May

17

Komikon Summer Fiesta 2009

Filed Under Comics Artists, Filipino Artists, Komikero Group, My Art, My Comics, Philippine Comics, Photographs, Video Blogs | 18 Comments

My small group which includes Arlan Esmeña, Zara Macandili, Pilar Esber, Ilyn and me left San Pablo at six in the morning. We arrived at the venue relatively early at 8 am. We had a quick set up so I had plenty of time to go around and talk with people I knew before the doors opened. As far as Komikon goes, I know a lot of people.

There were a couple of my friends attending Komikon for the first time including Robert Magnuson, who is the artist of an upcoming graphic novel for Adarna. We talked comics and Star Trek. The graphic novel he is doing is massive. I can’t wait to see it when it’s done.


Robert Magnuson and Steven Pabalinas

Jamie Bautista, also a Komikon first-timer, is the publisher of Nautilus Comics, including Cast and Arnold Arre’s Martial Law Babies. He’s also doing Private Iris with Arnold. He’s also the printer for ELMER. He said it was kind of hot. Was it? I never noticed. But I guess the huge cooling fan situated behind me at my table had something to do with it.


With Norman B. Isaac


With Tuxs Rutaquio, “Ada” in ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Musical.

My friend Chez was there, manning the Sputnik booth all by herself. Their indie selection was just awesome! I said hello to the Bayan Knights team, specially Gilbert and Glenda. Beside my table was Jonas Diego’s Robo Monkey table. And when the convention doors opened at 10am, they hadn’t arrived yet! Apparently, they pulled an all nighter just to finish putting together Komikero Comics #1. Johnny was the first to arrive with April, then Jonas arrived much later carrying a small box of comics. The 50 copies of Komikero Comics #1 that were produced quickly sold out. Even I don’t have a copy. Honestly! Those who have been wanting to buy it, sorry! We are planning on putting everything online soon.


Komikero Komiks #1 on display. It’s blank so that the creators at the Komikon can sign and sketch on it. Photo by Azrael Coladilla

I went to the Comic Odyssey booth for what turned out to be a stunning find. It’s so hysterically stunning that it rivals even Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tut’s Tomb! I found a first edition Marvel Illustrated Novel Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN, illustrated by Berni Wrightson! I went… OMG! I grabbed it, knuckling a couple of fan boys in the eyes, and kicking a couple of nuns in the ankles who were all angling to get it. I’m kidding, but once I had it, I didn’t let it go, and ran away cackling. Thanks to Sandy Sansolis for making my day!

Once back at the table, it was my turn to be grabbed and dragged kicking and screaming to a nearby cafe by a couple of characters who turned out to be the nice guys of Vibal Publishing. They’re nice because they’re going to be finally publishing Francisco V. Coching’s EL INDIO on August 19 2009, and will have a launching at the National Museum, under the shadow of the great Spoliarium no less! El Indio is only the second book Vibal will be launching that day. The first is “The Life and Art of Francisco V. Coching” to which I also contributed an essay. August will be awesome, I’m telling you guys right now!


David Hontiveros and I talked about The Spirit comics and film while we were both manning the urinals at the boy’s room. I haven’t seen the movie, but I’ve read the comics. I’m kinda dreading seeing it based on the bad reviews, but I will go and see it sometime just to have my own opinion.

Upon seeing my hero Carlo Vergara, I went and asked him to sign my copy of Graphic Classics: Ambrose Bierce, to which he contributed the art to “The Monk and the Hangman’s Daughter”. Budjette Tan was there, but I didn’t ask him to sign anything. Sorry Budj!


David Hontiveros and Carlo Vergara. In my thousands if pictures in my hard drive, I’ve never had any photo of David where I could see his hands.

I was waiting for the organizers to announce the Komikon plans for that huge PICCA event in October. PICCA is the Philippine International Cartoons, Comics and Animation Festival that’s going to be held at the SM Megamall from October 15-18. I was aware of this because I’m one of those helping organize the event.

It’s a huge thing, and a big deal, so my ears were peeled towards the stage for any announcements. The only announcement I heard was my name being called to the stage, along with Sir Orvy Jundis. And as we sat there on the stage, in front of everyone in the Komikon, we were asked to announce the PICCA. Oh, I’M going to make the announcement. ha! ha!

It was also announced that another Komikon will be held on October 18 at the SM Megatrade Hall, which would be, in effect, the 4th day of the PICCA. There’s lots more to be said about this huge event, but I will make a separate post about it soon.

At 7:00pm we packed up, and as it has become our tradition after selling ELMER at the Komikon, we passed by KFC and had a bucket of chicken before we went back home.

Komikon Summer Fiesta 2009 Video!

Video hosted on Facebook:

Photo coverage by Azrael Coladilla
Blog/Photo Coverage by Lyndon Gregorio
Krisis! Komix
Kantogirl
nopickup
Blog and Video Coverage by Ryan Gerard
(more links as they come in)

Comments

18 Responses to “Komikon Summer Fiesta 2009”

  1. kc cordero on May 17th, 2009 5:11 pm

    gerry,
    talaga kayang ‘partick’ ang pangalan no’ng nag-edit ng “the life and art of francisco v. coching”?

  2. danry ocampo on May 17th, 2009 5:44 pm

    Hi Sir Gerry,

    I had a great time at KOMIKON. I had a great find as well at comic odyssey. Batman: Night Cries by Archie Goodwin and Scott Hampton. Great Story and Art for less the price and HardCover. WTF! Being in line from 9am to 10:30am paid off coming from working all night.

    I went to your table first. I got a steal with High Roads SC from you collection. I was also able to personally express my gratitude to ate Ilyn on how sturdy and great the elmer boxset turned out to be.

    Thanks for signing my lastikman, highroads and komikero komiks #1. Regards also to Sir Edgar Tadeo and to Sir Johnny who looked more handsome wearing more than his trademark trunks. hehe. joke po. thanks for just laughing at that when i said it.

    Danry Ocampo

  3. Eula on May 17th, 2009 7:05 pm

    You guys only made 50 copies? OF COURSE it’s gonna be sold out! :D Komikon was packed this year, even when I arrived at around 5. It was great.

    Thank you for all the information on the future cons and comics-related releases!

  4. Joel Chua on May 17th, 2009 7:33 pm

    Was that a pokemon dance group at the end??

  5. Azrael on May 17th, 2009 7:34 pm

    omg!! finally coching book!

  6. Josel Nicolas on May 17th, 2009 8:44 pm

    It was a slowburn Komikon, but yeah, it still got packed towards the end. Too bad I didnt get to finish it til closing time this year.

  7. Aaron on May 17th, 2009 10:05 pm

    As usual, masaya nanaman! Sayang di ko natapos book ko. :(

  8. joanah calingo on May 17th, 2009 10:46 pm

    nice pic from the stage!

  9. Pinoy Comics USA on May 18th, 2009 1:05 am

    Gerry,
    Wow, so many, so muchhhhh in one entry. I’ll have to come back and read this again, with more comments.
    Meanwhile congrats on the Bernie Wrightson find. I wonder if I have that one. He’ll be at MonsterPalooza right here in Burbank where I live. Also Alex Nino will be there. See details in my blog http://pinoykomiksausa.blogspot.com/
    Finally, El Indio, been waiting for this for over a year.
    Rod

  10. jim on May 18th, 2009 7:11 am

    wow, Gerry, a 1st edition Bernie Wrightson Frankenstein! tell me please, nasa p20 back issue bins ba yan? i’m glad for you then, you beat me to it! may mga nakuha din akong obscure treasures dun, mostly from PC comics, R.Nebres, Jeff Jones, Bernet, Moebius among others. very grateful to Sandy too for adding color sa komikon with his comics.

    wow finally, Coching! something to really look forward to in August.

  11. Noel Tuazon on May 18th, 2009 7:17 am

    Congrats on your find (Wrightson illustrated “Frankenstein”)! Isn’t the Dark Horse edition of the book available in the Philippines?

    Also, I hope that El Indio book is available for international orders.

  12. auggie on May 18th, 2009 9:07 am

    Rod,

    Na-feature din sila Gerry and Leinil sa Sunday magazine supplement ng Phil.Daily Inquirer, May 17, 2009. Both features were written by Ruel de Vera.
    Is PDI, available in Burbank ?

  13. Reno on May 18th, 2009 10:00 am

    How much did you get that Frankenstein book? I’m sure it was very very worth it. I bought my copy from Hal Santiago years back. Nothing Bernie Wrightson has done before or since has ever topped that.

    That El Indio book is thick! Wow! I hope it will be made widely available. Same goes for the Coching book.

    It’s great to see the veterans sketching at their own table. I hope they didn’t give away those sketches for free. They deserve to get paid for those.

    Didn’t get to go, opted to spend some quality time with family. but I’ll be sure to be at the one in Megamall.

    Congrats to Komikon. It seems to be getting bigger each year! :)

  14. Pinoy Comics USA on May 18th, 2009 11:44 am

    Auggie,
    We have a Daily Inquirer but the U.S. version.
    Rod

  15. KOMIKON Summer Fiesta 2009 « BAHAY TALINHAGA on May 19th, 2009 10:35 am

    [...] Komikero Comics Journal [...]

  16. Paolo on May 19th, 2009 11:11 am

    Wow, that first photograph was well done indeed sir. Congratulations on your find as well! (I never have the patience to go through the piles…)

    Hope you don’t mind if I link to this post–I tried to compile a list of posts containing other post-Summer Fiesta coverage.

  17. pao on May 19th, 2009 12:03 pm

    sir gerry san pa pwede bumili nung komikero komiks#1.. di kc ako nakapunta sa komikon me pasok kc ako.. tnx..

  18. Noel Tuazon on May 20th, 2009 10:12 am

    Any idea where one can order a copy of The Philippine Comic Artists Portfolio?