Dec

31

Terrible as 2009 was, it was a Terrific Year for Philippine Comics

Filed Under Philippine Comics | 8 Comments

2009 was a terrific year for Philippine comics. And all that occurred without the benefit of Carlo J. Caparas. Yes, Philippine comics is alive and well, but sorry Carlo, YOU had nothing to do with it.

In 2009 alone, there were SIX major comic book events organic to the Philippines, meaning comic book events whose origins were here in the Philippines. There were:

The two Komikons (Summer and 5th Annual)

Metro Comic-Con in August

The First Philippine International Cartoons, Comics, and Animation Festival in October

Mangaholix Convention in November

…and the 2nd San Pablo City Comics Festival in December.

If we add to that Free Comic Book Day in May, plus the various comic book signings conducted by Comic Odyssey, Planet X, Sputnik, Druid’s Keep and Powerbooks, it’s the biggest year for Philippine Independent comics yet!

Add to that four major comics book releases on the history of Philippine Comics, materials that have never been publicly available locally ever since the release of History of Komiks in the Philippines in the mid 80’s:

The First One Hundred Years of Philippine Komiks by John A. Lent, published by Yonzon Associates

The Life and Art of Francisco Coching, published by Vibal Foundation

And for the first time in 50 years, complete Francisco V. Coching komiks-novels have finally been restored and compiled. First was EL INDIO, published by Vibal Foundation, and then LAPU-LAPU, published by ATLAS.

2009 also saw the release of several major graphic novels/books/compilations from a few of the country’s leading comic book creators.

Martial Law Babies by Arnold Arre
TRESE: Mass Murders by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo
“12” by Manix Abrera
“UNDERPASS” Horror Anthology from Budjette Tan, Kajo Baldisimo, David Hontiveros, Ian Sta. Maria, Oliver Pulumbarit and Gerry Alanguilan, published by SUMMIT.
Majarlica: Bayan ng Agimat by Rod Rodriguez, Danny Acuña and Jann Galino
Bayan Knights Year 2 by Gilbert Monsanto and the Bayan Knighters
Skyworld Book 2 by Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta. Maria
Go Beerkada: The Rise of the Jhologs by Lyndon Gregorio
Private Iris by Jaime Bautista and Arnold Arre

…plus lots of other independently produced material….

Kalayaan by Gio Paredes, Ang Alamat ng Panget by Apol Sta Maria, Ang Mascot by by Macoy, Bearkdowns, Role Play and Bear Bong by Josel Nicolas, EDSA by Randy Valiente and Mel Casipit, Pinoy Komiks Rebyu, edited by Randy Valiente, Wow Hayop! Written and edited by Lawrence Mijares, Astiging Boy Ipis by Paul Michael Ignacio and Gilbert Monsanto, etc. And of course, I was fortunate enough in Komikero Publishing to have come up with two titles: The ELMER Collected book, and “Where Bold Stars Go To Die”, illustrated by my friend Arlan Esmeña. The Komikero Artists group has also released FOUR issues of Komikero Komiks throughout the year which included an all new WASTED story, and unpublished TIMAWA stories.

Filipinos continue to represent the Philippines in the best possible way in the International comics stage as they illustrate the world’s most popular comic book titles. There’s Leinil Francis Yu for Marvel, Whilce Portacio on Spawn, Batman, and Hulk, Philip Tan on Green Lantern and Batman&Robin, Francis Manapul on Flash and Adventure Comics, Carlo Pagulayan on Agents of Atlas, and many more.

While 2009 was truly the most despicable year to have come upon us in decades where we lost so many heroes and our people have suffered so much life and property loss through sickness, economy and the environment, I try to take consolation in the fact that 2009 was also the best year Philippine comics has had in the last couple of decades.

2009 has been so rich in comics material through the celebration and preservation of the form, so much so that I hope people don’t take it for granted. For many years we have never had so much publicly accessible publications on Philippine comics available and in 2009 it seems the drought has finally been broken.

I sincerely hope people try to keep this in mind and realize exactly what is being made available to us now in lieu of what we didn’t have before.

I also take consolation in the fact that Filipino artists from the world over have come together to help those of us in the industry who were affected by Typhoon Ondoy and the subsequent flooding. Efforts to raise funds continue today, and hopefully, it will give birth to something akin to Heroes Initiative in the US, a fund for Filipino comic book creators in need.

If someone had told me all the things that would happen in comics in 2009 back in 1999, I would have told him to get out of here.

Happy New Year everyone! And I hope that 2010 will be much better for all of us!

Comments

8 Responses to “Terrible as 2009 was, it was a Terrific Year for Philippine Comics”

  1. Jonas Diego on December 31st, 2009 9:53 pm

    As the E-head song goes, “you can bet your pwet we’ll do it again…” :D

  2. Markus on January 1st, 2010 2:07 am

    Happy New Year to you too, Gerry. Now what titles can we expect from you this 2010?.. Will Dr. Rizal finally be released? I’m obviously excited for that one :)

  3. auggie on January 1st, 2010 2:37 pm

    A HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS TO YOU GERRY and wife ILYN !

    May this year be a more productive year in terms of comics output…

  4. Josel on January 1st, 2010 3:58 pm

    Its funny, I would never believe that Id ever say this about anything, but it was so far the best year for making, reading and producing komiks, but so far its been the worst year Ive experienced ever so far in my young life. haha! The ups were all because of komiks and the downs were practically everything else! haha! Happy new year to you sir Gerry! I hope that 2010 is a little bit more stable than 2009. :)

  5. Gilbert Monsanto on January 1st, 2010 10:29 pm

    ” Tuloy pa rin ako.” :)

  6. Jerald Dorado on January 3rd, 2010 2:54 am

    Onward to 2010!

    Finally our dreams are being realized. It is very exciting to see what the future holds for komiks and us komikeros.

  7. kc cordero on January 3rd, 2010 1:52 pm

    Manigong Bagong Taon, Ka Gerry!

  8. mel casipit on January 3rd, 2010 9:31 pm

    2009 has really been a memorable year for me personally!:) Thankyou very much for mentioning our EDSA in this blog, We really appreaciate it. Happy NewYear Sir Gerry and Mabuhay ang Pinoy Komiks! :D