BLACKinK COMICS@SUMMER KOMIKON 2013: THAT DAY WHEN LOVE AND COMIC BOOKS RULED

"Comics are a gateway drug to literacy."
                                  Art Spiegelman, graphic novelist


          Summer Komikon 2013 was held last Saturday, April 13 at Bayanihan Center in Pasig City and of course, BLACKinK Comics was there. Among our writers and artists, it was Arman Francicso, Karl Comendador, Randy Valiente, Jeffrey Marcelino Ong,  Nald Tabuzo, Jim Jimenez, Almar Denso and myself who took time to attend the event. Melanie Esguerra, our editor, as always, presided over our table.

          We sold new books (Manila Vice #1, Daughter of an Ancient Fairy #1, The Bloodhounds #1, Angels VS Devils #1) and we sold new installments (Animen #3, The Reaper #2, Hands of the Dragon #2 and Manga Shortcuts #2). These titles, along with the previously released titles, will soon be available (if not already available) at National Bookstore and Precious Pages Bookstores.

          It was nice to see that some of the people who visited us and bought copies from us that day were repeat buyers, meaning they also went to our table during the previous Komikon ( a proof that they enjoyed our comics). Rolan Guina (one of my fave artists back when GASI still thrived) also visited us and bought several copies. It was good to see him again, still affable and humble as ever. Miss Ofelia Concepcion, my former boss back when  I was trying my luck as a pocketbook writer) also dropped by our table and purchased some of our books-- alas, I was still miles away from the venue at the time of her visit.

           Our table was right across the shelves of National Bookstore where copies of The Walking Dead comic book were displayed and because they were freakin' unaffordable for me (they're priced at around 700-800 pesos each, which was almost equivalent to my monthly income), all I could do was drool over them.

          As usual, it felt good to be at Komikon--what with readers expressing their admiration for our works; seeing throng of people all happy and excited whilst browsing a myriad of comic books displayed at different tables; seeing old friends and acquaintances; unlimited free slurpee and a free tumbler-- a marriage proposal even occurred that day, with Rommel Estanislao (an FB friend and one-time drinking buddy) as the lovestruck proposer.

          Love, not only comic books, filled the Komikon halls that day.

         Sigh.

BLACKinK Facebook Page:    http://www.facebook.com/pages/BLACK-INK-COMICS/479112765434082?ref=ts&fref=ts

BLACK INK COMICS ARE HERE!

Finally, Black Ink Comics are now available at Precious Pages Bookstores and National Bookstores. The titles that have been released are the following:

1. ANIMEN Books 1 & 2 (Written by Ron Mendoza and Illustrated by Randy Valiente)
2. PEPE: THE LOST YEARS OF RIZAL Book 1 (Ron Mendoza/Arnold Renia)
3. THE REAPER  Book 1 (Nald Tabuzo/Vovoi Lim)
4. MY MIDNIGHT Books 1, 2 & 3(Last Part) (Ron Mendoza/Randy Valiente)
5. VERGIL Book 1 (Arman Francisco/Elmer Cantada)
6. THE HANDS OF THE DRAGON Book 1 (Jeffrey Ong/Gilbert Monsanto)
7. BLACKink Fairy Tails (Fractured Versions of Popular Fairy Tales) (3-Stories-in-1-Book)
7. BLACKinK Shortcuts (One Shot Manga) (3-Stories-in-1-Book)
8. BLACKink Shortcuts II (Fantasy/Horror Short Stories) (3-Stories-in-1-Book)

Each book costs a very reasonable price of Php 69.75. First few supplies come with a promo if you buy them at Precious Pages Bookstores. Here's a list of the locations of Precious Pages Bookstores.     http://phr.com.ph/stores.php

And here's our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BLACK-INK-COMICS/479112765434082?ref=ts&fref=ts

Please do check them out. Support local comics, support BLACKinK Comics and help us bring the local comics industry back to its vibrant form.

BLACKinK COMICS AT KOMIKON 2012 Part 2

Komikon 2012 was held last October 27, a Saturday, and we at BLACKinK Comics were happy to be there. Nald Tabuzo and me arrived at the venue at around 10:30 in the morning and we saw Randy Valiente, Jeff Ong and our pretty editor, Miss Melanie Esguerra already there.

The BLACKinK Standee Which At First Wouldn't Stand

A buyer was also aready waiting for us. He bought each of the eight books we were selling and had it signed by all the artists. Definitely, it was a very good way to start our Komikon day. Two hours later, I think, another buyer bought each of the books again and had it signed by us, too. Arman Francisco and Elmer Cantada were already with us at the table, all of us now proudly wearing the BLACKinK shirts.

Some people, probably mistaking us as independent publishers expressed doubts on our capability to release the succeeding books (we couldn't blame them, we all looked poor--tee-hee) and were hesitant at first to buy the books because baka mabitin lang sila--but we assured them that all the promised books would  see the light of day and would soon be available at the bookstores. (Precious Pages stores located at SM branches and NBS among them.)

Another buyer wanted to buy all the ten books of Pepe. Unfortunately, we could only give him the first book as Pepe (just like the other titles we had) was just launched that day. As usual, the venue was packed with komiks enthusiasts. I went to my first Komikon four years ago and the event, indeed, had happily grown by leaps and bounds.

At mid-afternoon, Mr. Budjette Tan, author of Trese, approached our table and bought each of the eight books also. He honored us by having us signed the books. He expressed elation that Filipino-made comic books would be regularly available again to local readers. At around four, I sort of returned the favor and bought a copy of Trese 5 and had it autographed by him and his artist Kajo Baldisimo.

And at four forty, me and Jeff Ong left the venue. I don't know if it's low or high or just average by Komikon standard but I think we sold quite a good number of copies that day. 

I was already on board the MRT when I received a text from a precocious teen-ager (my niece, actually) that said, Burger steak, please, and off I went to a fastfood, still grateful that we became part of this year's Komikon.

The Suspects, er, The Artists of BLACKinK

BLACK INK COMICS AT KOMIKON 2012

 This year's Komikon will be held this coming Saturday, October 27 at Bayanihan Center, Unilab Compound, Pasig City and Black Ink Comics will be there. The event will start at 10 in the morning and will close at 7 in the evening. Entrance fee is 100 Php only.

The Black Ink comic books that will be available at the event are Animen Books 1 and 2 (by Ron Mendoza and Randy Valiente), My Midnight Books 1, 2 & 3 (by Ron Mendoza and Randy Valiente), Hands of the Dragon Book 1 by Jeff Marcelino Ong and Gilbert Monsanto, Pepe: The Lost Years of Rizal Book 1 (by Ron Mendoza and Arnold Renia) and Vergil Book 1 by Arman Francisco and Elmer Cantada.

The dashing and drop-dead gorgeous artists (eww!) of the above-mentioned comics will be there to personally sign their books.  

 Aside from Black Ink Comics, for sure, lots of interesting and exciting comics from great artists would be there so make sure that you bring lots of moolah with you.  Please support all locally made comics, it's high time we completely revive this industry.

BLACK INK COMICS: New Pinoy Comic Book Titles

It's been almost three years since I last updated this blog. The last update, I think, was about some drunkards having their fill. He he. Facebook pushed me away from blogging. I don't need then that many outlets in expressing my discombobulated thoughts, I had to choose only one and Facebook is the more convenient of the two, it's a much easier way of putting your foot in your mouth.

It has almost been three years and lots of great and significant changes had occurred in my life like... like, well, I don't think it's appropriate to talk about the great, positive changes in your life publicly, it's never been appropriate, yes... especially, if there's nil.

But who wants changes anyway? Not me.  Changes are for sissies.

Anyway, I'm digressing, the real reason why I reactivated this blog is to perform a valiant act of 'shameless plug' and promote a set of new Filipino comic book titles. Black Ink Comics, an affiliate of Precious Hearts Romances and Lampara Books and which was put up just this year, is all set to release several exciting comic book titles this year, and they include:

,

 The other titles in the list are The Reaper by Ronald Tabuzo and Vovoi Lim, a horror short novel about a group of modern Grim Reapers living and mingling with humans; Vergil by Arman Francsico and Elmer Cantada, a short adventure/fantasy novel about a half-man, half angel being tasked to protect humanity from demons; Manila Vice by Rosahlee Bautista and Almar Denso, an action/comedy short novel about an agent and his brother trying to stop the assassination of top Philippine government officials, and others which are still in the works.

These new and modern Pinoy komiks titles (some of them written in English, others in Tagalog) will be available in National Bookstore, Precious Pages stores and other bookstores. Every book (paperback) contained 64 pages.

If you want to learn more about these graphic novels, please check out this Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BLACK-INK-COMICS/479112765434082

Incidentally, Book #1 of Animen already had a soft launch last month and is now available at all stores of Precious Pages. http://phr.com.ph/stores.php


We are aware that lots of Filipino readers are now missing the old comic book titles (such as Aliwan, Pinoy Klasiks, Pilipino Komiks, Kilabot Komiks, Shocker Komiks) and we in Black Ink Comics are determined to fill the void.

A VERY SHORT REVIEW OF "PINOY KOMIKS REBYU"

"Komiks? Meron pa ba niyan?"
--Ruben R. Marcelino, former Komiks Writer


Last Friday, 18th of December, me, KC Cordero, Randy Valiente and Ronald Tabuzo met in Quezon City. Randy, finally, was able to hand me the complimentary copy of his Pinoy Komiks Rebyu. If you love local comics, (especially the ones created by GASI and Atlas eons ago) and its artists, you’re going to love Pinoy Komiks Rebyu. It is very informative and very entertaining. Interesting interviews with writers Ofelia Concepcion and Ruben Marcelino can be read in its first issue. Randy publishes it with Fermin Salvador, another former komiks writer back when GASI and Atlas still rule the local comics world.

Its roster of contributing writers includes me, KC, Arman Francisco and Jose Mari Lee. You can find copies of the magazine at the following outlets: branches of Comics Odyssey, Popular Bookstore in Tomas Morato, QC. Nameless Shop and Monkeyman, both in Recto, Manila (near Sogo Hotel, Randy’s favorite place. He he.)

From our meeting place, we went to a nearby bar where, over bottles of beer, we had intelligent and passionate discussions about local comics, life, arts, science, religion and politics. We were joined there by Rommel “Omeng" Estanislao (creator of Lipad comics) and photographer Pol Del Rosario. There was a heated debate whether Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize or if the world would really end in 2012. Different, smart theories and beliefs on how the earth would end were presented. It was indeed a very enlightening night for us; even Stephen Hawking would have been delighted to join us that night. The bar where we were, definitely, wasn't a black hole. Essential nuggets of wisdom flew every second.

Below is a pair of pictures taken with my CP. Upper photo shows (from left) Randy, Ronald, Ron, Omeng and KC. Ronald shot the other photo.



Okay, I confess, there really were no intelligent conversations that happened between us that night, we did nothing but sort of horse around, trade jokes, and talk with the pretty but scantily-clad singers and waitresses around and drink (moderately, of course) and be merry that night.

A DAY AT THE RACES WITH A SUPERHORSE NAMED DON ENRICO

Last Sunday, December 6, my brother, a brother-in-law and a cousin, for want of better things to do, dragged me to Carmona, Cavite, the home of San Lazaro Leisure Club, the foremost racetrack in the Philippines today. The racetrack had been there for many years now but it was only our third time to the place. We arrived at around one thirty in the afternoon and quickly found out that the food there remained priced exorbitantly. The club was packed with not only the racing program-wielding kareristas but also with their families (their wives and their small children).

It was the day of Presidential Gold Cup, the biggest and most prestigious event in Philippine horseracing—the prize money for the winner was a whopping two and a half millions pesos, and one of the horses running in that event was owned by the boss of my brother-in-law.

The Presidential Gold Cup ran at around five in the afternoon and was won by a superhorse named Don Enrico, the favorite horse in the race, beating another superhorse named Ibarra. My bayaw’s bossing’s horse, unfortunately, didn’t really figure in the monumental race.

The incumbent president usually graced the said event but last Sunday, not one representative from the First Family was there to honor the affair.

Aside from the Gold Cup event, we were able to watch six other exciting races—one of the jockeys in the fifth race was unseated and had to be carried on a stretcher. As usual, it was fun to watch thoroughbred horses trying to outspeed and outlast each other down to the payoff wire. A horse named Malihim won the sixth race and it was a real longshot, meaning only few bet on it—nailihim ng kabayo ang galing niya.

After seven races, we got out of the club, jokingly contemplated transferring to a nearby casino, went to our car, drove out of Carmona, hungrily ate at a restaurant then went back to Manila bringing home a few pasalubongs which included a bottle of duhat wine.

Below are some of the pictures (a panoramic view of the racetrack, the drum and lyre band that helped give the event a fiesta atmosphere, the winning horse Don Enrico and its winning rider, class A jockey FM Raquel Jr. accepting his trophy) I’ve taken with my cell phone inside the racing club.