The mention of Sterling Paper even by now irks me so much how the entire creative team of Flashpoint felt shafted when we have to deal with backbiting and office politics given how skeptical they are with the project in spite of what we had to put up with in regards to selling the project pitch and adjusting the initial aspects and elements of Flashpoint proper without creating any backlash from certain quarters. We were just grudgingly playing nice with they ask at times, it still stings remembering that back in 1993. 14 years later I find that they now decided to go ahead into this arena of popular culture to revitalize a near extinct area of publishing for the masses.

I know Carl would say something about letting this particular project lie down and die in spite what the creative team overall poured into the project along with lots of future plots, twists and storylines which got churned out while Image Comics in its early years got ahead of itself with a gimmick of Issue 25 for all its titles back in those years. Carl would prolly try to go about calming me down when I get passionate about these things in spite of Flashpoint fading into obscurity. It just pains me much that such a creation has to be left to die after all of the creative team has seperated ways and get assimilated by the real world to deal with their seperate lives and jobs while others have moved on to other things.

I felt so betrayed when the project dies while I was told at one time that someday I would be possibly be writing a story or two for it down the line. That never happened. Was it a misplaced encouraged to a struggling creative? I dunno. A falsely implied sense of hope to one who is unsure of his own creative ability? Possibly. All in all, it just plain crushes my soul that such dreams has to be dashed with this corporate world and call centers that most of people today would be assimilated insidiously like a virulent meme or the Borg of Star Trek fame.

Dang. I’m running myself off more than I holding back on this touchy topic. I better get off this impromptu soapbox for dwelling on this. Sorry for the rant on this one.

Thanks for the insightful article. I heard about this recent stink-up (and read a couple of annoyingly-imprecise articles in the newspaper) and I must say, I commiserate with you on your frustration at this.

Just as an aside, regarding ‘Komiks’ versus ‘Comics’, I’d like to propose my own definition:

‘Komiks’ as a catch-all term for Filipino-made comics, 100% OPM, not necessarily just in tagalog, but in any language widely-used in the Philippines–just as ‘manga’ has been used for Japanes cartoon and comic art, ‘manhwa’ for the Koreans and ‘manhua’ for the Chinese.

Obviously, this is just a proposal, but I dunno, from my limited perspective, it seems to be the way that the term is being received in the international scene–and I quite like that.

I realize that there’s still a somewhat large issue concerning language (English in particular–even in our prose and poetry literary circles) but I’m leaning towards inclusion rather than a separation of terms, as the diversity in Filipino-made sequential art is rich enough that, I feel, a broader evolution of the term would benefit everyone.

Outside of the STERLING efforts, I’m not surprised there’s such a thing. When fortunes are not good in komiks (since the 90′s to the present), people begin to form ideas in their heads and focus on bogeymen to protect themselves against. In this case it would be the younger generation who they might be competing with for a share of the measly pie. Hindi naman lahat… I’m sure the vets who were happy and secure in the careers they have formed probably didn’t care.

If we’re talking about the pre-Sterling days, I think you can ask John Becaro, who was at the time very active in the Komiks Congress, instances how exactly the younger guys were being shut out. He was after all, right at the front line and he should know. About how the younger guys, as a whole, were treated with suspicion and by some.

About how, even others were skeptical of the accomplishments of the younger guys, incredulous that we were able to do this and that, even in the face of evidence.

In the early days, the competition was open to everyone certainly, but the younger guys were not eligible to the money prizes, just trophies and certificates. I remember raising a stink about it with fellow artists back then. I was even more incensed when a prominent veteran in the committee, probably the most prominent one, told one of the younger guys, “Bigay nyo na lang sa amin ito ha?” “Sa Amin” meaning the veterans in reference to the contest. The attitude might probably have changed later on. But I have no proof of that.

That’s all I need to say with certainty that there was quite a bit of shutting out going on, but there were certainly more. But it was not wholesale, and absolute, as yeah, there were also instances where they did let us in on things. But I get the distinct feeling that we were simply “saling pusa”.

There are a lot of other veterans who did welcome us with open arms, specially the artists, not involved in the organizing committee, who were just as excited that there was an effort to revive komiks, but who were as equally disappointed that there was no real discussion about how to do it at the congress, just a lot of grandstanding.

That’s why it’s a good thing that Martin is opening the doors very widely for younger guys to come aboard. And I think that’s a great thing. I think a new generation has to come aboard to revitalize the industry. But it’s still great to see people like Hal Santiago really cut loose.

******

I do have to emphasize that I don’t assert anything here in my blog, specially with regards to the comics industry, which I cannot back up. I don’t say anything here against anyone that is unfounded, or lie about something just because I feel like it. As a working comic book professional, I am privy to a lot of information behind the scenes that many other people may not be aware of. I am not someone who opens his mouth and authoritatively asserts things I know nothing about.

If I say something, rest assured there is a reason for me to say it. If I don’t offer details, it’s because I simply don’t want to betray people who have told me things in confidence, or have forbade me to not to reveal where I got it from. I say as much as I can in the interest of setting things straight, and not perpetuate any misconception that gives undue credit to people who don’t deserve it, and give credit to those who do.

Yes, but even before that message was posted, and even before the noise was made, people like Randy (whom I consider young) had already submitted a script and got paid, right? And AFAIK, Marboy (also young) had been in on it too early in the game. So, yes, the publicity is around the work of the veterans, but that’s proof they weren’t shutting out young blood.

I’m sure some people did feel shut out — but from the news it looks like it includes other vets, too.

-ed

Actually, the message FROM Martin came to pass AFTER we made a lot of noise. If we didn’t, probably they wouldn’t have done it. Well, at least, CONSUELO DE BOBO.

Bayad. That’s another thing. In th 70s, I refused to contribute to GMS because they were so CHEAPSKATES. I’m not going to waste my time if I’d be dealing with some PENNY-PINCHER publishers. Though I could have contributed for FREE. At least they can’t turn around and demand things (even if they have paid me for peanuts).

I don’t think Sterling has shut out younger talents. In fact their VP has actually stated that if you have good art samples and scripts then you’re free to take them to their office in Ortigas on Fridays (I’ve seen this mentioned in Randy Valiente’s blog). Kahit ako inimbitahan nung nakita nila ang sample art ko, pero hindi ko lang priority gumawa ng trabaho ngayon sa komiks. Siguro sa future pag masmaluwag na ang mga schedule ko (at mas malaki na ang bayad nila, hehehe — it’s easier to ask that if the business is already making money, not before).

I think what’s happened is that in most important endeavors, you work with people you know and trust. Since the creative side was spearheaded by CJC, then he started working with people he used to work with, which happened to be mostly the veterans. Otherwise, as is stated over at Randy’s blog, people are free to go and show their work and make story proposals, whether you’re a veteran or not.

I skimmed a photo of CJC captioned with the whole komiks event thing, and I confess I didn’t pay it much heed as I thought it had to do with one of his upcoming movies :p

Having learned a little bit more about the whole initiative now (hehe parang ‘Civil War’ ba?) I have to say that I think it’s a big mistake to shunt the younger talent and their contributions off to the sidelines.

No one is going to take away the value of the work of the classic, old-time komiks creators, but to simply try to bring back the oldies without any sort of attempt to infuse some kind of freshness into the industry may well be consigning the whole enterprise to oblivion.

You can say what you want about the 90s comics of the younger Filipino creators raised on Marvel, DC and Image not being “pangmasa” but you can’t change the fact that these were the guys who kept the whole concept afloat while the more traditional ‘komiks’ were sinking like a stone. Rather than signal a breakaway from the komiks of old, these guys even went so far as to champion them way before this latest media blitz of CJC.

I say let the old work hand in hand with the young to bring a nice, fresh face to Filipino komics; tell stories with a nice updated sensibility. In fact, if they put their heads together they may come up with something that, down the line will be more distinct and revered than what these guys may be able to churn out separately.

The old can represent the standards of excellence and workmanship of the industry, while the new can bring in the fresh ideas and “re-imaginings” of classic ideas. It’s always a waste to toss any talent, old or new, to the periphery, and an industry that’s trying to build new momentum for itself could use all of the help it can get.