need to sell enough to make the minimum order quantity. Darna, because of all the local comic book characters, is the most well-known.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And despite a price tag that fetches over a thousand pesos for the Darna Funko Pop, it has not deterred fans from purchasing them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Funko Pops were all designed by Mindstyle, an American Brand Development and Creative House headquartered in China. “These Pops are only available in the Philippine market,” clarified Madrazo. “Our main goal is to make the world of collectors realize there is a big and strong local collecting market here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the Darna Funko Pop, Madrazo hinted at another Philippine exclusive in the works. He declined to mentioned what it is merely teasing, “Watch out for it soon!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-47486174787504814292019-07-30T07:48:00.002+08:002019-07-30T07:48:50.982+08:00Leinil Yu takes on Marvel’s X-Men comics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leinil Yu takes on Marvel’s X-Men comics</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filipino superstar comic book artist Leinil Francis Yu will be taking on Marvel Comics’ X-Men beginning this October.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marvel officials announced the development last week at the San Diego Comic-Con where Yu will team up with superstar writer Jonathan Hickman who has taken it upon himself to lift the long-standing comic book characters back to an elite position; one they enjoyed from the 1980s to about the late-1990s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yu just came off a stint on Captain America with renowned writer Ta-Nehisi Coates with an Uncanny X-Men one-shot in between. We spoke to the busy and in-demand artist about the upcoming gig on X-Men and he had a lot to say about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Jonathan (Hickman) came up with this completely fresh storyline that blew me away when CB (Cebulski, Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief) told me a few months ago,” revealed Yu. “The story is not only fun to illustrate but also challenging given Hickman’s intricate storylines. More importantly for me, it casts some of my favorite X-Men!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The artist refused to divulge the plot. “All I can say that it takes place in outer space,” teased Yu. “You have to read it but it’s all worth the wait.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the looks of the promotional art released during the San Diego Comic-Con, the book revolves around the Summers family that includes Cyclops, Havok, Corsair, Vulcan, Cable, Marvel Girl, Rachel Summers, and the only character not related by family, Wolverine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hickman’s work on House of X and Powers of X are laying the groundwork of X-Men stories to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yu is a long-time X-Men fan who cites the sci-fi story arcs and the alternate realities as some of his favorites. “The Age of Apocalypse is memorable for me,” said Yu who also pointed out the work by then X-Men artists Joe Madureira, Andy Kubert, and Roger Cruz to name a few as inspiring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One particular storyline that remains a favorite was the X-Men graphic novel, “God Loves Man Kills” that was written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Brent Anderson and published way back in 1982. That story is in a nutshell the crux of the X-Men mythos and served as an inspiration for the film, X2. That story is oft cited as the best X-Men story ever told if not one of the medium’s best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">House of X was just released internationally while Powers of X is also arriving before the month of July’s end. Hickman’s and Yu’s X-Men #1 is scheduled for an October release. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-29277582399948697592019-05-12T20:30:00.000+08:002019-05-12T20:30:07.274+08:00Filipina superhero Wave comic launch and signing draws thousands of fans <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">With the great Mico Suayan who did the covder to this New Agents of Atlas #1 variant cover</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Filipina superhero Wave comic launch and signing draws thousands of fans </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several hundred old and new comic book fans trooped to Comic Odyssey at the Robinson’s Galleria for the signing of the New Agents of Atlas #1 from Marvel Comics that hit the shelves of comic book shops last Wednesday, May 8, all over the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A variant cover of the maiden issue of New Agents of Atlas that is tied in with the current War of the Realms event features the first-ever Filipino superhero in the Marvel Universe, Wave, as drawn by Pinoy comics illustrator Mico Suayan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the announcement was made about the development of the character who was jointly developed by American writer Greg Pak and Filipino superstar artist Leinil Francis Yu, the country took notice as it came at a time when the world was gearing up for Avengers Endgame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the result, is a runaway best seller. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Sandy Sansolis, owner of top local specialty shop Comic Odyssey, he ordered 4,000 copies of the Suayan-illustrated cover and during the Saturday, May 11 launch and signing with Suayan at the Robinson’s Galleria, the title was close to selling out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“On my part, it is the best-selling comic book ever,” he quipped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Normally, a best-selling title sells for about 400-500 copies, but the excitement surrounding the character has generated a lot of interest,” related Sansolis. “I was looking at the orders coming in and they were from all over the country. And about half of those who ordered are females with many of them first time comic book buyers. It’s good for comics and good for the character in general.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“And I noticed from the orders than there weren’t fans buying multiple copies. These are fans getting one for themselves and this is a really encouraging thing. Because it creates interest for the medium.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sansolis’ son, Nick, added that comic Odyssey also received a lot of inquiries from regional comic book retailers. “This is literally a big thing,” said Nick. “But we have to make sure that the local fans get their hands on a copy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celeste Clemeña is new to comic books. She previously bought a Wonder Woman comic that depicted the Amazon heroine in the Philippines, but she has never collected a comic book. Wave, who she learned about in social media, will be her first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“As a fan of the Marvel films, I felt proud that they were creating a Filipino character,” said Clemeña. She found her way to the Comic Odyssey Facebook page and immediately pre-ordered a copy of New Agents of Atlas. “There is this sense of pride about having a Filipino superhero in Marvel Comics. I hope that eventually, they include the character in the films.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twenty-three-year-old Nicki Roque came into the book signing dressed up in a homemade Wave costume making her probably the first Cosplayer of the character. “I’m a newbie comic book fan. I got in because of the Marvel films and I asked if there was a Filipino character. My boyfriend said that there was one being developed and I got really excited. I just had to get a copy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I think Wave is a perfect representation of the Filipina.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The costume took three days to create at a cost of about three thousand pesos. “I don’t know if I am the first Cosplayer to do Wave, but that doesn’t matter. What is cool is having our own superhero in Marvel Comics.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comic book fan Danry Ocampo was the first in line as he entered the mall at exactly 10am. Suayan began signing comics at 1pm. Four hours later, the line was still kilometric. “I was very much excited about this,” said Ocampo who make it a priority to pick up works done by Filipino writers and artists. “It is a proud moment for me to see a character like Wave this finally happen.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wave though isn’t the first Filipino character in comics. Filipino-American creator While Portacio had Grail in the popular 1990s series Wetworks, and Stone – both for Image Comics -- which was more related to local mythology. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Jay Ignacio of alternative rock band, Da Pulis, who himself is an avid comic book reader and collector, the character is just right. “We’ve had a lot of Filipino illustrators in the international comics business since the 1970s, and having Leinil and Mico work on this character is just right. Am looking forward to the further development of this character.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Noted Marvel Comics fan Jiggy Cruz waxed emotional about the event and the character. “In my opinion, the 22-film Marvel Cinematic Universe is the best-film viewing experience. And then you throw in Wave as well as Leinil and Mico into the mix, all I can say this is a great time to be a fan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suayan was in the United States when he received the call up to illustrate the cover. “This is something you don’t even think of twice when asked to do it. You say yes. If you’re busy, you clear your schedule. And I really put in a lot of time and love into the illustration. This is a dream of lifetime for myself and the Filipino comics fan.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-91468632145628494002019-04-30T10:58:00.002+08:002019-05-02T06:31:27.550+08:00Avengers Endgame: How this film made my entire comic book reading life flash before my eyes.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Avengers Endgame: How this film made my entire comic book reading life flash before my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></div>
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Avengers Endgame saw my entire comic book reading life flash right in front of me. As I exited the theater, my mind was ablaze. It was equal parts, “Holy Shit! Iron Man and the Black Widow are dead. Fucking hell.” and “Damn, that was a great film.” All the way to… “They did it. Steve Rogers gave up his mantle of Captain America.” I even thought back to the article in Comics Scene magazine by Marc Shapiro dating back to 1990 (yes, I still have that issue) where he wondered why Marvel could not seem to get their films right. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Boy, how things have changed, huh?<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s a lot and a whole more so bear with me in what will be a long treatise about Avengers Endgame and the 22-film saga that is now known as the Infinity Saga.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why is this the best superhero film – and one of the best in terms of fiction/action/adventure/sci-fi? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Because as the creators have shown in previous films such as Captain America Civil War and Avengers Infinity War, they can juggle a huge cast, supply enough action, balance the story with action and levity, and now, heavy drama. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When has there ever been a film where there are multiple moments where you punch the air and go, “Yeah!” or you feel your heart racing, and/or you feel emotion and your eyelids well up? <o:p></o:p></div>
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As much as I am a Tolkien fan (I got my first set of the trilogy upon graduation from grade school) and of the film trilogy of The Lord of the Rings, I didn’t cry or feel overly emotional with the end scenes for The Return of the King. Jeez. Outside a tearjerker fest such as Kramer Vs. Kramer, that other film that had me all emotional was Saving Private Ryan. But in a superhero film? <o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s crazy, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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That is because of a long-time emotional investment of the characters straight from the comic books to the films.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a long-time comics book fan (I have been reading comics for about 46 years now), comic books have really done a number on me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I felt bad when Phoenix died in Uncanny X-Men #137. And yet, I didn’t write Marvel to complain about the “death.” I accepted it, after all, comic books deaths weren’t common. Furthermore, they set it up quite well. I can accept it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I endured Karen Page’s betrayal of Matt Murdock in the opening issue of that great Daredevil saga, Born Again. And when Karen was murdered by Bullseye in the Guardian Devil arc, I too felt pained. But I continued reading my favorite character with nary a complaint.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In case you do not know, my eldest son is named Matthew. Yes, I named him after Matt Murdock who is my favorite comic book character along with Captain America and Cyclops. And the Catholic in me finds it serendipitous that the first Gospel is that of Matthew. Natch!<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the contrary, there are moments during my comic book reading history when my blood boiled and I howled for a pound of flesh. Such as when “the marriage” of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson was voided in the One More Day storyline that in my opinion stupidly rehashed a down-on-his-luck series of stories about the former, I was upset and I wrote an angry letter to Marvel and stopped reading Spider-Man. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And there was when a certain creator who likes to fuck things up showed a startling lack of imagination and brought back the original five X-Men to the present. Clearly, he likes to disassemble things such as what he did during his stint with the Avengers when the Scarlet Witch’s mental problems suddenly return and he kills off Hawkeye, Jack of Hearts, and others in one issue. How about I disassemble that writer?<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was that last straw when they turned Captain America into a Nazi. How many Cosmic Cube stories can we do? <o:p></o:p></div>
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In my anger, I fired off an angry goodbye letter to Marvel and I sold about 50% of my collection with many of the titles that came out in the last five-eight years. I kept the ones I liked from my youth and some good titles from today. <o:p></o:p></div>
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About a year ago, then-incoming Marvel Comics editor-in-chief CB Cebulski who I met through good friend Jiggy Cruz asked me over dinner, “What can I do to get you to read comic books again?” CB and I grew up reading the same comics and felt the same way about all these haphazard and contrived changes in the industry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I said, “Send the original X-Men back to their timeline.” Am working on that, he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Stop this Cap Nazi shit.” Done, he sounded pleased.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Bring back good old storytelling and stop making these stories event-driven.” Working on it, he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And, yes, I am back, although reading far fewer stuff. Nevertheless, I am a happy man again. Doubly happy because the MCU is simply amazing. A modern epic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, now you get how this roller coaster ride of emotions affects me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Film-wise. That is another story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the cover of the Blu-Ray DVD of The Avengers, there is a quote from Fandango.com’s Chuck Walton that reads: “The best superhero movie of all time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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At that time, I thought so too with plenty of competition from Iron Man, Captain America the First Avenger (and The Dark Knight film of Christopher Nolan; sorry, the succeeding films were a bit too much. Fuck! At the rate people were trying to destroy Gotham I would have moved to Smallville). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, I have to say that Avengers Endgame wrests that title (also from Captain America The Winter Soldier, Captain America Civil War, Spider-Man Homecoming, and Black Panther) just as the Infinity Gauntlet is surely taken away from Thanos by Iron Man.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And speaking of the Armored Avenger, at the end of his first movie, when Tony Stark is confronted by pressing questions from a journalist, he pauses for a moment then declares, “I am Iron Man.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” segues in and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first offering that becomes a massive hit is over. Boy, if Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships, then Iron Man launched 22 films in a saga that cannot be compared. It’s impact on film and popular culture is immeasurable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And yet, 21 films later, Stark’s last words in Avengers Endgame are, “I am Iron Man.” And he snaps his fingers and Thanos and his minions are space dust.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It comes at a shocking and painful price. Tony Stark is gone. He is a great character and Robert Downey Jr. got his essence and being. I just realized that Stark has cheated death on numerous occasions. When he was nearly killed by his own bombs in the Afghan desert. When he was nearly fried by an overloaded arc reactor that claimed the life of the Iron Monger (Obadiah Stane). When his home was bombed. When he was nearly consumed by nuclear fire at the end of The Avengers. He was cast adrift in space with the oxygen almost used up. He survived Thanos and the first snap. But not the third. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And then when Cap got old. In the comics, they have done that time and again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the MCU, he finally got his wish to settle down with Peggy Carter. And that dance they discussed back at the end of World War II? Done. A just reward for everything this Man Out of Time endured. How emotional was this? Man, I teared up. A perfect ending to a great saga. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Many people surmised Cap’s death given actor Chris Evans’ expressed desire to move on since spending 11 years doing Marvel films. Ditto with Robert Downey Jr. So it stands to reason, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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But who saw the Black Widow’s death?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The moment Black Widow and Hawkeye went to Vormir to ambush Thanos, I thought of the possibility that one of them might lose their life. After all, they weren’t super-powered. And Natasha did. But not in the manner of what I or anyone for the matter expected.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Prior to the screening, the only outcome I could predict for Avengers Endgame was Thanos was going to be beat. How, I didn’t know. Time travel? Yes. But how they did it was amazing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When the Avengers learn that Thanos destroyed the gems (and Thor in a fit of rage decapitates him), they are once more forlorn. It seems that there is no hope to undo the damage of the snap. Until Scott Lang returns from the Quantum Realm where time has different laws.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That is when they plan this time heist. And how!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love the fact that the Avengers had difficulty trying to achieve their objective of stealing the Infinity Gems at different intervals. That nothing was easy, that they showed other scenes behind these scenes at the Stark Tower, the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Ancient One, Morag, Vormir, Asgard, and Camp Lehigh.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To go back to certain events in the MCU and offer other scenes whether as a fan service or not is a treat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I loved how Tony met his dad Howard Stark and on that day where he was going to celebrate the birth of his son (Tony) was amazing. It was a great great moment considering what he lost (his parents to the Winter Soldier) and potentially to another snap. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And to see James D’Arcy who played Jarvis in ABC’s short-lived but great series, Agent Carter, was amazing! Truly amazing cameo indeed. Nice tip of the hat to the series for the fans. Isn't it great they brought in a larger cast of people who populated the MCU Universe? Fan service indeed!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I know it was a joke when Cap said, “Hail Hydra” and I suddenly shuddered to think of that idiot’s stories that turned Cap into a murdering Nazi. So thank God when Cap finally ordered, “Avengers Assemble!” before that climactic battle with Thanos’ hordes. You kind of take that for granted in the comics.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love how the Peter David stories of the 1990s – the smart Hulk was used. It made a lot of sense to see the Hulk look like Mark Ruffalo. I totally love what Ruffalo brought to the table as Bruce Banner. While Edward Norton – who was amazing in my opinion as he brought that fragile nature to the star-crossed scientist – was great, I think Ruffalo brings that that natural shyness and with a sense of humor as well as a hint of danger to Banner. And seeing it all coalesce into the smart Hulk was a highlight for me and for many long-time Hulk fans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And speaking of physical changes, I loved how they gave Thor a beer belly! And they had him fight that way for the rest of the film. Thank God, he wasn’t turned into a frog the way Thor writer-artist Walt Simonson did back in the 1980s. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love how the first part of the film dealt with the Avengers (and the rest of the world’s losses) with others suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. This was the part of the heavy acting with Rogers now taking the place of Sam Wilson in the VA counseling those going through grief, Natasha turning to drink (like Tony Stark did in the Iron Man comic book arc “Demon In A Bottle”), Hawkeye turning into Ronin but acting like the Punisher, Hulk working in a diner, Thor retired to New Asgard drinking beer and playing video games all day, and Tony the only one better for the post-snap period. And Scott Lang’s return was incredible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is what makes these stories (and Marvel Comics which started this trend of four-colored storytelling by humanizing the heroes and giving them all sorts of everyday <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love how Scott and Clint Barton were tempted by getting in touch with who they lost. And Cap fighting his younger self and quoting Lang’s quip about, “America’s ass.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then the second act where in true comic book fanboy style… it’s the hunt. The hunt for comics in fanboy culture and the hunt for the Infinity Gems. And it is never easy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I loved how Thor looked so vulnerable and awkward in confronting Frigga on the day that she dies. Imagine the conflict raging inside him as he wants to save her but she will have none of it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ditto with Barton who tries to give his life for the soul gem, but Natasha gives hers instead. It is one of the movie’s shocking, thought-provoking moments. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And then there is the third and final act when Bruce Banner snaps everyone back into life. And then the old vicious Thanos who prior to collecting the Infinity Gems is brought back by the old Nebula. And a massive fight continues.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When all seems lost and Cap is facing Thanos, the Black Order, and all their hordes, he hears a familiar voice echoing what he said in The Winter Soldier, “On your left.” Aww, man! I felt my heart flutter and the old fanboy in me go, “Yeah!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then there’s Cap's battle cry, “Avengers Assemble!” Damn! Damn! Damn! <o:p></o:p></div>
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The floodgates of tears, joy, excitement, and pure love of the medium, the characters, and the genre exploded. It’s a cacophony of delight and of everything I have loved all these decades. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I thought of my very first Avengers comic (#142 written by Steve Englehart and drawn by George Perez and Vince Colletta where the Avengers go back in time courtesy of Immortus and meet Western heroes Night Rider, Rawhide Kid, Ringo Kid, and Two-Gun Kid who have hooked up with Hawkeye. This was reprinted locally and my mom bought it for me at the old Cherry Foodarama when I was five years old).<o:p></o:p></div>
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I thought of my first Cap comic (#193 that kicked off the Mad Bomb epic as written and drawn by Jack Kirby to celebrate America’s Bicentennial) that my aunt bought for me at the old Army Navy Club along Roxas Boulevard. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I thought of my first Iron Man comic book (#123 which is part four of the Demon in a Bottle story arc) written by David Michelinie and Bob Layton with art by John Romita Jr. and Layton that my grandfather bought for me at the commissary of the old Clark Air Base.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I thought of my first Thor comic (#244 where Thor went up against the Time Twisters in a story by Len Wein and art by John Buscema and Joe Sinnott) that my grandfather bought at a PX store in Tarlac.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And speaking of Thor, I love how Mjolnir finds its way into Cap’s hands (that was first teased in Avengers Age of Ultron) and he goes toe-to-toe with Thanos. But even he and Captain Marvel are beaten. Leaving it to Iron Man to save the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And I guess, the death adds to the impact of the story. If they all survived, it would have diminished the impact just as it did in the Infinity Gauntlet storyline in comics. Like nothing had happened. Here something did. And it hits the Avengers and it hits us as the audience. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That is why is makes it all the more powerful. You come away touched by it. Good things touch you in so many ways. They tug at your heartstrings. And bring you back to happy places. Such as those days as a kid when I was introduced to comics and superheroes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And that brings me back to Iron Man.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The film version of Tony Stark might not be with us anymore (unless the make him that ghost in the machine in the early issues of Iron Heart that I stopped reading), but I have good memories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ones that go back even back to my first comic. To those old Lawrence-Gantray cartoons of the 1960s that I loved as only a kid can. I remember coming home from school (around Grade 1) and my mom and my younger sister would help me get dressed and these Marvel cartoons would be showing. I'd be transfixed for the next 15 minutes and they fed my imagination.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And to this day, I hum and sing those words of that old Iron Man cartoon: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“Tony Stark makes you feel<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>He’s a cool exec with a heart of steel<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>As Iron Man all jets ablaze<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>He’s fighting and smiting with repulsor rays.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Amazing armor. That’s Iron Man.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>A blazing power. That’s Iron Man.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks to everyone who made all these 22 films.<br />
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Thanks to everyone who built the Marvel Universe.<br />
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You made this old fanboy cry.<br />
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Love you 3000.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-55310455094163475332019-04-03T08:44:00.001+08:002019-04-03T08:44:11.672+08:00Ultraman is on Netflix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnHU_Jn15J4WcG0AoUjdFPDf4rcAJBPcuqeKIsG9rg86582JEmoFlK9JZCa87uiH9_vQL9waMlnZ597pjrRVdN8fjDAU96hTbuXQzqDagCmRSGGlAvC5IkdKWOfd6KS6-tOyjXVO2Kg/s1600/Ultraman+Netflix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnHU_Jn15J4WcG0AoUjdFPDf4rcAJBPcuqeKIsG9rg86582JEmoFlK9JZCa87uiH9_vQL9waMlnZ597pjrRVdN8fjDAU96hTbuXQzqDagCmRSGGlAvC5IkdKWOfd6KS6-tOyjXVO2Kg/s640/Ultraman+Netflix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was a fan of the old Ultraman series and am an even bigger fan of the newer manga stories so it is great to see the adaptation on Netflix.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-14150971865759888752019-03-28T15:58:00.002+08:002019-03-28T15:58:57.188+08:00Back collecting Uncanny X-Men<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0296kshb8VdUItC1p6ziMNnxcnznt3KbZmdJkfjHGG60pJECAQhppXuAnZcQJja0piLdfEUoiLXPXDMG7O7lkicYmCaU-ItA1oHjWIl8_rDC6lFYHHB_YJfirKHv7vJyusvMGnwGMhA/s1600/55557183_10156847998615630_6971014732119539712_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0296kshb8VdUItC1p6ziMNnxcnznt3KbZmdJkfjHGG60pJECAQhppXuAnZcQJja0piLdfEUoiLXPXDMG7O7lkicYmCaU-ItA1oHjWIl8_rDC6lFYHHB_YJfirKHv7vJyusvMGnwGMhA/s640/55557183_10156847998615630_6971014732119539712_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-78697601878922431692019-03-25T15:57:00.000+08:002019-03-28T15:57:38.096+08:00Toymaker uses discarded flipflops to make Voltes V, robot toys<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Toymaker uses discarded flipflops to make Voltes V, robot toys</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the unconventional hits and attractions during the Retro Con last weekend, March 22-24 at Ali Mall at the Araneta Center, were these toy robots of Voltes V, Mekanda Robo, and Mobile Suit Gundam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Except they are all made out of discarded flip flops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Wala ako mga laruan nung bata ako so natuto ako gumawa ng sarili ko,” related toymaker Elmer Padilla who hails from Imus, Cavite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Padilla wasn’t born yet when Voltes V was first shown on Philippine television during the summer of 1978. When he saw it the second time around he was hooked. “Grabe kasi yung mga kuwento,” described the now 41-year old of his love for this classic Japanese anime. “Yung mga struggle nila, at yung mga issues sa isa’t isa, parang totoong buhay. Siyempre, yung action ibang klase. Na-hook ako.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unable to afford the shiny and expensive mech toys from Japan, Padilla began to make his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Nung first time ko gumawa ng sariling kong laruan na Voltes V, inabot ako ng dalawang araw at marami akong nasirang mga tsinelas,” he chuckled at the memory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nowadays, making them is second nature. Although unconventional in the material used, Padilla says, his versions of these beloved robots have been steady sellers. They sell for as much as PhP1,000 for the two-foot creations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Hindi lang naman para sa sariling entertainment ko yung pagawa ko ng mga ito. Gusto ko rin ipahiwatig sa mga bata na kaya rin nila gumawa ng sarili nilang laruan ko hindi nila ma-afford yung mga mamahaling laruang banyaga.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he doesn’t make these mall appearances, Elmer sells his homemade toys on his Facebook page (Elmer Padilla). “Nagulat din ako kasi meron din mga Voltes V collectors na bumibili ng gawa ko. Unique daw. Nakakataba ng puso.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When asked if he hopes this will also attract the attention of foreign toymakers as well as the Voltes V creators, Elmer simply smiled that would be a dream opportunity. However, right now, he is happy making toys for poor kids with dreams of owning some cool toys such as Voltes V. Even if they are only made of slippers.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-16073701525839670072019-03-10T19:04:00.000+08:002019-03-10T19:04:01.627+08:00New Marvel Comics superhero Wave is from Cebu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8MmKF3UI2k9gaqutoB8MpM02T70jzS7VTrNtbdc9TxSU3sws1nL6rAogWbrFsq57Fe-A0W73lFz-hlmvMRwDpwzFyl9SCBzHR4ZFyjjQpbjI9yutnQKIBLFB2b7gX9Ge7R23ur67ug/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-09+at+7.03.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8MmKF3UI2k9gaqutoB8MpM02T70jzS7VTrNtbdc9TxSU3sws1nL6rAogWbrFsq57Fe-A0W73lFz-hlmvMRwDpwzFyl9SCBzHR4ZFyjjQpbjI9yutnQKIBLFB2b7gX9Ge7R23ur67ug/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-03-09+at+7.03.34+PM.png" width="335" /></a><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">New Marvel Comics superhero Wave is from Cebu</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">American film director and comic book writer Greg Pak Tweeted today, March 9, the creation of a Filipina superhero in the Marvel Universe who will make her debut in the upcoming series War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spoke with artist Leinil Francis Yu who designed the character and the superstar artist spilled the beans on the heroine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Wave (the name of the character) was conceived by Greg Pak and Marvel and I came in with the design with their initial notes,” said Yu who recently wrapped up a stint on Captain America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The character is from Cebu,” bared the artist. “Her name is tentatively, ‘Pearl Pangan’ and her powers are water and tech based.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yu was ecstatic that her got to be a part of comic book history. “It was great and something I’ve always wanted but had a hard time getting in terms of good timing. It is a good thing this opportunity arose.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">War of the Realms will be released this coming May and will introduce Asian heroes to the Marvel Comics universe. The crossover event will be penned by Pak and drawn by Gang Hyuk-Lim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the series, Wave will play a pivotal role in defending Asia from Thor villain, Malekith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Previously, the Filipino superheroes in American comics were “Stone” and “Grail” who were created by Fil-American writer-artist Whilce Portacio for Image Comics during the late 1990s. Stone brought Filipino folklore creatures to a Western audience while Grail was a member of a super-powered commando team in a book titled, Wetworks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-17275843845992945432018-11-20T19:30:00.000+08:002018-11-20T19:30:17.654+08:005 Komiks you must pick up from the November Komikon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3dQzu61yL1TxK0kvqiHpIY4zyJpsG9ANvkJKj35sq_ZUnkP3yszvPljsRU6mf27H0VwsKrx2KmYW5Y7yuBYsI2zVJUEE31bPOjC62uNnSZAaeWMETuIR9_71OnXYRooKP3owS4t4zw/s1600/IMG_0291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3dQzu61yL1TxK0kvqiHpIY4zyJpsG9ANvkJKj35sq_ZUnkP3yszvPljsRU6mf27H0VwsKrx2KmYW5Y7yuBYsI2zVJUEE31bPOjC62uNnSZAaeWMETuIR9_71OnXYRooKP3owS4t4zw/s640/IMG_0291.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">5 Komiks you must pick up from the
November Komikon</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The November Komikon, a two-day
celebration of the burgeoning independent comic book scene – from November 17
and 18 at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City -- has come and gone. And as always,
we selected our favorites from the dozens of new titles that were made
available over the weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We picked up quite a lot of local
product – 45 to be exact. And I took two whole days to read and even re-read
them. I made my notes and mind you there were good ones. But these choices in
my opinion, are the best and what I recommend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melag (Anino Comics) by Bong Redila<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beauty of comics is that is
takes the reader into flights of fantasy where you suspend your disbelief and
come away with wonder. With Melag, Bong Redila tells you that you do not need
to go far from home to experience this. One of the most beautiful books you
will read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sikami Volume 6 (Pangalatoon Productions)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be honest, I got this for
Bong Redila’s beautiful “Ang Bahay Ampunan sa Mahamog.” A 30-page short story
that is moving and sensitive. Just when you think you know where this is going
then there’s a curve ball right back at you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To sum it up, it feels like a Tim
Burton film made into the comic book page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’d say that Redila is one of
those few gifted storytellers. Long may he live to do more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liryo (Anino Comics) by Magtira Paolo<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is said that during turbulent
times, some of the best songs and art are produced. Of the two books in this
list (and perhaps among the entire new batch of releases for the November
Komikon), only two books touched on the extra-judicial killings or EJK. Stay
does partially and Liryo. The story is nothing extraordinary or one that
provides something new. Not at all. But this has balls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is about broken dreams and
well, the harsh times we live in. Bravo for making this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DI-13 Commemorative Edition (Triple D Publishing) by Damy Velasquez and
Jesse F. Santos.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is nice to see that the late
Francisco Coching isn’t the only komiks legend who is having his old works
re-produced. One of the first ever Filipino komiks series – DI-13 or Department
of Investigations- Agent 13 is getting not only re-printed but also modernized
for a younger audience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing I love about this
compilation is going through each and every panel to see how everything is so
detailed and yet with the perfect balance of white space and black ink. Many of
today’s artists are heavy on blacks that most are hard to decipher what they
are trying to convey. Learn from the masters about storytelling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Dead Heart (Komikero Publishing) by Gerry Alanguilan<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Technically, a reprint. First
published via photocopy in 1996, it finally gets reprinted and I am happy
(after having lost my original copy to Ondoy). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Dead Heart is a story about
loss and dealing with that depression. A heart wrenching short story by the
living legend himself, Gerry Alanguilan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19491994384282830.post-77812082715752948732018-11-18T21:03:00.001+08:002018-11-18T21:03:32.625+08:00November Komikon Must-Reads: Bong Redila’s Melag<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUVl3JXLBCDyYCegsd9WiNnSVN6I2qOckSW2oaUTY-UdAuiNDVBb8Ecnx3aLQdVyLbN150o0adwMeAb3eS6we16Nhe5lJ0BbufQokcQOHhxPsWS8Qwh5lC6RouKua-z-xXIE_5eI6hw/s1600/IMG_0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUVl3JXLBCDyYCegsd9WiNnSVN6I2qOckSW2oaUTY-UdAuiNDVBb8Ecnx3aLQdVyLbN150o0adwMeAb3eS6we16Nhe5lJ0BbufQokcQOHhxPsWS8Qwh5lC6RouKua-z-xXIE_5eI6hw/s400/IMG_0237.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">November Komikon Must-Reads: Bong
Redila’s Melag</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by rick olivares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the first few panels to his
short comic book story, “Perya,” Bong Redila writes, “Ang kaligayahan ay
matatagpuan kung saan-saan. Noong bata pa ako, papel at tasadong lapis lang ay
masaya na ako.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These two lines sum up the wonder
and amazing read that is Melag; a wonderful trove of nine short comics written
and drawn by Bong Redila. The 126-page trade paperback, published by Anino
Comics, was made available at the Komikon last November 17 and 18 at the
Bayanihan Center in Pasig City. It will surely also be available at local comic
book specialty shops after this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each story about this familiar
yet magical town of Melag introduces you to different and nameless people.
There is no need for names for most characters, but they are all too real and
familiar. And most certainly, they – and the stories they are wrapped in -- will
put a smile on your lips as you recall your own youthful days when even a
simple walk home would find you daydreaming with the world around you terraforming
and serving as one adventure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prose is sparse. Redila
deftly makes use of words only when he needs too. For the most part, the art –
alternatingly simple, intricate, and lovingly detailed to the point you spend
quite a few minutes lost in each panel – tells the story. And you know what
they say about what a picture is worth…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it is his simple, yet
beautiful and expressive art – that reminds me of Jeremy Bastian of Cursed
Pirate Girl fame, of Mexican artist Tony Sandoval whose Doomboy is an emotive
rock and roll fable, and David Petersen who crafts the most excellent Mouse
Guard series of comics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first story, “PNR 24” reminds
me of Walter Mitty. “Liwaliw” harkens back in some way to Pixar’s animated film
“Up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Tanawin Ni Aida” has that Calvin
& Hobbes feel. “Hiling” for the life of me reminds of a Hayao Miyazaki
tale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the art of “Ang Sayaw” that
reminds me of the art of the aforementioned Petersen while “Perya” has Gaimanesque
feel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the last two short pieces,
“Arapaap” and “Bago Pumatak ang Ulan,” remind me of the art styles of those old
English fairy tales and fables. Glimpses of childhood; pleasant memories worth
revisiting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Melag, Redila perfectly
captures one’s inner child; a Ratatouille moment even for the most jaded of
comic book readers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melag is a thoroughly enjoyable
read and I found myself wracking my brain to figure out when was the last time
I read a local comic book that evoked such wonder and amazement (and I read a
lot)? Was it Arnold Arre’s Mythology Class? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could be wrong, but that is
what comes to mind. So this is not faint praise. You don’t need to take a train
to some magic castle in the English countryside to experience something
magical. Melag is close to home and this is where this comic book anthology
gets its heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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