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Apr

28

Andrew Drilon – A Different Kind of Filipino Comics Creator

Filed Under Comics Artists, Filipino Artists, Online Comics, Philippine Comics | 9 Comments

andrewdrilon

While most Filipino comics artists are making waves in mainstream superhero comics at the big companies like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse, Andrew Drilon has been slowly and quietly making a name for himself as a fresh and innovative creator in the independent comix scene abroad as writer and artist.

His latest short story, “What the Cigarette Said“, is a featured story at Top Shelf 2.0′s web comics site here:

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0/cigarette/1

Here at home, Andrew has contributed to Siglo as well as writing and drawing the weekly color strip RAN Online for the Sunday Comics of the Philippine Star.

Congrats Andrew!

It’s a direction that I hope more Filipinos take when considering a career in comics. It’s definitely cool to dream about drawing Wolverine and Spiderman and the X-Men… cooler still if you end up doing it yourself. I’ve been that position and it’s just awesome. But there’s also a strange lack of interest in attempting to both write and draw your own stories for independent companies. Definitely it’s a much more difficult thing to try to do. But I’m sure there are plenty of talented creators out there who can do it, if not now, then in time and with practice.

There are very few Filipino writers in International comics. Rarer still are those who both write and draw at the same time. To anyone who ever dreamed of doing this kind of thing, I strongly urge you to pursue it. It’s difficult, but it’s possible. It’s an opportunity to deal with the art of comics more fully. Drawing is only one aspect of it, and being able to do both writing and drawing would allow you to offer a more complete and pure expression of your ideas.

Comments

9 Responses to “Andrew Drilon – A Different Kind of Filipino Comics Creator”

  1. Reno on April 28th, 2009 2:37 pm

    Andrew Drilon is one of the most talented guys around (either here or abroad). His ideas are really out-of-the-box. And his art keeps getting better. We have not yet seen what this guy is really capable of doing, mark my words. :)

  2. Markus on April 28th, 2009 11:33 pm

    Page 4 made me wonder. Is this guy from Pangasinan?

  3. Gilbert on April 29th, 2009 1:23 am

    I agree. Minsan magugulat ka kung san niya napupulot ang ideas niya :) Galing!

  4. Jose Mari Lee on April 29th, 2009 3:46 am

    I like Andrew Drilon’s art and writing a lot.

    In WHAT THE CIGARETTE SAID, some parts are quite expressionistic. Some of his curly queues even remind me of Van Gogh’s leaves, flowers, and foliage in THE FIRST STEPS :). Very classy looking style, I must say.

    But, what really works in his writing is that it is tight and not wasteful, so to speak.
    I’d like to say something about the structure of this piece.

    His whole story here is made of 72 frames. Dividing that in 4, we get 18 frames.
    18 for BEGINNING (minus one frame for the title) (Frames 1-19)
    18+18=36 for MIDDLE (Frames 19-55)
    18 for ENDING (Frames 56-72) (Minus 1 frame which was used for the title)

    The hook used the first 8 frames. The 8th frame (which is the end of Hook) was the first intro to the reader of the santelmo woman. Right after seeing this frame the reader will now wonder: who is she and what is she here for? Hence, you’re hooked. And you want to continue reading. From page 9 up to page 18 – we learned of the legends, the beginnings of the “hidden” creatures and we learned that the santelmo is part of this array. On the 18th Frame (which is actually the 19th – because he used one frame for the title) – we once again see the woman, this time, closer, and we know more facts about her, but not just the whole package yet (don’t give everything or the reader will be bored). This incident (Frame 19) is the FIRST MAJOR PLOT POINT of the story.

    This incident spins the story around and pushes the story into another direction.

    The MIDDLE begins on frame 20. We now know that our main character is attracted to her, and as he learns more about her and what she is there for, he begins to be tormented by his attraction to her and the “unknown” side of her that he begins to be eaten up by the whole situation. Triumphs and obstacles keep happening on his mind, and each new struggle becoming more intense. On frame 36, he decides HE’S OUT! “I have to go”.

    This is the SECOND MAJOR PLOT POINT. His decision spins the story around and hurls it into another direction.

    The ENDING begins on Frame 37. He runs, looking for some refuge. He is resisting and trying to free himself from the quandary he is in. On frame 66 – THE BLACK MOMENT (Climax) – his last card, so to speak – and challenges her to show her power, hoping he could still free himself from this “bondage”. This also becomes the realization that what he’s doing will not change anything. He is absolutely powerless. Resigned to his fate, he acquiesces to whatever may happen to him. And the piece ends wonderfully.

    The paradigm (Act 1, Act II Act III) (also known as BEGINNING, MIDDLE & END) always works in comics, in teleplays, stage, movies and even novels. Dividing the material into 4 parts: 1/4 for beginning, 1/2 for middle and 1/4 for ending will keep the story running very smoothly. It also stops the writer from INDULGENCE. This word should never be there when we’re writing or the reader and/or your audience will abandon you.

    Thhis is the first time I’ve seen and read ANDREW DRILON and I am now an instant fan of the guy. Thanks for featuring him, Monsieur Alanguilan.

  5. Jose Mari Lee on April 29th, 2009 8:32 am

    OOoops. Sorry guys, I goofed typing . When I said frame 36 when he said “I’m Out”, it’s actually frame 56. You have to excuse me for I am totally MATHEMATICS Challenged, also known as: BOBO sa Math. He-he. Ayan, at least naitama ko ang figure. He-he.

  6. Noel Tuazon on April 29th, 2009 7:35 pm

    Love Andrew’s drawing style! Just refreshing & original.

  7. Andrew Drilon on April 30th, 2009 4:03 am

    Thanks so much for this, Gerry! I really appreciate it! And I agree with your point–I’d also like to see more writer-artists in the local scene. We’ve got some good company on this thread, though, with Reno, Gilbert and Noel! :D

    And thanks everyone for the kind words. It’s nice to know that you people are reading my stuff and liking it; makes me wanna do even better! :)

  8. dexterwee on April 30th, 2009 9:03 am

    very well said Gerry.

    Keep up the good work Andrew. ;)

  9. Pinoy Comics USA on April 30th, 2009 10:33 am

    JM,
    Good to have you back and to be reading your point of view. Sorry to hear you had to cut your vacation short because of the swine flu.
    Rod