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Jul

22

Chickens Everywhere!

Filed Under Comics Artists, Filipino Artists, Philippine Comics | 5 Comments

When I went to Sputnik in Cubao X a couple of weeks ago, I picked up two local independent comic books, both of which had chickens in them. All right! Chickens are invading Philippine comics! Peck em dead, guys! Me, however, I don’t wanna ever draw chickens again. Well, at least in the immediate future.

First is Wow Hayop! And it’s WOW! indeed because it’s in full color at 30 pesos. And it’s self published by old online acquaintance Lawrence Mijares, a person I know to be one of the most passionate about Philippine comics. He earlier published the Siklab! anthology, which held lots of promise.

I haven’t read through Wow Hayop! yet, but initial reaction was wow, this is amazing! It’s in newsprint, but I really don’t mind newsprint. The thing is, I think the stories were colored with glossy paper in mind because the colors seeped into the paper and appear too dark in most places and make some white on black text difficult to read. When coloring for newsprint, colors used tend to be much lighter. I suggest that if they stick to newsprint, that they ease up on the colors and the effects and make the colors lighter and much simpler.

John Becaro’s colors on the chicken story ,specially the last 2 pages look best in this format.

The other one is a photocopied mini comic book entitled “Ang Maskot” by Macoy. Ok, I don’t think it is a chicken. But close enough. I was really impressed by this little mini comic book. Macoy seems to have a good grasp on good storytelling in comics, something that’s lacking in many comics I read, independent or not.

I like how the story is told where words don’t overwhelm the drawings and just let the story be told in a pleasing mixture of words and pictures.

Macoy has the makings of a great cartoonist, and by that I mean a comic book creator who can tell a story very well through both his writing and drawing. Although he displays his influences plainly in this example, instances elsewhere seem to indicate that he’s in the process of evolving his own personal voice. As an artist as good as this, I’m certain that he will find it soon enough.

Personally, I can’t wait to see what other things Macoy does in the future.

http://mcoy.blogspot.com/

Titles available at Sputnik! in Cubao X.

While I was at Sputnik, I spoke with the general manager and friend of mine, Chez Fidelino, and we recorded our talk about Sputnik and comics in general. I’ll be uploading it as an audio podcast very soon!

Comments

5 Responses to “Chickens Everywhere!”

  1. jzhuagev on July 22nd, 2009 3:11 pm

    WOw! Better grab this komiks! Sputnik is my favoroite komiks store; very near at the place where I work and near my heart…
    Aaaaww… (~.~)
    Speaking of chickens that’s the place where I bought my Elmer 2-4…

  2. Mel Casipit on July 23rd, 2009 5:59 am

    Sir, san sa Cubao yung Sputnik? gusto ko rin makapunta dun. Planet x, Comic Odessey, at Comic quest lang mga alm kong bilihan eh.

  3. jim on July 23rd, 2009 7:29 am

    Thank you very much for featuring Wow Hayup!, Gerry, we appreciate it.
    We will be selling more copies of this issue at the Manila Comics Convention in the IndieGO valley section, hopefully, to earn more funding needed to be able to publish #2. :)

  4. Gerry Alanguilan on July 23rd, 2009 8:56 am

    May address, email at phone numbers dun sa link ng Sputnik. :)

  5. macoy on July 23rd, 2009 9:52 am

    yahuuuu! :D