Hindi ko alam kung possible ito, pero dapat magkaruon ng documents of compensation (katulad ng UAP) ang mga writers, artists and others sa ganitong propesyon.

Kinapalan ko ang mukha ko nun at nakipag-usap sa mga old masters (Abe Ocampo, Al Cabral, Perry Cruz, Karl Commendador, Jun Lofamia [thanks to Randy Valiente for introducing them to me]) esp Mang Abe, na nagwork sila sa animation after the collapse, and for me this is one of the saddest thing that happened to lokal komiks industry.

If Mr. Alvarez’ assertion that one of the reasons for the decline of comics is the uncreativeness of the artists/writers, he has to realize that the reason for such uncreativeness is the astoundingly low pay… it’s a circular argument that just gets tossed round and round.

My belief on this is… you get what you pay for.

I would like to share my interpretation of reason number 5 as presented by Mr. Deo alvarez on feb 27 at the Komiks Kongress:

“5. DECLINE ON KOMIKS READING”

I take this as a decline in reading amongst Filipinos, not just with comics but with other materials as well — reading in general, ie. reading of books, novels, poems, printed material. I didn’t include in my understanding popular materials like magazines and newspapers.

Again I am just presenting my understanding of his words.

Also, i remember Mr. Alvarez added in his list of reasons the uncreativeness of writers/artists in their komiks stories (same cliche plot every issue and plots that don’t match up with the times). however he didn’t tackle how the low pay and loads of work the artists experienced affected the said uncreativeness.

Again that’s how i understood him.

And that hasn’t been news since the seventies, with Marvel and DC, if I’m not mistaken.

Ako nga iyon. Not really gray but salt and pepper hair. Started graying in my teens.

Remember the Rogue sketch I asked from you back during Gaiman’s event? Got one from Beatty and she looked like a Japanese! The Golden-designed costume she wore up to Paul Smith’s era she also wore during the Secret Wars (Bachalo’s return to the X-Men gave her this retro costume too). I asked him: “Does it take you longer to draw women?” To which he answered: “Yes.”

I attended the komiks congress because I couldn’t pass up meeting creators (and hopefully get their sketches too; got 7 in total: 4 on Feb. 22 and only 3 on Feb. 27). Some just didn’t feel like drawing though). Being a komiks fan like myself, my sister attended too. She told me many students flocked to Joe Mari Moncal because he asked them if they wanted sketches. Inside the auditorium he said that it was good thing we all went inside the dimly-lit auditorium or else he didn’t stop drawing. Of course I asked him for one. Hehe. I just don’t really remember his work because he didn’t work for Funny, my childhood favorite.

Unfortunately, the collapse of the old komiks industry is all but complete. The titles you mentioned, and literally every other comic book that used to be popular before… Pilipino Komiks, Tagalog Klasiks, Wakasan, Hiwaga, Espesyal… all of that are now gone.

The only thing left still standing is Liwayway, which is as you know, not strictly a comic book.

Kamusta sir? I featured your excellent article here on Nostalgia Manila. So how what is the extent of the komiks industry collapse? How many of the original pinoy komiks titles (we all loved growing up) have vanished? Meron pa bang Funny Komiks? Yung Nik-Nok diba? And that Super Kalabaw character that could fly and had boxing gloves, what was his name? (Pasensya na I haven’t been back in Manila since the late ’90s) How many publishing houses have been affected and have been forced to close? Could you list some famous titles that have been discontinued?

It’s great to know that there are people like you out there who spread the awareness, and who give valuable insight, clear analysis, and helpful solutions to this sad crisis. Would love to hear from you!

Always,
–NM

My my, Tintin. You make it sound like we’re the bad guys :p Seven Seas has helped a lot of talented pinoy manga artists when they were left “homeless” after Questor and Culture Crash (the leading local manga publishers at the time) folded.

Seriously, no local publisher can match what Seven Seas offers these talented people. Seven Seas has also hired several female creators that are currently working on their own titles. With the exception of Madeliene Rosca, you don’t see them in the site lineup yet because their projects are still being kept under wraps.

We hire people based on their talent and dedication to the craft regardless of their age, sex, or religion. Of course you’ll have to be incredibly talented and have parents’ permission if you are under 18.

And since I’m ranting about seven seas, I have no choice but to plug the site.

Head over to Seven Seas Entertainment for your pinoy manga fix:
http://www.gomanga.com