Bakemono High (Book One) by Elbert Or

Meet Max - a vampire who always gets bullied by classmates. Amy, a mummy who's a certified worry-wart. Chuck, a werewolf wearing what looks to me like a Charlie Brown get-up - and he's madly in love with Salem, a cute gothic witch.

Welcome to the world of Bakemono High!

Leaping straight from the pages of K-Zone magazine into its own compilation, Elbert Or's Bakemono High (Book One) is definitely a fun read!

I have nothing but praises for this wonderful all-ages treat. I enjoyed reading it from the first page to the last. Plus I have to admit that I love the cover so much. Believe it or not, merely staring at it never fails to make me smile! Yes, it has that kind of effect. Well at least to me hehe.. In fact, I swear I can hear a cheery song playing inside my head at times. Something that sounds a little like the Teen Titans theme!

Elbert’s stories are super fun. His illustrations are adorable and dynamic plus the expressions are well-pronounced. That's something I am hoping to develop in my own art. Looking and studying Elbert's work, I know I have a long way to go haha!

I felt kind lost though while reading the musical pages (or Bakemono High School Musical, as Elbert puts it). Sure, Elbert writes some wonderful lyrics but I am left to wonder how the actual melody goes. I wish there was a play button or something to help me appreciate these four pages better.

Also, I can’t help but wonder why the series isn't called Bakemono Elementary or Bakemono Nursery since the characters (and the topics) exactly aren't set on a high school setting. Well, I suppose Bakemono High just sounds catchier!

All in all, I’d say I am totally satisfied with this volume. This is definitely the kind of comic I will share with my son Yuri once he’s old enough to read. Having said that, the wait for the second book officially starts NOW!

- Mark Rosario

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

Summer Komikon 2013 Report

Eto yung report ko sa Summer Komikon as a fan and attendee.. Nagsulat rin ako ng maikling entry sa kabilang blog ko tungkol naman sa experience ko as a first time seller (ni-launch ko nga pala yung My Wife Is Pregnant comics sa event na ito).

Photo credits: Robin Rivero

Dumating kami nina Joy at baby Yuri sa Bayanihan Center around 10:30 am. Hardcore na yung pila that time. Abot na hanggang labas. Buti na lang nakapasok din kami agad. Pagpasok na pagpasok, si Omeng (Estanislao) agad ang nasalubong namin. Natuwa naman ako at may freebie agad kami haha! Binigyan nya kami ng kopya nung Summer Komikon situational cartoon nya. Sobrang ganda! Kasama kami nina Joy at Yuri sa poster. Papa-frame namin to for sure hehe!

Isa sa mga una kong binili e yung pinaka-aabangan kong Bake Mono High ni Elbert Or. Nakikita ko na dati yung sa K-Zone eh. Isa pa, sobrang fan ako ng artsyle ni Elbert. Bukod sa ma-entertain, isa sa purpose kaya ako bumili ng Bake Mono e para pag-aralan yung style nya haha! Masaya bumili kasi kasabay ko si Bien Del Rosario ng AdoboVerse. Kwentuhan kami tungkol sa komiks nya (na sobrang miss ko na rin). Try daw nya mag-release ng bago sa Indieket. Nice!

Maya-maya pa, nakita ko na yung dalawang komiks buddies ko na sina Danry at Kristopher. Sa wakas, nahawakan ko rin ang Batch 72 from Danry haha.. Kay Kris naman e yung Andong Agimat, Animen at FCBD Comics ng Comic Odyssey. Ansaya talaga pag merong kaswap ng komiks sa Kon.

Ikot-ikot pa. Tingin-tingin din. Si Joy, bumili rin ng komiks nya. Love Letter ni Reylee (Perti Ba Comics). Manga. Mukhang cute din hehe.. Ako, maya-maya pa e meron na rin akong Liga ni Likeman #1, Lakan at Makisig #3, Espiritista #1, Jacara Zar #2 tsaka yung colored giveaway sa Storylark table na "I Hate Mornings." Lupet, glossy ehehe! Astig din yung pinamigay ni Jon Zamar na Next Issue Anthology preview (na inabot ni Kris sa kin hehe). Very interesting! Anime ang tema. May mga time slot pa!

Isa sa mga highlight para sa kin e yung nakapagpa-sign ako ng Bully Saurus Rex kay Robert Magnuson. Lagi ko kasing binabasa yung book na yun kay Yuri mula pa nung 3 months old sya. Pinapirma ko para matuwa si baby pag laki nya. Ambait ni Robert. Kakawili kausap. Kaka-starstruck nga lang hahaha!

Well, siguro yung pinaka-highlight sa lahat e yung wedding proposal on stage. Antindi ni Omeng. Lalo ko syang naging idol. Rakistang-rakista haha! Nangako syang "ipaglalaba, ipagluluto at ipamamalantsa" si Ails. Ang naisagot na lang ni Ails (na halos hindi tumigil kakaiyak) eh "I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Woohoo! Sigawan ang lahat. Ako naman, maluha-luha kahit malayo kami sa stage (that time, ni hindi ko nga alam na sina Omeng at Ails yun). Basta natuwa lang ako para sa kanila. Sana sa Summer Komikon din sila mag-reception in the future hehehe...

Overall, sobrang saya nung Summer Komikon. Na-observe ko lang, sobrang daming tao. As in sobra! Kelangan na kayang lumipat sa mas malaking venue?.. Tsaka nga pala.. Natuwa ako na libre ang entrance ng mga bata hanggag 12 noon. Sana laging ganyan. Mas maganda nga kung permamente na at kung whole day. Para mas maraming bata na ma-hook sa pagbabasa ng komiks. Para mas lumaganap pa at maipasa sa susunod na generation yung hobby ng comics reading

 Salamat, Komikon, sa isang malupit na event. Salamat din, 7-11, para sa  Slurpee at sa mga The Hobbit cups ninyong puro Gollum naman haha! Oks lang libre naman :p


- Mark Rosario

ANG BATANG NAKASALAKOT (VICATAN KOMIKS)

Written and colored by : Lancelot Catan
Illustrated by: Carl Embalzado

Pinoykon.  Lakad lakad muna, then this komik really caught my attention.  ANG BATANG NAKASALAKOT.  Unang pumasok sa isip ko yun Buknoy ni Paul Merick Malunes, yung batang may mahiwagang salakot. "Anong meron sa salakot?" yan agad ang tanong ko kay Lancelot.  Then ikinuwento nya yun plot na ang bida ay may pangalan na Bernardo Carpio.  Hmmmm, naisip ko, parang dami na stories na ang bida Bernardo Carpio; like yun sa Sanduguan ni Gener Pedrina, o yun sa Skyworld, o yun sa PSICOM o iba pang kwento tungkol sa alamat.  "Ano ang special sa Bernardo Carpio mo?".  Talagang lalo ako na-intriga sa komiks na to.  Ano bang kakaiba ang maiihain ng komiks na ito?.

As describe above, batang Bernardo Carpio ang bida, pero hindi pala sya ang orig na Bernardo na nakagisnan natin mula sa mga alamat.  Ninuno nya ang unang Bernardo.  Isang katuparan na mula sa bloodline ng Unang Bernado Carpio ay may magmamana ng kanyang lakas.  Very interesting.  Pero itong unang issue ay isa palamang introduction ng characters, discoveries, and back stories.  Marami pang questions sa utak ko na di nasagot tulad ng "ano meron sa salakot?" o bakit naka-Haduken ang bida sa cover, namana rin ba nya yun superpower na yun?.

 Agad agad ko sya binasa nun nasa Pinoykon ako.  Napansin ko agad yun art, may feel na pinoy na pinoy, at parang napakagandang basahin in-colors.  Yun panels, medyo nakakalito at nakakahilo sa simula, yun iba kase hirap ng orientation kung pano sequence dahil overlapping pati yun ibang speech bubbles, pero later nasanay rin ako sa style nila.  Some speech bubbles are too large, natakpan na yun portions ng art na would look really nice.  Nagustuhan ko yun art, lalo na nun nakita ko yun ibang colored pages sa webpage nila, meron identity.  Also, napansin ko rin some of the typos, pati yun di nila paggamit ng space between sentences, which makes make it look crowded and confusing.  Di ko rin sure kung style nila yun pag-gamit nila ng punctuations; daming "period" instead na spaces or comma ang ilagay.  And some "exclamation maks" I think is unnecessary or over used.

Ganun pa man, I enjoyed this issue.  Agad ko sya pinuntahan and showed my appreciation and concern about sa mga na-observe ko as described above.  He is so nice naman to welcome my feedback and told me na aware sya sa errors involving the typos; little miscummunication daw regarding sa printing.  Gusto ko malaman yun mga susunod na mangyayari sa title nato.  He would not give me spoilers kahit na hints.  He just told me na may plan sila about dun sa salakot na I eagerly ask "ano meron sa salakot?"

Aabangan ko talaga to hanggang matapos and kwento. 

Lancelot is a very nice guy, I hope every komiks creator would be like him.  I also like na very suportive yun buong family nya, kasama pa nga palagi yun anak nya sa convention.  Congratulations Vicatan Komiks.

Lancelot Catan with his son and nephew

Of note, I admire this guy, kase nun sa Pinoykon parati sya nawawala sa table nya kase nauuhaw raw yun anak nya; bumibili sya ng tubig o shawarma, awww, hehe..

- Kristopher Dimaano Garello

My Frist Ever PINOYKON Experience

Paseo De Magallanes Makati City

................
Jeffrey Benitez is one guy who have a real heart for Pinoy Komiks, even going beyond komiks.  Since late last year, I always see Jeff post on Toy Groups about the event and inviting cosplayers to participate.  He even managed to have GreattoysOnline and Neutral Grounds to partner with Pinoykon.  It was a great effort introducing komiks to other groups.

The venue is very accesible to most, and Jeff provide a detailed map and instructions how to get to it; you would not miss it given the event posters hanging around Paseo De Magallanes.

At around 9:00 am the entrance was opened for paying atendees.  For 50-peso fee, you will also get freebies like a wonderfully printed Pinoykon card featuring Kapitan Bandila and a little Bruho Barbero card, which would be nice to use as bookmark or bookplate.  Ticket holders also have a chance to win on raffles drawn throughout the event.

Adjacent to the ticket area, GreattoysOnline brought with them lots of Gundam kits, Figma, and other nice-to-have figures.

Chiseltown showcased great proudly-pinoy-made sculptures; characters form Street Fighter, Marvel, DC; notable were Green Lantern Hal Jordan vs Yellow Lantern Sinestro, and a nice Manny Pacquiao depicted from one of his matches.

There were also some toy displays like the one infront of the stage, Jeff's own collection of Hulks and other Marvel figures with his customized Junior doll.

Star Wars' armies of droids and troopers were present as well, with some custom-painted Autobots and Decepticons

A pinoy-themed diorama of Gundams playing pinoy games, selling taho and sorbetes, and in Bayanihan carrying a hut will surely get your attention.

Aside from the great dispalys of toys, there were also some toy exhibitors selling.  You will never miss Bayan Knight Talim creator, Omi Remalante's stash of Transformers, Spiderman figures, and rare Toybiz Marvel Legends particularly his sealed-in-box factory defect Daredevil.  Other sellers offers DC direct figures, Hotwheels, some wintage Star Wars dolls, anime figures, among others.

Left side of the stage, Neutral Grounds hosted a Heroclix tournament.  They also had demo on Vanguard trading card game and gave some freebies.

ComicsxHub also have some toys on sale along with bins of current and back-issue foreign comics.


There were also a couple of Cosplayers crashing to the event; Babman, the pugad baboy version of Batman, and a Green Dinobot cosplayer.  There were others, but not as remarkable as these two.

Mikey Soria shares his Old-School komiks in his Komiks Museum.  He knows every single Komiks he have and would gladly share it's history to everyone who passed by his table generating interest.  I remember him telling me about a chicken named Texas from early 1950's, a talking chicken just like Gerry's Elmer.



Mikey Soria


BLACKink comics had this nice promo; buy two and get 50% off on the thrid book.  Also they gave away free copies with a BLACKink baller to some bloggers.  Some BLACKink contributors were also present signing their books, particularly Jeffrey Marcelino Ong with his two freshly released books; Kalasag #1 and Hands of the Dragon #2.

The event introduced the Pinoykon Upstarts, a group of pinoy superheroes fighting to keep Komiks alive.  Among them that were present at the event were Ray Magbanua, (Luzviminda), Jaudaux Agdeppa (Ag Lugan), Carlo Valenzuela (Boy Bakal), Richard Arguila (Katrina), Lancelot Catan (Bernardo Carpio), Francis Martelino (Hotdog Prince), etc.

Jaudaus Agdeppa creator of Sinag

Bernado Carpio: Ang Batang naka-salakot by Lancelot Catan

Other Upstarts artist were also present separated from the Upstarts tables; Gilbert Monsanto, Gener Pedrina, Freely Abrigo, Gio Paredes, Rommel Estanislao, Jon Zamar, Jeffrey Benitez, etc.

with Gio Paredes, creator of Kalyaan

There were other nice Komiks titles like Vision of a Dust, Araknid, Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents, Melon, and Dayo comics by Jun Dayo.

There were also other artist doing doodles and making chibi.


Mobytoons, featuring the works by their contributors like Ariel Atienza and Rommel Estanislao, had the best promo; if you buy any two of their komiks, you will get a free Mobytoon mug plus a free Mission Ruby komiks by one of their contributors, also you will have a chance to see your photo on their website, and they will give you instructions how to register and get free mobytoon mobile app; WOW!!!

It is nice to see GTMACCon and Komikon people in support for Pinoykon

Kit Perez and Sherry Baet-Zamar

 There were a lot of guest artists, artists that were noted not only locally but even to other countries.  Gerry Alanguilan and Leinil Yu signing their comics.  Gilbert Monsanto doing sketches.  Artists like Jimbo Salgado, Roy Allan Martinez etc. were interviewed and shared their experience on-stage.  Dynamite artists were also present signing and doing sketches.


with Gerry Alanguilan, creator of Elmer

Norby Ela, Carlo Jose San Juan, Rommel Estanslao, and Gerry Alanguilan

THANK YOU Snapshot Photobooth for this wonderful Pinoykon souvenir. 

By 4:00 pm, It is still early and I intend to stay until the end of the event, but I decide to go home for some reasons I will try to discuss below.

I was already too tired and excited to read the Komiks I bought.  It would be nice if there where areas or a table aloted for attendees to sit, rest, read their newly acquired komiks, or maybe meet and chat with other Komik fans.

I was already covered in sweat.  It was a very sunny day and the Red-colored tent over the Red-colored table clothe made it feel and look like much hotter.

I was so thristy and having hard time looking for affordable food.  I should have brought with me some bottled water and food.  I thought there would be food being sold in the event as it appeared on the regularly updated event floor map.  Good thing that there was a small supermarket aside from coffee shops, restaurants, and pizza parlors.

I was not so lucky to win the Bring Me game.  Because I do not have the longest belt or brown socks, or smallest and biggest phone, or a 500-peso bill, and I am not macho or handsome.  hmmm.  They could have thought asking something event-related.

The program was somehow slow.  The interview for the guest artists started round after-lunch time.  Before that, winning tickets were drawn, some items were auctioned, there was the Bring Me game, and a lot of old-school OPM tunog kalye songs played.  Otherwise, I can say the event went well with it's purpose of bringing awareness that pinoy komiks is very much alive and inspire others to unleash their full potentials.  This is only the first PINOYKON, the next will surely be better.  Congratulations PINOYKON.

Thats all from my side.

- Kristopher Dimaano Garello

MY MIDNIGHT

 

PHR Gothic Romance My Midnight by Camilla 

Di ako nahilig magbasa ng Tagalog Romance PocketBooks at hindi rin ako fan ng mga poging vampire tulad ng mga gawa ni Stephenie Meyer, pero nang mabasa ko tong gawa ni Camilla, naging instant fan nya ako.  Napakahusay ng pagkakagawa.  Maganda ang kwento, hindi predictable, maraming twist.  Sobrang na-enjoy ko ang pagbabasa lalo na pag nag-dedescribe sya ng details ng isang setting tulad nun sa underground church, o dun sa malaki nilang bahay, o dun sa adventure park; talagang mavi-visualize mo yun lugar at maglalakbay ang isip mo.  Gusto ko rin yun mala-Game Of Thrones na dateng ng kwento, may mga angkan, daming charaters; kung sino ang anak ni ano, sino magkakapatid, sino magkakamaganak; napagawa ako bigla ng geneology diagram para di ako malito sa relationships between characters.  Bawat isang character may important role, kahit yun mga katulong may twist; favorite ko yun kay Fermina.  Kaya lang sa dami ng characters, maraming beses na na-confuse ako, kelangan ko balikan yun paragraph para maintindihan ko kung sino yun tinutukoy ng pronoun na "siya" o "niya".  Na figure out ko nalang na most likely pag "siya" o "niya" ang nasa narration, it pertains sa main character.

Tulad nga ng sabi ko, di talaga ako nagbabasa ng mga pocketbooks o ng stories na ganito; pero sobrang nag-enjoy ako sa pagbabasa nito and actually considering My Sunset sa to-read-list ko.

BlackInk Comics My Midnight Graphic Novel written by Ron Medoza and illustrated by Randy Valiente

Written sya in English; well-written yun mga dialogues kaso naging less yun Kilig-effect kesa sa pagbinasa sa tagalog pocketbook.  Super like ko pano nila ni-present yun characters lalo na yun difference ng characters nila Yael and Bullet.  Kaya lang, napansin ko lang na bakit sa pocketbook maganda ang description kay Rasberry, pero dito muka syang bakla.  Yun first two books, tugmang tugma sa pocketbook lalo na yun sa prologue and story of King Vladimir, talagang binigyan ng buhay ng art ni Randy Valiente yun story.  Dun nga lang sa third, bumilis yun pacing, tingin ko meron mga important scenes sa story na dapat sinama dito sa graphic novel, and yun ending naiba yun eksena.  I think dapat naglaan pa ng extra pages for the final battle, parang kaseng lumabas na di man lang nahirapan tapusin nun main character yun kalaban, petiks lang sya.

Very nice tong ginawa ng BlackInk, na i-adapt ang wonderful Tagalog Romance story sa Graphic Novel format.  I hope gumawa pa sila ng mga ganito in the near future.  Salamat sa magandang Komiks.


- Kristopher Dimaano Garello


BlanInk comics are available at Precious Pages, National Bookstore, and Book Sale.

LOVE STORY: Love is Such a Headache, Pain, and Suffering by Rommel Estanislao

SPOILER ALERT

Nanyari na ba sa buhay mo nang makatagpo ka ng taong sobrang mahal mo, na handa kang gawin ang lahat makasama lang sya.  Ang nagbibigay sayo ng lakas at inspirasyon to be a better man.  Ang nagbibigay ng tamis sa iyong mga ngiti.  Ang Muffin ng Puso mo.

Lahat lahat ibinigay mo na.  Handa kang gawin ang lahat para sa kanya....

Paano kung...

Wala ka palang halaga para sa kanya.  Lahat ng efforts at sacrifices mo ay binabalewala.  Ikaw ay handa nyang ipagpalit sa iba.  Unfair diba...

Wag sayangin ang panahon sa pagkalumbay.  Muka ka nang timang na umaasa maibabalik ang tamis ng nakalipas na pag-ibig.  Dahil dyan nabulagan ka na.  Wag ka ngang tanga.  Hindi mo na pansin na may mga tao sa paligid mo kaya kang mahalin ng tunay.


The one who would love you at your worst.  Ang magbibigay sayo ng liwanag at direksyon.  Yung aahon sayo mula sa pagkalugmok.  Yung muling tatahi sa punit pinit mong Puso.  Ang kukumpleto sa pagkatao mo.

Kalimutan na si Muffin, hayaan mo na syang amagin sa piling ng iba.  Mas liligaya ka kasama ang taong alam mo na pinapahalagahan ka.  Sasamahan ka sa iyong mundo.  Kapiling mo sa mga kabaliwan.  At hindi ka magagawang iwanan.

Natagpuan mo na ba ang Star ng Puso mo?

- Kristopher Dimaano Garello

Visit Rommel "Omeng" Estanislao's table this Summer Komikon April 13, 2013 with his Komiks and other artworks.  Malay mo, doon sa Komikon mo matagpuan ang magiging Star ng Puso mo.

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