Events: Experiencing Halloween Comic Fest 2014

Halloween Comic Fest (HCF) was celebrated last October 25, 2014. This is a trick or treat version of the Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). It's the same with FCBD wherein the giving of free comics are spearheaded locally by Fully Booked and Comic Odyssey. All branches have been giving out 1 HCF Special Edition Comics except for the Fort branch who gave out 3 HCF Special Edition Comics.

This is my first time to attend HCF and had only gone to the Alabang Town Center (ATC) branch of Fully Booked. It was astounding as I got to the main door of the bookstore around 9:30 a.m. 26 people were already lined up and were just waiting for the store to let them in.

As the doors finally let us in by 10:00 a.m., we just continued our line as we went up to the 4th floor of Fully Booked. It was assumed that there in Comic Odyssey was the place where the HCF sponsored comics will be given away. This is in contrast to this year's FCBD wherein the free comics were distributed at a table in the 1st floor of the same branch of Fully Booked.

If you're among those who loves securing their freebies online, then you're among those who were lucky enough to get the 3 HCF sponsored comics even if your not going to claim it at the Fort branch. The only sad thing in the ATC branch was that the Afterlife with Archie #1 HCF 2014 cover wasn't available. It just felt good that I was allowed to have that comic be exchanged for a different one that is available on the ATC branch.

The most interesting thing that happened during HCF was the additional treat that they gave us. They did this by giving away some packed goodies. This is translated to having another set of free comics.

Overall it was a new and fun experience. But if you really want to enjoy the whole HCF event, I would recommend that you visit the Fort branch next year.

Here are the things that I got from Halloween Comic Fest 2014:

The HCF sponsored comics are the two comics below. The rest are the free goodies.

• Betty and Veronica HCF 2014 Mini Comic
• Archie Comics
• BOOM! Studios Halloween Fright Fest 2014 HCF 2014 Mini Comic
• BOOM! Studios
• CSI: NY: Bloody Murder ~ Issue 1: Blood Tells
• IDW Publishing
• Fanboys vs. Zombies ~ Issue 1
• BOOM! Studios
• NFL Superpro ~ Issue 2
• Marvel Comics
• The Punisher ~ Issue 60
• Marvel Comics
• Key of Z ~ Issue 1
• BOOM! Studios

Comics: The Adventures of Apocalypse Al ~ Issue 1

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: Sid Kotian

Color by: Bill Farmer

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover A by Sid Kotian and Bill Farmer)

"I have to move fast, if I hesitate even a second longer, I'll lose focus and be trapped forever in this... this... toilet!" - Allison "Al" Carter

This is another goodie given to us by Joe's Comics in partnership with Image Comics. It centers on Allison "Al" Carter, a private investigator specializing in the end of the world, or more specifically preventing it.

In this 4 part miniseries, it starts with the almost end of the world. This is brought about by summoning the eater of the worlds with the use of the seal of Balthazar. Luckily Al prevented the world from ending too early. A case is later given by Mike Rose, a former investigator, in which the end of the world is at stake. This time it is due to the possession of the book of keys by an individual wanting to open the doorway to hell. As Al encounters a prophet, dreamscape, Mister Abernathy and even Ultimate Darkness, who knew Los Angeles could be any more dangerous as demonic creatures roam Beverly Hills day and night.

Straczynski couldn't possibly resist in giving us stories that involves doorways to hell. As Joe in Ten Grand goes to it and Al in Apocalypse Al tries to prevent it from opening, I'd say this doorway might once again appear in the future stories that Straczynski will write. As for the illustrations of Apocalypse Al, they are well made by the two artists. They really contributed a lot in making Apocalypse Al a funny story that deals with paranormal investigations major in apocalypse.

On the back cover of the comic, I like the idea that the artist had done by having 3 vertical panels at the back of Al. In these panels, Max Rose, the former investigator; Max, the prophet; and Ultimate Darkness were drawn.

The only thing that I just don't get is that Al was seen to be wearing boots before entering dreamscape. However, as she exits it she is seen to be wearing what she calls as sensible shoes.

So far, I am really excited for the future issues of Apocalypse Al. This is a nice deviation from the dark stories backed up with heavy thoughts and feelings that Straczynski gives us in Ten Grand.

"I love L.A. Beverly Hills on one side, demonic creatures on the other. Sometimes it's hard telling the two apart." - Allison "Al" Carter

More of Apocalypse Al can be seen at:

Joe's Comics: http://www.studiojms.com

Image Comics, Inc.: http://www.imagecomics.com

Comics: Free Comic Book Day: VIZ Media 2014

(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

Among the 2014 Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) sponsored comics that I had gotten, I picked this one out of curiosity for the "All You Need Is Kill" story. This was the basis for the 2014 American film, Edge of Tomorrow. This comic contains two stories namely; All You Need Is Kill and Terra Formars.

All You Need Is Kill

Story by: Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Adaptation by: Nick Mamatas

Illustrated by: Lee Ferguson

Rated: Parental Advisory, Explicit Content

Haikasoru

VIZ Media

This story starts with Keiji Kinya fighting mimcs. These creatures are alien ecoforming bombs that are set to take over our planet. Fighting these creatures over and over again is the fate of Keiji as he reawakens each time to the same exact moment whenever he is killed. Loops are what they call this event that happens to people like him. This story is a short teaser that ends with Rita, another person who experiences loops, as she kills the mimics responsible for her father's death.

The first story is a nice teaser. It has an interesting plot that centers on an alien invasion by creatures that are quickly replicating stem cells that imitates the organism it encounters. Who are Earth's defenders? Well they are individuals who experiences the loop whenever they die and the mission is still left unaccomplished. This teaser can really make you buy the novel, manga or watch the movie and see how the story goes on.

Terra Formars

Excerpt from "Chapter 1: An Encounter with the Known"

Story by: Yu Sasuga

Illustrated by: Ken-ichi Tachibana

Rated: M for Mature

VIZ Signature Edition

VIZ Media

The second story is a shorter teaser compared to the first one. The setting this time is Mars. The characters are a bunch of astronauts from different countries. The story starts with the astronauts' encounter with alien life forms that inhabit Mars. This teaser ends with one of the female character's neck being snapped backwards by the alien.

This second story is confusing for me. Yes, they showed the list of characters on the 1st page of the story. Yes, it was established that they are in Mars. What I don't get is what are their purpose there. They were supposed to pick up any remains, in which I don't know what. I guess I only got surprised as one of them got killed, well almost since I think she has a few more breaths left in her.

This FCBD 2014 comic from VIZ Media was a half enjoyable one. The only thing in common between these two stories is that they both have encounters with an alien life form. It was mostly the first story that I enjoyed reading. I guess that could be attributed to the fact that I understand the plot of the 1st story more than the 2nd one. I would recommend that you purchase the complete story of All You Need Is Kill rather than Terra Formars.

More of Haikasoru can be seen at:

htttp://www.haikasoru.com

More of VIZ Media can be seen at:

http://www.viz.com

Events: The 5th Philippine International Literary Festival and Book Industry Summit

A few more days before Winter Komikon 2014 and there is still a big event that is being held before it. The 5th Philppine International Literary and Book Industry Summit (PILF-BIS) was organized by the National Book Development Board. The main theme for this event is The Pressing Issue: Sustainable Publishing Amid ASEAN Integration.

Events: Votation for the 4th Komikon Readers' Choice Awards

 

The votation for the 4th Komikon Readers' Choice Awards is on. This will be up until November 3, 2014. Better hurry and let your votes be heard.

The online ballot can be seen by clicking the link below:

http://goo.gl/wnmmw4