Goodbye

Hi!

I would no longer update this blog. But please check my new portfolio, which also contains comics-related content:

http://jeralduy.com

Thanks!

Jerald Uy

Broken-hearted and single this Christmas? Here's how to get some 'Pogi Points'

Broken-hearted and single this Christmas? Here's how to get some 'Pogi Points'

Jerald Uy

On Rappler: Filipino comics fight for legitimacy

This the third most shared story on Rappler this week. See, people are interested in comics!

Filipino comics fight for legitimacy

Are comics books? A comic geek shares his thoughts with us.

Jerald Uy

GMA News Online's Komikon 2012 Coverage

Here is my coverage of the recent Komikon 2012 for GMA News Online:

Beyond Komikon: Young creators bring komiks to life

With the help of technology, the new generation of komiks creators combine their youthful creativity with online platforms that may make Mars Ravelo and other komiks legends green with envy.

Jerald Uy

So you want to write your own comic book?

Aspiring to be a successful comic book writer? Heed these tips from local comics rock stars Manix Abrera, Budjette Tan, and Paolo Fabregas as they reveal the secrets to their success.

Read it here.

Jerald Uy

Stephen Segovia feature now up on GMA News Online

"Filipino comic book artist Stephen Segovia looks back at the years when he drew 

for Funny Komiks at age 16, and now looks forward to more opportunities illustrating for Marvel Comics. He regards working on “X-treme X-men” a dream come true."

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/271697/lifestyle/literature/stephen-segovia-a-funny-thing-happened-on-his-way-to-marvel-comics

Jerald Uy

Carlo Pagulayan declares boycott on Metro Comic Con over charity drive dispute

First published on Flipgeeks

Marvel Comics artist Carlo Pagulayan has declared a boycott on this year’s Metro Comic Con (MCC) over disputes on the “Renaissance,” a charity drive in 2010 aimed to help victims of tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng.

“Hello comic book fans: To those asking, if you are heading to Metro Comic Con (or whatever it’s name is now) and hoping to get your stuff signed by me or any of my peers– or most of those involved in the Renaissance project, please be noted we are boycotting this convention along with some indie creators because of what happened to that fund drive (one of the reasons),” Pagulayan publicly posted on Facebook.

“The head organizer is the reason why our efforts (from the auction and book purchases), never reached the victims of Ondoy; and the reason why some of us have had second thoughts joining any sort of fundraising (sorry),” he added.

Where did the money go?

Reached for a comment, charity drive and MCC organizer Ernest Leo Hernandez said that “the so-called missing charity funds are (sic) already given to Red Cross.”  He then referred this writer to his post on his MCC group page showing an image of a receipt of Php 200,000 to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) from the now defunct Sketchpad Studios.

Official receipt of donations to the Philippine National Red Cross posted on Metro Comic Con Facebook group page

Hernandez explained on the thread that after the charity drive in February 2010, auction was then held on Ebay from April to June 2010. Three months after, “collection of the auction proceeds were accumulated.”

“We were supposed to give the auction proceeds in Metro Comic Con 2010 (August) but the collections were not completed yet and we also tried to follow up unremitted collections from some other auction winners. There was no definite charity recipient yet. We decided to give the proceeds in Metro Comic Con 2011 (May) but we weren’t able to arrange who the recipient was,” Hernandez said.

He said that the final round of royalties was collected in June last year and it was only a month after that the organizers decided to pick PNRC as its recipient.

“I agree that there were delays in donating the proceeds and for that we sincerely apologize,” Hernandez said.

Pagulayan replied to the thread and said that PNRC was supposed to be the recipient at the onset of the charity drive. The artist also said he had not heard anymore of reports about royalties.

Heeding Carlo’s call

“…You received the auction money a year before this date, and your partners weren’t duly informed you even got it already,” Pagulayan posted.

Both camps in the MCC rift refused to comment. “I would like to keep the rift between my former partners in private since it was an internal decision and it’s purely business,” Hernandez said.

“We used to be regulars at this convention but now we have shifted our support to those events and people that truly have heart. Please feel free to ask the other artists and not just take my word for it. Please feel free to ask him about Renaissance as well, because he might give you answers, answers that he has yet to provide us,” Pagulayan posted on his page.

Pagulayan’s Facebook status was re-posted and supported by comic book artists Whilce Portacio, Gerry Alanguilan, Stephen Segovia and Mico Suayan.

Meanwhile, as the future looks bleak for Metro Comic Con or Manila Pop Culture Convention, the convention was moved to September 8-9 from August 25-26 due to the prevailing inclement weather, according to the organizer.

Jerald Uy

Ambush and MegaWoman feature on GMA News Online

My feature on Ambush and MegaWoman is now up on GMA News Online.I hope you'd enjoy reading it!

"Celebrities Heart Evangelista and Sharon Cuneta have become superheroines in komiks created by Andrew Villar and Ernest Caritativo, a decade after Carlo Vergara created gay komiks heroine Zsazsa Zaturnnah. But do local komiks really need movie stars?"

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/269827/lifestyle/literature/after-zsazsa-zaturnnah-here-come-ambush-and-megawoman

Jerald Uy

Not a Good Idea: Reading 'Elmer' while waiting for your Max's order

It is quite embarrassing to admit that it was only last night that I picked up Gerry Alanguilan's award-winning comic book Elmer. Thanks perhaps to Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street, which closed before 7 pm due to the inclement weather, I found myself browsing books at the nearby Powerbooks store. I then flipped a coin to determine my purchase between Elmer and Skyworld. The comic book with a chicken on the cover won.

Weirdly enough, my subconscious mind drove me to Max's for dinner in Market Market. I ordered a budget meal—a fried chicken and two cups of rice—and was told that food would be served after 15 minutes. To kill time, I opened the book and started reading.

I saw boobs. I could live with that. The first pages hinted that the book is not for all-ages. Then I read about the protagonist—a talking chicken—ranting about racism and calling humans bastards who used to eat them. I skipped some pages and saw images of chickens being beheaded.

And then my meal came. (Insert Twilight Zone music.)

I did not think the comic book wanted to make me a vegetarian but with a bit of guilt, I devoured the chicken. This is what I get for not reading reviews with spoilers. I still don't regret doing it but being served a fried chicken after seeing images of fowl massacre is really weird.

I read the book in one-sitting. Elmer is both melancholic and funny—the best Filipino-made graphic novel I've read so far. I think what moved me most is not the racism shown in the book, but the relationship of the titular character, Elmer, with his son, Jake.We are presented to a kind of father who admitted to his wife that he might have failed his son.

Experiencing the greatness of Elmer was like someone pouring me a bucket of ice-cold water. I am not worthy to be asked by the author to send a copy of our indie comics last year.

The only complaint I have? The book is riddled with typographical errors. The blurb by Neil Gaiman should be inspected by a grammar cop. For a second printing, I wish proofreaders, if there were, should have done their job.

Nonetheless, it is great comic book Filipinos should read and be proud of! Just don't read it while having your Chickenjoy.

Jerald Uy

Segovia Solutions on "Glocal Tales" forum this Saturday

I was invited to talk about Segovia Solutions at "GLOCAL Tales - Global Markets for Local Creations" on Saturday, 2-4pm at the CMC Auditorium." I am a bit excited and scared to meet experts on film, animation, comics and gaming from the US. This includes one of the founders of Pixar and the man behind the marketing of Tintin.

I hope you could drop by this Saturday! :)

From UP College of Mass Communication page:

Everyone is invited to attend GLOCAL Tales - Global Markets for Local Creations on Saturday, 2-4pm at the CMC Auditorium.

Creative industry experts on film, animation, and gaming from the US will interact and exchange ideas with young Filipino artists on global perspectives on expanding the market of local creations. A selection of creative works will be presented before the open forum.

Jerald Uy

Komiks Reporter on NBS's video "The Milla in Manila"

I was content to see my back in the first few minutes of the  video feature of National Bookstore's "The Milla in Manila." But I was really surprised to see that this blog, "Komiks Reporter," was included in the video. That's me smiling and "feeling close" with one of the best writers in comic book history, Mark Millar.

The experience still makes me smile. Thank you National Bookstore!

The full video can be viewed here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3742329150314

Jerald Uy

EK Gonzales' Review of Segovia Solutions

Here's another review of Segovia Solutions #1. This time by speculative fiction writer EK Gonzales:

http://jumpercable.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/rapid-reviews-2/ 

Jerald Uy

Ang malikot na isip ni RH Quilantang

First published on Flipgeeks

“Don’t judge the book by its cover,” ika nga. Pero sa mundo ng komiks, ang pabalat ang unang taga-hatak ng mga mambabasa. Bago sila unang titigil sa pwesto mo sa convention, cover ang una nilang makikita. Sunod na eksena: bubuklatin na nila ang mga pahina at eestimahin kung ito nga ba ang gusto niyang komiks na pag-aaksayahan ng panahon. Happy ending kung iaabot na ng mamimili ang kanyang bayad sabay hihingin ang inyong pirma.

Binili ko ang “Hipon Gamay” dahil natuwa ako sa cover. Pambata ang drawing ng isang lalaking tila may namamagang pisngi. Batukan ninyo ko kung ako ang mali, pero inisip ko kasi na kakaiba para kay RH Quilantang na nakasanayan nang iugnay sa superhero niyang si Manila Man na iasa ang kanyang kwento sa ibang artist, si Odree. Walang Manila Man dito, kundi tatlong magkakaibigang nasa sa isang drinking session na napunta sa usapang pag-ibig.

Pero mula sa manunulat na naisip na ihi ng isang engkanto o alien (depende kung anong bersyon ang paniniwalaan mo) ang pinagmulan ng kapangyarihan ni Manila Man, kakaiba rin ang tinakbo ng kwento.

RH Quilantang, writer, "Hipon Gamay"

Ang mga eksenang pagkasawi sa pag-ibig ng bida, pamilyar na at nabasa ko na sa ilang comics. Sa pag-usad ng kwento, aakalain mong napunta na ang usapan sa relasyong lalaki sa lalaki. Hanggang bubulagain ka sa dulo ng comics, mapapakamot ka ng ulo, muling babalikan ang cover at masasabing “Kaya pala.”

Matalino ang storytelling technique ni Quilantang na una niyang plinanong ilabas sa isang pelikula. Isang kapanapanabik na love story ang “Hipon Gamay.” Pero sa likot ng isip ni Quilantang, panahon lang ang makapagsasabi kung tama bang ikahon ko ang kwento niya sa isang genre.

_________________________________________________

Matagal-tagal na rin akong hindi nakapagsulat tungkol sa komiks sa Flipgeeks. Nakasalalay kasi ito sa dikta ng panahon at ng laman ng aking wallet. Kung nais ninyong padalhan ako ng kopya ng inyong komiks, guluhin ninyo ako sa twitter: @jeralduy o mag-iwan ng mensahe sa www.facebook.com/KomiksReporter.

Jerald Uy

"Global frequency-ish but locally relevant"

This review made my day! Thanks Benedict Bartolome for the honest-creatively done- review.

Descriptive phrase of the day: "Global frequency-ish but locally relevant."

About the balloons. Yeah, we really need to work on the balloons. It really feels good when a reader gets it. :)

____________________________

By the way, Segovia Solutions will be available tomorrow at Table 10 (near the stage/facing Summit Media's table) at Indieket. This will be held at the Bayanihan Center, Pioneer St, Pasig City ( a tricycle ride from Robinsons Pioneer in Edsa). See you there!

Jerald Uy

Interview with Mico Suayan

Stay tuned for my interview with Punisher artist Mico Suayan at Comicxhub!  Mr. Mico was candid and funny in the interview.(I hadn't slept for 20 hrs when this photo was taken> came from work and Indieket pre-meeting.)

Photo by Jacqui Suayan.

Surreal

It still gives me chills seeing our character Muckraker on a tarpaulin. 

See you guys on Saturday's Indieket at Bayanihan Center, Pioneer St, Pasig City. Look for Uy! Comics. (We're near the stage.) :)

Comics Events!

July 7: Punisher artist Mico Suayan signing and meet-and-greet event at Comicxhub. 

I'll be covering this for Rappler.

July 14: I will be selling a few copies of my comics Segovia Solutions at Indieket.

Happening now: Indie comic creators celebrate "100 araw ng Komiks" first anniversary through online "I love Komiks!" campaign.

Around December: Comic book artist Jann Galino launches Iloilo Comic Con! 

Rappler: Dexter Soy: New Pinoy in Marvel

On Rappler: Another Filipino joins the super universe of comic books.

http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/7589-dexter-soy-new-pinoy-in-marvel

Rappler: Summer Komikon 2012

My feature on Summer Komikon 2012 is now up. Thanks to Tepai Pascual, Tina de Zuniga, Dingdong Dantes, Benjo Ferrer, Mark Millar, Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, John Zamar and Carlo San Juan for the interviews.

(Trivia: I was not given a media i.d. in the event and I also experienced being blocked by the Bayanihan Center guard from interviewing Dingdong Dantes. All the things that could tick off a writer. That's perhaps the downside of being a freelance journalist. Nevertheless, I managed to write a complete story about it. Comics FTW!)

http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/7380-the-stars-fell-on-summer-komikon

Jerald Uy

Three articles in a week! (Mark Millar, Dexter Soy and Eman Casallos)

The Komiks Reporter (that's me, why am I speaking in third person?) has written three articles for Rappler, GMA News and Flipgeeks. I hope you enjoy reading the features:

The gospel according to Mark Millar (Rappler)
Lay minister and "Kick-ass" writer Mark Millar talked to me how he compartmentalizes his job and his faith.
(http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/7103-the-gospel-according-to-mark-millar)

'Captain Marvel': Drawn from Pangasinan (GMA News)
Know how Pangasinan-based artist Dexter Soy landed his biggest break from Marvel Comics
(http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/262011/lifestyle/literature/captain-marvel-drawn-from-pangasinan)

A Pinoy Dynamite: Eman Casallos (Flipgeeks)
Get to know how Ninjettes and Vampirella Annual artist Eman Casallos persisted to pursue his dream job in comics.

Jerald Uy

Rappler: The gospel according to Mark Millar

My interview with "Kick-ass" writer-slash-lay minister Mark Millar is now up. Here's the link: http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/7103-the-gospel-according-to-mark-millar

All in all, I have two comic-related features published this week! The other one's an interview with Filipino "Captain Marvel" artist Dexter Soy.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/262011/lifestyle/literature/captain-marvel-drawn-from-pangasinan

Jerald Uy

GMA News: 'Captain Marvel' artist Dexter Soy

My feature about Filipino 'Captain Marvel' artist Dexter Soy is now up on GMA News Online. Click the link to read:http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/262011/lifestyle/literature/captain-marvel-drawn-from-pangasinan

Jerald Uy

A PINOY DYNAMITE: Eman Casallos

First published on Flipgeeks.



Eman Casallos has lost count of the times he tried to join the roster of talents of Glasshouse Graphics, a Manila-based agency that scouts artists for American comic book publishers.

For five years, he worked on the same Batman script and was repeatedly rejected. The 29-year old Dynamite Entertainment artist admits he thought of giving up. “May time na gusto ko nang mag-give up, siguro hindi ito ‘yung career para sa akin (There was a time I wanted to give up and I told myself that maybe, this is not the career meant for me),” Casallos shares.

Casallos had the easy option of backing out and venturing into his other interests. As a communication arts graduate of De la Salle University in Dasmarinas, Cavite, he was the editor in chief of their college paper. He also worked as a designer for Chikka, an online instant messaging site.

“Pero naiisip ko naman na everytime naman na magsa-submit ako ng work, nakakakuha na ako ng magagandang comment. Naisip ko na, ‘bat pa ako gi-give up eh parang unti-unti eh mararating ko na, kaunti na lang. (But then I realize that I always get positive feedback in every submission. So I thought, ‘why should I give up now that I am gradually getting closer to my dream? I’m almost there.’)” Casallos says.

His efforts were all worth it. In 2008, he was finally hired and assigned initially to design trading cards and assist other artists in layouts, backgrounds and colors. While waiting for a break, he co-plotted a self-published comic “Sulat-Kamay (Handwritten)” in 2010.

In July 2011, he drew his first international comic book “Dream Police” written by American Virgin screenplay writer Jeff Seeman.

Dream Police. Art by Eman Casallos. 

Casallos says his biggest break so far is “Vampirella Annual” released last November, where he drew the usually scantily clad bad girl in a motorcycle suit. “Special sa akin ang issue na iyon (That issue was special for me),” he says.

Currently, Casallos is providing the interior art for “Ninjettes,” a series about female ninjas set to replaced the ones killed in the Garth Ennis opus, “Jennifer Blood.”

“Mga dugo-dugo, mga bituka, mga nag-sesex na mga lalake, it has been a challenge sa bata kong career sa comics.(Blood, intestines and guys having sex– it has been a challenge in my young career in comics), Casallos says.

Casallos mostly relies on his imagination on drawing the gory scenes in Ninjettes instead of googling photo references which he says “nakakasuka (makes him vomit).” He did not have to watch gay porn though because there are already “filtered” photos of men having sex online.

Art by Eman Casallos.

The only downside of having a three-year exclusive contract with Dynamite Entertainment? His mom thinks he just draws to avoid doing the dishes. “She does not understand na kung may momentum sa pag-drawing, dapat tuloy-tuloy (She does not understand that an artist can’t be interrupted to wash dishes when he has the momentum to draw a page),” he says. But Casallos clarifies that his mother is very supportive of his pursuits in the comic book industry.

Filipino artists working for Dynamite Entertainment might look like underdogs in the Philippines relatively populated by artists working for Marvel and DC Comics. For Casallos though, it is only a matter of time Filipino comic book readers will notice them.

“Maliit lang yung fanbase ng Dynamite pero nakikita ko in a few years, manonotice siya. Siguro kung tuloy-tuloy na napropromote kami, siguro one day medyo mag-lelevel malapit sa Big Two, sa DC at Marvel artists. (Dynamite has a small fanbase here but I see that it will be noticed in a few years. If there would be more events that would continuously promote our works, we will one day level the playing field with fellow Filipino artists working for the Big Two, Marvel and DC Comics),” Casallos says. He cites a Dynamite Entertainment fans’ day initiated by comics retail store Comicxhub.com during Free Comic Book Day in Pasig City.

Sulat-Kamay. Filipino indie komiks drawn by Eman Casallos.

Asked for his advice to aspiring comic book artists, Casallos shares: “Huwag kayong madidishearten (Don’t be disheartened). Be persistent. Kung gusto ninyo talaga yun, pagtiyagaan ninyo. (If you really want this job, you have to be relentless).”

Jerald Uy

Review: Heart of the Black Matrix (Bayan Knights)

Heart of the Black Matrix

Script: Don Celedina and Mark Wong

Story: Gilbert Monsanto

Art: Erwin Ropa

If you love action heroes but apprehensive of picking up a Bayan Knights comic because of its multitudinous cast, trust me when I tell you to have an open mind and read the character-driven “Heart of the Black Matrix.”

SPOILER ALERT

The story is about five mostly street-level Bayan Knights sent to rescue a half-breed Aswang child being grafted with the so-called “Black Matrix.” But while a couple of characters were just following orders or hangers on, other characters Kawal, Mao and Zheya had their personal reasons in joining the mission.

I generally enjoyed it because the writers balanced characterization and action in the story. The scribes know that to write an effective superhero story, they have to make readers care about the characters first before throwing them in a fight.

By looking at the art, you would know that the artist enjoyed drawing action-packed scenes. My only complaint was the panel showing Overdrive getting nun-chucks. Were these weapons teleported to him? It was not clear how he received his weapons.

I am intrigued by Kawal, a character who can morph his arms into various weapons, not because of his power set but his quest to find his true identity. Did he lose his memories or is he an artificial man with blank slate? I believe the issue primarily advanced Kawal's story and made this reader hugely interested.

I hoped there was a hint why Mao, a doctor wielding a half-shear from another dimension was valuable to the mission. He was not really effective in the fight itself that I began to question why the team's enigmatic deployer Council, I suspect, had to kill Mao's lady friend to mislead him in joining the mission. Sure, Council may have been shown to have the power to resurrect the dead, which I assume, he did to Overdrive, but I think inflicting the pain of being stabbed with a bamboo stick or a metal rod, especially to a woman, is inhuman for someone who was supposed to be on the side of angels.

I also did not understand why Mao had to be plucked from his home dimension to join Bayan Knights. Are there not enough heroes who can match whatever power set or medical skills Mao has? I suspect Mao was created as an extradimensional character because his own continuity does not fit in the BK universe. Creators have to show in the upcoming issues how essential he is to justify why Council had to practically drag him to the mission and to their universe.

But I must admit, this is great way to advance the character of Council as a manipulative “fan” of BK. I just hope to read a story where Council pays for his actions.

I wished I was the guy who created Talim. He's awesome! I dig the character design and can only dream to borrow Talim to have him team-up with my character Muckraker in Segovia Solutions. But what he showed off in combat, he lacked in character development. But hey, we can't give everyone the spotlight.

I was not exactly a fan of the elven-dreamwalker Zheya being included in the team but the dream-walk sequence was fantastic. Zheya though is the most likely candidate to expose Council's machinations, if there are.

Overdrive was cool but I hope his death and resurrection would somehow have an effect on his character in the upcoming issues and other titles. I suggest to have the character deal with his mortality and “second chance” in life. This reminds me of Impulse maturing and becoming Kid Flash after being shot on the knee by Deathstroke.

All in all, it was good team book. I congratulate the people behind the “X-Force” of Bayan Knights. Sure, I may have raised some points for improvement (Blame Overdrive creator Mark Rosario; he asked me to make a review.) but I have re-read the book five times so far. I guess it is an understatement to say that I enjoyed it. I slept beside the book with a smile on my face on the night of Summer Komikon.

Jerald Uy

Being Spidey on a Stellar Comics Day

Thanks to National Book Store for bringing Mark Millar
to the Philippines!

I now understand how Spider-man feels being on several teams. (These are two teams of Avengers and Future Foundation, for those living under a rock.)

I was all set last Saturday to sell our self-published comic Segovia Solutions on our humble spot at Summer Komikon's Indie Tiangge in Mandaluyong City. But then I got a message from my editor at Rappler.com at 5 in the morning that she had arranged an interview with visiting Scottish comic book writer Mark Millar at 11:30 a.m.

For a week, I had been trying to reach the people of National Bookstore to ask if Millar would be giving a talk that would be open to the public and other media organizations that were not their media partners. I admit, I got a little bit frustrated that I did not get any reply through their social media platforms and corporate e-mail.

Mark Millar and the Flipgeeks.
Photo by Flipgeeks.com

I can actually meet Millar if I would tag along with the other writers of Flipgeeks.com where I also contribute articles about comics. But I understood that Flipgeeks wanted the interview to be exclusive to the site. The interview with Millar was indeed a milestone for the fledgling "Newsarama and CBR of the Philippines," as FG co-founder Earl Maghirang said.

Out of respect, I had to either sit this one out or join the other Flipgeeks as a Flipgeek.This, until I learned that I can actually meet and have a one-on-one interview with Millar.

With not much sleep, I set up our table in Bayanihan Center while formulating questions for Millar in my head. The setback though, my artist Jether just woke up at 9 am because he was up all night taking care of his sick son. I got increasingly worried that I might not make it on time because when Komikon opened, Jet had not yet arrived to man the table. Thanks to Khalil Baet of Pulang Punla Studios, he looked after my table as I met Jet lining up at the entrance in a buzzer beater moment at 11 am.

Jether's here!

A tricycle and an MRT ride after, I arrived at National Bookstore in Glorietta 5 at 11:20 am. The Flipgeeks gang was taping their interview with Millar. The interviews did not start on time. Good news for me because I needed to catch my breath and drink a glass of water, which NBS's Chad gladly helped me with.

When my turn came around 12:40 pm, Mark Millar was game in giving a video message to visitors of Rappler about the importance of reading. I then mostly asked questions on how he compartmentalizes his life as a practicing Catholic and a writer of mostly irreverent stories. I am not giving away everything because you need to read my article at Rappler.com when it comes out.

Funny thing happened. While I was interviewing Millar, my phone's recorder stopped due to a text message sent by Jether. He said HeroTV interviewed him and asked for a copy of our comic. The journalist-side of me was a bit irked for interrupting the interview but the my comic creator-side was so ecstatic about it.

After the interview, I felt exhausted travelling back to Bayanihan Center. There's that moment that I was oblivious of what's happening in the event that I later realized that Vampirella artist Hubert Khan Michael just talked to me.

To bring back my old jolly self, I joined a "Bring Me" contest when the host asked to bring a copy of a signed Supercrooks #1. I approached the stage and handed my comic but the host opted not to mention that my comic was signed by Mark Millar, and not of the other creators present in the venue. She could only say, "Wow," perhaps apparently because Millar was a surprise guest.

I also interviewed actor Dingdong Dantes for less than a minute. I find it funny though that when I was talking to him, the fans kept enough distance until actress Lovi Poe arrived, commotion ensued and this was the only decent photo of Dantes holding the comic based from his movie that I was able to take.

Dingdong Dantes. Camera's over here.

Back at selling comics, a number of people were looking for the second issue. Unfortunately, Tin Manasan, my Singapore-based artist was not able to finish the comic in time. We also met a store manager from Ilocos Norte asking us if we could consign our books to the store. Jet was also visited by his fan, a girl who said was "blown away" by his art.

" Thanks! Sir Jerry!! Just read my copy! Galing! It's refreshing to read a manga which is based on reality and tackles a relevant issue. We need a muckracker nowadays, he's awesome XD"- Kirej Javier, InkJinks 

"Thanks Jerry! :D Ang ganda ng intro mo sa issue 1.
Yung nanay at yung tatay. 8D"-Tepai Pascual, Meganon Comics 

(Bayan Knights' DCel also reviewed our first issue here: http://jtmtzrwj.tumblr.com/post/24058431848/segovia-solutions)

I met Leinil Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, Sunny Go and also talked to Mrs. Tina de Zuniga, Tony de Zuniga's widow. I will not go into details but please watch out for my two articles about Mark Millar and Summer Komikon at Rappler.com.

Yu and Uy

The day was truly both eventful and fulfilling as a comics fan, a writer and an aspiring comic book scribe. If only I have the healing factor of Wolverine though, beyond Spidey's sense of responsibility, I'd wish this to happen everyday.

Jerry and Sir Gerry!

Jerald Uy

CBR: Ernie Chan passes away at 71

Comicbook Resources has reported that Filipino-born Conan and Batman artist Ernie Chan has passed away at 71. Here is the link to the report.

Jerald Uy

Rappler: A tribute to Tony de Zuñiga

Rappler picks my article to pay tribute to legendary artist Tony de Zuñiga. He will be cremated today at 4 pm, The Heritage Park, C-5 Road in Taguig City.

The Secret Life of Tony de Zuñiga

Mang Tony. Photo by Roi Francisco.

A lot of great things have been said about  Tony  de Zuñiga, the legendary artist who passed away last Friday due to complications brought by  mild stroke. He was the first Filipino artist who worked for Marvel and DC Comics; he co-created the western anti-hero “Jonah Hex” and the bullet-proof  superheroine “Black Orchid;” and in the '70s, he busted doors for other Filipinos when he scouted  talents.

But did you know that he hid his age from the public?

Various news sites have initially reported that De Zuñiga, locally known as “Mang Tony,” was 71 years old, probably basing on previous records that he was born in 1941. But his wife, Tina, clarified that  De Zuñiga was actually 79 years old and was born in November 1932.

“Nahihiya kasi siya na sabihin ang edad niya (He was shy to admit how old he was),” Tina said. “Kaya sinasabi ko na dapat hindi siya mahiya dahil sa edad niya, nakaka-drawing pa siya.(That's why I always tell him that he should be proud that he can still draw magnificently at his age).

His daughter, Cheryll Lim recalled that artists like DC Comics' Rags Morales (“Identity Crisis”) were in awe of his detailed line art when they met her dad at the San Diego Comic Convention in the U.S. “Tuwang-tuwa talaga sila sa dad ko,” Lim shared that  De Zuñiga was fond of cracking “green” jokes.

Growing up, Lim said she tried drawing but she could not match her father's skill in being able to see “shadows” on people's faces when he drew portraits. She also said that her father dreamed of opening an art school for kids. “Malapit siya sa mga bata (He liked children),” Lim said.

In fact, his first students were his grandchildren.“Binigyan niya ng oil pastel, 'yung mga bata naman, nag-scribble sa sahig, hindi na tuloy matanggal (He gave my kids oil pastel but the children scribbled on the floor. It's hard to remove the stains.)

Lim said that her father left the U.S. two years ago to stay in the Philippines for good because most of his friends live here. “Plus, he did  not like the cold weather; he'd always get sick,” Lim said.

Asked if their family would still open an art school, she said, “Wala na dad ko. Siya ang artist. (My dad is gone. He's the artist.)


After De Zuñiga: A call for creators' fund 

Sketch for Mang Tony

While De Zuñiga was confined at the Las Piñas Doctors Hospital last month, his wife asked helped from the comics community to aid them in the medical costs. She said that they were paying P40,000 everyday and their savings had almost ran out.

Last May 5, a sketch drive and a silent auction of artworks were held for Mang Tony, coinciding with “Free Comic Book Day,” an annual event where participating retail stores give out free comics to increase readership.

“It is also a good way to show our brothers to share our blessings,” said Jed Yoingco, a comics fan who brought his younger siblings to the event. “Aside from the free comics, there is a benefit drive to help Mang Tony because he needs all the help he can get right now.”

The Fantastic Four.
Yoingco twins bring their younger siblings to a sketch drive for Mang Tony.

Comics enthusiast Jiggy Cruz of the prominent Aquino clan believes that what happened to DeZuñiga should be a wake-up call to the comics community. “In the States, there's a foundation called the 'Hero Initiative.' 'Hero Initiative ' is a non-profit organization helping the American artists,” Cruz said.

“I don't think the support should come from the government. I think it's the fans, in general, the fans should have a support fund for the heroes they look up to,” Cruz added.

Renowned comics creator Gerry Alanguilan said they have long thought of putting up a foundation since the Ondoy tragedy.

“Pinag-aaralan pa namin kasi alam namin malaking pera ang involved doon at maraming tao ang kailangan to work it. (We are still studying it because we know it involves funding and manpower to make it work.) But definitely we have a plan to do something more concrete,” Alanguilan said.

De Zuñiga's Legacy

“It is very rare that things like these happen. It is unfortunate for this to happen but it really shows that that comics community is just one big family,” Zsazsa Zaturnnah creator Carlo Vergara said.

Vergara admitted that he had not read any Jonah Hex comic illustrated by DeZuñiga when he was young. But when he first met the veteran artist in a convention, Vergara said he was astonished by De Zuñiga's detailed pencils, popularly known as the “Filipino Style.”

“I was just blown away. It brought me back to the time when I was a kid, admiring the work of Filipino artists.” Vergara said. “You're peeking at his work  and you're trying to find what can you pick up from it. In Tagalog, 'paano ko nanakawin ito?”

On May 26, participants of Summer Komikon, a comic book convention usually attended by De Zuñiga, will pay tribute to the legendary artist. Many creators have already posted online their renditions of Mang Tony's famous character “Jonah Hex.”

"Jonah. Walking off to the sunset." by Carlo San Juan

Mang Tony's remains lie in state at Chapel 4, The Heritage Park Mortuary and Crematorium, C5 Road in Taguig City. Necrological mass and cremation will be held on Tuesday.

Jerald Uy