Pinoys at the 2009 San Diego Comics Convention

My wife and I did the day trip by train from Los Angeles to San Diego, site of the biggest Comics Convention this side of planet Earth. We've been to the Comic Con three or four times before and traffic has always been bad, parking near impossible and with gas prices sky-high, the train idea was not bad at all. In all the years I'd been here, I can't remember the Comic Con being this crowded. I entered from the North end of the quarter-mile long San Diego Convention Center, and worked myself from the A to G sections, the whole ground floor being occupied by the Comics Convention. Once inside, I was immediately transported into another world, a world of pandemonium, like some interplanetary intermingling of species we see in movies, blaring music or noise from all sides, humans, robots and aliens conversing in some strange, common language, the sweat and miasma of what must have been a hundred-thousand people, more than I'd remember from past visits, comics fans of all stripes, many sporting their favorite comics costumes. I loved it. I was in the most exciting place in the world. Here we see the Supermans, the Batmans, a Princess Leia, among the more familiar heroes, others I can't even connect with, costumed Stars Wars fans galore, ah, what a thrill it must have been for them to actually see Luke Skywalker in the flesh, actor Mark Hamill was there signing autographs for an endless line of fans. I finally got to where I wanted to go, the Artist's Alley, which was located at the far South-West end of the building. I wanted to meet the Pinoys who have been making a name for themselves in U.S. comics. First I see Whilce Portacio greeted him, exchanged a pleasantries, he says he's currently working on Spawn, and posed for some pictures. I've met Whilce before of course. Two guys I have not met yet, though, the two Francis, Leinil Francis Yu, and Francis Manapul. Manapul was suppose to be on the same table as Whilce, but he wasn't there. I also asked about the whereabouts of Leinil Yu, it turns out I went past him. So I retraced myself back through the crowded alleys and there he was signing for a line of fans. I went straight to him offered a handshake and introduced myself. I guess he recognized me from my postings here and also from Gerry Alanguilan's Komikero site. I took some pictures, we had some pictures taken, he gave me a signed poster of his latest Wolverine, and I was off to see Francis Manapul back at his table. Both Leinil Yu and Francis Manapul are the only two Pinoys that are Special Guest of this years Comic Con 40th Anniversary (see their guesting profiles), together with several comics legends, imagine to be mentioned side-by-side with the likes of Aragones, Jim Lee, Russ Heath to name few.Manapul like Leinil is young man, an artist making waves with DC and now illustrating Batman and Superman. Now, I'm off again to see if I can find Philip Tan (I didn't), but on the way I see a familiar face, and it's Tony De Zuniga another Filipino comics veteran and legend. He was a far-cry from when I last saw him, gaunt and thin, and sitting on a wheel chair. Apparently he had a bout with pneumonia just three weeks previous and he was in a coma for a week, but now bravely attending this convention. His wife took pictures, and from her I learned that Alex Nino was there too. I've never met Alex Nino, one of the legendary Pinoy old-timer. Yet, we talked as if we'd known each other for a long time, and I mentioned I was a friend of Ernie Chan. "He's right there," he told me, and there was Ernie Chan, who I didn't immediately see, he may be the record-holder for inking the Conan franchise for Marvel for 20 years. Ernie and I go way back when both of us were starting in comics, I quit of course to move to other directions in art, but here he is. He has since retired but still goes to this convention regularly.

The Fantastic Cover Art of Jay Anacleto

IVANHOE by Jess Jodloman

Jess Jodloman is probably the most unheralded master comics illustrator of the Philippine Golden Age of Comics. Yet his style, and his comics acumen was equal to if not better than his more acclaimed contemporaries. One probable reason for this unfair neglect was that, unlike his colleagues who were illustrating for Ace Publications (the Mecca of Filipino Comics then), Jodloman chose to stay and illustrate for Bulaklak Magazine, actually more a magazine with comics pages inserted in-between. It was at Bulaklak Publications, that Jodloman achieved his greatest success, with RAMIR, a Viking-like hero, which he created, wrote and illustrated, and which was serialized every week from 1955 to 1957. He then followed this up with a sequel to Ramir titled DURINDANA, about his hero's legendary sword, and then another novel, CRUZ DIABLO, that featured a Zorro-like story. Both comics novels were also serialized in Bulaklak Magazine. Jodloman also worked for publications in the U.S. in what is now known as the first invasion of U.S. Comics by Filipino artists in the 60's and 70s. In his U.S. stint, Jodloman did little work, so that we've found only a few examples of his work published here. Whatever work by him we can find, should be worthy of being treasured, as prime example of Filipino excellence. In the examples shown here, Jodloman was right at home with the familiar costumed illustrations we saw in his masterwork, Ramir, with an adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's classic novel IVANHOE. Here he shows us why he is a master of his craft with his excellent pen-and-ink technique, powerful figures and mastery of human anatomy. Ivanhoe was published by Marvel Comics as a series of illustrated novels by world-renowned authors called Marvel Classics Illustrated.

Alex Nino's Dead Ahead, Full Speed Ahead

Alex Nino's long-delayed Dead Ahead 2nd issue is finally out after what seems like an eternity. As comics series go, usually they're published around every week or at the most every other week. Two months or more has passed and still no second issue of what was suppose to be a 3-issue series. Well, finally, the 2nd issue is now out and what's more Nino has finished much of the artwork for the 3rd and final issue. Also, the creative group, including Nino, responsible for this comics is now out on a promotional tour, one of which was San Francisco and then in Los Angeles at the LA Times Book Festival at UCLA. Coming up May 29, 30 & 31 is the Monster Palooza at the Burbank Convention Center by the Bob Hope Airport, with Alex Nino himself appearing in person. Here's the poster for Monster Palooza if you're in Los Angeles and interested in meeting Alex Nino and other artists listed below. And images of the current 2nd issue and another one from the upcoming 3rd and final issue.Cover for issue 3

Whilce Portacio - New Guard Guru

In the world of Pinoy illustrators in the U.S.A., Whilce Portacio needs no introduction. What Tony Zuniga was to the old guard of Pinoy artists in America, Portacio is to the new guard. Portacio briefly opened a comic book art school in the Philippines, and introduced to his students the ways of American comics, particularly the Image style. Many of his former students now work for DC, Marvel, Image and other publications. Some are featured in this blog. Portacio has worked for all the major comics publications here. He has just finished Batman Confidential for DC Comics.

Portacio also has the distinction of being the only Filipino to have founded (together with 6 other American artists) a major comics publication - Image Comics. In 1992, seven artists frustrated for not getting equal rights to the characters they created, Portacio one of them, left Marvel Comics to form Image Comics. Image is now one of the top four comics publications in the U.S. In Image Portacio was able to showcase what might be his creative masterwork - Wetworks, in which he is both creator and illustrator. Featured below are images from Wetworks. Also featured below is a two-page biography of Portacio published by Image Comics. The caricature of him, while, there is no credited artist, I believe, was done by J. Campbell-Scott.

The Blogger with Whilce Portacio
at the Wizards Convention in L.A.

The DC Comics Pinoy Artists: Francis Manapul and Philip Tan

So far we've only featured Marvel Comics Pinoy artists.
Here are two Pinoy artists from DC comics.

Francis Manapul and Philip Tan could not be farther apart, both in illustrative style and in physical distance. Manapul works out of Toronto, Canada, and Tan is in Los Angeles, California. Manapul's work display a Manga-infused style, possibly an early career influence, Tan shows a more realistic tendency as in the cover work shown here. They share a common bond - both are Philippine-born, and both currently work for DC Comics.

Francis Manapul is described as "a rising star artist" in the latest DC Comics Previews Magazine. Just like his Pinoy contemporaries at Marvel Comics, the artist draws just as many Super-Heroes, if not more. He is the artist for DC's Legion of Super Heroes and draws Star Boy, Saturn Girl, Timber Wolf, Invisible Kid, Ultra Boy and others. His next challenge, at which he is busy right now as of this writing, is drawing DC's premiere Super-Heroes, Batman and Superman.

Philip Tan, at 17 years of age, was the youngest in Whilce Portacio's school for comics in the Philippines, and as such, his then still latent talents were overshadowed by his colleagues. He worked hard at his craft though, and with sheer guts and grim determination, went to the United States to be that much closer to pursue his dream of working for the big two: Marvel or DC Comics. After a few years honing his talents in smaller publications, he has finally achieved his dream job - working for DC Comics. He is the artist for DC's Final Crisis - Revelations.

Philip Tan - Cover for Final Crisis Revelations
Philip Tan - title page for Revelations
Philip Tan - 2-page spread Revelations
Philip Tan - Revelations
Philip Tan - Revelations
The Blogger with Philip Tan

Francis Manapul - Cover for Legion of Super Heroes
Francis Manapul - title page for
Legion of Super-Heroes, Imperatrix
Francis Manapul - 2-page spread for
Legion of Super-Heroes, Imperatrix
Francis Manapul - 2-page spread Legion of Super-Heroes
Francis Manapul - 2-page spread Legion of Super-Heroes
Francis Manapul - title page Legion of Super-Heroes
Evil Adventus
Francis Manapul - cover for Superman/Batman #60
on sale May 20, 2009