Gerry Alanguilan's Blog, page 30

Filipino Komiks Illustrator Ernie Guanlao (1943-2010) [Updated]

I'm receiving word from Randy Valiente that Filipino Komiks Illustrator Ernie Guanlao has passed away last November 9, 2010 in the United States.

This post has been updated on November 22 due to additional information on Ernie Guanlao as provided by his relatives. (Please see comments section).

From the collection of Heidjer Staecker.

Ernie has worked on many Philippine and American comic books among them "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" for Now Comics, "Code Name Ninja" for Solson, "The Beatles" for Pendulum Press, Ghosts, Secrets of Haunted House, The Unexpected and The Witching Hour from DC Comics.

He was model and character designer for the Transformers TV series, The Real Ghost Busters TV series, layout artist for GI Joe TV series and background artist for Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures.

KOMIXPAGE: Ernie Guanlao

http://arman-komixpage.blogspot.com/2010/11/ernie-guanlao.html

Talks

Last Friday I had a talk at the Lit Out Loud, or the Manila International Literary Festival, in celebration of the 14th Philippine Book Development month. I had a panel on "Breaking into Graphic Lit Scene" with Elbert Or, moderated by Carlo Vergara. Graphic Lit or Graphic Literature is the new fancy word for "comic books" here in the Philippines.

It was a great event attended by a lot of people. I always enjoy talks like this as it allows me to share my experience and the things I've learned with other people. It's also an opportunity for me to learn new things.

People have often asked me, "Why don't you teach?" The answer to that is I want to, but unfortunately, I just don't have that kind of time. I did attempt it in 2007-2008 when I taught "Comics Illustration" for one term at the College of St. Benilde. But even though I only taught during Saturdays, I felt it was not enough time to teach comics properly, and even then it took too much time away from creating comics.

With work becoming more and more time consuming, I'm having less time now even for talks and conventions. Any time I spend away from the drawing board is time away from doing the work, and as it is with working in comics, it's no work, no pay. And if you don't get to do the work in time, the work is given to someone else. And that's bad for me.

I've decided to start declining invitations to talks for this particular reason. I'm good for talks I've already agreed to attend, like the one I was invited to at DLSU in February 2011, but that would be pretty much it.

The job is always the priority, and the job took priority when a sudden deadline went head to head with a talk I had scheduled at the Ayala Techno Hub a while back. It's something I wouldn't want to happen again.

If there's one thing I would like most people to understand is how very little extra time full time comic book creators actually have.

Aside from that, having given plenty of talks for many years, I've realized that I'm just not THAT good at it. I'm not just being modest. I'm pretty crap at giving talks. I feel I can communicate my thoughts much better through writing. And that's why I'm taking the extra time to write down the stuff I know right here.

Mabuhay Ka, Dodong!

In the short break between inking issues of comics, I took a few hours to finally digitize some old cassette tapes I had from the early 90′s. I had recorded various demos and live performances by local Filipino bands from LA 105.9 and NU 107, both stations are now unfortunately defunct.

One favorite tape of mine is a few songs from NU107′s Acoustic Christmas on December 20, 1994, where the Youth, with vocals and guitars by my idol, Dodong Cruz, performed "Mukhang Pera".

Audio is hosted at archive.org

Dodong is, in my opinion, one of the greatest Filipino rock guitarists and vocalists ever. I hope he continues to make great music.

ELMER Reviews, Elmer on the iPhone!

ELMER, published by SLG Publishing, has been released worldwide and reviews are coming in!

From Publisher's Weekly:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/45110-comics-reviews-11-8-10.html



Elmer: A Comic Book

Gerry Alanguilan, SLG (www.slgcomic.com), $12.95 trade paper (144p) ISBN 978-1-59362-204-6

Jake Gallo is an angry young man, frustrated at his lack of employment and easily provoked by perceived slights. It is not until we are several pages into the book that we discover that he is also a talking, thinking chicken. He is no anomaly; decades earlier, all of chickenkind suddenly gained intelligence and speech; by the 2000s they are legally human. Jake's father's illness and subsequent death lead Jake to read his father's account of the early days after the change; this in turn allows Alanguilan to show the reader the often horrific sequence of events that followed chickenkind's sudden elevation to sapience. Used to seeing chickens as food or worse, humans are not shown at their best as they react, often violently, to this sudden alteration of the natural order. The gorgeous b&w art, full of lush pen work and strong expressions, takes what should be a self-evidently ludicrous proposition and somehow imbues it with plausibility, drawing readers into a brutal, blood-soaked tale of a transformed species and the outrage and savagery of their former owners. A peculiar but engaging work that deserves attention. (Nov.)

From Library Journal Review:

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviewsbook/887438-421/graphic_novel_reviews_november_15.html.csp

Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he could. After chickens became intelligent from a freak virus, civil unrest among men and fowl reigned for far too long. But finally the birds were internationally declared fellow humans. Elmer was one of the pioneers who lived through the awakening. Dying, he bequeaths his diary to disaffected son Jake, who reads with growing fascination his father's story. As Jake struggles through understanding while sorting out interfamily tensions—with his grieving mother, nurse sister, and Hollywood star brother—he vows to publish Elmer's diary as a tribute to those who struggled toward freedom before his hatching. Not funny, Alanguilan's realistic, highly skilled black-and-white drawings suck you into this feather-clad race relations parable despite the internal dissonance it sets up. You want to find those chickens funny. But you can't—think Orwell's Animal Farm.

VERDICT Originally self-published in the Philippines, where Alanguilan lives, this unusual and affecting story is bound to evoke what-if discussions. Strongly recommended for teens and up in classrooms as well as libraries. Violence, strong language, and occasional sexual references and nudity.—M.C.

From Booklist:

Starred Review

Elmer.

Gorgeously drawn, black-and-white artwork combines with outstanding storytelling in this modern-day fable of ethnic strife, identity, friendship, and family. The titular character has been a writer all his "human" life, keeping a secret diary that his son Jake discovers and reads after Elmer's death. Along with his newly engaged sister and gay movie-star brother, Jake returns to his childhood home for Elmer's last days, stays on for his funeral, and helps his newly widowed, delicate mother. Oh, and Jake and family are sentient, well-spoken chickens, a result of a never-explained but carefully depicted world event in 1979.

Elmer's old human friend, Farmer Ben, offers Jake insight on Elmer's past—both pre- and post-sentience—and advice as Jake works through his family's victimization at the hands of Ben's kind. Bloody world wars pitted chicken against man, and led to a wave of anti-chicken prejudice and even attempts at genocide before the UN declared chickens an equal part of humanity. Ethical and moral issues touch on wide-angle politics but also keep close to familial events in Jake's childhood (bullying, child-parent strife) and adulthood (inter-"ethnic" marriage). The fine-lined artwork depicts the differences between sentient and pre-sentient chickens, while some full-page panels show the lush scenery and relative calm between action sequences. Set in Alanguilan's Philippine homeland and marked by its culture, Elmer deserves a wide international readership (for teen collections, note some brief female nudity), and shows how the sequential-art format can challenge even such canonical predecessors as Animal Farm.

— Francisca Goldsmith

ELMER#1 on the iPhone for FREE!

A 26 page preview of ELMER, comprising essentially the first issue of the book, can now be read for FREE if you have an iPhone! Check it out here.

Filipino Komiks Illustrator Ernie Guanlao Passes Away

I'm receiving word from Randy Valiente that Filipino Komiks Illustrator Ernie Guanlao has passed away last November 10, 2010 in the United States.

From the collection of Heidjer Staecker.

Ernie has worked on many Philippine and American comic books among them "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" for Now Comics, "Code Name Ninja" for Solson, "The Beatles" for Pendulum Press, Ghosts, Secrets of Haunted House, The Unexpected and The Witching Hour from DC Comics.

He was model and character designer for the Transformers TV series, The Real Ghost Busters TV series, layout artist for GI Joe TV series and background artist for Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures.

KOMIKON 2010 (Updated!)

The first batch of photos from Komikon are now up. This one is from Jose Gamboa, creator of the Manny Pacquiao comic book. Looks like he's selling a lot, which is fantastic.

KOMIKON 2010 – Nov 13, 2010

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32099&id=129669377054175

Selected tweets:

jiggycruz Jiggy Cruz

Came from the 6th KOMIKON at Starmall. Congrats to the organizers! Huge success! Daming tao!

comicbiography Jose Gamboa

is overwhelmed with the crowd here at the Komikon 2010!

callouscomics Carlo Jose San Juan

Had a blast at Komikon!

HubPacheco Hub Pacheco

1st issue of WIPCOMICS is sold out, but The FUDGE shirt is still in stock! Awyeah! komikon 2010! :D

anitero Paolo Chikiamco

just left #komikon -full of people. Good to see indies out of copies. Manix can really draw a crowd. Havent seen that knd of line in a while

zenjamibu Jan Buensuceso

So many people at the komikon venue right now.

Photos from Rocket Kapre

http://rocketkapre.livejournal.com/76030.html

Photos and Videos from Gio Paredes

http://gioparedes.blogspot.com/2010/11/just-got-back-fromo-komikon-2010.html

Photos and Coverage from Geekmatic!

http://geekmatic.blogspot.com/2010/11/emerging-success-of-komikon-2010.html

Photos from Anitero

http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv199/Anitero/Komikon%202010/

KOMIKON 2010

The first batch of photos from Komikon are now up. This one is from Jose Gamboa, creator of the Manny Pacquiao comic book. Looks like he's selling a lot, which is fantastic.

KOMIKON 2010 – Nov 13, 2010

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32099&id=129669377054175

Selected tweets:

jiggycruz Jiggy Cruz

Came from the 6th KOMIKON at Starmall. Congrats to the organizers! Huge success! Daming tao!

comicbiography Jose Gamboa

is overwhelmed with the crowd here at the Komikon 2010!

callouscomics Carlo Jose San Juan

Had a blast at Komikon!

HubPacheco Hub Pacheco

1st issue of WIPCOMICS is sold out, but The FUDGE shirt is still in stock! Awyeah! komikon 2010! :D

anitero Paolo Chikiamco

just left #komikon -full of people. Good to see indies out of copies. Manix can really draw a crowd. Havent seen that knd of line in a while

zenjamibu Jan Buensuceso

So many people at the komikon venue right now.

6th Annual Komikon is TODAY! (Updated!)

There have been many comic book events in the Philippines in 2010, but by far the biggest one of them all is the annual KOMIKON, now going strong on its 6th straight year! It's being held TODAY, Saturday, November 13 at the Star Mall in Mandaluyong. Doors open at 10am.

Last year was a huge year for me in terms of releases. Komikero Publishing released two books at Komikon: The ELMER Trade Paperback book, and Where Bold Stars Go To Die. I was also part of two Francisco V. Coching books that came out at the same time. We held an auction to benefit Ondoy Flood Victims where I let go the very last ELMER hand bound hardcover w/slipcase. Bold Star artist Arlan Esmeña was on hand for the final time at that convention before going off on his last great adventure.

This year I'm stepping back and won't be at Komikon. I know I had previously said my Amazing Doctor Rizal book will be released at this Komikon, but for the past year and a half I've decided to take on a day job (inking for Marvel comics) partly to fund a full color hard cover and oversized Rizal graphic novel.

Perhaps it's fortuitous to postpone the release to 2011, which just happens to be Rizal's 150th birthday. So hopefully, 2011 will once again be a big year for Komikero Publishing.

There will be lots of new releases from many other self publishers at this Komikon, only a handful of which I'll be mentioning below:

Coming all the way from Cebu, Urban Animal is written and drawn by one of Cebu's most promising new creators, John Amor. I'm not sure if John himself will be there, but this book will certainly be.

From Mel "Mukatman" Casipit comes "24 Hr Comics and Beyond!", a 24 hour comic book he created for the 24 hour comic book challenge.

Oho yeah, that's right! A Manny Pacquiao comic book! What could be more awesome?! From Jose Gamboa, creator of last year's "Laban! A Love Story".

http://www.facebook.com/ThePacquiaoComic

The Quarterly Bathroom Companion Comics Compendium is a 100 page anthology with 2 volumes and 2 covers, featuring the talents of Mervin Malonzo, Apol Sta. Maria, Ammathorn, Josel Nicolas, Adam David and DJ Legaspi.

From the husband and wife team of Joanah Tinio Calingo and Melvin Calingo, plus Kilayman comes Kanto Inc.

Actually, what I'm really waiting for from Joanah is the volume 3 of her Cresci Prophecies which will be released at this Komikon as well. I was impressed when I first saw Vol 1 many years ago, when she had compiled several photocopies issues of her series, had it hardbound complete with a dust jacket, plastic cover, a bookmark, plus a gallery if extra stuff including pinups. In lots of ways it tuned me into creating special hardbound editions of my work, which I began with my ELMER Box Sets and ELMER slipcase editions in 2008.

Seven Gifts of the Skygods by the Skyworld team of Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta. Maria

Bayan Knights #5 by Gilbert Monsanto and the Bayan Knights team.

Dekada, 10 Years of Beerkada by Lyndon Gregorio

Work in Progress #1 by Hub Pacheco and Teddy Pavon

Westside #2 and #3 by Ariel Atienza

Bathala #2 by David Hontiveros and Ace Enriquez. This is the one book I can say I'm somewhat involved in. I had co-created this character in 1998 with David Hontiveros, but this story is all Dave's.

FoodCourt by Andoyman

Cadre: Shuriken Duet #2 of 2

Cadre is created by Ian Magallona and Emil Flores, Written by Emil Flores and illustrated by Ron Escultura. Cover illustration by Taga-ilog.

Lots more NEW releases for Komikon 2010 at this site:

november komikon 2010 releases (constantly updated)

http://mcoy.blogspot.com/2010/11/november-komikon-2010-releases.html

If you are a creator of komiks and will be releasing something new at this Komikon, please email me the cover along with creator/publisher info and I'll be adding it to this list until Saturday. Send it to gerryalanguilan at yahoo dot com, subject line: KOMIKON 2010.

Why You Need To Go To Komikon

http://komiksadvocate.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-you-need-to-go-to-komikon.html

6th Annual Komikon is TOMORROW! (Updated!)

There have been many comic book events in the Philippines in 2010, but by far the biggest one of them all is the annual KOMIKON, now going strong on its 6th straight year! It's going to be held THIS Saturday, November 13 at the Star Mall in Mandaluyong. Doors open at 10am.

Last year was a huge year for me in terms of releases. Komikero Publishing released two books at Komikon: The ELMER Trade Paperback book, and Where Bold Stars Go To Die. I was also part of two Francisco V. Coching books that came out at the same time. We held an auction to benefit Ondoy Flood Victims where I let go the very last ELMER hand bound hardcover w/slipcase. Bold Star artist Arlan Esmeña was on hand for the final time at that convention before going off on his last great adventure.

This year I'm stepping back and won't be at Komikon. I know I had previously said my Amazing Doctor Rizal book will be released at this Komikon, but for the past year and a half I've decided to take on a day job (inking for Marvel comics) partly to fund a full color hard cover and oversized Rizal graphic novel.

Perhaps it's fortuitous to postpone the release to 2011, which just happens to be Rizal's 150th birthday. So hopefully, 2011 will once again be a big year for Komikero Publishing.

There will be lots of new releases from many other self publishers at this Komikon, only a handful of which I'll be mentioning below:

Coming all the way from Cebu, Urban Animal is written and drawn by one of Cebu's most promising new creators, John Amor. I'm not sure if John himself will be there, but this book will certainly be.

From Mel "Mukatman" Casipit comes "24 Hr Comics and Beyond!", a 24 hour comic book he created for the 24 hour comic book challenge.

Oho yeah, that's right! A Manny Pacquiao comic book! What could be more awesome?! From Jose Gamboa, creator of last year's "Laban! A Love Story".

http://www.facebook.com/ThePacquiaoComic

The Quarterly Bathroom Companion Comics Compendium is a 100 page anthology with 2 volumes and 2 covers, featuring the talents of Mervin Malonzo, Apol Sta. Maria, Ammathorn, Josel Nicolas, Adam David and DJ Legaspi.

From the husband and wife team of Joanah Tinio Calingo and Melvin Calingo, plus Kilayman comes Kanto Inc.

Actually, what I'm really waiting for from Joanah is the volume 3 of her Cresci Prophecies which will be released at this Komikon as well. I was impressed when I first saw Vol 1 many years ago, when she had compiled several photocopies issues of her series, had it hardbound complete with a dust jacket, plastic cover, a bookmark, plus a gallery if extra stuff including pinups. In lots of ways it tuned me into creating special hardbound editions of my work, which I began with my ELMER Box Sets and ELMER slipcase editions in 2008.

Seven Gifts of the Skygods by the Skyworld team of Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta. Maria

Bayan Knights #5 by Gilbert Monsanto and the Bayan Knights team.

Dekada, 10 Years of Beerkada by Lyndon Gregorio

Work in Progress #1 by Hub Pacheco and Teddy Pavon

Westside #2 and #3 by Ariel Atienza

Bathala #2 by David Hontiveros and Ace Enriquez. This is the one book I can say I'm somewhat involved in. I had co-created this character in 1998 with David Hontiveros, but this story is all Dave's.

Lots more NEW releases for Komikon 2010 at this site:

november komikon 2010 releases (constantly updated)

http://mcoy.blogspot.com/2010/11/november-komikon-2010-releases.html

If you are a creator of komiks and will be releasing something new at this Komikon, please email me the cover along with creator/publisher info and I'll be adding it to this list until Saturday. Send it to gerryalanguilan at yahoo dot com, subject line: KOMIKON 2010.

Why You Need To Go To Komikon

http://komiksadvocate.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-you-need-to-go-to-komikon.html

6th Annual Komikon is THIS Saturday! (Updated!)

There have been many comic book events in the Philippines in 2010, but by far the biggest one of them all is the annual KOMIKON, now going strong on its 6th straight year! It's going to be held THIS Saturday, November 13 at the Star Mall in Mandaluyong. Doors open at 10am.

Last year was a huge year for me in terms of releases. Komikero Publishing released two books at Komikon: The ELMER Trade Paperback book, and Where Bold Stars Go To Die. I was also part of two Francisco V. Coching books that came out at the same time. We held an auction to benefit Ondoy Flood Victims where I let go the very last ELMER hand bound hardcover w/slipcase. Bold Star artist Arlan Esmeña was on hand for the final time at that convention before going off on his last great adventure.

This year I'm stepping back and won't be at Komikon. I know I had previously said my Amazing Doctor Rizal book will be released at this Komikon, but for the past year and a half I've decided to take on a day job (inking for Marvel comics) partly to fund a full color hard cover and oversized Rizal graphic novel.

Perhaps it's fortuitous to postpone the release to 2011, which just happens to be Rizal's 150th birthday. So hopefully, 2011 will once again be a big year for Komikero Publishing.

There will be lots of new releases from many other self publishers at this Komikon, only a handful of which I'll be mentioning below:

Coming all the way from Cebu, Urban Animal is written and drawn by one of Cebu's most promising new creators, John Amor. I'm not sure if John himself will be there, but this book will certainly be.

From Mel "Mukatman" Casipit comes "24 Hr Comics and Beyond!", a 24 hour comic book he created for the 24 hour comic book challenge.

Oho yeah, that's right! A Manny Pacquiao comic book! What could be more awesome?! From Jose Gamboa, creator of last year's "Laban! A Love Story".

http://www.facebook.com/ThePacquiaoComic

The Quarterly Bathroom Companion Comics Compendium is a 100 page anthology with 2 volumes and 2 covers, featuring the talents of Mervin Malonzo, Apol Sta. Maria, Ammathorn, Josel Nicolas, Adam David and DJ Legaspi.

From the husband and wife team of Joanah Tinio Calingo and Melvin Calingo, plus Kilayman comes Kanto Inc.

Actually, what I'm really waiting for from Joanah is the volume 3 of her Cresci Prophecies which will be released at this Komikon as well. I was impressed when I first saw Vol 1 many years ago, when she had compiled several photocopies issues of her series, had it hardbound complete with a dust jacket, plastic cover, a bookmark, plus a gallery if extra stuff including pinups. In lots of ways it tuned me into creating special hardbound editions of my work, which I began with my ELMER Box Sets and ELMER slipcase editions in 2008.

Seven Gifts of the Skygods by the Skyworld team of Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta. Maria

Bayan Knights #5 by Gilbert Monsanto and the Bayan Knights team.

Dekada, 10 Years of Beerkada by Lyndon Gregorio

Work in Progress #1 by Hub Pacheco and Teddy Pavon

Westside #2 and #3 by Ariel Atienza

Bathala #2 by David Hontiveros and Ace Enriquez. This is the one book I can say I'm somewhat involved in. I had co-created this character in 1998 with David Hontiveros, but this story is all Dave's.

Lots more NEW releases for Komikon 2010 at this site:

november komikon 2010 releases (constantly updated)

http://mcoy.blogspot.com/2010/11/november-komikon-2010-releases.html

If you are a creator of komiks and will be releasing something new at this Komikon, please email me the cover along with creator/publisher info and I'll be adding it to this list until Saturday. Send it to gerryalanguilan at yahoo dot com, subject line: KOMIKON 2010.