Nov

23

Komikon 2008

Filed Under Comics Artists, Elmer, Filipino Artists, My Comics, Online Comics, Philippine Comics, Timawa, Wasted | 12 Comments

By 12 noon it was already quite difficult to go around. There were that many people. I don’t have a headcount, but it’s quite plain to anyone who was there last year that this year’s crowd was just insane. I’ve had little opportunity to go around myself as I was almost completely tied to my table. We moved about 200 copies of Elmer #4, and perhaps 150 copies of both #2 and #3.

I was unfortunately unable to go and buy the indies as I did the past two years. I would have wanted to, but I am glad that enough people came to my table to buy Elmer that made my leaving for any extended period of time unlikely. I did manage to get the titles I was looking forward to, or more accurately, they managed to get to me.

I was looking forward to Gilbert Monsanto and Co.’s “Bayan Knights” for the unfettered superhero geekery. I was also looking forward to anything new that Josel Nicolas has because I believe him to be one of the most intelligent young comics creators today, and he’s someone to watch out for. And yeah, he’s got TWO titles! I can’t wait to read them.

And quite unexpectedly and with much appreciation from me, Arnold Arre handed me a copy of his “Martial Law Babies”. Arnold is incredible. He drops phone book sized graphic novels at a drop of the hat, seemingly effortless but always brilliant.


With veteran komiks illustrator Frank Redondo, brother of Nestor Redondo


Rico Rival


With Sir Hugo Yonzon and komiks illustrator Abe Ocampo


With Eisner-Award winning artist Lan Medina


Edgar Tadeo and Jay Anacleto


with Arlan Esmeña and Carlo Vergara (seated)

My friend Arlan came along to promote our “Where Bold Stars Go To Die” preview. I was very happy for Arlan, this being his first Komikon experience and his first comic book. It was clear he was nearly out of his mind with excitement, specially when he met one of his idols, Tony De Zuniga.


Tony De Zuniga is in town for a series of exhibits. More news on that later on.


Benjie Felipe

I finally met my editor in chief at the Buzz Magasin (where Timawa comes out), Benjie Felipe. I didn’t realize he was a popular actor as well, who plays these really evil bad guys. I didn’t know that, but my crew, specially Edjee Chozas and Zara Macandili knew that, and they were just freaking out. I thanked Benjie for having comics in The Buzz Magasin. It’s good to know that he loves comics!


Zara Macandili, Edjee Chozas and “Manila Man” from Bayan Knights


Leinil Francis Yu hanging out at my table.

More photos at my Multiply site:
http://alanguilan.multiply.com/photos/album/32/KOMIKON_2008

There were a few recurring questions thrown my way throughout the day, and the most common being:

1. Do you still have copies of ELMER #1? The answer is no. But the good news is, I just heard that Druid’s Keep in Magallanes and Comic Quest may still have copies. Hang on until later this week as the stocks of #1, as CQ tells me, will be moved to the Megamall branch shortly.

Of course, I had been distributing ELMER online freely through my site, and just the other day, I seeded ELMER #1 as a torrent file. It’s all completely free. When I’m asked if I still have #1, and I say no, but say it can be downloaded, the surprising discovery I have found with every person who asked is that they prefer the print version and asked to be updated if copies of #1 are either found or reprinted. Or better yet, a compilation be made.

2. Do you still have copies of WASTED? One of the more surprising things that happened was one guy came up to me to thank me for creating Wasted. That was just so awesome. As much as I tried to put Wasted behind me before (I no longer do), I always appreciate it when something I’ve done has affected people in a good way.

Of course, Wasted has also been freely available online here. And when I tell people that it can be read online, most of the answers are the same: “I’ll wait for the print version.” and ask me when Wasted will be reprinted. I can say for certain now that Wasted will be reprinted for release next year. Not early next year, but later next year, probably in time for Komikon 2009.

So what is going on here? I thought the online thing was the next big thing. Here I am bending over backwards, inspite of my initial hesitation to distribute my work digitally, to have Wasted available fully online, to offer ELMER #1 for free online because people have been insisting that online reading is the way to go and paper stuff is on the way out. Well, from where I’m standing that doesn’t seem to be the case. This is not opinion, but cold hard feedback from people who actually read these things. So print it is!

A print compilation of ELMER, a well as a new edition of WASTED will be coming your way next year!

ELMER #4 is now available at COMIC ODYSSEY (or at least soon will be). I’ll be delivering copies to Druid’s Keep and Comicquest later this week.

Remember, if you’ve gotten a bad copy of ELMER #4 (I’ve heard reports of a few having errors in printing), email me at gerryalanguilan at yahoo dot com, and we’ll get you sorted out. In a good way.

More coverage:

AZRAEL COLADILLA’s Awesomely Prodigious Komikon Photo Coverage 1
AZRAEL COLADILLA’s Awesomely Prodigious Komikon Photo Coverage 2

Comments

12 Responses to “Komikon 2008”

  1. jerome dizon on November 23rd, 2008 5:23 pm

    Congratulations sa inyo Gerry at sa bumubuo ng Komikon. Super succes talaga.. Excited na ako mabasa ang Elmer 4 ko. My mother in law bought it for me..sabi ko i approach ka for autograph eh .. She also picked up Martial Law babies (mother in law texted me sabi gwapo dan ni Arnold Arre hehehhe) and 2 copies of Trese. Bakasyon ako this December sa Philippines ..sana next year maka attend din ako ng Komikon.

  2. Az on November 23rd, 2008 7:21 pm

    hahaa
    thanks for the photo album link love!!!

    will post my blog commentary and coverage in my blog soon..

    nice to see you and ilyn again!

    kokokokorokkok!!!

  3. Adrian on November 23rd, 2008 10:30 pm

    Is it just me or does Gerry look slimmer in these photos?

    Can’t wait to read Elmer in its entirety!

  4. Rod Samonte on November 23rd, 2008 10:51 pm

    Gerry,
    Words can only describe Komikon 2008 up to a point in your description. But OMG, Azrael Coladilla’s awesomely prodigious Komikon coverage says it all: the wonderful chaos inside that exhibit room, lots and lots of komiks and people, a lifesize cutout of Barbaro, drawings on the wall, cartoonists working, signings, more people, Leinil signing with Gerry (did anybody know he was going to be there?) One poster says it all: Masarap Magbasa ng Komiks. Thanks AZ, POGI KA TALAGA. Everybody rocks, ang saya. Congrats sa inyong lahat. Teka, teka, teka, sino yung kalbong kapangalan kong kasama ni Ilynn.
    Ang tunay na,
    Rod Samonte

  5. jerome dizon on November 24th, 2008 3:16 am

    Az, thanks sa mga photos, saw it sa multiply page mo (thanks to Gerry) you got 3 pictures with my mother in law in it hehehe

  6. Ida on November 24th, 2008 11:26 am

    I’m glad Wasted is available online because that makes it easier to promote your work to other people who aren’t that much into comics. :) But I’ve always thought that things online are poor substitutes of the real thing, so I’m one of those who will wait for the print version, too. :)

    I think that when something is worth it, people wouldn’t mind paying a couple of bucks. And your comics are definitely worth it. :) Congratulations on Elmer 4, btw! And thanks for being so friendly at the Komikon!

  7. Gerry Alanguilan on November 24th, 2008 1:07 pm

    Hey Jerome! Is your mother in law Susan Hassig? I met her at the Komikon! She was actually my pal Johnny’s boss at one time. I hope you like em chickens! :)

    Grabe talaga coverage mo AZ! Kakaiba ka!

    Thanks Adrian! I have a few viruses to thank for that. :)

    Rod! he.he. Si Rod Andres yun, na member ng Komikero group ko. Artist din sya. Grabe talaga si Az no?

    Thanks Ida! When you introduced yourself I had to look at you closely because I knew an Ida from way back. :)

  8. jerome dizon on November 24th, 2008 1:22 pm

    Hey Gerry! yeah.. Glad to hear na nag meet kayo. Oh man! excited na tuloy lalo ako umuwi hehehhe. Thanks Gerry, maraming salamat. Best of luck/wishes at kung ano ano pa.. Hope one time maka bisita kayo sa Antipolo ni ilyn and sana andun pa kami :)

  9. Dexter Entera on November 24th, 2008 2:14 pm

    Sir Gerry,

    I’ve just finished reading Elmer #4…it is so close to home, wasn’t expecting you pulling off that twist, but i thank you for doing so. I hope you continue to do work like this. Also liked to thank you for the copy and for letting me stay at your booth (it was soo much fun!! wrote about it on my DA account )…and i thought it was just only me but you did got slimmer… :) Kita-kits po! Musta kay Ate Ilyn.

  10. Reno on November 24th, 2008 10:03 pm

    Waaahhh! Wala pa akong Elmer!!! Di ako nakapunta! :P

    Pero oks lang. Mukhang nag-enjoy lahat, at marami din daw bumili ng mga indie titles. Maganda kung ganoon.

    Congrats sa lahat ng participants ng Komikon! Sana next year sa mas malaking venue na. :)

  11. Rod Samonte on November 25th, 2008 3:55 am

    Gerry,
    That’s been corrected. Nagreklamo din si Rod Andres, e. A few errors notwithstanding, AZ, what an excellent coverage. Ngayon sino ba ang may bidyo of the event?
    Rod

  12. arthur on December 5th, 2008 12:56 am

    Tony DeZuniga! Lan Medina! Rico Rival! Abe Ocampo! Hugo Yonzon!

    Those are living legends! Sina Sirs Rico and Abe pumunta yata sa Intramuros exhibit last year pero sa dami ng artists noon, hindi ko alam kung sino ang lalapitan ko! At isa pa, hindi ko rin naman alam ang itsura nila! (Ok, nakahihiya mang aminin, inaamin kong hindi ako familiar kay Sir Hugo!)

    Sana napapirma ko man lang ang komiks at liwayaway mags ko! May Uncanny X-men #110 (?) pa naman ako na gawa ni Mr. DeZuniga (coverless nga lang. hehehe!) Marami pa akong comics na gawa niya (panay inking lang ang iba) pero dahil X-men nga ang paborito ko, iyon ang pinakamahalagang mapapirma ko at full art pa siya!

    It was the first komikon i’ve missed (may sakit kasi ako at may iba pang prolema noon)…

    Sayang! Ang sakit!