SUMMER KOMIKON 2013 (RECAP)

Summer Komikon 2013 situational cartoon by Rommel Estanislao

Summer Komikon 2013

April 13, 2013 10:00 am - 7:00pm

Baynihan Center, Unilab compound, Pasig City

Late February this year, local comic creators started posting, or changing their Facebook profile photos or covers to chibified komik characters.  Hmmm...  Then eventually, it was revealed that the theme of this year’s Summer Komikon will be for kids.

Komikon gave away five complimentary tickets to a lucky person who had identified the most Komik characters, artists, mascots and fans from Rommel Estanislao’s epic Summer Komikon 2013 situational cartoon (seen above).

Komikon also gave away two complimentary tickets each for the first five who submitted their picture taken with a Summer Komikon 2013 poster at any National Bookstore branch, and five tickets for the first participant who submitted their picture with Summer Komikon video playing on NBS.  Entrance was 100 pesos, and for children 12 years below, it was free until 12 noon.  For those who bought tickets 0001-0100 pre-sold at Comic Odyssey Robinsons galleria, got free Komikon/Comic Odyssey loot bag with giveaways.

 Or just buy the ticket at the venue on the day of the event and get some freebies; an Orange Komikon/Comic Odyssey loot bag with event poster, komikon tabloid, and a fan; the early ones also got The Manila Bulletin newspaper, and some got Next Issue, 7-eleven Avenger card or Titus pens.  And all ticket holders can claim a free The Hobbit cup from 7-eleven.

http://www.komikon.org/summer-komikon-2013-floorplan-directory/

The event started at 10:00 am.  It was a sunny day and the crowd got bigger and bigger, big thanks to the nice air-conditioning of Bayanihan Center and 7-eleven’s free unlimited Slurpee, we forgot how hot the weather was.  Attendees, participants, exhibitors, sponsors, guest etc felt more secured as the Komikon organizers had at least eight CCTV cameras installed and monitored throughout the event.   Additional Bayanihan security guards and new floor layout - there were only one entrance and exit door open at the main hall and no one was allowed to go out through the entrance; even the Organizers.  Service doors were also closed and tightly guarded.  Komikon also appointed volunteers/marshals to provide additional security.

 

Conference room BCD - Indie Tiange and KomikoNook

The Indie Tiange was located at conference room BCD separated from the main Hall featuring 30 talented independent artists/groups.  This year, they got bigger space/table to showcase their works.  Variety of nice komiks to choose from Ikos Komiks, T-Phase, Dayo comics, Kowtow, Happy Lockjaw, Vicatan studio, Piktaw Comix, among others.  Pinoykon’s Jeffrey Benitez was also there with his own komiks Junior and Kapitan Bandila, he also sold some blank cover variants.  Also, Macoy with his sons Eiji and Eric were there with their collaborated komiks.  This year, a screen was provided so that the people in room BCD can watch what was happening on stage at the main hall; but without audio.  KomikoNOOK, where you can read komiks for free, was also in room BCD.  They added more chairs so more people can read and relax.

Inside conference room E, guests artists from Singapore; Otto Fong and C.T. Lim, talked about self-publishing in Singapore.

In conference room F, KomiKalye, where you can have your comics signed and have personal drawings from pinoy artists working for international comics like Harvey Tolibao, Carlo Pagulayan, Stephen Segovia, Heubert Khan Michael etc.

The Summer Komikon crowd Hall A and B

Halls A and B, where the main program was held.  Lots of nice things to buy, notably comics from the bins of Comic Odyssey and Comicxhub, PSICOM’s super affordable books, shirts from Moobytoons, BLACKink graphic novels with new releases such as Bloodhounds, The Reaper #2, Animen #3, Manila Vice, Angels vs Devils etc.


Paolo Fabregas

Visprint also launched new titles; Filipino Heroes League book 2 by Paolo Fabregas, Kikomachine Komiks blg. 9 by Manix Abrera, The Dark Colony book 1 by Budjette Tan/Guerrero/Tapia.  Gerry Alanguilan also had his Wasted graphic novel reprinted.  NBS launched Who is AC? By Hope Larson and illustrated by Tintin Pantoja.  NBS, Ian Sta. Maria and Mervin Ignacio had Skyworld signing; Ian also gave away some of his sketches to those who brought Skyworld graphic novels.  And the Komikon merchandise; orange loot bags, blue Summer Komikon 2013 shirts, Sulyap Anthology, and Komikon buttons.

  

Michael David - creator of Kubori Kikiam

 There were also new titles to chose from; Toto Madayag’s Kolsenter, Mark Rosario’s My Wife is Pregnant, Kai Castillo’s Agawan Base, Paolo Herras & Tepai Pascual’s Noodle Boy, Pelikomiks Studio’s Zombinoy #4, Russel Molina & Ian Sta. Maria’s Sixty Six, Lyndon Gregorio’s 12^th Beerkada book - Musikada, Ariel Atienza’s Westside (blank cover) #4, Jon Zamar’s Codename: Bathala #3, Ed Tadeo’s Jacara Zar #2,  Rh Quilantang’s Hipon Gamay #2, Michael David’s Kubori Kikiam coloring book, etc.

Ambush by Andrew Villar, Boy Ipis by Michael Ignacio, and Boy Bakal by Carlo Valenzuela, now on TPB format

Macoy’s Ang Maskot indie komiks turned indie film trailer was viewed; Ketchup Eusebio (And Maskot) was also there.  Carlojoe Javier and Bogart the Explorer were also there to promote their film Untitled Superhero Movie.

Again, Hero sausages, the best Hungarian sausages, had the sausage-eating contest.  There were lots of nice prizes for the Bring-me game, like free 50-tokens from Quantum amusement and I-On energy drink.

The Game of Thrones contest had the coolest price; The Iron Throne paper weight.

Winners from Comic Creation and Character Making contest took home some komikon goodies.  Among 30 submissions for the Character Making contest, Mila Aswang outshines the others.  Kowtow Komiks took the Indie Tiange Best Seller award and won an automatic slot on the coming 9^th Komikon.

Harvey Tolibao announced his HMT comic board winners.

Indie Tiange Moving Up ceremony introduced the first batch of graduates; Kai Castillo, Paul Michael Ignacio, Aaron Felizmeno, Mel Casipit, Wan Mananita, Rh Quilantang, Tepai Pascual, Rommel Estanislao, JP Palabon, Gio Paredes etc.

Tepai Pascual, the class valedictorian gave a very inspiring Graduation speech.

The Manila Bulletin cartoonists where called on-stage, then something happened; Rommel Estanislao’s proposal to Ails Casis.

At around 8:00 pm, the Halls were almost cleared, but still there was a crowd by the Visprint table; Manix was still signing for his fans.

It is indeed a wonderful event.  Everyone who attended would surely agree with me.  Congratulations Komikon for a wonderful experience.

If ever you missed the event, you can still catch some Indie Komiks at Comic Odyssey Robinson's Galleria, new titles available are; Wasted by Gerry Alanguilan, My Wife is Pregnant by Mark Rosario, Jacara Zar #2 by Ed Tadeo, Codename: Bathala #3 by Jon Zamar, Kubori Kikiam coloring book by Michael David, Luzviminda by Ray Magbanua, Piktaw Comix, Dayo comics, etc.

 - Kristopher Dimaano Garello

Black Ink comics

Sa halagang 69.75 pesos, makakabili ka na ng 60-plus-page graphic novel na maipagmamalaking gawang pinoy... Sadyang napaka-attractive ng covers lalo na ng Hands of the Dragon mula kay Gilbert Monsanto at mga nakaka-intriga na titles tulad ng PEPE The Lost Years of Rizal.  Lakas rin ng dateng ng Shortcuts na may tatlong one-shot stories sa isang book lalo na yun Manga-themed (favorite ko yun The Tree of Happy Leaves)... Napakahusay ng pagkakasulat ng mga kwento, lalo na ng mga gawa ni Ron Mendoza na nilapatan ng kamaghamanghang drawing tulad ni Arnel Coronel... Remarkably, napakataas ng production value, mula sa glossy colored cover hanggang sa makapal ng paper and nice print ng interior pages (except, notable na some nun mga dialogue balloon sa Manga-Shortcuts, masyado nasa gilid towards sa binding kaya hirap basahin)... Bawat title ay distict sa iba.. may variations ang kwento.. Meron tungkol sa Super Humans, Angels, Kamatayan, Vampires, Animals, mga taong may malaking Mata, atbp.. Meron rin titles na Suitable for kids like yun kay PEPE o kaya yun Fairy-tails Shortcuts kahit twisted yun istorya (favorite ko yun Another Beauty and the Beast)... Plus factor rin yun sa inside-back-cover na may konting info about sa contributors (except, wala ganito sa Shortcuts).... Sulit-na-sulit... Damang dama ko ang puso ng Black Ink na hangad nila ibalik ang Komiks sa masa..

Lalo na nung...

August 2012, the first week ng release ng Animen #1 nila Ron Mendoza and Randy Valiente sa Precious Pages branches, tumataginting na 80% off promo agad ang regalo para sa mga bibili netoh... kaya around 14 pesos lang, masisimulan mo na ang kwento ng Anim na nilalang na mayAnimalistic na kapangyariahn, sila ang Animen...

October 27, 2012, Komikon, with the contributors, ni-launch na yun other books... Nakalatag sa table ang naggagandahang mga komiks mula sa mga contributors na handang pumirma at magpapicture...

January 2013, eto ang favorite kong promo nila... When you buy any Black Ink graphic novel from Precious Pages stores, you will get a PHR pocketbook worth 37 pesos of your choice ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!.... But wait, there's more... If you are one of the first participants of the promo, you can claim a Black Ink Baller, again, for free... da best toh..

With this promo, hindi lang mahihikayat ang comic readers na bumili ng Black Ink comics, mai-introduce rin sila sa pagbabasa ng romance pocketbooks...

 

Hitting two birds with one stone...

One thing rin na gusto ko sa ginawa ng Black Ink, ay yun My Midnight... Nice rin na nilabas nila yun tatlong book ng sabay sabay... With that, yun mga nakabasa ng PHR Gothic Romance My Midnight by Camilla, magiging interesado na bumili rin ng My Midnight graphic novel... Vice versa, tulad ko, after ko matapos yun graphic novel, di ko napigilan try basahin un novel (though hanggang ngayon di ko pa tapos basahin, busy).. It worked both sides... It will be nice na mag-adapt ulit sila ng romance novel to comics..

And recently, na-distribute na rin sa branches ng National Bookstores ang Black Ink comics.. Makikita sila sa mga Philippine Literature section o kaya sa mga corner shelves o sa New Releases table o kung di mo mahanap try mo inquire sa Customer Service... Ayan na, dahil dyan,  pang masa na talaga, may availability na kahit saan since ilan lang branches ng Precious Pages... Possible kaya na makita rin natin next time na nasa Top Ten bestseller Philippine Publication na ang Black Ink comics? Possible rin kaya na in the near future, magkaroon na ng halos sariling shelf/rack sa NBS ang Black Ink tulad ng sa Philippine Ghost Stories o yun mga book ng PSICOM? o kelan kaya magkakaroon ng Philippine Graphic Novel section sa NBS para sa Black Ink together with publications form Visprint and NBS and indie creators tulad ng sa Tagalog Romance section?

Hmmmm... pano kaya manyayari yun?... any idea?...  basta sa ngayon ang wish ko lang ay magtuloy-tuloy ang ginagawa ng Black Ink, sana wag mabitin yun mga kwento, nine to twelve books/issues each pa naman yun mga titles...

Samahan natin ang Black Ink sa pagbalik sa kamalayan ng masa ang mga comics na gawang pinoy...

- Kristopher Dimaano Garello

Black Ink comics are available at Precious pages and National Bookstore branches...

Hands of the Dragon nina Jeffrey Marcelino Ong at Gilbert Monsanto (Black Ink Comics)

Sa wakas, nakabili ako ng Hands of the Dragon ng Black Ink Comics. Matagal ko nang gustong makita to dahil interesting yung mga preview nila online. Gilbert Monsanto fanboy rin kasi ako mula pagkabata. Isa pa, gusto kong suportahan ang Black Ink para magpatuloy sila sa paggawa at pag-distribute ng comics.

Unang-una, ang ganda ng cover. Drawing at kulay ni Gilbert. Gustong-gusto ko yung pagkagawa. Hindi nakakasawang tignan hehe.. Tsaka kumpara sa mga ibang cover ng Black Ink, tingin ko ito ang pinaka-catchy sa lahat.

Si Jeffrey Marcelino Ong naman ang writer ng book. Ang Hands of the Dragon ay umiikot sa kwento ni Xian Long na leader ng Zodiac Circle at ng estudyanteng si Ella. Sa dulo, magku-krus ang landas nila sa hindi inaasahang pamamaraan. English ang gamit ni Jeffrey sa book. Okay yung concept nya sa story. Nakakawiling basahin. Smooth yung pacing at transition. May tendency nga lang syang maging wordy at merong ilang pages na feeling ko, pwede namang wordless kagaya nito:

Gaya ng sabi ko kanina, si Gilbert Monsanto ang artist pero hindi sya nag-iisa rito. Tinulungan sya nina Renie Palo at Erico Calimlim (gray tones at effects) para mas gumanda ang black-and-white interior pages. Nakakatuwa rin kasi hindi ito gaya ng mga usual superhero stories na ginagawa ni Gilbert. Dito, mga dragon, leon, agila, at kung ano-ano pa ang dino-drowing nya. Napansin ko nga lang, hindi masyadong kasing detailed yung mga dragon nya rito kumpara sa gawa nya run sa Hellsword. Well, sabagay 64 pages kasi itong Hands of the Dragon at 16 pages lang yung sa Hellsword.

Page 11 ng Hellsword #1

All in all, nagustuhan ko ang Hands of the Dragon although admittedly, nabitin ako talaga. Tapos napailing na lang ako nung nakita kong Book 1 of 12 pala ito. Ibig sabihin, mahaba-habang bakbakan pa pala bago mabuo ang kwento. Gusto ko nang mabasa ang next issue agad hahaha!!

Gaya ng ibang comics ng Black Ink, P69.75 lang ang Hands of the Dragon.

Sobrang nakakatuwa itong ginagawa ng Black Ink. Affordable graphic novels na available nationwide sa National Book Store at Precious Pages stores. Susuportahan ko ito at iisa-isahin ko ang titles nila. Sana magtuloy-tuloy ito ng maraming-maraming taon pa. More power and more comics, Team Black Ink!


- Mark Rosario

Anak ng Tupang Itim ni Rommel Estanislao

Matagal ko nang gustong mabasa yung mga ibang gawa ni Rommel “Omeng” Estanislao. Lipad pa lang kasi ang meron ako. Binigyan nya ako ng kopya nung una ko syang nakilala sa Metro Comic Con. Eventually, nakabili rin ako ng Sulyap Anthology kaso Lipad rin ang kasama dun.

Buti na lang, ni-release ng Onward Publishing House ang compilation ng Anak ng Tupang Itim. Tuwang-tuwa ako nung available na ito sa National Book Store kaya binili ko agad. Somehow, iba yung saya ko pag nakakakita ako ng mga indie komiks na naka-display sa NBS. Nationwide distribution ang isa sa mga hurdles ng industriya sa ngayon at dahil sa mga publishing companies na gaya ng Onward, nabibigyan ng tsansa na makarating sa mas maraming readers ang mga magagandang komiks gaya nito.

Gaya ng sabi ko kanina, compilation itong book na ito. Napapaloob rito ang tatlong issues na ni-release na ni Omeng dati sa Komikon 2007 at 2010.  Ayon sa decription nya sa Tupang Itim Facebook page, “social and political satire” ang komiks na ito.

Kakaiba ang humor ni Omeng. Mahusay ang delivery. Yung iba, simpleng wordplay lang pero karamihan, mabigat ang mensahe. Sa unang chapter, nagustuhan ko yung Sign Boards, 7 Deadly Sins, at Leader Sheep. Natawa ako ng malakas run sa Sleeping Habit 1 and 2. Laugh trip din yung Carousel at Labada. Digital art ang gamit ni Omeng sa chapter 1 kaya mostly sa mga gawa nya rito, pang-wallpaper ang dating.  

Eto yung sinasabi kong Leader Sheep: 

Ganda, diba? Simple lang pero very symbolic at meaningful.

Artwise, nag-traditional naman si Omeng sa chapters 2 and 3, meaning pencil and ink ang ginamit nya. Plus pinaghalo na nya talaga ang words at drawings para maiparating yung mga mensahe nya. Kumbaga, mas komiks. Mas nagusuhan ko.

Sa chapter 2 (“Love Your Neighbor”), inupakan ni Omeng yung ilan sa mga masamang ugali ng Pinoy gaya ng pagiging inggetero, pambubulahaw sa kapitbahay gamit ang videoke, pagiging pintasero, at marami pang iba.

Enjoy naman yung chapter 3 (“Halo Halo Espesyal!”). Kung gusto mong makita sina Wolverine, Hulk, Ghost Rider, Flash, Superman, Human Torch at Magneto na Tupa version, ito na ang pagkakataon mo hehehe! Tapos may cameo pa si Bruho Barbero. Kaaliw! Pero gaya sa mga unang chapter, meron pa ring ilang mabigat na komentaryo si Omeng rito lalo na yung tungkol sa Idolatry na somehow, possible na maging offensive sa ilang mambabasa (well, depende na lang siguro kung ano ang religion at pananaw mo).

Overall, isa lang ang masasabi ko: matindi si Omeng. Ibang level.  Nagawa nyang mailagay nya yung Tupang Itim sa iba’t-ibang nakakaaliw at thought-provoking na mga sitwasyon. Cute at nakakatawa pero may aral.

Sana i-release din ng Onward yung iba pang mga gawa ni Omeng, lalo yung Love Story at Bruho Barbero. At sana maraming komiks readers na bumili nitong pocket-sized komiks na ito. 85 pesos lang! Available sa lahat ng NBS outlets. Sulit na sulit. Pramis!


- Mark Rosario

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  = 

Same thoughts lang kami ni Mark.  Konting dagdag lang ako.

Pocket-sized comics (kung malaki ang bulsa mo). Naalala ko dati nung pumunta ako sa isang tindahan sa Cubao Expo (namimiss ko na ang Sputnik). Naghahanap ako ng mga gawa ni Omeng. Tinanong ko kung nasan yung Anak ng Tupang Itim.  Ayun, nandun lang pala. Di ko napansin kase maliit.  Wala kase ako idea na maliit lang yun, hehe.

At ngayon, yun maliit na indie komiks na yun, Big time na ngayon.  Makikita na sya sa shelves ng National Bookstore.  WoooHoooo!!!..  Making a Big difference!

Eto ang favorite ko.  Leader Sheep 2/Lost Sheep:  Simple, pero talagang umukit sa puso ko. "You cannot lead if you are lost."  Napa-reflect ako rito.  Dami ko realization.... Sa apat na sheep na yan, hanggang ngayon tinitimbang ko parin kung sino ako, lahat kase nakaka-relate ako e. Awwww.

Isa pa sa notable para sakin ay yung IDOLATRY.  Gaya rin ng sabi ni Mark, some people might find it offensive.  Risky.  Well.....

 

Blah blah blah blah blah blah black black sheep...



- Kristopher Dimaano Garello

KALAYAAN volume 1 ni Gio Paredes

Si Kalayaan ay una kong nakita sa pages ng Bayan Knights #2.  Isa sya sa mga member ng Powerhouse Division, na may mala-superman na power.  Sunod ko sya na-encounter sa Sulyap anthology, featuring Kalayan #1.

Fast forward!

Sa National Bookstore ko nabili tong book ni Gio Paredes.  Akalain mo yun? Isang indie komiks na nasa bookstore (sobrang dedicated talaga ni Gio sa mga gawa nya.  Pagkaka-alam ko sya pa mismo nagdadala ng Kalayan sa National Bookstore)?  Sana dumami ang indie creators na tulad nya.

Balik sa book.

Ang Kalayaan volume 1 ay collected edition ng single-issues #1 to #4 ng Kalayaan, plus some materials na makikita sa #0.  Sa simula, di ko nagustuhan ang komiks na to.  Nag-eexpect kasi ako na Pinoy na Pinoy ang makikita ko.  Dahil siguro sa mga kalaban nya na parang walang bakas ng pagiging Pinoy ang hitsura lalo na yung mga name nila (Blood Fang, Die-Cut, and Vorgon); foreign na foreign.  Pero sa mga sumunod na chapter, sobrang nagustuhan ko na ang takbo ng kwento.  Lalo nung talagang pinakita sa kwento ang kultura ng Pilipinas.  Mula sa pagiging matulungin sa kapwa, hanggang sa pagmamahal sa pamilya na mahusay na inilapat sa mga pahina ng komiks.  Pinakita rin sa kwento ang mga isyu sa Pinas tulad ng kahirapan, edukasyon, politika, justice system, atbp.  At ang inaakala kong super lakas na Kalayaan, meron palang tinatagong kahinaan.

Sa pag-usad ng kwento, marami nabubunyag tungkol sa pagkatao ng ating bida, bilang John Dela Vega, ang alter-ego ni Kalayaan.  Isinabuhay nya ang isang typical na Pinoy na biktima ng kahirapan na naghahangad ng pagbabago.  Dahil sa magandang loob at tapang, sya ang napili na maging test-subject sa project Kalayaan.  Bilang isang Kalayaan, na may natatanging lakas, sa tulong ng genetic enhancement at high-tech na damit at sandata, nagawa nyang maging bayani ng mga Pinoy.  Dahil sa pagkakamali ng kalaban na nag-aakala na mapapatay ang ating bida sa kanilang paraan, si Kalayaan ay nagtaglay pa ng mas higit na lakas na magagamit nya para magagapi ang kalaban, ngunit may nag-aabang ng kapalit...

Tulad ng nasabi ko na, di ko muna nagustuhan ang Kalayaan, ayoko kasi sa superhumans e.  Pero iba si Kalayaan. Sobrang likeable yun character dahil sa napakahusay na pagsusulat ni Gio.  Hindi sya yung superhero comics na puro bakbakan na nakalimutan na nila pahalagahan yun personal na kwento ng character.  Sobrang ayos yung backstory. Talagang na-introduce yun character ni John dela Vega, na nilapatan pa ng pagguhit ni Gio. Damang-dama ko ang bawat emosyon, ang bawat luha ni Kalayaan.  Si Kalayaan, ang superhero na iyakin.  Sobrang nakakalungkot yun ending ng volume 1, apektado ako...

Sa kabuuan, sobrang na-enjoy ko tong volume #1 kaya sinigurado kong lahat ng susunod pang issue ay susubaybayan ko.  Di nagkamali si Gio na bigyan ng Bandila-inspired costume si Kalayaan, sya talaga ang NEW PINOY SUPERHERO.

- Kristopher Dimaano Garello

Ang Kalayaan volume 1 ay mabibili sa maraming branches ng National Bookstore, Bestseller, at Comic Odyssey sa halagang 180 pesos lang, sulit na sulit..  Currently, meron nang 13 issues ang Kalayaan na maari mabili sa Comic Odyssey sa halagang 60 pesos.  Maari nyo rin sila mabili personally kay Gio tuwing may comic conventions, pede pa kayo pa-autograph o pa-picture.