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

Tony de Zuniga passes away at 79

First published on Flipgeeks

Today we are burdened with the sad news that Filipino comics legend Tony DeZuñiga or “Mang Tony” as most people in the local comics industry call him has passed away, he was 79 years old.

His wife,Tina, said her husband's age is 79, not 71 as news sites have reported. Mang Tony did not want to disclose his real age when he was still alive.
He is the first Filipino artist to work for the so-called “Big Two” in comics publishing, Marvel and DC Comics. The Los Angeles-based artist is also best known for co-creating “Jonah Hex,” a disfigured Western anti-hero and “Black Orchid,” a bullet-proof superheroine. In 1978, he flew back to the Philippines to scout for Filipino comic book artists. He has helped aspiring Filipino creators and artists pursue their dreams, and has participated in events that helped flood victims this recent years.

Mang Tony will surely be missed and will never be replaced.

The wake will be held at the Heritage Park at Taguig starting 10 AM tomorrow, Saturday, May 12, 2012 until Tuesday, May 15, 2012. He will be cremated.