One Mantra Is All That It Takes: Events: Summer Komikon 2014

Friday, April 25, 2014

Events: Summer Komikon 2014

Summer time in Manila won't be complete for comic book lovers without going to Summer Komikon. This year, the Summer Komikon took place last April 12, 2014 at the Bayanihan Center, Pasig City. For those within Manila, this is the first among the three komikons that one can attend.

A lot of new comics were released and one would really have to prioritize which one you should buy first especially since many of the works that are made locally have greatly improved and enhanced the quality of their works.

To those experienced in attending komikons, they know that it is best if you go to the venue earlier in order to get the freebies and for one not to run out of the comics you are planning to buy. One good tip that I can share is that you must purchase your tickets days before the event. The tickets can be gotten from any Comic Odyssey branch. Even though the tickets are mostly sold in the Galleria branch, they said that they could just transfer the tickets to the branch nearer or more accessible to you. The advantages of having tickets purchased early is that (1) you have the privilege of being able to enter the hall 30 minutes before it is open to the public and (2) an ecobag is reserved for you where you can place all the merchandises that you have gotten.

Let me just share the highlights of my Summer Komikon 2014 experience.

The major happening that took place occurred in VISPRINT's table. This is due to the 4 new books being launched that day. These are Seroks 2, Abangan, Tabi Po, and Kikomachine Komix Blg. 10. Yep. There's a new material from Manix so it was expected that there will be the big number of fans that'll line up at his table. It was fortunate that VISPRINT continued to help out by issuing numbers to fans who want works made by Manix be signed. It really proved to be useful in two ways. First, the usual long and curvaceous line that tends to go beyond the VISPRINT table was avoided. Thus, other works near the table, where Manix is signing stuffs, were not blocked. Secondly, it gave us, fans of Manix, yep I'm a big fan, some time to wander around with a sense of security that we will get our turn to have that precious moment with him. Naks. Haha fan boying much. Well the number that I got was 77. At around 12:00 noon, 2 hours after Summer Komikon 2014 started, the number Manix has been currently servicing is 24. Talk about patience and endurance for Manix, his fans, and the people assisting him, whom I saw never failed to smile every time someone asks either to get a number or to know what number is currently being entertained. Kudos to those two guys. When my turn finally came at around 3:30 p.m. it was indeed a marvelous feeling. Well if your a newly converted fan of Manix Abrera, this is one experience you'll never forget.

The next important thing for me in this year's Summer Komikon is with regards to one of the new books being launched by Black Ink Comics (BIC). This is Tonio Tikbalang Vol. 1 by Jake Vicente. If you are an avid reader of works from Ink Jinks Comics you have probably seen his stuff. Personally I think it was good that some of Jake's works have gotten the attention of the local publishing company, BIC. His stories are really enjoyable and entertaining.

The next table to go to is that of Pelikomiks Studios. They produce one of the best comics, both in terms of the art and in the story, that I have seen among the works in komikons. Their major work is Zombinoy, which I could say is a MUST BUY. Their other stories are Higante and Feed.

The second to the last thing that is of my top concern is Andoyman Komiks. Mostly the comics that I'd love to get from him that day is Ang Sumpa Kabanata 2 Unang Bagahi and Palitaw Komiks. However, due to my classmates, they requested for me to buy a copy of Palimos ng Kulangot by Ronibats and Andoyman. Since this comic can only be gotten for free if you buy a set of all of Andoyman's comics, I can say it was indeed a good morning welcome for Andoyman. From all the walking I've been doing in search for his table, only to find out that he arrived a bit late. Hehe. So I guess I kinda shocked him or made him happy from all the purchases that I've made, especially since I'm always at his table looking for a copy of Palimos ng Kulangot. If more requests for this comic should happen I guess the artist will really earn from me since in order to get a copy you'll need to buy all of his comics. You could say that with every komikon the value of the comic Palimos ng Kulangot increases as more works from Andoyman are released.

Photo from Andoyman

Now, finally the thing that I'm really anticipating for Summer Komikon 2014 comes from Macoy's table. Basically, two things interests me from the goodies laid out in the artist's table, which took sometime in the afternoon to be completed since (1) the artist and his family arrived a bit later and (2) the last goodie arrived in the afternoon, which I'm guessing was caused by the heavy traffic on EDSA. Going back to the two things that interest me. First is Macoy's School Run Parts 6 and 7 that gets to be released on that day. I tell you, this is the other zombie story, aside from Zombinoy, that one should get. If Pelikomiks Studios' Zombinoy talks of the start of the zombie apocalypse, Macoy's School Run is different in that he talks of zombies way after the zombie apocalypse had erupted. The next thing that is of my concern is Ang Maskot merchandises. Well known among the komikon community is this comic of Macoy for it has been adopted into an indie film last year. It stars Ramon Bautista, Alessandra de Rossi and Ketchup Eusebio. How amazing is that one can also find on sale at Macoy's table a DVD copy of this short film directed by Chris Castello and Mihk Vergara. As if that wasn't enough, a viewing of that movie was held at the Conference Room E in the Bayanihan Center. Also in order to complete one's day, a movie poster was being sold. Amazingly it is a happy feeling to know and personally see that a work from one of my favorite local comic artist was adapted into a short film. I guess this is what the Marvel fans felt when the first movie of their favorite superhero was seen in the cinemas.

In addition to these comics and artists that I had in my list of must buy or see is the luck that I had gotten from joining a simple contest made by Jerald Uy. He is a fellow blogger, although he writes way better than me, that blogs about pop culture. He maintains the website www.JeraldUy.com wherein he can give you an inside scoop from Century Tuna's Superbods SuperChallenge 2014 up to tips for first time Komikon attendees. Going back, I got this Iron Patriot Funko from him which is for me way cooler than getting the top price of winning five (5) tickets to Summer Komikon 2014. Hehe, I already got mine from Comic Odyssey and my friend will come and join me later in the day, so the Funko item was a better choice. Thanks again for this. Most especially since this is my first Funko.

Photo from www.JeraldUy.com

A lot more were happening in the other tables of artists and groups, but for now I guess these are the ones that really made my day at the event. To those who missed the Summer Komikon, there are still a lot of Komikons that will be held this year in Metro Manila, such as the Indieket and the Winter Komikon. There will also be the Iloilokon for those in Western Visayas. A decade of komikon will surely tell you that not only the local comic industry is still striving but it is moving forward with the goal of inspiring soon to be writers and artists to start making their own photocopied comics for it to be shared and distributed. With some luck it may be picked up by a local publishing company for it to be published and distributed in bookstores nationwide. An even more amount of luck may turn in into an indie film that stars some of the country's famous actors and actresses.