Tupang Itim (Black Sheep) Toy Customization time!

Got this from Rommel Estanislao (http://dinuguan.deviantart.com/) for a discount last Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) because the left foot was damaged. Currently doing some customization work on this little guy. Stay tuned!

Aftermath: Free Comic Book Day 2011

As always, Free Comic Book Day was a blast and this year is the best yet.

I've been attending FCBD for the past 3 years and it just keeps getting better and better. In the early years, FCBD goers were just given the event comics and other stuff, which in itself is already a good thing. Comic Odyssey in particular, the local chain that pioneered the said event in the country went steps ahead by giving away non-FCBD comics much to the delight of (us) comics fans.

So, as any FCBD goes, me and my buddies went into the mall about a couple hours early to get ahead of the line. We ended up somewhere in the middle,with me landing #83 in it. We didn't wait in the line for long though, just about an hour in it saw us receiving the comics along with some other cool stuff. What caught me off guard though was the in-store grab bag; instead of having just about 10 old comics there were 50 or so inside it. It was mostly 90's Image, DC and Marvel stuff much to my satisfaction. One of my buddies cherry picked his share and gave me the rest so I ended up with about a hundred or so comics to take home. Around 3-4 kilograms in my estimate.

The pile (I like to call it 'Godzilla'). 1/144 Astray Red Frame shown to scale.

The event was far from over after everyone has gotten their comics. The local comics and indie creators showed up to meet, greet and sign autographs for their fans. So we not only got free comics, it turned out to be one big meet up all in all.

So, here's a round up of what I got:
1. Green Lantern/Flashpoint preview FCBD edition
2. Star Wars/ Avatar Darkhorse flipbook
3. The Magic: The Gathering comic
4. A handful of local indies
5. Tons of 90's comics!
6. Lots of neat little extras like a DC poster from Ivan Reis, a bookmark and a lolipop!

The mayhem explained, in my FCBD aftermath video:

More pics of the event:

The comics creators tables amidst the line.

Komikon peeps chillin'

THE MOTHERLOAD!

Guess who the skin head guy is?

FCBD 2011 sure was a blast! Thanks to Comic Odyssey for the comics and stuff! Also to all the comics creators and fans who attended the event.  See you all in next year's Free Comic Book Day!

Free Comic Book Day 2011

Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is upon us again!

It became a sort of tradition for me and my (Komikero) buddies to attend Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) at a local mall, which falls at the first Saturday of May each year. This is a worldwide event and tons of free comics from the big companies Marvel, DC, Darkhorse etc. with some local indie makers participating too. Check out my last year's stash.

This year is FCBD's 10th year run and the organizers are planning something big. And as with any other FCBD, local komiks creators will be at the event venues to meet and greet with their fans

Check out the list of local participants:
1. DRUID'S KEEP-2002 LEVERIZA ST PASAY CITY PHILIPPINES 1300 Phone:632-8545332

2.FILBARS - GREENBELT -GROUND FLOOR, GREENBELT 1 MAKATI CITY PHILIPPINES

Phone:632 816 3845

3.COMIC ODYSSEY - ROBINSONS GALLERIA SPACE 20, LEVEL 3 QUEZON CITY PHILIPPINES Phone:632-9140040

4. PLANET X-M 2, SPACE 2140E TRINOMA QUEZON CITY PHILIPPINES Phone:632-915-2744

I'm planning to do a bit of coverage of the event so stay tuned! See you all there!

Entry Grade Review

There's still a lot of komiks to review here at my end, but I'm taking a break from those to give way to, wait for it.

Gunpla and other plamo reviews and how-to vids. Here's the first, or should I say, 'episode 0' of a show I'll be producing (sporadically) about the in and outs of mecha scale modeling. I've started off with a review of an Entry Grade 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam which I bought cheap from a mall;



I'm planning to call this show 'Practical Plamo' (or Pura-Pura) but I'm still open for suggestions. What do you guys think?

Komiks Review: Starchild and Jaganath

(OK, back to komiks reviews)

First, I have to say that there aren't many local indies that focus solely on science fiction. I'm excluding superhero books for now as they have a varied skew on the genre.

I stumbled upon Kevin Ray Valentino's Starchild and Jaganath at this year's Komikstrip 2011 and it just stands out amongst its contemporaries. Most of the indies I encountered were either humorous or of the superheroic kind. Don''t get me wrong, I love all kinds of indies but I always look around for something radical, something unhinged.

That's where Starchild and Jaganath comes in. To surmise, it's a fun S/F romp involving a super genius kid and his trusty satellite super weapon/companion running around doing scrupulous deeds around the universe. Though the art may not carry the sense of action from panel to panel, Starchild and Jaganath still delivers as it is simply well written. Its heavy with SF elements that could've come from a British work like Dr. Who or something from Morrison perhaps but Starchild and Jaganath still stands on its own.  Take for example how the protagonist retains his connection to the reader by still being human despite having such power at his disposal. There's a definite connection to the reader, and a good one at that.

Starchild and Jaganath is my favorite of the bunch, and I'm looking forward for more. It may not be for everyone though given the heavy SF elements but somehow if any typical reader can get through it all, it is an exciting and enjoyable read.

Rommel Estanislao creations

Aaaaaaaand back, with something different yet familiar for you all.

I'm going to take a little break from komiks reviews to give way to a toy review, the first in this blog anyway.

The following pieces are made by triple threat creator Rommel Estanislao, a.k.a ~dinuguan over at deviantart.com. Rommel or 'Omeng' is a triple threat: he can draw, sculpt and design making him one of the more versatile komiks artists these days. I'd review his indies but I'll reserve that for another time. We'll be looking at his superb handiwork mainly the toys and accessories that he makes.

What I've picked up from this year's Komikstrip was his Mjolnir pendant made up of Sculpey Clay. What Omeng did was to sculpt it 'chibi-style' with it having an exaggerated head and puny handle. The grey/orange scheme works and reflects what Thor had in the comics. It's simply adorable, just the right way I like it to be.

Now Omeng also works on a lot of products that range from comics, anime and pop culture by request most of the time. He does have some signature lines like his 'Tupang Itim', 'Broken hearts' and 'Katas ng Saging' series notable for their cartoony look and cheerful colors. The creatures in 'Katas ng Saging' for example are sort of mini busts/pendants set in cola caps. Genius eh? And this seems appropriate as he ties up most of his products with his komiks. He prices his works reasonably too so 'kon goers (like yours truly) can get a piece or two and still get indies from all the other artists around. 

I couldn't recommend Omeng's handiwork enough so the next time you go to a 'kon, look for a man with glasses hawking odds and ends. That''ll be Omeng and he will bring little clay joy to your life.

Some time off

I'll be taking some time off from reviewing and other activities on this blog. It will not take too long though, just over the weekends so it's just like the normal hiatus I do very week. It's a way of offering a period of silence for Japan, and other countries that are being affected by natural disasters and internal discord. My own country included. I have friends in Japan and some family members currently working in the Middle East and with all the chaos going on, all I can do is pray for their safety and return.

I'd also like to extend my condolences to all those who've lost their loved ones over the course of these past few tumultuous weeks, especially in Japan a country close to my heart as my own. Japan has been instrumental in what I am right now. I've heard from gunjap, a fellow blogger that the Japanese hobby industry has suffered a huge blow from the recent major earthquake and tsunami combo that hit their shores, disastrous events that me and the rest of the Filipino people are very familiar with. Companies like Volks and Kotobukiya, Bandai etc have already notified their customers that their production and distribution has been suspended for an indefinite amount of time.I may seem superficial by just being mostly concerned about Japan's hobby industry but take it this way: there are people like you and me who are behind all of it and they deserve all the sympathy and help they can get from all of us, much in the same way for any country struck by disaster. 

With all this, I just have one simple wish: that we may all get through these trials and be back on our feet as soon as we all can.

Komiks Review: Maktan #1

Maktan by Teppai Pascual (under Meganon Comics) belongs to a rare breed of indies that explores Philippine history,particularly the Battle of Maktan. Presented in ashcan format with a superbly done black and white cover, Maktan delivers visually. I can describe Teppai Pascual's art as a hybrid of traditional Filipino and manga art,quite a common mix but I dare say that it does not really follow the 'generic' mold that is so prevalent these days .

Around 70% of the Maktan's first issue is told visually, with the dialogue scattered sparingly through out the book. The last few pages in particular, mainly a discussion between Datu Lapu-lapu and a Spanish envoy became the narrative foci of the book. That paved way for the plot and while the first book ended in a major cliffhanger, it got the whole story rolling.

I believe in presenting our local history in komiks form with a few adulterations as possible, or none at all. I am yet to read the rest of Maktan and see if it will stick to the historical formula. Overall a good read and here's hoping that the rest of the story would be finished.

Komiks Review: Umlauts and Atom Bombs

Umlauts and Atom Bombs is yet another indie from creator extraordinaire Gerry Alanguilan. The title is reminiscent of a new wave staple but that's how far the statement goes. Like most of his indies from way back, Umlauts is presented in a photocopied mini-comic format and in this particular case contains 2 short stories. First is 'Mitch and Mischa' written by Gerry and illustrated by Marivi Hilos-Nepomuceno who contributed drawings for 'Wasted' and is an accomplished komiks artist herself having worked for GASI for a period of time. 'Mitch and Mischa' is a well thought out slice-of-life story  about letting go,told in a very unconventional way. The play of emotions is very subtle in this tale and yet it evokes a certain bitter sweetness not quite seen in romance or drama komiks. Indeed it is something that's worthy of being made into a TV special or short film.

The second story is 'July 16', a story from Gerry's 2-issue 'Dead Hearts Stories' from 1996. I had the original book but have lost it since from a friend who borrowed and never returned it, but I must say that through the years 'July 16' remains as one of the most touching stories Gerry has ever created. Set in the back drop of the July 16,1990 earthquake (hence the title), it is the tale of love gained and lost amidst the disaster. A true worthy follow-up or perhaps more appropriately, an aftermath of 'Wasted'.

Umlauts and Atom bombs is worth getting, by virtue of 'July 16' alone seeing light after more than a decade. Here's hoping for another serving of Umlauts in the near future. 

Komiks Review: Kubori Kikiam 'I *heart* Short Shorts'

Who doesn't *heart* short shorts?

A short dossier on Kubori Kikiam first. The series follow the misadventures of a  trio of mutated humanoid kikiams (fish rolls, yes they are mutant food!) as they battle the evil fishballs (more mutated food!) while trying to discover who or what created them in the first place. The main story line was serialized in mini-comics (called 'guinea pigs' by the creators) before being included in the (now-defunct) manga anthology Culture Crash. Since then, the main Kubori Kikiam plot has been 'suspended' but a number of spin-off strips have been made to fill in the gap.

Apparently, the third Kubori Kikiam strip compilation starts with the first statement above and leads from one thing to another as creator Michael David a.k.a 'Taga-Kanal' could only offer. As with the two previous two compilations, Kubori Kikiam 'I *heart* Short Shorts' is presented in a short book format with colored front and back covers but what makes it different is that it has an Easter Egg in it that you have to see or rather 'feel' for yourselves.

If 'Kubori Strips for the Soul' is the PG-rated one in the series and 'Best Things in Life' is R-rated, then Kubori Kikiam 'I *heart* Short Shorts' gets the X-rating in the bunch. David ups the ante by introducing more raunchy jokes and scenes than ever before. The kikiams are back in action with more porn, toilet humor and anatomy references than you can ever fit in a book, and we all know what that means. In a way, Kubori Kikiam 'I *heart* Short Shorts'takes the guilty out of 'guilty pleasure'. There are even throwback scenes from Culture Crash, an added bonus to the older fans. And with the way things are going with the current story arc, ('The Melancholy of Edward Cordero', can be read in the website) things could get a bit more extreme than this one.

Kubori Kikiam 'I *heart* Short Shorts' is not for everybody though due to its adult-oriented content and it was a wise decision on the authors part to put a warning not to sell it to minors. Still, Kubori Kikiam 'I *heart* Short Shorts' is a must have in any one's indie collection.