Making Comics: Where To Start

In my blog post Graphic Novel Training, someone asked how to go about becoming a comic book creator. He's 19, so he's got a lot of time to be the best he could possibly be. (As a matter of course, this is all based on my personal experience and insight. Other creators will have theri own takes on the subject.)

The first step in becoming a comics creator is a decision. It can be a conscious or a subconscious decision, supported by a deep passion. In a nutshell, you just can't help but make comics. It's not work--it's something that just comes natural to you, no matter what skill level you are. Kahit hindi ka pa pulido sa pagdidibuho, o kung sumasablay ka pa sa balarila, hindi mo maiwasan ang gumawa ng komiks. You don't expect to be rewarded except by the satisfaction of making comics.

The second step in becoming a comics creator is commitment. You choose to commit yourself to learning and practicing. You start by copying the styles of your favorite writers and artists. You temporarily become a clone. While you're doing that, you pick up new knowledge here and there. On some days you're working on anatomy. On other days you're figuring out how to write a scene. Ika nga nila, kung nag-iimpok ka ng beinte-singko kada araw, maaari ka na sa paglipas ng isang taon ang bumili ng mapormang t-shirt sa ukay-ukay, o kaya'y ibahagi sa kasintahan mo ang isang value meal sa Jolibee. Investing a little each day adds up in the end.

Part of this commitment is what is known as deliberate training. You're not just learning and practicing. You are deliberately judging your own work, finding out what you did well, what you flubbed, and why. Then you do your best to improve in future attempts. Paminsan-minsa'y nagiging eng-eng ka't inaalalayan mo ang sarili mo. O di kaya'y pinagsasabihan. Kung may mga sandali ng pagdadabog, mayroon ding mga sandaling pinupuri mo ang sarili mo, sabay ngiti, buntong-hiniga't tingala sa langit.

These aforementioned steps are usually done alone. It's still a hobby, a pastime, your private sanctuary. Sinasarili mo ang pagkokomiks dahil 1) wala kang kaibigang gumagawa ng komiks (o wala kang kaibigan, period); 2) walang makakaintindi sa iyong pagkokomiks; 3) may kaunting hiya kang nararamdaman sa iyong pagkokomiks; 4) wala ka pang kumpiyansiya sa abilidad mo; o 5) may nakatanim kang galit o inggit. Kung naroon ka sa ikalimang dahilan, aba'y mag-dalawang isip ka na. Anong mangyayari sa pagkokomiks mo kapag lumipas na ang galit o inggit?

But seriously, by the time you've mustered enough confidence in what you've learned and what you can do, it's time to expose yourself to like-minded people. We'll explore that step in the next post.

Slowly but Surely

Yes, I'm moving slowly, but I'm moving nonetheless. Below are three pages from the Prologue, though I opted not to include the word balloons. Let them hold some surprises.

Fine Time Wasters: Sims Pop Divas

Siguro huli na ako sa balita, but howell...

Beautiful Liar by Sim Beyonce and Sim Shakira. Watch out for the one-armed pushups.



Umbrella by Sim Rihanna. Better-made than the first. Watch out for the killer backbends.

Bayan Knights

Gilbert Monsanto is set to release through his Sacred Mountain Publications the premiere issue of Bayan Knights, which brings together Pinoy superheroes of various creators.

In an Philippine Daily Inquirer article, Monsanto intends to have Bayan Knights serve as a springboard for new creator-owned characters. "“The idea behind Bayan Knights is to introduce the characters and their creators and hopefully lead the readers to look for their own published comics books.”

The first issue of Bayan Knights is set to rock the upcoming November 22 Komikon at the UP Bahay ng Alumni.

Read the full PDI article, or visit the Bayan Knights blog.

Image from the Philippine Daily Inquirer website.

Coraline The Movie

I haven't read the Neil Gaiman novella, but I did read the somehow unsatisfying graphic novel adaptation by P. Craig Russell.

The film adaptation, directed by Nightmare Before Christmas' Henry Selick, will be a stop-motion / 3D combo, featuring the voices of Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher. The visual atmosphere of the film obviously targets a younger set, with a cartoony design looking nothing like Russell's adaptation.

A major change from book to film is the inclusion of a sidekick character, a decision that Selick explains in the following video.



Coraline is set for release in 2009.

Special Mentions

The Wall Street Journal's Robyn Eckhardt writes about Philippine culinary delights.

I was browsing The Pocket Daring Book for Girls at the bookstore and found two pages that instruct readers how to dance the tinikling (bamboo dance). It's on page 104.

Carrie Tait of The Financial Post of Canada talks about Helen Arong, originally from the Philippines, who set up a successful clothing store in a place "characterized as a drug-infested oil town full of rig pigs."

Singapore's The Straits Times reveals the growing popularity of Filipino musical artists in the city state.

Wine Sales in East Asia Influenced by Manga

Shizuku Kanzaki races against time to become a wine connoisseur in the four year-old manga series "The Drops of the Gods." What creators Yuko and Shin Kibayashi (under the pseudonym Tadashi Agi) didn't expect was the impact their work would have on the local wine market.

From a New York Times article: "In Japan, wine sellers grab copies of the magazine as soon as it comes out on Thursdays, quickly showcasing a featured wine in their stores or on their Web sites. According to Enoteca, a large chain, men in their 30s to 50s tend to ask for wines from the magazine, especially those priced around $30."

The wave of interest in wine because of the manga series has swept over South Korea as well, where the Kibayashis were treated like stars. From the same article, "...there was so little demand for Burgundy that even top hotels did not bother stocking it. But after the comic extolled Burgundy’s virtues, stores and hotels scrambled to secure stocks, which immediately sold out."

Thanks to Lette Teodosio for the link.

Read the full New York Times article.

RPG: The Philippines' First Full-Length 3D Animated Feature

Now this is interesting.

Summit Media Job Openings

ART DIRECTOR (SMART PARENTING)

• Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's Degree in Arts & Design, Advertising, Media or equivalent.
• Candidates must be good at conceptualizing and translating elements into final print work given client specifications.
• Applicants must be at least 25 years old.
• At least 3 years of working experience in an Advertising Agency or any related field is required for this position.
• Applicants must be skilled in operating computer applications such as Photoshop, In-Design, Pagemaker, Freehand, Illustrator, etc.
• Applicants must be adept in using a Mac computer.
• Applicants must be highly creative, can handle pressure well and willing to work long hours & must be open for FULL-TIME employment.

WEB PROGRAMMER

• Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or I.T. Programming or any related field.
• Candidates must at least have 1 year of work experience in web programming or any related field.
• Applicants must have extensive knowledge of the following programs: PHP, Java Script, CGI, MySQL, HTML, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Flash.
• Applicants must be patient, flexible, organized and cooperative and can handle pressure well.
• Applicants must be capable of multi-tasking and willing to work overtime.

WEB AND MOBILE PRODUCER

• Preferably female; 21-30 years old.
• Applicants must have excellent writing skills and good HTML skills.
• Knowledge in Adobe Photoshop is an advantage but not required.
• Applicants must be self-motivated, patient, resourceful and a fast-learner and should possess good interpersonal skills.
• Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's/College Degree in any field.
• Preferably bloggers or seasoned writers who contribute content for various female-oriented websites

ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR (COSMOPOLITAN)

• Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's/College Degree in Journalism or any related field.
• At least 2 years of working experience in the Fashion and Beauty industry, journalism or any related field.
• Applicants must be interested and well-versed in Fashion and Beauty.
• Applicants must be at least 25 years old.
• Applicants must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Applicants must be an exceptional writer and should possess excellent interviewing skills.
• Applicants must be a team player, very organized and focused on deadlines.
• Applicants must be willing to work very long hours and can deal with erratic schedules.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT (Candy)

• Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's/College Degree in Creative Writing, Journalism, Fashion, or any related course.
• Knowledge of Photoshop / In Design is a MUST.
• Excellent communication skills and is updated with the latest in Design elements
• At least 1 year(s) of working experience in the related field is required for this position.
• Applicants must be female; 21 years old and above.
• Applicants must know how to write and should be fashion-conscious.
• Applicants must be dynamic, creative and flexible

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR (TOTAL GIRL)

• Candidate must possess at least a Bachelor's/College Degree in Art/Design/Creative Multimedia, Advertising/Media or equivalent.
• At least 4 year(s) of working experience in the related field is required for this position.
• Applicants must be skilled in operating computer applications such as Photoshop, In-Design, Pagemaker, Freehand, Illustrator, etc.
• Applicants must be adept in using a Mac computer.
• Applicants must be highly creative, can handle pressure well and willing to work long hours & must be open for FULL-TIME employment.
• Preferably 1-4 Yrs Experienced Employees specializing in Arts/Creative/Graphics Design or equivalent.

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER (MARIE CLAIRE)

• Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or Marketing or any related field.
• Preferably with experience coming from an Advertising Agency / Publishing industry.
• At least 2 years of work experience in brand management and marketing or any related field.
• Applicants must be female; 25 years old and above.
• Applicants must have extensive experience in developing business plans and doing market research.
• Applicants must be interested in the latest trends in fashion, lifestyle & women's issues.
• Applicants must have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Applicants must be articulate and have excellent presentation skills.
• Applicants must be proficient in MS Office, should be resourceful, creative, confident and outgoing.
• Applicants should be dependable, flexible and patient.

Send your CVs and cover letter to any of the following:

rad.santos (at) summitmedia.com.ph
bianca.nicolas (at) summitmedia.com.ph
paolo.cuerpo (at) summitmedia.com.ph
ana.cornes (at) summitmedia.com.ph

Submission Guidelines to Visual Print Enterprises

By special request. If you have a book that's nearing completion and would want to pitch to my publisher, Visual Print Enterprises, here's the link to their submission guidelines. Best of luck!

Graphic Novel Training

Here's something you can do to jumpstart the realization of an ambition--creating a graphic novel. This is all theoretical, of course, since I don't know of anyone who's actually done this. Plus, the younger you are, the better. But if there's enough passion and dedication, plus the will to improve, then there's always the strong chance for success, right?

It all takes five stages:

STAGE ONE: The Starter 12
Duration: One calendar year

In this stage, you will create one short comics story a month. Each story will be 8 to 10 pages long. Take two weeks to write and two weeks to draw (or the whole month to write and draw at the same time). As you go from one story to the next, get feedback, determine which areas you can improve, and allow areas for experimentation and personal styling. Simple, right?

By the end of the first year, you would have 12 short comics in your portfolio.

STAGE TWO: The Intermediate 6
Duration: One calendar year

In this stage, you will create one short comics story every two months. Each story will be 16 to 20 pages long. Take one month to write and one month to draw (or the whole of two months to write and draw at the same time). As you go from one story to the next, get feedback, determine which areas you can improve, and begin to solidify your personal writing and drawing style. Simple, right?

By the end of the second year, you would have 6 additional short comics in your portfolio.

STAGE THREE: The Power 3
Duration: One calendar year

In this stage, you will create one short comics story every four months. Each story will be 32 to 40 pages long. At this point, you might want to train yourself in writing the script before drawing. So, take six weeks to write and six weeks to draw. At this point, you're getting a good grip on your personal writing and drawing style, as well as planning out your "shortcuts" to increase your productivity and preserve your endurance. Simple, right?

By the end of the third year, you would have 3 additional short comics in your portfolio.

STAGE FOUR: The Grand 2
Duration: One calendar year

In this stage, you will create one comics story every six months. Each story will be 48 to 60 pages long. Take three months to write and three months to draw. By this time, you've got your style and pace down pat. Simple, right?

By the end of the fourth year, you would have 2 additional comics in your portfolio.

STAGE FIVE: Your First Graphic Novel
Duration: One calendar year

In this stage, you will create one comics story. Your first graphic novel, with a page count of 100 to 120 pages. Your writing and art are rock solid at this point.

And... apart from having your first graphic novel, you have a portfolio containing a whopping 23 short comics. You can sift through those 23 and choose five to eight of the best ones to create an anthology of comic shorts.

After five years, you should be well-equipped to dish out a graphic novel--or a five- to eight-story anthology-- every year. If you begin this "program" in your early 20s, you'll be able to do an annual release before you hit your 30s!

Oh, the things I should have realized back then. *sigh*

Press Release: Wonder Woman Day 3

Portland, Oregon, October 14, 2008 — For the third year in a row, Wonder Woman brandishes her Amazon bracelets and golden lasso as a star-spangled symbol for a charity benefit for Portland's most protective domestic violence shelters — Raphael House and Bradley-Angle House — and the Portland Women's Crisis Line. Excalibur Comics will host "Wonder Woman Day" on Sunday, October 26th from 12noon to 6pm. The free all-ages event will feature personalities such as Adam Hughes and Gail Simone signing Wonder Woman comics and special art prints, as well as a silent art auction with over 150 of the world's top artists contributing original art, plus costumed super-heroes on-site, raffles and prizes, rare memorabilia, and more!

Additionally, a second "Wonder Woman Day" benefit will take place on Sunday, October 26th, in Flemington, New Jersey, at Comic Fusion, as part of their “Super-Hero Weekend.” This East Coast event will benefit Safe in Hunterdon, a domestic violence shelter in New Jersey.

Some key points:

* Portland's Mayor, Tom Potter, has declared October 26th as "Wonder Woman Day" in the City of Roses.

* Portland's first Wonder Woman Day in 2006 raised over $15,400 for two Domestic Violence shelters.

* In Portland and New Jersey, Wonder Woman Day II in 2007 raised over $27,000 for the three Domestic Violence shelters and the Women’s Crisis Line.

* Year One was filmed for a half-hour documentary series, FANatical, shown on Canadian and Australian national television. This year’s event will be filmed for another documentary.

* October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Producing the event for its third year is best-selling author and DVD documentary director Andy Mangels, who is also the curator of the online Wonder Woman Museum, and one of the world's top experts on the famed super-heroine. "Especially in today’s political and economic climate, we need a symbol of peace, strength, equality, and honesty,” Mangels says, “and Wonder Woman embodies those qualities.

Image by Adam Hughes, from justsayah.com

Play Posters

Here are a couple of posters I did for the American Community Theater (Hongkong) through dear friend Mida, who used to perform for that group. This was four years ago, and I remember being really excited about doing their production posters. I've always wanted to add that "commercial" element to theater posters since, after all, they're supposed to attract attention and sell shows. If a theater poster was too artsy, or too symbolic, then how can the common citizen with extra cash know what the play was about?

Yes, it's possible to draw crowds into a theater by the strength of a poster. But that poster has to hit its intended audience at the core.

INVOICE: The GLBT Business and Advocacy Journal

This I'm definitely curious about.

INVOICE is a new GLBT magazine that seeks to break the mold when it comes to Philippine GLBT publications. Instead of focusing on lifestyle and scantily-clad hunks, INVOICE turns towards business, promising to advocate "the new image of the GLBT community as professional individuals with integrity." (On the Web, other gay business publications include Echelon and GayBusinessWorld.)

It also seeks to "provide an inspiration and a call for action to all readers to become entrepreneurs and help in the growth of SMEs (Small and Medium-scale Enterprises) in the country."

Refreshing, I say. INVOICE is produced by 3rd Media Publishing, and the maiden issue is currently available at the following stores:

National Bookstore C. Raymundo Caniogan,
Gerald magazine Shop - Rustans Supermarket Mercedes Ave. Pasig city
National Bookstore Megamall Bldg.A,
National Bookstore Shangri-La,
National Bookstore Bestsellers Robinsons Galleria and Bestsellers Podium.
RB1 (Filbars) Bookstore Galleria
SVALUE(Filbars) SM Megamall
Filbars Rob. Galleria
Filbars Megamall
Filbars St. Francis Square
Filbars Hypermarket C5
National Bookstore Cyberone Eastwood
National Bookstore BIG R Cainta Junction
J-Cube Enterprises - 170 Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave. Rosario, Pasig

'Spectacular' Musical

Looks like the Broadway musical adaptation of Spiderman is becoming spectacular even in production cost. News all over the web is pinning the warbling webslinger's stage debut at $30 to $40 million, the highest bank breaker in Broadway so far. Just to give you an idea of how expensive that is, the films Cloverfield, The Sixth Sense, and Chicago had production budgets hovering around that amount. (I couldn't find resources on Broadway musical budgets.)

Superman had his try at a stage musical over 40 years ago, when "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman" debuted on Broadway. The musical was later adapted into a television special.

And, yes, Tanghalang Pilipino had already asked me about adapting the Zaturnnah sequel for the stage. I naturally agreed, but I'll have to get the book out first. (shiver)

Real Living October 2008

Better late than never...

In the October issue of Real Living, you discover:

1) the Best Home Stores for 2008! Over 30 establishments--from value-for-money stores to blow-the-budget shops take the spotlight in the magazine's annual list.

2) the style forecast for 2009! Taking a cue from international sources, Real Living highlights the fearless upcoming style trends ranging from the dramatic to the eco-friendly.

3) Project Runway Philippines judge Jojie Lloren's contemporary-vintage studio!

4) the grand prize winner of Real Living's Best Real Home contest! Jorem Catilo and his wife Sheila transform a small and plain space into a colorful, creative and refreshing sanctuary.

...and more!

Real Living is available at major magazine stands for only P140. Get na, now na!

TP To Hold Auditions for New Musical

From the Tanghalang Pilipino email blast:

Tanghalang Pilipino will hold new auditions for the cast of the sarswela adaptation of Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon (originally a 1976 film directed by Eddie Romero) on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, 2008, from 1-8 PM at the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (Multi-Purpose Hall), 4th Floor, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

Those interested to be part of the production are required to submit their resume together with 2 pictures (a head shot and a full-body photo) and to prepare two songs - a kundiman and a contemporary Filipino pop ballad - and a short dance or movement piece.

Roles to be filled include a young boy (6-17 years old) and the Filipino lead and supporting characters. Those with Chinese, Indian, Spanish and American features are encouraged to audition as well.

For inquiries and other details, please call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661 or 832-1125 local 1620 / 1621 or email ccptanghalan (at) yahoo (dot)com.

Arnold Arre's "Martial Law Babies"

Arnold Arre will soon be releasing his new graphic novel Martial Law Babies, but you can pre-order a copy by checking out the official site. Arnold's fifth OGN--after The Mytholgy Class, Trip to Tagaytay, After Eden and Ang Alamat ni Andong Agimat--is 288 pages long and will retail at P500. Pre-order and get 10% off!

I dunno what the book's about, but I can imagine it's going to be a nostalgic trip.

Globe Komiks for OCWs

This was from mid-2005. Client wanted to create material to be distributed to Filipino OCWs as part of a campaign to promote mobile phone-based remittances. This came in two versions--one with a female lead and the other with a male lead--though the script was basically the same. I had fun doing this project despite its "rush" status. Presented here are two pages out of six (click to enlarge).

What a Critique Means To Me

When I appeared in Angels In America over a decade ago (my debut in professional theater), the reviews about my performance weren't very encouraging, so much so that I cried, nearly bawling my eyes out. I only got one glowing review--from the Manila Chronicle--which likened my performance to William Holden on Sunset Boulevard.

While that piece of positive feedback did elevate my spirits, it wasn't enough to convince me that my performance was worth something in the entirety of Tony Kushner's opus. I only resolved to do my best in the remaining performances, and accept the truth that I was the "professional newbie" who didn't have years of hard theater acting experience compared to my fellow cast members. And there have been no regrets--1995 was still the best year of my life.

(The image below was lifted from The Bachelor Girl. That's me on the top left--yes, I had hair. Also in the picture (clockwise, from top left): Tami Monsod, Lorna Lopez, Ebong Joson, Monique Wilson, RS Francisco, Jamie Wilson, Lourdes Faberes, Michael Williams, Joshua Spafford)

Going back to critique. Whenever I would read a review of my work, I'd always feel anxious over what the reviewer has to say. There's a slight pinching in the chest because of the anticipation. On one end, I would hope that I get the marks. But, on the other end, I would also hope to see a different perspective dished out in a constructive way. It doesn't matter whether or not the reviewer was "qualified" to pass judgment. (This is not to say that I wouldn't get hurt--I do get hurt, but the appreciation is still there.)

Of course, there is the argument of the odd man out. A furor erupted some time ago over the credentials of one theater critic because of a scathing review he wrote in his blog. To many in the theater industry, this critic was out of line and didn't have the right to write reviews, moreso sit in the jury of an award-giving body. Battle lines were drawn, and acidic remarks have been flung.

But from an outsider, there lie the concerns: The theater critic was definitely qualified by virtue of education and experience, when compared to the other members of the award-giving body. The critic's only fault was his horrid deficiency in the English language. Otherwise, his credentials granted him a relatively more discerning perspective than his fellow jurors. These fellow jurors, some of whom are not practitioners in the industry, luckily did not suffer the wrath of the theater veterans.

Sometimes I'd wonder if the local comics industry was ready for solid critique. Yes, a thumbs-down can easily discourage, especially if one has toiled through sleepless nights, headaches and stiff wrists, plus the agony that comes with low sales. And negative criticism can just as easily steer aspirants from the arduous comics-making journey. But what is passion if not the conviction to press on despite the negative feedback? (I have a friend who's really talented in his chosen field, but after nearly two decades he hasn't had a big break. But he's still at it, bless him.)

If the local komiks awards were revived, would we be as unforgiving to jurors we've never heard of before? Would we lambast a comic book enthusiast for issuing negative criticism, especially if he sat in the komiks awards' panel? Would we push for veteran practitioners to judge? Would we allow the panel to be composed of members of the academe, particularly those who've never made a comic book in their life? Or do we wholeheartedly accept the idea that criticism can come from anyone who can make constructive judgments and offer rational perspectives?

But I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. There aren't a lot of local comics to critique. There ought to be a deluge.

(And, yes, I've started drawing pages again.)