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

Komikon once again brings back the KOMIKON Awards to give recognition to notable works of art presented in the comic form. There are 11 categories for this year. The nominated works should have been released around July 1, 2011 - December 31, 2013. Nomination period starts from July 24, 2014 and has been extended until August 9, 2014. The voting period follows thereafter.

The categories are:

• Best International Artist
• Best Comic: Graphic Novel / Anthology 
• Best Comic Serialized
• Best Comic Strip Compilation
• Best Comic Creator(s)
• Best Cover
• Best Cartoonist
• Grassroot Award
• Best Webcomic
• Komiks Character of the Year
• Comics Aid Awards

There's still time. A few more days are left before the nomination period is closed. So better hurry.

Just click on the link below for more details on how to nominate for the 2014 KOMIKON Awards at:

http://www.komikon.org/2014-nominations/

Events: End of July 2014 Sale

You know the meaning of this pictures from National Book Store. Just check out the stores near your area and their respective dates.

 

For the events that need more details.

Anvil Publishing will be having their Mid-Year Sale this July 15 - August 15, 2014 in all National Book Store and Powerbooks branches. Book prices ranges from Php. 35 up to Php. 100.

Another deal is from PSICOM Publishing Inc. They will be having 10% off on their books from July 5 - August 31, 2014 in all National Book Store branches.

Be sure not to miss out on this great deal.

More information abut National Book Store can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "National Book Store"

http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph

More information about Anvil Publishing can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Anvil Publishing"

More information about PSICOM Publishing Inc. can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "PSICOM Publishing Inc."

Comics: The Woods ~ Issue 1

Story by: James Tynion IV

Illustrated by: Michael Dialynas

BOOM! Studios
(5/5 ★★★★★)

(2nd Printing Cover)

This is my first review on a BOOM! Studios comic and I'm glad to say that this is a great opening story for The Woods.

The story initially takes place in Bay Point Preparatory High School in Milwaukee, WI. It starts by introducing the main characters. We are started off with two close friends Karen Jacobs and Sanami Ota, the Vice President of the student council. Then to Calder Macready, who is later hunted down by the two friends for his streaking performance. This chaos then went on to the hallway which disturbed Maria Ramirez, the President of the student council, and John Beaumont, the school principal. The streaker then ran over to Benjamin Store and Isaac Andrews. The scene then leaves the streaker and focuses on Isaac where he went to Adrian Roth, a genius, who is found busy in the computer room. At this moment the whole school body sees a blinding flash of light before darkness suddenly falls upon them. The entire school body is then enveloped by chaos due to the horrors brought about by an attack of bats from a dead tree up to Carrie Hill being devoured by a winged beast in the chemistry lab. This issue ends with a group of five students making their way into the woods to search for the truth of the sudden abduction of their school in this alien territory.

 

Once again, I say that this is a nice 1st issue for The Woods. The cover, even though it's the 2nd print that I got, remains to be an eye catcher. Just wait till you get to read it. Surely you'll be eagerly wanting to know and get your hands on the next issue of this alien abduction themed story from BOOM! Studios.

"This is what you need to understand. No one is coming for us." - Adrian Roth

More of BOOM! Studios can be seen at:

http://www.boom-studios.com

Comics: Precinto 13 ~ Calling The Parents Of A Little Girl In A Blue Dress

Story by: Budjette Tan

Illustrated by: Atan

Alamat Comics
(5/5 ★★★★★)

Precinto 13 shares the same universe with the Trese universe. It features short stories of cases that involves the paranormal.

The case presents the story of Tracy, the little girl in a blue dress that got lost in Robertson Mall. The story shows how the little girl is usually ignored and shouted at by her parents. She then got lost in a mall and is held under the temporary custody of the mall security until she is picked up by her parents. However, when two groups of adults shows up claiming to be her parents, she did not pick her dad and instead chose two parental figures who showered her with hugs and concern as they got to her first. The story ends with Tracy's parents asking for help from Capt. Guerrero to find her.

This is a nice story that could be a wake up call for some parents. Since Tracy's story can be heard and seen once in a while from kids who prefers to hangout with their friends rather than be at home. They do this since they are always just ignored or shouted at. What she had done in choosing a total stranger who gave her love and care from the first time they had just met is not far from the reality to some of the cases being reported on the local news.

As usual, Budjette shows his great writing abilities in giving us this story from Precinto 13. It is just a strange feeling for me that this comic is drawn by a different artist since I'm just accustomed that it is usually KaJo who draws stories from the Trese universe. But I don't have any negative remarks for Atan. I liked how he had drawn this comic most especially the cover.

I think no amount of praise will ever be sufficient since I know that stories that are part of the Trese universe is going to be worth the purchase.

More stories from Precinto 13 can be seen at:

http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/search/label/Precinto13

Comics: School Run ~ Part 7: Casualties of War!

Illustration and Story by: Macoy
(5/5 ★★★★★)

We are left with a sad zombie bite mark on Maki's leg in the previous part of School Run. It gives the impression that even the lead character where the story of School Run began is not immune to the horror of dying in this zombie plaque.

In part 7 of School Run, the story continues with a sad fate to Eightball and the leader of the Black Squadron. The rescue mission for Eightball ended with a suicide. A human death to be more precise rather than die and reanimate into a zombie was picked as a better option. On the other hand, time shortens for Robert who got a zombie bite in his hand. A decision was then set by dividing the NZP, an anti-plaque drug that must be taken every 4 hours, between him and Maki, who is currently unconscious. Then, he covers her before leaving the area. His next action was to shout out loud while walking away from the scene in order to lessen the number of zombies surrounding Maki. This part ended with 3 deaths as Robert is finished off by a gunner who sees him to be halfway into transforming due to the zombie virus.

The cover of this part already says a lot regarding the events bound to happen to the characters, especially to Robert and Maki. This really is a sad turning point for this series as one major character dies and another one is awaiting the same fate, unless something could halt or reverse the effect of the virus inside Maki's body. Well there's going to be a lot of things that is still going to be told. Such as, what has happened to the rest of the group, and if Maki will ever make it to school in time before she gets a head shot. It would also be great if a side story of the Black Squadron is written like who and what they are.

School Run continues to be a great story told in a child like drawing. Even though that is the style of art done by the creator, this personally is still an envy. Since I wouldn't still be able to come up with this nice drawings, set aside the nice story telling.

"Die Human!" - Black Squadron

He can be seen on:

Facebook Page: "Komiks Ni Macoy"

Twitter: @komiksnimacoy

www.mcoy.blogspot.com

Events: End of June 2014 National Book Store's Warehouse Sale

Looks like National Book Store won't end this month without a great sale. Some of them had already started but will still go on for a few more days. You know the drill. Just check out which among them are near your area to be able to satisfy that craving to get yourself some new books for a cheaper price. New books are nice to read especially now that Winter the Rainy Season is coming!

 

More information about National Book Store can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "National Book Store"

http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph

Comics: Dark Side ~ Book 1: 2:00 AM

BIC0027
Story by: Ron Mendoza

Illustrated by: Erwin J. Arroza

Black Ink Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"Whenever a case that

seemingly involves

supernatural reaches NBI,

it is automatically assigned

to Agents Roddy, Nick,

and Janet. Cases from the

Dark Side, they call them.

And the three were known

as "The Shadowcatchers"

because they chase suspects

that, just like shadows, could

not be arrested."

This is one of the goodies that I got from FCBD 2014. I like this comic book as a whole, most especially its layout. Comic books that requires its pages to be spread out in order for the texts to be read is a pain for me. As a collector of worth-reading books, I like the spine of my books to be in good condition and each pages still attached to it.

The Dark Side is a story about NBI agents that handles paranormal cases. There are three agents namely; Roddy, Nick and Janet who are part of the team and often are called as the Shadowcatchers. Here in book 1, the case revolves around the death of a vampire's fiancee. Dave, the vampire, called up Roddy at 2:00 a.m., hence the title, to seek help. He called for the agents' aid to restrain him from looking for the killer of his beloved and unleash a vampire nightmare to that person. He says that his vampiric powers remains inactive unless he gets a taste of human blood, in which he does not wishes to do so. The case is solved with a neat twist that involves an apparition of the soul of a vampire.

Once again, Ron Mendoza amazes me with the nice stories he comes up for Black Ink Comics. He always gives us an interesting new twist to old and familiar elements that we have been accustomed to. Although this may be compared to the ongoing Trese series, which also has a paranormal investigation theme, I would still be looking for more stories from this series. Another thing that makes this worth collecting is the nice art cover made by Erwin Arroza. The cover is a plus in attracting the attention of anyone into this genre. The image depicting Roddy surrounded by supernatural entities is also a nice art from him that can be found on two pages of this book.

Overall, I'd say that this is another keeper from Black Ink Comics. It is a series that I'll surely be putting on display in my bookshelf.

More of Black Ink Comics can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Black Ink Comics"

Twitter: @BlackInkComics