Where I’m From, Everyone’s a Superhero Gerry...

Where I’m From, Everyone’s a Superhero
Gerry Alanguilan and Arlanzandro C. Esmeña
Writer and Illustrator of Where Bold Stars Go to Die
Komikon 2009, 18 October 2009

I’m no avid fan of comics. I don’t have a dresser drawer filled with comic books and graphic novels. I don’t have a shelf devoted to action figures and collectibles. I don’t have a wall plastered with pinups of superheroes and vigilantes. I don’t have a clue as to which industry stalwart created Martian Manhunter or which Norse mythology-loving artist thought of Thor, let alone have answers to fire off the top of my head if you ask me who wrote, illustrated, and inked your favorite issues featuring those cosmic comic book characters. But those deprivations did not inhibit me from going to yesterday’s local comics convention. No, sir, they most certainly did not. Who said I had to own a truckload of comics or wear a Green Lantern ring to deserve being there? Nobody. Not even Lex Luthor or Arnold Schwarzenneger.

What I am is a mere believer. I believe in the art of the comic book. I believe in the depth of the graphic novel. I believe in the sublime talent of the writer, the illustrator, and the inker. And l think that’s reason enough for me to be at Komikon 2009 yesterday at SM Megamall. Also, I happened to have lots o’ money. Heh.

This year’s Komikon was amazing! It’s by far the craziest Komikon I’ve ever gone to. Then again, it was my first time to attend a Komikon event. Hah! Seriously though, it was really, absolutely amazing.

The whole place buzzed with frenzied activity. All sorts of comic books were sold. The bargain bin overflowed with manga and old issues of DC and Marvel comics. Independent comic book artists offered their grapikomiks, photocopies of their creations, for as low as P10. Cubao Expo’s Sputnik had a booth lined with graphic novels, such as From Hell and Surrogates, that I droolingly admired. Vibal Press, which I remembered from the imprints of my high shool textbooks, ventured into comic book publishing and launched the remastered collected edition of Francisco V. Coching’s classic El Indio, with copies ready to be signed by the artist’s luminous widow. Manix Abrera, creator of the hilarious Kikomachine comic strips serialized in the Comic Relief section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, could hardly be seen behind the throng of eager fans waiting for his autograph. David Hontiveros, Budjette Tan, Oliver Pulumbarit, Ian Sta. Maria, and Kajo Baldisimo were also busy signing copies of their graphic anthology Underpass.

But my main reason for going to the convention was to meet and support Gerry Alanguilan, one of the most experienced and prolific comic book writers and artists in the country today and, more importantly, one of my active, wise-cracking friends on Twitter. He launched two of his handiworks at the convention, his new story Where Bold Stars Go to Die, which was beautifully drawn by first time illustrator Arlanzandro C. Esmeña, and his comic book omnibus ELMER. He was also involved in Underpass, having contributed the opening episode SIM. I bought a copy of each and had them autographed by him and Arlan. I wanted to introduce myself but I chickened out at the last minute. All I could say (read: murmur) was a well-rehearsed “Please sign.”

Later, Gerry and his extraordinary league of artists held a benefit auction for the victims of the typhoons that recently wreaked havoc in the Philippines. What do you know? Where I’m from, everyone’s a superhero. Kapow!

19 October 2009 · Comments · Permalink · http://aldr.in/217026803