By Ma. Leandrea A. Tamares COMIC BOOK enthusiasts line up at the ticket booth, waiting for their turn to get inside the convention while other book enthusiasts who went earlier sit at the steps of the stairs, reading their newly bought comic books. Sponsors lined the lobby, selling pens and pencils, comic books, and shirts. The doors of the Main Hall were open and some of the booths inside can be seen. Finally, Komikon 2016 has started.
The main hall was packed with people of different ages. Hundreds of tables were set up, all laid with comic books of different thickness and sizes. Some artists even offer art commissions and stickers. There were the usual hero-themed comics, but there were also comics about love, life, school, and sexuality. In one of the booths was a familiar comic launched online, Uy! Si Crush!, which was written and illustrated by Richard Mercado and Gaby Taylo of Blue Ink Indie Comics (BlInk). BlInk, an organization of comic book writers and illustrators, has participated in the convention ever since they were formed in 2015. On their booth were other comics such as Akit, which tackles sexuality; Aswang de Manila, which is about a girl who sees supernatural beings; and 3 x 4, which talks about the life in public schools. Generally, Komikon 2016 was just the same as last year. There were guest speakers, panel talks, exhibits, and book signings. Other creators and organizations launched their own comic books in the convention, including Manix Abrera’s Kikomachine Komix Blg. 12, Mervin Malonzo and Eliza Victoria’s After Lambana, and the Filipino Translation of Trese 2 by Budjette Tan, Kajo Baldisimo, and Bob Ong. Although the program was just the same, best friends Tata Rosales and Mae Conserva, both comic enthusiasts, said Komikon was “more intimate” this year. “They give time to each fan na magpapapirma, like with Tepai Pascual. Even with Manix Abrera, kahit ang haba haba ng pila he would take the time to ask each and everyone,” said Rosales, referring to the long line of Abrera’s fans waiting for their books to be signed. Conserva, who introduced Rosales to Komikon last year, said that she was following more artists this year. “We feel like we know the creators more now. We see how much effort is put [into the comics] now. You see how they think, and you appreciate the comics even more,” Conserva said. Reinterpreting the works of Mars Ravelo Near the entrance were the conference rooms, where Indie Komiks Tiangge and Komiks Kalye were held. The Indie Komiks Tiangge serves as an avenue for beginning independent comic artists to showcase their works, while Komiks Kalye is for Filipino artists who work in the comics industry abroad. In one of the conference rooms entered a popular Filipino hero – Darna. Inside the room were other characters of Mars Ravelo such as Captain Barbell, Dyesebel, and Lastikman. An exhibit of Mars Ravelo’s works were presented, as celebration of the artist’s centennial birth year. Artists, mostly from Ravelo’s family, reinterpreted his works by illustrating his characters in different mediums. Maisha dela Cruz, Ravelo’s granddaughter, thanked everyone who continued to support her grandfather. “Hindi lang naman si Mars Ravelo ‘yung sinusupport mo ‘pag sumusupport ka sa comics, eh. ‘Yung buong comics [industry] ‘yung sinusuportahan mo,” dela Cruz said. Behind the convention A group of artists called the Artists’ Den organized the now two-day comics convention, which was first held in University of the Philippines’ Bahay Alumni before it changed to its present location at Bayanihan Center in Pasig City. According to Lei Muncal, one of the members of Artists’ Den, they wanted to focus first on the local comics industry, for there were only few artists who release their own comics back then. “We’re hoping to expand every time and we’re always looking for ways to improve it and of course make it last longer,” said Muncal. E
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December 2016
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