Planet Markus » Comics

Codename: Bathala

Mark Rosario — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:41:19 +0000

Ask me to name just one thing that thrills me for the Metro Comic Con and I’ll probably answer this – the release of Codename: Bathala, a comicbook by writer Jon Zamar and amazing new artist Judd Abinuman.

I really dig the posted preview pages so far (they look more like animation cels than actual comic pages) and this new cover by Joseph Zacate just increases my excitement.

The Metro Comic-Con happens on August 21-22 at SM Megamall. Go check it out and support Pinoy comics!

Uncanny X-Force #1

Mark Rosario — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:00:22 +0000

I am not following the current X-Men story arc but for some weird reason, I had the feeling that Deadpool and/or Wolverine will be part of the team when I saw a Twitter update that said Marvel will be launching a new Uncanny X-Force book soon.

And my guess was right! The two guys are indeed part of it. Too predictable, Marvel – even for someone not reading the X-books!

Seriously, these two guys are all over lotsa comics these days. Not that I don’t like them or what but doesn’t Marvel have other characters aside from them?

Also part of the team are Psylocke, Archangel and Fanthomex – a guy I’m not too familiar with. At first, I was really like “hey what the heck is Storm Shadow doing here?” Haha! Told ya I’m not a regular reader!

Anyway, Uncanny X-Force #1 comes out this October from the creative team of writer Rick Remender and artist Jerome Opena. Before that, though, these deadly heroes will make their first appearance as a team in X-Men: Second Coming #2.

Now here’s the cover art for Uncanny X-Force #1 by Esad Ribic. Not very catchy for a cover, no? Sorry, Marvel, for being too much of a whiner this time.

Rocket and Bounce | Web Comics Review

Mark Rosario — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:43:29 +0000

For anyone wanting to take a break from all the gloom and doom that seems to be too prevalent in most comics these days, Rocket and Bounce can surely be a treat!

Rocket is a flying boy wearing what looks to be like an Ultraman helmet while Bounce is a girl who, uhm, bounces and has some sort of a Speedball effect going on. The webcomic follows the adventure of these sensational super siblings who seem to enjoy arguing with each other as much as they love chasing villains. So there’s spandex – check. Action – check. Humor – big check!

No dark plots and complicated characters, finishing to read Rocket and Bounce gives you a good feeling – similar to how it felt as a kid after watching your favorite Saturday morning cartoon!

The main bummer here, though, is that the series is currently on a hiatus – but not to worry! Creator Gene Kelly promises us he’ll be “back on track” with more pages within the year.

I personally couldn’t wait!

It’s always nice to read titles that bring the fun back to comicbook-reading.

Panels and Pages #8 | Paolo Fabregas Interview

Mark Rosario — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:05:27 +0000

He keeps himself busy earning a living in an advertising agency. After the working hours, he loves spending his free time with his wife and kids. However, this guy diligently gets up early each morning and makes it a point to devote at least an hour or two doing something he is absolutely passionate about – creating his own comics!

Meet Paolo Fabregas – writer, artist and creator of the Filipino Heroes League, a very engaging comicbook that gets you from the first page to the last.

I tell you, I became an instant fan after reading this title that I couldn’t resist the idea of getting in touch with him to ask for a short interview. Yeah, it’s true I’ve been out of the loop with my indie interviews for several months now and perhaps that’s exactly the point! I liked the book that much I wanted to know more about it and about the creator.

Fortunately, the nice guy was cool about the whole idea and consented right away!

So for this month’s Panels and Pages feature, let’s meet him as he tells us about his awesome comicbook and much, much more.

Mark Rosario: Hi, Paolo! Thanks for agreeing to do this. Please tell us about how you discovered comics and what eventually hooked you into the hobby.

Paolo Fabregas: I discovered comics when I was about 10 with Todd Mcfarlane’s Spider-Man. I loved his detail and all that extra-webbing. I was such a huge fan of Mcfarlane and so upset that he left, that when Erik Larsen replaced him on Spider-Man, I redrew all the frames that Larsen drew in the style of Mcfarlane.

MR: What motivated you to pursue the passion and eventually become a comicbook creator yourself?

PF: I stopped drawing and obsessing over comics when I was around 15. I got distracted with other things – girls, theater, and such. And so I doodled for about 12 years until I got re-introduced to it.

I was working with Ian Sta. Maria, co-creator of Skyworld, in an advertising agency and he saw a doodle of mine – Batman taking a snooze on a chair. After he saw that, he pushed me to write my own comic book. He offered the last six pages of Skyworld for my own little teaser. It’s through him that I met Budjette Tan and the growing world of Komiks in the Philippines.

The story that I first wrote for the back of Skyworld had a similar mythological theme. However, it just didn’t feel right for me at the time. I dropped it to pursue what I really love about comics – superheroes.

MR: So Filipino Heroes League is your first ever comicbook release.

The Filipino Heroes League is my first comic work. I’ve always wanted to make one but I just couldn’t find a story that I felt was good enough. Luckily, I stumbled upon the FHL.

MR: How did you come up with the idea for FHL, anyway? Did you base them on real events or people? Invisiboy’s real name sounds kinda familiar to me, you know! Haha!

PF: When I set out thinking about the FHL, I wanted to write a story about Filipino Super Heroes but I didn’t want them to be trapped in a Marvel-like story where they only battled super villains or themselves. I wanted them to address the real problems of our country. With that as my guiding thought, the entire world of the FHL kind of fell into place.

With regards to Invisiboy’s real name… um, pure coincidence.

MR: Now I’d like to ask… How does it feel to be getting lots of positive reviews for the book, so far? I mean, no less than Gerry Alanguilan himself praised your work at one point!

PF: Well, it feels great, of course! Now I just don’t want to disappoint. I think it’s taken the better part of two years to write and draw Book 1 of the FHL so it feels good that all that effort is being appreciated.

MR: Personally, I’m loving the mix of politics, showbiz and superheroics. Plus the mystery elements keep me on my toes. And I’d have to tell you – I literally laughed out loud for that pedicab chase scene, man. That was insane! Haha!

PF: I’m glad. I hope people are entertained. I’ve got a lot of things planned for my heroes and I hope people will read on to discover what happens next.

MR: You’ve been mentioning on DA that the next goal is a compilation. That means the trade paperback edition is already in the works, right?

PF: Yes, the full book 1 is now complete. It’s going to see print under Visprint in 2011.

MR: I so can’t wait for that! In the mean time, tell our blog readers about where they can find you and your comics. Any events where you will sell your stuff or something?

PF: I believe that some of my ashcans might still be in Sputnik but I’m not altogether sure anymore. But seriously, most of the pages that I sell are already online at my DeviantArt site and Glyph Wall.

I’ll still be in the upcoming Metro Comic Con and the November Komikon. I might be selling posters of the cover but I’m not sure yet.

MR: And oh! Kudos to you and your friends at Glyph Wall for pioneering the first online indie comics store in the country. That’s totally awesome!

PF: Thanks. We wanted to showcase the talent we saw at the comic cons online.

MR: Yeah, that’s a good idea. At least far-flung comic fans can still get the books just in case they miss the conventions.

PF: We hope that Glyph Wall can really become a venue where our indie creators can develop an audience. Filipinos are rabid consumers of the internet and hopefully they start shifting their eyeballs to the local talent.

MR: Thanks a ton for your time, Paolo. Good luck to your graphic novel!

PF: Thanks, Mark. And thanks for taking the time to interview me. It’s been a pleasure.

MR: The pleasure’s all mine, Paolo! I assure you that!

Marvel’s Greatest Comics for $1

Mark Rosario — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:16:48 +0000

Starting this June, Marvel will be reintroducing their most popular characters through the new Marvel Greatest Comics imprint which will sell for – yes, you guessed it – just $1 per issue.

Within this month, Marvel will be releasing 3 titles namely Deadpool #1, New X-Men 114 and Daredevil #26. These comics will be available at your favorite comic shops come June 9, 16 and 23 respectively.

As an added treat, Deadpool #2 and New X-Men 115 will both be accessible via the Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited – for free!

Pretty exciting, huh?

I think this is a great initiative that could benefit long-time comicbook fans who might’ve missed a few titles. Plus the cheaper price could also be a good way to lure newer readers into the hobby. I personally can’t wait to check out these books.

And I can’t help it! As early as now, I’m starting to wonder what titles will be available for July!

If you feel the same, then head over to Marvel.com for more updates.

The Flash #1 Comics Review

Mark Rosario — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:48:05 +0000

Meet Flash. A superhero frequently referred to as “the fastest man alive.”

Meet Barry Allen. Flash’ alter-ego and a police forensic officer who is, quite ironically, considered as the slowest in their department.

Now meet me – not much of a Flash fan but quickly changed my tunes after reading Flash #1 by writer Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul.

Story-wise, I’m not sure if I still need to say “Geoff Johns rocks!” since there has never been any doubt about that. I guess I’ll just point out how I noticed a little Clark-Lois-dynamics between Barry and Iris. And that’s a good thing! Its always a delight to see the human side of superheroes and Johns does great in exploring that area. I love the exchange of SMS messages and the well-set timing of the flashback. The story’s really entertaining enough to keep me glued on my seat, eagerly anticipating the next issue.

As for the artwork, well that’s perhaps the best part! Pinoy-Canadian artist Francis Manapul has this effective way of blending some sense of realism with cartoony elements and that’s simply mind-blowing. I just love staring at the pages! On top of that, he also has lotsa crazy speedlines and compelling lightning effects going on, as anyone could rightly expect from a Flash comicbook. The guy is too good its next to impossible not to become his fan.

Go grab Flash #1 now. I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Digmaang Salinlahi Book 1 Review

Mark Rosario — Mon, 17 May 2010 06:42:31 +0000

Written by Jon Zamar and illustrated by a bunch of awesome artists, Digmaang Salinlahi (Unang Aklat) compiles three comicbook issues of a fantasy-adventure story that takes you to a wild ride that has lots of unexpected twists and turns.

Better be ready and strap yourself in for some action because if you don’t, you might easily get lost along the way. Yes, most new readers might find it challenging to merely familiarize what seems to be hundreds of names and places such as Kahimanawari, Kahilwayon, Lantaka, Indara, Idaranggian, and Manaraia, to mention a few. Fortunately, Digmaang Salinlahi stays true to the graphic novel tradition of including bonus features like maps and character profiles. These features effectively guide readers along the journey to make sure they don’t go astray as the tale progresses.

That in mind, you can bet this is definitely not a comic you can quickly read and finish during a lunch break. Each chapter just requires your time. Books like this can best be appreciated after more than one reading anyway.

Personally, I admire the mind of Jon Zamar for coming up with an epic plot (think of it as a manga-inspired version of the Lord of the Rings with a Filipino flavor – or something to that extent). It’s really not a popular route to take, especially in the indie Pinoy comics scene, but he went for it anyway. I’d say he pulled it off quite well and I’m hooked enough to stick around for the next issues.

One worry I have about the book though is that the serious tone and old Tagalog terms might get in the way of readability for some. Of course, Digmaang Salinlahi has lots of awesome character designs, interesting clashes of ideologies and cool turtle shells used as warrior shoulder pads but I’m still thinking adding a little humor wouldn’t hurt and might indeed make it more catchy.

Art-wise, I’d say I’m all blown away. I heard its Keso who’s more of a fan-favorite and that’s easy to see why. He’s really, really good when it comes to details and dynamic paneling. It’s Jhomar Soriano, though, who makes me an instant fan. He has this distinct style of preferring clean, simple lines over complicated hatchings and shadings. I find that very eye-pleasing. and I’m surely eager to check out more books from this guy.

Lastly, let me commend Jon Zamar once more and this time, for the book’s production value. Kudos for taking the title to the printing press and not settling for photocopiers! I’m aware this is not an easy feat for indie creators to achieve (because it can be very expensive) that’s why I’m appreciative for the effort. The tones are sweet, man! They surely take the artworks to the next level.

Go pick up a copy of Digmaang Salinlahi (Unang Aklat) at your favorite comicbook stores now or visit their official blog if you’d want to read online instead.

Insomnoir | Prelude to Manila Man: Defender of Whatever

Mark Rosario — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:19:48 +0000

Fresh from last Saturday’s Summer Komikon is this indie comicbook from RH Quilantang called Insomnoir. Prelude to Manila Man: Defender of Whatever.

Quite a catchy title there, if you ask me. And here we read a tale about Apog, a blind guy who, like New York City, never sleeps and about John Leysi, Apog’s apprentice who is Manila Man himself.

Insomnoir starts out with Apog walking down a typically dark Manila alleyway which eventually leads him to a save-the-damsel-in-distress situation. Of course, that’s the part where action takes place and it all happens in an unexpected way.

From there, writer/artist RH Quilantang effectively shifts the mood from gloomy to hilarious, giving this title its own unique flavor. Insomnoir, in other words, is a noir story with a twist.

Storywise, the captions are undeniably witty. Artwise, I’d say it RH really spent quality time drawing each panel for this book. Nothing looks rushed. The shadings and hatchings are plainly eye-catching (page 7-panel 1, for example) plus the perspectives are very impressive.

And oh, I just realized that the last sentence rhymed. I think I’m starting to sound like Apog now! Hahaha!

Kudos to RH for a good prelude. I’m all excited for the actual Manila Man comicbook.

Breaking Into Comics The Marvel Way #1

Mark Rosario — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:28:20 +0000

I can’t blame you if you make the mistake of thinking that this is a how-to manual. Believe me – it’s not – though the title sounds like it.

Actually, Breaking Into Comics The Marvel Way #1 (of 2) is an anthology showcasing artworks of various artists Marvel editor CB Cebulski discovered after “travelling the globe”.

I’d say the artists were all good but I was most impressed with Damion Hendricks who did the Spider-Man story. His detailed work and fantastic perspectives stands out among the others and I think this guy deserves to get a regular Marvel gig one of these days.

Here’s a few panels to show you what I mean.

Blackest Night

Mark Rosario — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:49:07 +0000

I’ve been following DC’s Blackest Night lately. Wait. Let me paraphrase that. I’ve been following and enjoying DC’s Blackest Night lately. Really! Very much enjoying it, I should say.

If there’s someone who should be surprised about this, it should absolutely be me. First, I’m more of a Marvel boy than a DC dude. Second, I’ve never been a Green Lantern fan since being a kid (I always believed “Lantern” was too lame a name for a superhero). Lastly, I can’t shake up the thought the concept of zombies and multi-colored heroes (Power Rangers anyone?) wasn’t too interesting a combination for me.

Yet Blackest Night grabbed me by the neck and never let go – from the time I first started reading it. I’m officially hooked. I can’t wait for the last two issues!

Geoff Johns is a genius indeed. Yes, I know I use that word a lot but hey! What do you call a guy who made a seemingly-awkward concept work? You can bet I’m a Green Lantern fan now. Plus more willing to check out other titles from DC Comics.

Here’s some of my many favorite scenes, most of which made me say “whoa” out loud, led me gasping for air or simply made me crack a smile!

Die, you bad Bat Signal!

Coolest Flash line. Ever!

Now this is the part where we say “It’s Morphin’ time” right?

Something unexpected – its just too awesome!

Blackest Night is written Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ivan Reis (pencils) and Osclair Albert (inks).