Planet Markus

Shortlisted Interview #12: Nixon Na

Mark Rosario — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:37:01 +0000

Nixon Na is interviewee #12.I admit his name wasn’t particularly familiar to me when I first saw it on the list . I’m glad I got to know the guy better through these series of interviews. The guy’s an awesome artist. Now I’m eager to check out his indie works!

Mark Rosario: Tell us something about yourself.

Nixon Na: Thank you Planet Markus for this interview.

I’m the father of two young boys and husband to a lovely wife. I studied Industrial Design in college. Currently, I work as a graphic artist, designing book covers and various advertising materials for one of the leading Christian publishing house in the country. On the side, I am part of a group of indie comic creators called Polyhedron Comics. It was founded by Emil Flores, who teaches Literature in U.P. Diliman. Under the group, I have two published works, “Ulupong ng Morong” and “CADRE: First-Born Sons.”

MR: What did you apply for and what made you decide to try out?

NN: I found out about “Be the Next Comic Marvel” two weeks before the submission deadline, through word of mouth since I didn’t see any of the posters. Knowing that it was already so close to the deadline, and the fact that I have tons of projects to finish at work, I didn’t think of submitting a portfolio. But as the deadline drew near, something inside me just kept telling me to give it a shot. I have nothing to lose anyway. So long story cut short, I prepared my portfolio and was able to submit it the day before the deadline. Needless to say, I’m glad that I did.

MR: Tell us a little about the samples you sent.

NN: The works that I included in my portfolio were mostly works that were published by Polyhedron. It took me about three days to compile everything. I never thought that it would take that much time to compile a portfolio. I sorted through the works and picked the pieces that I thought were good. It was a challenge because, from my perspective, they all don’t really look that good; this is not to say that I don’t have favorite pieces. But as an artist, I believe that my best work is still to come.

MR: What were you doing when you discovered you made it to the shortlist? How did you feel at the moment?

NN: I was cleaning our house in preparation for my second son’s dedication ceremony and 1st birthday party when I received the call. After the call, I rushed to my wife and told her about it. I remember telling her that my head felt like World War 2! My head was buzzing and my entire body went numb. I just slumped on the floor and then my wife and I gave thanks to God. It was a call that I was not expecting to receive.

MR: How did the Cebulski interview go? What did he say about your work?

NN: The interview went really smoothly. I think it lasted only about 10 to 15 minutes. When I stepped inside the room, C.B. told me “I don’t have much questions for you since you’ve answered all that I needed to know in this short paragraph.” He was referring to the sign-up sheet that applicants needed to fill up. I have my wife to thank for that, she, being a book editor, was the one who edited what I wrote.

What went on was something more like a critique session where C.B. told me the things that I can improve on. He also told me the things that caught his attention. Among the things that he said were strong in my portfolio were my paneling and ability to tell a story through illustrations. I thank my good friend and, in a way, mentor, Robert Magnuson, who helped me on paneling and storytelling while I was working on “CADRE: First-Born Sons.”

C.B. told me that each of the pages made him want to turn to the next page. This is a quality, he says, that is very important in sequential art.

Frankly, I feel that my work is not at par with most other artists’ but after that interview, I have to say, I came out with more confidence in my work.

MR: I heard there’s still another test from Cebulski, right? What does that mean and what are you currently doing to warm up for that?

NN: Yes, there’s still a test we need to take before Marvel makes their final decision. Basically C.B. wants to see how we handle a script from Marvel and Marvel characters. In preparation, my friend Robert gave me some scripts to illustrate so I can improve my paneling, scene development and storytelling skills. I’ll be uploading these works to my Deviant Art account and the Polyhedron Comics Facebook page soon.

MR: Let’s talk influences. Who are some of your heroes in the industry?

NN: I started reading comics in 1992. At that time Jim Lee and Todd Macfarlane were the biggest names in the industry, so they became my main influences. When I got into fantasy art, Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Luis Royo and Brom inspired me. Later on, I discovered artists like Chip Kidd, Ashley Wood, Alex Maleev, and Jock. These artists, and many more, have influenced me today not only as an illustrator but also as a graphics artist.

MR: Given the chance to pick, which Marvel books/characters would you hope to do in the near future?

NN: At the top of my list would be Iron Fist, Spider-Man and Moon Knight. Hmm… I think Daredevil would be fun to work on too.

MR: Thank you for your time! Tell us where fans can find you for updates and more.

NN: For those interested, you can find my work on caswallon.deviantart.com. Here you will see some fan art as well as some original pieces. You can also go to nixonna.deviantart.com to see some of my published works. For other updates, you can visit Polyhedron Comics on Facebook.

Shortlisted Interview #11: Michael Punsalan

Mark Rosario — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:45:21 +0000

Now that the Avengers fever has subsided (or NOT! Who am I kidding?), I guess its finally time to continue with our artist features.

This time, allow me to introduce you to a dude from Cebu who Cebulski found impressive enough. His name is Michael Punsalan and I’m sure you want to know more about him now. Let’s not keep this intro long then!

Mark Rosario: Tell us something about yourself.

Michael Punsalan: My Name is Michael John Punsalan. I live in Cebu and have been for the most part of my life. My parents are from Cebu, although my father is Ilongo. I am the eldest of 4 siblings. I have 2 brothers and a sister. Ever since I can remember, I have been drawing. I started drawing TMNT and The Real Ghostbusters when I was 5 and have been ever since. I always loved drawing after watching cartoons or movies. I remember when I first watched The Land Before Time, which started my love for dinosaurs. After crying, I then proceeded to draw Sharptooth, heheheh. If given the chance back then, I would have been a paleontologist. I studied college in the University of San Carlos and I have a bachelor’s degree in Advertising Arts. After college, I worked for Bigfoot Entertainment as a character modeler in the company’s post production department. I work as a freelance artist and most of the time I do freelance work modeling 3d characters and assets for small companies. I have also worked creating soundtracks for a company that is currently developing games. I have not worked on comic books before unfortunately for I have been doing mostly pin-ups as an illustrator. Right now I am doing samples for commission work.

MR: What did you apply for and what made you decide to try out?

MP: I applied for a cover artist position. I figured it was a once in a lifetime opportunity so I decided to try out.

MR: Tell us a little about the samples you sent.

MP: I sent existing artworks I created a few months before. I only learned of Mr. Cebulski’s visit a few days prior to the appointed interview and so I didn’t have time to make new samples. I sent different artworks but only a few which showcased Marvel comics characters. Some of the samples I sent are from the Pencil Flex blog I share with 2 other artists. A Black Cat piece which was part of the portfolio I sent took at least 6 to 8 hours to finish.

MR: What were you doing when you discovered you made it to the shortlist? How did you feel at the moment?

MP: I was checking my email and surfing the web when my phone rang. I was using a new phone so i wasn’t expecting any call from anyone I knew. So when it rang, I had a feeling it was from the representatives of the event. I felt ecstatic, yet also troubled because I live in Cebu, a long ways away from where the interview was to take place. And I didn’t know if I would be able to book a flight on such short notice.

MR: How did the Cebulski interview go? What did he say about your work?

MP: It was really great. Mr. Cebulski was so kind and welcoming. In the interview, he said he liked what he was seeing, the Black Cat piece in particular. He asked me how long it usually takes to finish an artwork. He also told me he liked how my style was very flexible and that he’d like to see me do more artworks involving Marvel characters.

MR: I heard there’s still another test from Cebulski, right? What does that mean and what are you currently doing to warm up for that?

MP: I don’t remember him saying something about another test. But he did say that he would like to see me do more artworks involving Marvel characters. I am currently in the process of finishing one such artwork. As mentioned above, I’m also doing some sample pieces for commission work.

MR: Let’s talk influences. Who are some of your heroes in the industry?

MP: The first artist to ever influence me was Jim Lee. Up til college he was the one I always looked up to. The artist that has greatly influenced my craft was the late Frank Frazetta. He was the man. Other artists of note are Adam Hughes, Zack Petroc, James Ryman, Paolo Serpieri, Brom, Simon Bisley, Dave McKean, Leinil Yu, Frank Cho, Claudio Castellini and many more.

MR: Given the chance to pick, which Marvel books/characters would you hope to do in the near future?

MP: I would love to do a cover for Wolverine and/or Hulk. Also, I would like to do covers for Daredevil, Spider-Man, Punisher, Fantastic Four, She-Hulk, Spider-Woman, the X-Men, Cloak and Dagger, Silver Surfer and and X-Force characters.

MR: Thank you for your time! Tell us where fans can find you for updates and more.

MP: Thank you so much to Mr. Cebulski and National Bookstore too for this opportunity! Folks can check my gallery at mirthrynn.deviantart.com. I also share a blog with 2 other awesome artists and we basically do sketches (digital and traditional) based on themes the three of choose which usually runs for a week or two at most. The blog is called Pencil Flex and can be found here http://pencilflex.wordpress.com/.

Urban Animal #1 | Comics Review

Mark Rosario — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:39:23 +0000

Written and drawn by Cebu-based creator John Amor, Urban Animal #1 is an indie comic book (a 4-part story actually) about Joe – a naughty teenager who gets cursed and turns into a monster because of his, well, naughtiness.

For a description, John describes the book as a mash-up between The Catcher In The Rye and The Incredible Hulk with a dash of Archie. Actually, John says this comic book is semi-autobiographical and so it can be fun trying to guess which parts of the story were taken from John’s personal experiences. The dialogues are clever and the humor delivers. It perfectly displays how comfortable John is with the English language. Storywise, you’d be so amused with the narrative you’d be on the last page before you even notice it. And you’d surely want to read more.

On the art side, everything looks really good. John has a very dynamic style and we see some excellent panel work going on here. I also love how he effectively inserts a few Manga elements when the scene calls for it. And the details are awesome! You’ll see no lazy lines. Dare I say this is one of the best-drawn indies we have around. That’s actually a huge compliment, especially since the book has been drawn more than ten years ago. John, as an artist, has evolved now and yet no one can deny Urban Animal #1 is an absolute eye-pleaser.

If there’s one thing I have to grumble about, it’s the fact that his signature is on almost every page. I don’t know why but I found it distracting each time I saw it haha!

Anyway, kudos to John Amor for a fun comic book. I have yet to read issue 2 and I’ve heard he’s already finalizing #3. I’m excited!

And yeah. I gotta give high fives to that guy though who yelled “Dagan ba!!!” when monster Joe first appeared. If you speak Cebuano too, then there goes a shoutout for you.

The Avengers Movie Review (What Rocked and What Sucked)

Mark Rosario — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:17:19 +0000

As promised, here goes a movie review for The Avengers.

For this blog entry, I’ve brought a buddy along with me: Donne Celadina or DCEL as we fondly refer to him. I’ve been a longtime fan of his comic reviews over at Random Rants (Heck! The guy’s been writing reviews before I even started blogging!) and so it’s fun to do this with him.

Anyway, I’m thinking everyone has seen The Avengers by now. I guess it’s already safe to post spoilers.

So here we go!

The Assembly

DCEL: The film started off a little too slow for me. I know that opening sequence was action-packed and all but it just didn’t feel Whedon-y. It felt like a generic open. The recruitment scenes were okay. I mostly enjoyed that of the Black Widow and Iron Man. From there it was smooth-sailing.

Mark: I find no problems with the opening. Like you said, it was action-packed and so it was a thrill to see things going right from the beginning. Speaking of the recruitment, the scene where Black Widow tried to “persuade” Bruce Banner was a winner for me. A slightly angry Banner truly was enough to scare the heck out of anybody – even a top Russian spy!

Hero vs Hero vs Hero

DCEL: It was a well-balanced film. I even liked the fight between Iron Man and Thor and Cap. Iron Man’s Shakespeare accent was awesome. I read in the internet that the fight was unbelievable because Thor got his ass semi-kicked by Iron Man and that Cap should’ve broken some bones when Thor hit his shield with Mjolnir. Well no, it was a fair fight. Iron Man was overcharged from Thor’s lightning and Cap’s shield absorbed Thor’s blow. It was made of vibranium, after all.

Mark: Yeah. I love it that we see the heroes fight it out with each other before forming the super crew. Iron Man vs. Thor – Check! Thor vs Hulk – Check! Thor vs Cap – Well, kinda! It’s a pity though that Cap and Iron Man didn’t really go toe-to-toe with each other – although Whedon almost gave us that! And oh! Black Widow and Hawkeye’s fight sequence is also worth-mentioning. These agents proved they are definitely not “minor characters” in the movie.

Funny Moments

Mark: I love Stark. He and Loki doing the “headcount” showed his trademark calm yet angsty attitude. With or without his armor, this is one guy who’s not afraid to threaten a god. Hulk also stole every moment he was in. He suddenly punching Thor after fighting with him side by side was too hilarious.

DCEL: Some people say that it was Iron Man who mostly threw the zingers. Yeah that’s because of his personality. But Cap and Thor was were also able to say some Whedon-y lines. From Thor backpedaling with “adopted” and Cap’s sudden burst of “I got that reference.” It was subtle but it suited the characters.

“His first name is Agent”

DCEL: Phil Coulson‘s fanboy moments were awesome. When he went “I watched you while you were sleeping” the whole theatre was laughing. Then he followed it up with the bit about how he had a say in the design of the updated Cap costume. These scenes make what happens later more heartbreaking. True to Whedon formula.

Mark: Yeah. I really feel bad that the guy died. I mean he’s always been a likeable character but I liked him best in this movie. In the past films, he’s more of a serious, executive-type dude who’s out there to look for Thor’s hammer and stuff. This time, we see him talk about his vintage Captain America trading cards – they’re “near mint,” he emphasizes. This scene made him more human and, in most geek’s case, very relateable. Granted his death was necessary (even crucial) to get the heroes working together, but seeing him so human made me want to see him more of him in the future. Too bad that won’t happen anymore!

Black Widow and Hawkeye

Mark: Every character gets equal chances for the spotlight. I have no problems mentioning Hawkeye’s scenes as some of the highlights of the movie. His Helicarrier attack showed that he’s more than merely a marksman but an analytical, well-trained killing machine. Jeremy Renner showed that the character actually deserves his own movie – or at least a S.H.I.E.L.D. movie with Nick Fury maybe

DCEL: The real stand out of the film for me at least for the first half was Black Widow. Did you expect what happened in her recruitment scene with Russians? I did. Because for those who don’t know who Whedon is, he’s the guy who made Buffy and so he knows how to make badass babes. The second time she did it I was surprised – and so was Loki!

“And Hulk… SMASH!”

Mark: Like many critics have confirmed, Mark Ruffalo indeed makes an awesome Bruce Banner. I was one of those who was hesitant about the idea of replacing Edward Norton but Ruffalo proved me wrong. His Banner is shy and geeky yet very in control. I love that.

DCEL: Anyone who has seen the movie will agree how awesome it was when Banner showed up in the climactic battle and how bad-ass he was when he suited up. I am a long time Hulk fan but they say that this is the first time the movie Hulk worked. I agree. Not only was his fight scenes “smashing” he was also unintentionally funny. Tell me you weren’t LOLing with the way he handled “puny god” Loki.

Escalating Danger

DCEL: The stakes just keep rising as the movie progresses. The danger escalates. Everytime they think of a solution it just got worse for them. Case in point: Thor trying to stop Loki and he is thrown into the cage. Coulson stopping Loki with that big-ass gun before being impaled from behind. That’s how you reach the climax.

That 360 Shot

DCEL: I was spoiled for the 360 shot of the team so it wasn’t as awesome for me as it should have been. But there is this one continuous shot of the Avengers fighting Loki army, tracking each team member in the battle. That was an awesome moment. And then at the end, when they pan out off the damaged Stark Tower and we see that the still standing and solo “A”.

Stars and Stripes

Mark: I won’t allow this review to end without me mentioning about how I love Captain America in this film. He may be old-fashioned but he’s more than a boy scout. He’s the team’s moral compass. I love it when he confronted Loki in Germany. He’s also a great tactician and we clearly see elements of that in the film.

Other things that rocked

DCEL: Tony mentions LMD. Banner in a bike. They also make sure to tell us that the Hulk didn’t hurt anyone when he fell. That he knew where he should land. Hulk HULK! HULK!!!

Mark: Cap and Thor fighting side by side – the two Chrises! Hulk trying to lift the Mjolnir was fun. Those who haven’t read the comics (or haven’t seen the Thor movie at least) wouldn’t get that. Also, Soundgarden’s Live to Rise. And of course, the after-credits was mind-blowing! I was truly thrilled to see Thanos on screen. Can’t wait for part 2. And needless to say, I hope to see more heroes too! I think it would work as long as it’s Whedon at the helm.

Other things that sucked

DCEL: Captain America’s mask. They only made a passing explanation why Hulk was out of control during the Helicarrier sequence. Was he influenced by Loki’s staff or was it because it was Banner’s choice to transform? Also, that abrupt ending with Loki.

Mark: I don’t know if I missed it but did anybody hear Cap yell the famous catchphrase? You know, “Avengers Assemble!” I can’t believe they left that out. I was waiting for it the entire time – I was hoping he’d say it during that 360 shot. And again, I’m not happy that Coulson died. Plus Stan Lee’s cameo was pretty meh for me. I expected more.

VERDICT

DCEL: 4.5 out of 5 because of the opening scenes. The movie wasn’t Whedon-perfect but it’s close enough. Besides it was just 2hours 15mins. Let’s wait fot the 3 hour extended cut on DVD.

Mark: I’ll rate this 5. It was a fun film to watch. Whedon is a master of balancing characterization, humor, and action. The movie was about 2 hours and 22 minutes but it didn’t feel that way. It’s fast-paced and action pack. No dull moments. This is the perfect example of a superhero movie done right!

The Avengers Are Everywhere (In The Philippines)

Mark Rosario — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:53:49 +0000

My next blog entry after this would be the movie review but let me just confirm this for everybody – The Avengers fever has conquered the country!

Here are a few official Avengers movie merchandise available from the local stores.

From 7-11: As the poster says, every purchase of a 22-oz Gulp (or Slurpee) and an additional P15 gets you one Avengers Collector Card. On a side note, its too bad Black Widow and Hawkeye had to share the same card. As if it wasn’t enough that they don’t have their own movies too haha!

From Petron: These Avengers tumblers get the award of being the most interesting. Even the most serious of collectors are raving at how nice and how detailed these tumblers are. In short, you bet you’ll see this up on eBay soon enough.

At P60, they’re also pretty cheap but the catch here is that you need to load up at least P1000 worth of fuel first.

From Jollibee: The “Bee” is looking to be the ultimate destination for all things Avengers as they have four different promo items for fans of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

First, they have this cool Jollibee ChickenJoy Avengers Bucket

Then there’s this Avengers Hero Mugs (which are available in black and blue).

From their Kids Meal, here’s the Avengers Super Hero Showdown tumbler toys.

Along with that, Kids Meal also offers two comic books from Marvel. One is the reprinted Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the other is a customized comic which features Jollibee itself. I think this one’s quite interesting as this marks the first time the famous fast food chain included comic books in their promos.

From ABS-CBN Publishing: Finally, the country’s biggest Avengers fan tells us there’s this Avengers Official Movie Special magazine from the said publishing company. According to the guy, this one contains “profiles, activities,a pull-out poster, and the tie-in prequel comic by Fred Van Lente and Ron Lim, which is only supposed to come out next month!” You can check this out from major bookstores or wherever ABS magazines are sold (including 7-11).

Photo courtesy of Niki Yarte

What about you? Any Avengers sightings? Tell us by leaving a comment below.

Shortlisted Interview #10: Jerico Ray Marte

Mark Rosario — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:49:53 +0000

I never understood how overwhelming it was to try featuring all the 34 Filipino artists who made it to Marvel and National Book Store‘s Be The Next Comic Marvel until I gave it a try.

This post marks the 10th interview I’ve had since I started this and so I officially now have only 24 more to go. Haha!

Anyway, let’s get to know Cavite-based Jerico Ray Marte for today!

Mark Rosario: Tell us something about yourself.

Jerico Ray Marte: I’m from Bacoor, Cavite. I’m 2nd eldest from 5 siblings. I can’t say where I got the passion to draw. Art never ran on the family till I started to hold a pencil and draw. I forgot the age but I remembered loving the Jollibee mascot so much I have to make my own. lol. So I drew, and drew until my brothers and sisters followed. During my elementary days I always fill my books and paper pads with drawings. Its like some sort of paper initiation–no space was left undoodled haha! And that was my early training.

I am a frustrated artist. I wasn’t able to take up an art course but my constant sketching and active participation in co-curricular activities helped in developing my skill. I’m not employed. I’m just your regular bum. I’m currently taking various projects as production artist/storyboard artist here and there and that keeps me going ’til I find the right job.

Past comic book projects? Nope, nothing as of now. All comic stuff I did were all for leisure and I never finished any of them. Hopefully one these days I will!

MR: What did you apply for and what made you decide to try out?

JRM: I applied as a penciller and I decided to try out because I need a job! Partly true but kidding aside, this is the best opportunity for me to prove something to myself. And it paid off! Out of 200+ participants I was one of the chosen few. I’m honored. Til now I can’t believe any of this. I mean, come on! Everyone’s so great I saw their sketches and, in my honest opinion, my drawings are trash when put beside their art.

MR: Tell us a little about the samples you sent.

JRM: I’m not totally proud of my work but I’m happy with it It’s a hodgepodge of drawings, some anime style, some western. Different styles so you could say I haven’t established my own yet. I submitted a fresh drawing of Nightcrawler, a Nocturne pin-up (my fave characters) along with my past drawings just to show the range of my art skill in terms of character motion, poses, and composition.

I had a hard time doing the new ones because I’m used to do conceptual art–anime style– without the light placement. It’s like starting all over again, a learning process. I guess those are the pros and cons of adapting too much on different styles.

MR: What were you doing when you discovered you made it to the shortlist? How did you feel at the moment?

JRM: I was sleeping when someone from NBS called me for the third time. How did I feel?.. Excited I guess, but definitely happy.

MR: How did the Cebulski interview go? What did he say about your work?

JRM: The interview went well. CB’s a great guy! He was kind enough not to hurt my feelings haha! But really he’s a great guy. He liked how my lines worked–different from other styles he saw. Unfortunately I was too overwhelmed to remember some things he said. Sorry :-,

MR: I heard there’s still another test from Cebulski, right? What does that mean and what are you currently doing to warm up for that?

JRM: There is. He said he could see me draw more on female characters, maybe for covers so he asked for more pin-ups and sequential art (I haven’t provided enough sequentials)

After the interview, I dedicated more of my time for art. I have yet so much to learn!

MR: Let’s talk influences. Who are some of your heroes in the industry?

JRM: The first influence that got me going as far as I could remember (aside from Jollibee) is Voltes 5. During my childhood, it was the craze. Then, Sailormoon and Dragon Ball came after. My first western influence wasn’t from the comics industry. Brom, Tony Diterlizzi, Rebecca Guay, Arthur Rackham, Glen Angus, and more. Then I got back to anime style with Hirohiko Araki, the creator of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. I say I’m proud to have been able to talk to Stephen Segovia and Heubert Khan Michael which are my newest heroes along with Leinil Yu.

MR: Given the chance to pick, which Marvel books/characters would you hope to do in the near future?

JRM: Nightcrawler! Though he’s already dead. I’m still wishing he’d make a comeback somehow! Or the sexy Black Cat.

MR: Thank you for your time! Tell us where fans can find you for updates and more.

JRM: Thank you so much! I enjoyed answering heehee. I don’t have a DeviantArt account and my Facebook doesn’t have any art stuff on it, sorry! Maybe soon

Shortlisted Interview #9: Butch Mapa

Mark Rosario — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:55:21 +0000

I had trouble finding Renato Mapa on Facebook but thankfully, Karla Tricia Magno of NBS lent a hand in contacting some artists. We started exchanging e-mails and, after he sent me some links to his works, I’d say I quickly understood why Cebulski was impressed. The dude’s a fantastic penciller!

Get to know “Butch” and see some of his samples below!

Mark Rosario: Tell us something about yourself.

Butch Mapa: I’ve got the best family in the world. They’ve been nothing but supportive while I’ve been carrying on with my doodles. I’ve bounced around for about seven years doing stuff nobody would ever know. Seriously. You’d have to have been an exceptional nerd to have seen my comic work.

MR: What did you apply for and what made you decide to try out? Plus tell us a little about the samples you sent.

BM: I was sold from the second I found out… that there was no entry fee. Haha. I was actually working on some new samples anyway, so I just sent those in. I did some X-Force pages and a few pin-ups. Applied as a penciller.

MR: What were you doing when you discovered you made it to the shortlist? How did you feel at the moment?

BM: Waking up and cranky. Ever hear a one hundred eighty degree mood swing in mid-sentence? “Hunnhhhman what the fu– oh, NBS? Well, a good morning to YOU!”

MR: How did the Cebulski interview go? What did he say about your work?

BM: I kept my samples simple, so CB wouldn’t have much to criticize. Hehe. But then our interview was actually going too fast, and I kept saying stuff so CB wouldn’t move on to the next interviewee. “What’s that? We’re done? So, uhhh… how about those X-Men huh? Think they’re gonna beat the Avengers? Wait, don’t kick me out, CB, please! I love you! CB PLEASE–!!!”

MR: I heard there’s still another test from Cebulski, right? What does that mean and what are you currently doing to warm up for that?

BM: Oh, for sure. I take a very pragmatic view on things, so even the shortlist doesn’t mean anyone can relax and take things easy. Just gotta keep giving my all playing Mass Effect until an opportunity opens up.

MR: Let’s talk influences. Who are some of your heroes in the industry?

BM: I’m a child of the 90′s, so I grew up influenced by the Image guys. Yes, even Rob. Since then I’ve ripped off, er, learned from just about everyone from Andy Kubert to John Cassaday to Jim Cheung. These days I mainly steal fro–ahem, allow myself to be influenced by some of our country’s best comic artists, who are too many and whose names are too long to list individually here. Y’all know who you are.

MR: Given the chance to pick, which Marvel characters would you hope to do in the near future?

BM: Spider Woman, I’d do her. Either I or II, both are hawt. Gamora if I’m feeling lucky. Anyone drawn by Frank Cho.

MR: Thank you for your time! Tell us where fans can find you for updates and more.

BM: You’re welcome! Quick shout out to Miguel and National Book Store for the opportunity to meet up with CB. If I ever get to Marvel, I’m buying all your stock. In the meantime, people can find me on Twitter @butchmapa or through the website at www.butchmapa.wordpress.com.

Shortlisted Interview #8: Kevin Rusty Macaraeg

Mark Rosario — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:59:15 +0000

He’s an artist, a bass guitarist (he plays for Deep Truth) and a street magician all rolled into one. Even more surprising, this guy is still in his teens!

Kids of all ages, let’s hear from Kevin Rusty Macaraeg as he tells us how he made it to Cebulski’s *ahem* “magic (pun unintended) 34.”

Mark Rosario: Tell us something about yourself.

Kevin Rusty Macaraeg: Im 19 year’s old. I’m the youngest in a family of 5. I was born and raised in Pangasinan and now I live in Mandaluyong City. When I was younger, I really did not have any expectation of me pursuing a career in drawing since I sucked at it at first. I just grew to love it when a friend of mine in high school introduced me to Manga. Eventually the passion grew and it made me decide to study in college. My parents were doubtful at first but were very supportive till the end of my schooling. I just graduated from University of Santo Tomas-CFAD and now I will work as a Jr. Art Director for a company. As of now, I have no comic book projects but needless to say, my friends and I are planning to make one.

MR: What did you apply for and what made you decide to try out?

KRM: I applied as a cover artist. I honestly joined just for the heck of it. I was not expecting to be chosen since I know that there are tons of great Filipino artist out there, and the fact that it was my first time joining such a contest. Even I was surprised that I was one of the chosen few who made it, especially when the submission coincides with my final exams. (HAHA)

MR: Tell us a little about the samples you sent.

KRM: I sent five drawings specifically made only for the contest. All of them are done in my certain drawing style that some might wonder how I got in (hahaha!). One is Black Adam (from DC) I drew him as taunt. Then there’s Deadpool, Iron Man, Spider-Man and Oz. It took me a week to finish all of them because I made them in full color and detail plus I had to do my final plates in between.

MR: What were you doing when you discovered you made it to the shortlist? How did you feel at the moment?

KRM: I was asleep when they called. I was so groggy, I answered the phone “uuuuh, hello… Yes speaking…Oh ok…Thanks. Bye…” I slept again after the call. The news only hit me when I woke up the second time. At first I thought it was a dream hahaha!

MR: How did the Cebulski interview go? What did he say about your work?

KRM: It was amazing. He was so kind and awesome. He said that he wanted to meet me thats why I was chosen… Hahaha! The interview was one hell of an experience

MR: I heard there’s still another test from Cebulski, right? What does that mean and what are you currently doing to warm up for that?

KRM: Yes there is. It means Round 2. It also means that the shortlisted are not safe yet. Hahaha! What I have been doing since I started taking drawing seriously is practicing. For me it is the only warm up I need to do.

MR: Let’s talk influences. Who are some of your heroes in the industry?

KRM: I have tons, but I would like to mention the ones who deeply inspires me as of date are Skottie Young, CreatureBox (Dave Guertin and Greg Baldwin), Xia Taptara, Melvin Calingo, Vinson Ngo (bleedman* this guy is amazing), plus a lot more.

MR: Given the chance to pick, which Marvel books/characters would you hope to do in the near future?

KRM: I’d like to do them all. HAHA! Selfishness aside, I want to do Ghost Rider and Deadpool.

MR: Thank you for your time! Tell us where fans can find you for updates and more.

KRM: Thank you for having me. Also the thing is, I have no fans. I am the fan!

You can check me out on http://callmekitteh.deviantart.com/ (it’s still undergoing construction at the moment) and https://www.facebook.com/smoothPrestidigitator.

Shortlisted Interview #7: Francis Nuguit

Mark Rosario — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:59:59 +0000

Shortlister #7 is a Cubao-based artist who may already be familiar with Dynamite readers. According to him, he was worked on several Wheel of Time issues in the past. He hopes to work on Spider-Man, X-Men and “any original member” of the Avengers when he finally makes it to Marvel.

Boys and girls, lets all meet Francis Nuguit!

Mark Rosario: Tell us something about yourself.

Francis Nuguit: Well, I’m from Bacoor, Cavite, not that I’m a Caviteno, it’s just where my family have settled in longest up to present . I’m currently staying in a studio apartment in Cubao. It seems like I’ve gotten used to living in tiny rooms since my college years, renting a unit, when I was taking a degree in Fine Arts and Design at the University of Santo Tomas. I majored in Advertising and after graduating, I’ve been hired as a graphic designer for North Park Noodles (Restaurant Company), a Package Designer for Kimbells (Package & label printing company), took a vocational course in Web Design, and though I never finished it, I was hired as a Graphic Artist/Web Designer for GoVida (though now it merged with GreenhouseGas Management institute).

Anyway, it was in 2007, back when I was still working for North Park that I met David Campiti, founder of Glasshouse Graphics, at UP Diliman during Komikon and showed him my works. He liked some and gave helpful critic on most. I tried out with some sample sequentials but ended up failing to meet his standards, and though he did just gave me some more helpful criticism I gave up for a while and it was not until 2009 that I finally was able to evolve and surpass his expectations. I finally got in his agency and up until now I’m still trying to develop myself to become better.

I became a filler artist as a start. My first project was from a creator-owned/company, of a character named Hitless, not the best but it was a learning experience and it taught me a lot . I also took a project as a Character Concept Designer for a client that I never found out who and what for, but at least I got paid. But now that I think about it, I’m gonna ask. As for my current project, I have been working on the Wheel of Time: The Eye of The World series by Dynamite Entertainment based on the fantasy novel series by the late Robert Jordan. I have worked on issues number 16, 17 and 18 which are already out I believe, issues 27 and 28 soon to come, and currently on issue 29 all the way to issue 36 I believe (I hope).

MR: What did you apply for and what made you decide to try out?

FN: I am a penciller right now so that’s the same position I’m looking for. Plus Marvel has always been a goal of mine. Any comic book artist has it as a goal to be a Marvel staple or at least worked with a project for Marvel if they’re the indie artist type.

MR: Tell us a little about the samples you sent.

FN: I was currently busy and still am with the Wheel of Time series so I wasn’t able to create new stuff. I just sent some of my past works that I’m most proud, like the concept artworks I did for the unnamed client, the X-Men sample sequentials that got me in Glasshouse, some pinups of along with some of my recent pages from my current project.

MR: What were you doing when you discovered you made it to the shortlist? How did you feel at the moment?

FN: To be honest it was already pass 11am and I was still fast asleep. I was awakened by the call from National Book Store and was a bit groggy during the news. It took a while for me to take it all in and then I said, “about damn time!” Just kidding. I felt excited and anxious like it was the first day of school, suffice to say I didn’t sleep well the day before and had to pee three times before the interview.

MR: How did the Cebulski interview go? What did he say about your work?

FN: I can’t remember the entirety of the conversation but it went smooth, could have been better, well at least in my head. He said my works were one of those that stood out and they were pretty solid, he gave me helpful tips as well to improve my paneling and storytelling.

MR: I heard there’s still another test from Cebulski, right? What does that mean and what are you currently doing to warm up for that?

FN: Well, he’ll be sending Marvel scripts for artist he liked to make sample sequentials on, but since I have projects lined up I won’t be able to start on it until later this year. And Cebulski understood that, so I won’t find out if I’ll make it into Marvel until probably next year, if the Mayan Calendar conspiracy theorists are wrong that is.

MR: Let’s talk influences. Who are some of your heroes in the industry?

FN: I admire the works of Mico Suayan for being a pencil god, Raymund Bermudez another pencil god and dynamic artist, Leinil Yu for his stylized drawing, Harvey Tolibao for his intricate details, Adam Hughes for reasons I don’t need to explain, Steve Mc Niven and Travis Charest for their seamless styles. Inkers like Mark Morales and Richard Friend, Sean Gordon Murphy for his unique style of inks, shadows and blacks and for being a badass as well, Dan Panosian also for his bold inks, Eric Canete another artist with an explosive style and bold inks. I’ve also went through the Jim Lee phase back in high school.

And to name some Fantasy artists like Brom and Boris, and of course the father of Fantasy Art, Frazetta.

MR: Given the chance to pick, which Marvel books/characters would you hope to do in the near future?

FN: I guess like anyone in my position, I would like to get a shot on Marvel’s major characters, like Spider-Man, any member of the original Avenger characters, X-Men, etc.

MR: Thank you for your time! Tell us where fans can find you for updates and more.

FN: Well you know my FB (https://www.facebook.com/Francis.R.V.Nuguit) and my DA account (http://frvn-art.deviantart.com/). I also have a page at the Glasshouse Graphics website (http://glasshousegraphics.com/newsite/?ghg_talents=frnuguit). You can also Google my name along with Wheel of Time I guess, there’s hardly anyone with the same name as Francis Nuguit.

Shortlisted Interview #6: JB Casacop

Mark Rosario — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:45:43 +0000

Aside from being one of the first ones to see fantastic artworks, part of the fun of doing these interviews is knowing about the interesting backgrounds of these awesome artists.

Last time, we talked with a nurse (Peejay Catacutan) and this time, we’ll be featuring someone who did ballet for sometime before realizing his life’s true calling is in the field of comic book arts.

Boys and girls, let’s all meet JB Casacop!

Mark Rosario: Tell us something about yourself.

JB Casacop: My full name is John Brian San Gabriel Casacop but you can call me JB or Jabo. I’m an illustrator based in San Pedro, Laguna. I consider my sister and I very lucky to have parents who, despite being engineers, supported us when we both developed interest towards artistic endeavors. Music and dance were among those. Actually, I majored in ballet during my years in Philippine High School for the Arts. Then I realized that I’m much more interested in drawing and painting so I took up fine arts in UP Diliman.

As of the present, I work with Ladyluck Digital Media, Inc. as one of its senior concept artists. With regard to comic book projects, aside from my college thesis, the only other comic project I’ve finished is a short indie entitled “Palagdas “ which I released during the Komikon 2011.

MR: What did you apply for and what made you decide to try out?

JC: My primary skill is digital painting so I decided to try my luck and see if I can get picked as a cover artist. I very reluctant to try out when I first heard about Cebulski’s talent search because prior to that, I didn’t have any Marvel-inspired artworks in my portfolio at all. But in the end, I couldn’t resist submitting my stuff because I understood that there was a very rare opportunity.

MR: Tell us a little about the samples you sent.

JC: I sent several digital paintings. Most of them are commissioned fantasy-themed illustrations. Also included in my submissions are a couple of sequential samples, my own rendition of the tikbalang named Makabo from Ian Sta. Maria and Mervin Ignacio‘s Skyworld, and finally, a copy of my short indie comic. I didn’t create any new pieces because I felt there won’t be enough time for me to polish them as much as I did my existing artworks.

MR: What were you doing when you discovered you made it to the shortlist? How did you feel at the moment?

JC: I just got up when I got the call from National Book Store. It literally jumpstarted my day which I spent almost entirely by preparing my stuff for the meet up with Cebulski.

MR: How did the Cebulski interview go? What did he say about your work?

He liked the pieces I submitted. If I understood what he said correctly, he was pleased with my compositions and painting style. We talked about my approach to painting, the tools and techniques that I frequently use. Then I also showed him the rest of my portfolio which I had brought with me. I’m glad he enjoyed looking at my game art samples and personal works.

MR: I heard there’s still another test from Cebulski, right? What does that mean and what are you currently doing to warm up for that?

JC: I think that means I still have to prove myself since, like I’ve said earlier, there were no Marvel-based pieces in my portfolio prior to the interview. I’m supposed to come up with a couple of test covers. I’ve already finished one. Now I’m doing some research for the next.

MR: Let’s talk influences. Who are some of your heroes in the industry?

JC: Frank Frazetta and Alex Ross are my favorite painters. I’m also a fan of John Buschema. I have to admit that I don’t have a collection of comics drawn by him but I owe a lot to his book, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way. Of course, I shouldn’t forget to mention the names of Filipino artists whose works inspire me like Francisco Coching, Nestor Redondo, Lan Medina, Gerry Alanguilan and Leinil Yu.

MR: Given the chance to pick, which Marvel books/characters would you hope to do in the near future?

JC: In no particular order, I’d love to work on Wolverine, Thor, Hulk, Venom, Spider-Man, Moon Knight, and The Ultimate Avengers.

MR: Thank you for your time! Tell us where fans can find you for updates and more.

JC: Thank you for this interview! For more about my work, please visit:

My DeviantArt gallery – http://jbsc.deviantart.com
My art blog – http://casacop.blogspot.com