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

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Events: Winter Komikon 2014

The grand event for a Filipino comic lover has come. Komikon is now on its 10th year and it continues to be the prime event for bringing out the comic lover within us Filipinos. However, that does not limit the audience to be purely Filipinos since I've seen a couple of foreigners looking around this event.

I could say that this Komikon was better than before. Well I always say that but it really was better. It can be seen if you've been attending the past Komikons. Let me share some of the things that made Komikon 2014 the best one so far for me.

I know when I said last Summer Komikon 2014 that the major event revolves around Visprint's table. Once again this is true due to 4 new books. Each of these books already had their respective book launch and are launching it once again for Komikon. These 4 new comic books are "14", Tabi Po 2, Maktan 1521 and Mythspace.

As "14" is released, by one of the most popular local comic artist, Manix Aberera, really long lines are expected once again from Visprint's table. Joked by some that any event that he goes to in order to have his book launch automatically becomes a "Manix Con". Well, it is easy to become a fan of his. Because not only are we drawn to his works but also to his attitude. As an artist, one could just easily hold a 1-hour break from time to time in order to rest his hands. Instead he continues to do the signings for his fans. It is only when he is called to go to another table to sign his art under a different publisher and to receive a Komikon Award were the only times I had seen him have that precious break time.

Guy on the left is Jomari Angeles, the one on the middle
is Manix Abrera, the one on the right is a fellow fan of Manix

This is one of the reasons why fans of Manix need to be early for Komikon 2014. The National Book Development Board continued their mission of promoting the value of reading through the release of the fourth issue of Tibok ng Utak. This was done by giving out limited free copies of Tibok ng Utak Blg. 4. It was illustrated by Manix Abrera and written by Jomari Angeles.

The next thing on my list was to pick up my pre-ordered copy of The Mythology Class by Arnold Arre. I received this from the Nautilus Comics' table. Aside from The Mythology Class, I also bought two more books from that group. It was surprising to see that they have comic books that won different awards. I'm really excited to finish reading these.

The fourth thing that really caught my attention was regarding chapter 3 of Sixty Six. It really took me a long time in locating it and waiting for it to be displayed at the Alamat Comics' table only to realize and find out that it sits with Anino Comics. Well I really got lucky since there were only a few copies of the 3rd chapter of Sixty Six being sold. Besides that, what really got my attention was the other comics under Anino Comics. If you had taken a peek at their catalogue book, in here it can be seen that Makoy's School Run was included. Well this is a surprise from Adarna House, Inc. who made this imprint of Anino Comics. Their works will be included in my usual monitoring of local comics.

This is an interesting thing that I had found. The Free Comic Book Day Ang Pilipino Komiks sa Kasalukuyan Blg. 3 & 4 are just being sold at the Comic Odyssey table. It was just saddening, most especially since I had the 4th issue be reserved days before it was to be distributed on Free Comic Book Day 2014. However, no copy arrived at the branch where I was supposed to pick it up. It was just depressing to know that there are still extra copies.

I got the Zoo Ilustbook for free since I got a Time First!
by Kirejan Javier. Thanks again for that ^_^

I know that bloggers who make reviews for comics are usually comic lovers. Well who knew that we, yes I'm including myself since I had really seen it, are capable of motivating writers and artists to continue enhancing their craft. I guess we might not always be hooked with the other works that each artist may have made. But once I see their potential I really mean it and write about it. That's why I'm including in here my special thanks for Jake Vicente for mentioning One Mantra in the 3rd issue of Horror Asylum which is seen with Ink Jinks Comics. I still recommend that other works from Ink Jinks Comics should be checked out. This is the group where I first saw Jake Vicente's works before his Tonio Tikbalang was picked up and released under Black Ink Comics.

Remember the short look that I did on a preview comic which was given away for free during a Komikon around 2 years ago, if I remember it correctly. Well after what I had said in my previous post. Mang Jose is finally released. This comic is also hard to find. I just found out that there is already a Mang Jose #1 out during Komikon. I just saw this comic in the hands of another attendee of Komikon. Even though Mang Jose is under Alamat Comics, it cannot be found at the Alamat Comics' table. Instead I found it at the Marbles Comics' table. These stories that are part of the Alamat Comics are really tricky to find since they are dispersed among the different tables in Komikon 2014.

This might be a small thing but these are the things that I really loved in my haul from Komikon this year. These might just be posters, but these are free movie posters that I got from joining some of the games held.

My first win is the movie poster of Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2, a movie for the Metro Manila Film Fest 2014. I just got this by randomly picking a piece of paper and claiming whatever is written on it at their table in the lobby. Even though they didn't have another comic book adaptation of this movie unlike last time, they said that they might make another comic book adaptation of this 2nd movie as part of their marketing strategy. The other cool thing regarding this first poster is that it was made by Ian Sta. Maria (illustrator of Skyworld & Sixty Six). How cool is that! I just don't know if he will also be the one to do the illustrations for the alleged comic book adaptation of Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2.

The second movie poster is for the documentary titled as "Illustrated By". Illustrated By is a documentary that features the Filipino invasion of U.S. comics. This is one of the films being shown for free in Conference Room E. As one could easily recognize, Manix Abrera was the one who did the illustration of the poster. I got this poster from a "Bring Me" game conducted on stage by the Komikon organizers. All that needs to be done is to bring to the stage a signed copy of Manix Abrera's 14. Luckily, I was just near the stage and the comic book was signed around lunch time. I really got lucky for the chances of winning it was pretty high for me. It was around 6:30 p.m. when this bring me game of Manix Abrera's work was conducted. During that time, a long line insanely still exists in front of his table. The guy must have always prepared himself for book signings.

Well that sums up the things that I enjoyed buying and receiving in Komikon 2014.

Other noteworthy things are the fascinating cosplay that was done. Two distinguishable ones are seen. The first is No Face from the anime Spirited Away.

Another set of cosplayers who did a nice job of the Guardians of the Galaxy appeared afterwards. It can be seen that respectable cosplayers are slowly filling up the event halls of Komikon year after year. I guess we'll be seeing more of them in the future Komikons.

A decade of celebration of the rich variety of Filipino comics is evident in Komikon 2014. The indie comics are slowly being looked at by our local publishers and are being put out there in various and famous bookstores. If this continues on, whoever said that "the Filipino comics are dead!" is dead wrong.