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Just feeling ruminative after a day of doing some repetitive chores. Been feeling a little stressed out by some things at home and work... things will get back to normal soon, I hope. Glad to know that people important to me are around to keep me safe and sane. There's nothing like being reassured that those who care about you can calm you amidst the chaos. Their names and faces become mantras that soothe my mind. I feel blessed.

This blog has been helpful to me, too. I started this early this year, partly because I needed a venue where I can freely plug my comic book, and mostly because it was time that I started sharing my thoughts instead of just reading other people's. The universe revolves around me here. Thank you for visiting my humble corner time and again, people.

The Disabled

Pencil drawing, Feb. 1999.

A hero who lost his sight, hearing, legs and hand, the cybernetically enhanced Render continues to prove that he is far from helpless.

Gal Power They kick evildoer butt.

Comic Book Quote:
"It's easy t'moon over a lost love -- t'fantasize over what might have been, secure in the knowledge that it'll never happen -- it makes a great excuse for not facin' the risks an' demands o' reality." -- Logan to Peter Rasputin, Uncanny X-Men # 183 (July 1984)

August and Everything After

Worky
Busy with the usual stuff. Still need to go on a vay-cay, yadda-yadda. I need more sleep.

Sweetness and Light
Watched Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last Sunday. So weird and funny. I actually watched the original version, Willy Wonka, when I was nine or ten on Beta, but I really can’t remember anything about it. Anyway, Johnny Depp is good, as usual, and the new Oompa Loompas look sinister.

Paneled Pronouncements
After being bombarded with over 200 bought and borrowed 30-peso comic books the past month, I have discovered the following truths:
1. Travis Charest has spawned a multitude of clones despite his absence from mainstream comics for over six years.
2. Jessica Jones of Alias was the telepathic perv Purple Man’s sex slave for eight months.
3. Scott Kurtz’s PVP is almost as hilarious as the similarly nerd-themed Foxtrot newspaper strip.
4. Self-contained short stories in Spider-Man’s Tangled Web, Spider-Man Unlimited, and X-Men Unlimited showcase talented newcomers and established indie creators.
5. Ted McKeever’s Spellcheck character (from Tangled Web), a grammar-obsessed freak, is a hilarious dork.
6. New Thunderbolts’ Radioactive Man is a scary, vindictive bastard.
7. After all these years, Chris Claremont still writes Kitty Pryde well.
8. Wolverine is an active member of three X-Men teams and is a New Avenger.
9. Mutant godling Franklin Richards doesn’t baby-talk anymore.
10. Greg Pak (Warlock), Bill Rosemann (Deadline) and Dan Slott (Spider-Man-Human Torch) deserve more writing jobs.
11. A stripper, Ginger, called Green Arrow’s son Connor Hawke a “friend of Madonna”.
12. Whenever the JLA and JSA celebrate Thanksgiving together, a pair of idiot villains will get their asses kicked.
13. Pregnant Sue Dibny and Blue Beetle were alive and kicking in the recent JLA Classified arc.
14. Some comic books are so forgettable, they’re not worth shelling out 30 pesos for.
15. Some comic books are just damn good, they make you feel like an excited kid again.

When Lightning Strikes

Eh, busy week so far. Feeling tired and bleh and looking forward to more work 'til Saturday. Anyway, I'm just gonna share a pair of penciled drawings from four years ago:Storm during her '80s mohawk days. The radical makeover was courtesy of her best friend Yukio.Super-speedster Impulse, before he changed his moniker and costumed identity to Kid Flash.

Not Mere Words

I’ve been meaning to list down some of the most creative lines from a few of my favorite songs. McVie’s nice post about his favorites beat me to it. Here’s mine. Great imagery and stories in these brilliant lyrics, too:

“When I was all messed up and I had opera in my head, your love was a light bulb hanging over my bed.”
--U2, “Ultraviolet”

“For a man aged ninety years, no words to waste on sermons, he'd be pleased to answer short and sincere: ‘Girl there's nonsense in all these heaven measures. It's a heathen creed, so your grandma says. The better to live by... drink it all before it's dry!’”
--10,000 Maniacs, “Everyone a Puzzle Lover”

“Dreams of sights, of sleigh rides in seasons, where feelings not reasons, can make you decide. As leaves pour down, splash autumn on gardens, as colder nights harden their moonlit delights. And I love you.”
--Lightning Seeds, “Pure”

“But now old friends are acting strange. They shake their heads, they say I've changed. Well , something's lost but something's gained in living every day. ‘
--Joni Mitchell, “Both Sides Now”

“Orion's arms are wide enough to hold us both together. Although we're worlds apart, I'd cross the stars for you.”
--Prince and Sheena Easton, “The Arms of Orion”

“I've got money in my pockets. I like the color of my hair. I've got a friend who loves me. Got a house; I've got a car. I've got a good mother, and her voice is what keeps me here.”
--Jann Arden, “Good Mother”

“And I’ve never found a way to say ‘I love you’, but if the chance came by, I would. But way back where I come from, we never mean to bother, we don’t like to make our passions other people’s concern.”
--Dar Williams, “Iowa”

“Give me hope for the children. Give me a worldwide religion. Give me peace in a restless world.”
--Midge Ure, “Dear God”

“Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star? One without a permanent scar? And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?”
--Train, “Drops of Jupiter”

“He wants me, but only part of the time. He wants me, if he can keep me in line.”
--Til Tuesday, “Voices Carry”

“I fall into the water and once more I turn to you. And the crowds were standing, staring, faceless, cutting off my view to you. They start to limply flail their bodies in a twisted mime. And I'm lost inside this tangled web in which I'm lain entwined.”
--Sarah McLachlan, “Vox”

"Come a rumbling, humbling feeling, like things will never, ever be the same. But what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Today I'm strong enough, and anyway, I love the rain."
--Asia, "Days Like These"

“I am not the one who laughs at people's jokes; I just pacify their egos. I am not my house, my car, my songs. They are only stops along my way.”
--Paula Cole, “Me”

Salamat Po, Doktora

Renowned sex therapist and author Dr. Margie Holmes on LNA: "I loved your comic book and have, in fact, started a letter to you telling you about it. Hindi ko mahanap right now, but I want you to know that I think your work is brilliant! And the characters are people you start to care about."

I love you, Dra. Holmes.

It's still available, if you've yet to read it, blog readers. Also, to those who missed owning a copy of Carlo Vergara's National Book Award-nominated One Night in Purgatory, he re-released it in Comic Quest Megamall. Buy now!

Arty Farty

Back in college, one of the few professors who really showed up to teach was Mr. Jimmy Delos Santos, whose Aesthetics and Art Criticism lessons were some of the most memorable ones in my last two years of school. In a nutshell, what I learned from them was, as artists, we basically have the responsibility to always be open to improvement, both in technical and substantial aspects of our craft. The lessons that he imparted mostly focused on the lives and works of influential artists, as well as the progression of several art movements that still influence or delight many of us. As an illustrator himself, he encouraged open-mindedness and originality, and discouraged us from adopting “abstract-abstrakan” (pseudo-abstract art) as a style. This, I still feel, was one of the more important lessons I got from school. We were free to pursue what our minds and hands were itching to do, but at the same time, the professor wanted to instill in us the ability to recognize gimmickry disguised as art. And we were expected not to be complacent in our works ourselves.

I mention this now because among the dozens of cheap comic books I recently bought, there were those that stick out because of bad art and storytelling. Uncanny X-Men # 400, for example, had a few pages drawn by Ashley Wood. He’s obviously inspired by Bill Sienkiewicz style-wise, so one can expect the hazy, scratchy linework that characterizes the pioneer’s work. But what’s disappointing about it was its simplistic and confusing presentation. What happened to Stacy X in one particular page? Why was she screaming? What are those rectangular things near her face? Oh, they’re fingers! Because the dialogue implied that she was captured. But was she tickled into captivity? Poked by those thin, rectangular digits? I really couldn’t tell.

When anatomical and facial structures are stylized beyond recognition like that, it just ruins it for me. I’m not a fan of Scott Kolin’s art either—his faces and figures look way too rushed. And he draws several covers and comic books a month. Go figure.

The comics medium has allowed, and continues to allow, diverse art styles. And there have been a number of artists I loathed years ago, like Salvador Larocca (he was Image-y then) and Carlos Pacheco (his figures looked bloopy a decade ago, for some reason), but I now truly admire them and try to learn from their improvements. I hated Ryan Sook’s work before because he was a bad Mignola clone, but I now respect him because he’s proven he can do so much more in Zatanna. They fill out blank pages with dedication and a sense of artistic identity that make the books they worked on worthy of my money.

Buying all those bargain comics also introduced me to a lot of talented newcomers, or artists who’ve been around but deserving of more attention and projects. I look forward to seeing more of them, and reading more superheroic and non-spandex exploits in the hands of very capable creators whose love for their work and the medium are easily evident. More power to all of them. And may they become better artisans that young hopefuls can look up to.

Sweet

My super-generous and extra-nice editor Pam Pastor invited me to speak at a Journalism workshop for over 40 high school and college students last Friday afternoon. The campus journalist attendees from all over the country were screened and included in a 3-day activity that featured lecturers like Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot, reviewer Ruey de Vera, creative editor Tim Yap, lifestyle editors Chelo Banal-Formoso and Pam, contributing writer Me, and a few others.

I wish I had a camera; my name was on the classy tarpaulin banner with the rest of that lineup. I also wanted to take pics of the kids, many of whom were enthusiastic about participating in the discussion (well, some of them were bleary-eyed and succumbing to Red Box’s mega-chilly airconditioning). It was an honor and a pleasure to share and discuss with them. Like a man possessed, I talked for about an hour about interviewing people (celebs and non-celebs) and answered their questions as best as I could. They were smart youngsters, and I don’t doubt that I’ll be working with a bunch of them in the future.

To the students and Pam, thanks so much for this cool, cool experience.

Picky pic
Graaarh

The Preservers (Expanded Roster)

Pencil drawing, June 2000.
One of my old super-teams, comprised of sidekicks and young adventurers. Here's another version of the team.

Cool

Stole this pic from Gerry. My friend Amy let out a little shriek, she told me, when she saw this during Ramon de Veyra's slide show for the Gaiman thingy last Monday. Thanks, guys. :)

Tears in TV Heaven

I saw the Angel episode "Shells" again last night over Studio 23 and couldn’t help getting a little teary-eyed as it ended. The last minute was a montage of scenes that focused on Team Angel as they dealt with the death of a dear colleague and friend, Fred (Amy Acker). Her soul was destroyed as her body was inhabited by a resurrected old god, Illyria (also played impressively by Acker). There have been a few memorable scenes from many shows that evoked that same reaction from me, scenes that capture that perfect blend of imagery, words and music. They tugged at my heartstrings then, and are still powerful for me now. Some examples:

1. David Fisher lashes out at a hate crime victim’s funeral (Six Feet Under, “A Private Life"). A Matthew Shepard-esque scenario forces the once-closeted gay man to confront a self-righteous homophobe during the funeral of a young victim.
2. Buffy bids Spike goodbye at the Hellmouth (BtVS, “Chosen”). Seconds before reformed vamp Spike sacrificed himself, Buffy tearfully revealed, “I love you”. Spike replied, smiling: “No you don’t. But thanks for saying it.”
3. Andrew Van de Kamp admits his car accident to his mother (Desperate Housewives, “Anything You Can Do”). One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the series was summed up in one word: “Mama?”
4. Buffy leaves Sunnydale after losing everything (BtVS, “Becoming, Part 2”). She was framed for murder, her mother discovered her secret identity and she was forced to execute an evil lover, so Buffy quit her Slayer duties and left town. Sarah McLachlan’s Full of Grace fit the last few scenes seamlessly.
5. Illyria lies to Wesley (Angel, “Not Fade Away”). Spoiler. During one of the final scenes of the series, Wesley and deceased flame Fred reunite… kind of.
6. Justin gets attacked by a gay-bashing classmate (Queer As Folk (US), Episode 22). After dancing with his boyfriend Brian at the prom, Justin gets beaten to a coma by a baseball bat-wielding bastard.

Dreams and Superpeople

Comics Bargain Junkie
Spent a few hours last Saturday, Sunday, and early today scouring Comic Quest outlets North and Festival for more 30-peso comic books. It’s a good thing the sale ends today, or I’d end up going there again tomorrow. I now have whole runs of spandex-fests like Warlock (by Greg Pak), Invaders, Rawhide Kid and Thor: Godstorm, as well as random issues of New X-Men: Academy X (I like many of these new characters, students mentored by ex-New Mutants Dani Moonstar, Wolfsbane, etc.), JSA, Robin (Spoiler got tortured during War Games!), X-Men Unlimited, Spectre (by DeMatteis), Thanos (guest-starring Galactus!), Strange (by JMS), Spider-Man’s Tangled Web (indie creators do Spidey!), Fantastic Four, JLA: Classified, GLA, Witches, Runaways, and many more. I also bought two PVP issues by Scott Kurtz. Looks interesting.

Dream King in the Mall
Jamie, thank you for offering me your Neil Gaiman event pass… sorry that I really couldn’t fit it in my sched. But I’m confident that I’ll meet and chat with the guy one day. Hope someone else was able to use it.

Talk to the Future
I’ve just been asked by one of my editors to talk to a group of high schoolers about interviewing celebrities later this week. I’m scared… and a little excited. We’ll see how that goes. Will talk about it more when things become sure.

Retrieved Memories

Clockwise: My first grade report card, my high school grad pic, my character Bright Blade (now called the Bladesmith) from 1989, me in prom-wear, a Corey Hart concert ticket, and a Linda Hamilton trading card from Terminator 2.

Vinnie of Comic Quest told me last week that old shop members will be getting special prizes if they present their old membership cards as part of their 20th anniversary celebration. I knew I saw mine some time last year, but I couldn’t exactly tell where I put it. So I rummaged through my ever-trusty wooden cabinet, which had gotten really crowded since I last cleaned it up (well, kind of) a year ago.

All sorts of interesting junk, as well as wonderful, forgotten valuables have gathered there through the years, most of them now smelling of a weird mixture of naphthalene balls and newspaper ink. I took the opportunity to sort out the mess, which triggered the recollection of many interesting memories.

I neatly stacked over three years’ worth of newspapers (ones where my articles appeared in), school memorabilia, and a lot of artwork and other paper clutter in separate plastic bags. I discovered old school retreat letters from people whose names I can’t really give faces to anymore. I found decades-old report cards, a box containing around ten medals won from high school art contests (several of them poster and slogan-making competitions) and a mix of good and horrible college thesis plates. There’s a sense of disconnection when I unearthed old love letters, unsent missives, and personal notes that were seemingly written by an altogether different person (well, in a sense, many of us aren’t the same persons we were even just a few months ago, but I digress). I saw ancient pictures of old lovers, friends, acquaintances, and even Manila Bay (for a worthless college subject), tons of photocopied pages of both published and unreleased Alamat projects, original characters drawn on index cards, tryout pages for American companies that went nowhere, a clipping of a prayer to St. Jude, a ton of action figure blister cards, dozens of food delivery receipts, empty foil packs of fantasy trading cards (remember them?), a Corey Hart (Never Surrendeeeerrr!) concert ticket, two cool paintings by John and other stuff that mean nothing to other people.

Wow. My life is simple and I’m generally a quiet person, but looking at these pieces of evidence from my forgotten and not-too-distant past, I'm reminded that I really experienced an assortment of silent upheavals and victories as a teen and beyond, necessary chaos that still shape me into who and what I am now. Sifting through all that really felt strange in good, funny, and even embarrassing ways.

After over an hour of looking, I found a membership card… a Filbar’s card. But it was okay. I was having fun dissecting my different mindsets with every significant object I encountered. I did find my old CQ card eventually, stuck in an old notebook that was pinned down by a couple of VHS tapes and ratty X-Men comic books. I was member # 040.

Desperate-athon

Mass Wisteria
Ah, I loooove this show. I can identify most with characters Bree (Marcia Cross), Gabrielle (Eva Longoria), and Bree's son Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom). Nice Desperate Housewives site here.

Fantasmagoric Thing
Saw Fantastic Four last Saturday. It was... hmmm... formulaic. Pretty average. Anyway, here's the Human Torch (Chris Evans).
Cheap comics!
Went to CQ North Edsa to deliver copies of LNA last Saturday when I discovered that the shop was having a weekend sale! Yay Vinnie! Benedict and I got a number of old and recent 30-peso superhero books. Wow. What a bargain.

Speaking of superheroes, I ran into Andrew at CQ Mega last Friday and he suggested that I do a spandex-centric story before the year ends. Apparently, he liked the brief Alternaturals sequence in LNA and he wants to see more mainstream action-adventure tales and less social commentaries from the local scene. Just like Benedict. And Vinnie. And Dean. Hmm... we'll see, then.

The Dracqonian Pencil drawing, June 2000
The Dracqonian has been sighted in various Chinatown districts all over the world since the 1970s. The costumed vigilante is rumored to be an ancient dragon of myth trapped in the reanimated body of a slain detective, and is said to relentlessly pursue those who have violently taken the lives of innocents.

See the Sun Rise

Been a while since I listened to this Melissa Etheridge ballad. It spoke to me when I felt problematic years back. I can still relate to it, even after things have changed radically. Reminds me of those who really matter.
---------
Talking to My Angel

Don't be afraid. Close your eyes. Lay it all down. Don't you cry. Can't you see I'm going where I can see the sun rise? I've been talking to my angel. He said that it's alright.

I've always had to run. I don't know just why. Desire slowly smoking under the midwest sky. There's something waiting out there that says I've got to try. I've been talking to my angel. He said that it's alright.

This town thinks I'm crazy; they just think I'm strange. Sometimes they want to own me. Sometimes they wish I'd change. But I can feel the thunder underneath my feet. I sold my soul for freedom. It's lonely but it's sweet.

Don't be afraid. Close your eyes. Lay it all down. Don't you cry. Can't you see I'm going where I can see the sun rise? I've been talking to my angel. He said that it's alright.

Weekend Geekery

Recharging
It’s been nearly 48 hours since I touched a computer. The wonky weather made me really sick. I think I may also be stressed from work-related stuff, so I just spent my time sleeping and watching TV for most of Sunday and yesterday. The down time allowed me to reflect on many things that need to get done, since I do have many priorities mixed up. Organizing is another matter entirely, but I’ll get to it. The short hibernation period was relaxing, however, and it made me wish that I had time and money to burn to go away for a while and not worry about work for a few days.

Action Heroes
The 4th annual Toycon was great and, as usual, crowded. I was there for only a short time because I was feeling exhausted and quite queasy. I left soldier-boy Benedict to sell copies of LNA. Gerry, Ryan, Jonas and the other Komikeros were there, as well as Carl, who dropped by in the afternoon (he sold copies of One Night in Purgatory as part of a special 2-pack with LNA). Got to meet Ruel of Comic Brook too. Saw many Cosplay participants as I left early in the afternoon. Wish I stayed longer, but I had to go home and rest. To those who bought my comics, and to the Komikeros, Carl and Benedict, thanks again for helping out.

Mis-assembled
Bought New Avengers # 6 last weekend. This is the end of the first story arc. I wish I was satisfied, but the story just went around in circles. The new group didn’t get to show off any real team dynamic. I don’t have problems with the new lineup, but only Spider-Woman was shown doing something substantial in the issue (she threatened to kill the bad Black Widow). Wolverine was there just to quip that he can kill; the rationale for him being considered for membership by Iron Man is iffy. They’re supposed to be Marvel’s premier super-group this time (according to the hype), but they just moved too slowly and failed to save a number of lives. Yes, I know Sentry and Ronin have yet to join, but this team would be so creamed by the JLA’s big seven. The Avengers seriously need energy powerhouses and speedsters (I consider Photon one).

I’m fine with cliffhangers, lineup shake-ups and epic storylines, but the arc just felt so decompressed and lacking a big affecting impact to it. It did make me dig up and read my old Roger Stern, Kurt Busiek and John Byrne Avengers issues, and appreciate the good old days more. I hope Brian Bendis (whose dialogue is superb) can recapture that kind of scope and magic and give us something exciting and memorable with his future issues.

Elitist
Finished the 12-issue Justice League Elite. Now this is cool stuff. Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke are my fave post-Morrison-Porter creative team on JLA, and I’m glad they were able to work again on some of the characters in this series. It’s been a fun ride filled with morality conundrums and fast-paced superhero action, and it would be great if it becomes an ongoing series soon. Will pick up JLA-Cyberforce one-shot in two weeks because of the Kelly-Mahnke collaboration too.

Unearthed Stuff

Torero
Pencil drawing, April 2000 The Anime-trices
Pencil drawing, June 2000

Quickaroos

Ahh, feeling really drowsy. Need some sleep...

Anyway, for those who have yet to buy copies of Lexy, Nance & Argus: Sex, Gods, Rock & Roll, check out the Komikero booth tomorrow, Sunday, at the daylong Toycon event (Megatrade Hall, fifth floor of SM Megamall). Thanks to Gerry for inviting me to sell! A bunch of Pinoy comic book creators will be around so check that and the other exhibiting participants out. Will be there briefly if I'm well enough.

Also, to those attending tonight's annual Malate and Club Government pride parties, have fun!!! Enjoy and take care, people.

The World is Not Enough

Pencil drawing, June 2000
Galactus, devourer of worlds, and Nova, his loyal Earthling herald. I really like Galactus and Marvel's rich mythologies and cosmic sagas.

Just Can’t Seem to Get Enough of…

Desperate Housewives. Love this show. I’ve seen four episodes already. It fills the void left by Sex and the City. There are four strong female protagonists too, seemingly picking up where the SATC foursome left off. The Desperate characters are suburban women who lead very interesting lives; they’re a bunch of friends whose life, love and lust experiences are unique yet familiar. I especially like ex-Melrose Place villainess Marcia Cross’ compelling turn as an obsessive-compulsive wife and mother. Very funny and charming stuff. There’s also a mystery brewing at their neighborhood, Wysteria Lane, that threatens to shatter the assorted characters' seemingly peaceful coexistence. A housewife who killed herself in the pilot is the unusual (and humorous) narrator of every episode.

The Pre-Infinite Crisis books. I like how everything pivotal happens in DC Comics titles like OMAC, Villains United, Rann-Thanagar War and Day of Vengeance. I wish they didn’t take too long to finish, but it’s an interesting and massive way to set up the sequel to the milestone Crisis on Infinite Earths, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Other DC books I’m enjoying right now are Grant Morrisson’s Zatanna and JLA’s first issue of Geoff John’s and Allan Heinberg’s run. I wish Marvel’s House of M event created as much excitement for me, but so far, the new alternate reality just reminds me of old What If stories, the post-Onslaught reboot, and Age of Apocalypse. But I’m crossing my fingers. Hope the story improves.

Justice League Unlimited. Over thirty Justice Leaguers in one show. Most of them are background characters, and the focus has mainly been on the core group and some supporting cast members, but the stories are so epic and solid that it’s created a strong continuity that’s removed from the comic books. I hope Marvel is learning from the success of this series and makes a decent Avengers cartoon soon…

Bone. I’ve recently read three trade paperbacks and several single issues, and I must say that writer-artist Jeff Smith is one talented guy. His clean, cartoony style, pacing and overall sturdy storytelling are really special.

Cutting Crew’s Everything But My Pride. Nostalgia time. What a sad but lovely song. Bought their compilation CD last week.

Thank You Consequence

Been a tiring but worthwhile week for this old geekboy. I just wanna thank some people for just being there and doing good stuff. Shout-outs to:

John, for hanging out and helping me with computer stuff. And for just being creative, wise and generous as always.

Benedickie, for letting me work in his place, the Bone TPB’s and JLU eps (Justice League versus the super-clones! Yay!).

People who gave favorable reactions to my comic book in the last month or so. I’m sincerely delighted that you connected with my work and found something valuable in it. Eric Julian Manalastas, Ruel de Jesus, Bong, Chriscroix, Markus, Chuayjai, Karl the Humanities professor, Fudge, Benedict’s friend Kris and all the others who bought and read it, thank you so much. And Chrissy a.k.a. Boi Bitch… I really appreciate your never-ending pimpage.

Dean, for writing this touching and inspiring post. That’s very cool.

McVie, for this really funny interview with blogging phenom Badinggerzie and other fun posts.

People who visit this blog, thank you for sharing your presence and thoughts. Click on the other bloggers’ links, too. Each one’s unique. They all have interesting stories and ideas to share.

My family, just because.

Thank you, thank you. :)

Once Upon a Rhyme

Pen and ink, 1997

Let's Get Metaphysical

I’ve been extremely busy with stuff, but the comments in the previous post have inspired me to hand over my two cents on the very touchy subject of worship. It’s always a thorny issue, and it invites endless debates. But it’s an issue worth talking about.

I’m not a big fan of it, as older readers of this blog or my friends already know. And as I have mentioned before, faith will always be a personal thing. It will always be up to you which pre-established beliefs you can apply to your daily dealings and search for spiritual contentment. If you don’t believe in God in whichever manifestation countless religions have presented them to you, that’s cool too. In this day and age, that liberty to choose is a crucial one, and one that mustn’t be suppressed by anyone.

I agree that many people have found, and continue to find, comfort and direction with their beliefs, despite the imperfections of traditional systems. I acknowledge that people need to have moral codes or compasses at some point in their lives; whether they attain that through learning old teachings from old prophets or even from the expansive and infinite terrains of pop culture is entirely up to them.

Religion, like anything man-made, is imperfect because we all have limited perceptions, no matter how we have, since time immemorial, claimed monopolies of various truths. Many lives were lost and rich cultures were destroyed by “holy” wars, inquisitions, and crusades throughout the centuries. Blood has been spilled “in God’s name”, and it has created rifts and inspired pissing matches on a grand scale. It hasn’t stopped. People still justify trampling on people’s rights by brandishing ever-reliable “God” today.

What’s also disheartening about old institutions like the Church, in its many incarnations, is that they’re not open to evolving ideas anymore. To cite a recent glaring example: the late Pope John Paul II stated for the record that gay people are “evil”. When the world’s most powerful religious leader says something like that, it’s not merely an opinion. It’s canon, a declaration that homosexuals are abnormal, sinful and cannot be part of a productive society. And if someone this influential can be so bold and self-righteous to make such an “inspired” assessment, I shudder at the thought of how that strengthens followers with latent homophobia. I fear and feel sad for gay persons stuck in such a hate-mongering, very selective thoughtscape. And it’s also disappointing that very few Christians have shown the courage to speak up against such unjust and, to be frank, stupid attitudes.

All that being said, there are followers who are realistic and practical enough to go with their own judgments regarding alternative lifestyles, birth control and feminism, and it’s really good that many people are willing to dissect complicated issues like these (these elicit contrasting views, depending on which priest you ask). And it must be noted that some faiths are trying to be relevant with the times by being more accepting of differences. Some have proven to be helpful to those in temporal need as well.

My Dad once asked me why I wasn’t a Christian anymore (he had to find out when I briefly mentioned that fact in a Gary V. article I wrote two years back). I simply answered, “I can’t relate to Christianity anymore.” I wanted to elaborate that I couldn’t relate to its many intricacies—the mystical backstory, the repetitive rituals and the hypocritical declarations, among other things. I couldn’t tell him that I didn't believe in the selfish, bossy bastard the Christian God has continuously been portrayed as anymore—an embodiment of “might makes right”—a cosmic bogeyman that I do not find worthy to judge me.

But we didn’t talk about it anymore. He was obviously disappointed, but he just let me be, as he always has. Maybe one day, we’ll discuss it. I hope we do, honestly, so that he’ll at least understand where I’m coming from. He has his beliefs, as do my other relatives, and I respect them.

I don’t know for sure if there’s a real Supreme Being, or if he/she/it was just concocted by ancient scribes to be an imaginary friend for grown-ups. But if there’s anything I’ve learned and continue to learn about life, it’s tolerance. A little goes a long way. We can just agree to disagree; none of us are getting any younger. It’s actually hard sometimes, but let’s just celebrate diversity. At the end of the day, we all want the same things, even when our daily addictions and preferences differ.

It’s a small planet, and we’ve very little time to make our efforts count, God or no God.

Snowboy

Drawn using Microsoft's Paint program (and a rickety mouse) some time last January.

Calm Betwixt the Storms

Jed stared at him in the dark, unblinking, the sole light from the muted motel TV giving flickering shape to his peaceful, lips-parted slumber. Unable to resist, he kissed Ehren’s mouth softly; it was a pure and sincere gesture, with nary a hint of regret or hesitation. Crouched over his once-secret lover’s naked form, he proceeded to run his fingers through his thick, dark hair, their bodies touching again under the large, thin blanket that somehow, miraculously and continuously, kept the airconditioned chill at bay.

Ehren stirred, scratched his left cheek, and quietly exhaled, “Hnnnnnhhhrrrr… heyyy…”

They hugged abruptly and fiercely, and tossed aside their “magic” blanket, suddenly excited that their bodies were generating their own protective warmth.

“God, I love you so much,” Ehren whispered.

Jed didn’t reply anymore, as his mouth was busy doing other things. He’s used to replying in actions, anyway, and that particularly endeared him to sweet, loyal Ehren early on. Their bodies blurred, heaved and thumped their shifting, slapping percussion beats, until they rapidly gasped into a spasm, in unison, eight minutes later. They burst into loud giggles and happy cussing, unmindful of the sheet of paper posted at the door (and it was posted at every door) that hopelessly requested, “PLEASE OBSERVE SILENCE”.

“Hmh… that chubby veejay’s so cuuute… he needs a veejaying workshop, but damn, he’s so ooomffff!” Jed said while shaking the remote control giddily. “I rode a jeep last week with the seats covered in tarpaulin banners of his first ad… remember that? So anyway, I sat on his face--well, his tarpaulin face--so, yuumm…”

“Jed. She knows,” Ehren interrupted.

“Who? Knows what?!”

“Rubie Regalia. She knows that we’re on to her. It’s only a matter of time until she tracks one of us careless or drunk enough to stray off of Andy’s mind-maps, and breaks him or her into revealing each and every Alternatural’s location. Andy and Octophelia are gathering the others right now. I’m needed, Jed. We need volunteers too. So, are you--”

“But… but the others can handle it. You don’t have to be Spectro anymore. Come on! I gave up being Jacob the Fibber for you. There are dozens of them, Ehren… please, stay.”

“I’m needed. I gotta do this. You know I should. There isn’t much time left. And once Regalia mobilizes her troops—we’ve seen her organizing a new Core Four already—we’re all done for. I mean, that earth elemental Gaulus? He’s a confirmed member already. Our team’s gonna be needing me and some of the other heavy hitters. And please, don’t use telepathy on me to keep me from the job this time.”

Jed’s brow knitted. He pulled the blanket up to his shoulders and quietly stared at the still-muted TV.

Ehren sat down and stood up; activating his mystically spawned gift of speed, he rushed to the bathroom to briskly clean up for at least half a minute. He sped out back, while a playful glow of colors from his chest emitted heat that dried his dripping body in barely three seconds.

He then manifested his uniform by thought, which enveloped his glistening physique like interconnecting tentacles of spandex, leather and enduramesh. Jed has seen this transformation numerous times before, and has always shown enthusiasm for the “kinky” aspects of every private spectacle. But he just sat there on the bed this time, unmoving and his eyes transfixed on the old Kylie video.

“Bye, baby,” Ehren said after planting a kiss on the sulking Jed’s left cheek. "I’ll be back as soon as I can. Just yell if there’s anything wrong. You know the drill. I… I’m sorry, but I gotta go now. Oh, and the car needs gas, don’t forget.”

Ehren opened the window and flew off, leaving a streak of tiny red and gold sparks in his wake. Jed slowly moved his head to the direction of the open window, whose curtains fluttered violently at the intruding post-typhoon winds.

He sighed, tisked and flipped the remote to change the channel.

Retro Fix

Just got The Cure's Greatest Hits compilation (2001) from Tower Records. It's got 18 songs! Pictures of You and Caterpillar weren't included, but four unfamiliar, typically nice-sounding songs from more recent albums were. I'm thinking of getting the Cutting Crew and REM greatest hits albums next.

Thor, Son of Odin and Gaea

Pencil drawing, May 2001 Superman can knock him out almost effortlessly, but Thor is still one of the mightiest superheroes ever.

Nikolai Barrett a.k.a. Dhampyr

Pen and ink, December 1997 This pin-up was based on an idea that won't ever happen in any sequel, but it was fun to draw, anyway.

Bat Tea

I feel like Jack Bauer right now. Minus the grief and violence, of course. Been awake for almost 24 hours. It was a very busy work day. I also just got home from the press preview screening of Batman Begins. 'Twas gooood. I suspect kids won't like it as much as the old movies, but older viewers will be pleased that this new version's more steeped in reality than its predecessors. The story's more complex; it's a detailed re-telling of the Dark Knight's secret origin. Christian Bale was just perfect. And Katie "Tomatie" Holmes wasn't bad. The Brit actors added class. There were scenes that were unnecessarily long, but overall, the movie works. Ah, I'm rambling. Off to bed now.

Oh, by the way, talented local band Imago's second album is now finally available at selected music outlets. Buy it!

And!!! Please support the ongoing Pink Film Festival at the Gateway Mall!

Update: This post's title was inspired by the Joey de Leon movie Alyas Batman en Robin. Joey, as Batman, offered Dawn Zulueta's character some bat-beverages. She responded, "Magba-Bat Tea na lang ako." Hehehe...

Eleven

Conduct Awardee, hee hee I sported that haircut ‘til I was in sixth grade. Mom was a Beatles fan, and it wasn’t until I was in first year high school that I had my hair trimmed at a barber shop.

Sometimes, I miss being eleven. Sure, I wasn’t one of the cool, athletic kids, but I was happy with my interests, which mostly consisted of comic books, cartoons and my He-Man action figures. I had a good childhood. I can’t complain; I was raised by hardworking parents who kept reiterating the importance of studying. I suppose they’re also grateful. When I was in Grade One, I won first place in my school’s Science quiz contest, as well as third in the Spelling contest (it was a tie between me and old classmate Marco Dimaano).

By the time I transferred to another school in Muntinlupa when I was nine, my interests remained the same. I still enjoyed reading. I frequented the library after classes, and I borrowed books, many of which were illustrated. The ones I can remember off the bat include those about aliens, ghosts and monsters (they might be old DK Books, if the publishing company already existed), as well as Peanuts Encyclopedias, Burne Hogarth’s Tarzan, different hardbound versions of Aesop’s Fables, Dr. Seuss titles, and many more (I liked the Choose Your Own Adventure series, but the library didn’t have them). The only other person from my class that I often ran into in that strangely welcoming haven was a girl who wrote well, Leah. I forget what she liked reading, but she was a nice, quiet person.

The school was only a few blocks from the house, so I walked home everyday, excited about the stuff I borrowed. After returning them on their due dates, I'd borrow those I really enjoyed for a second time. I was still heavily into superhero comics, and I would discover when I was eleven that it was easy to draw the figures by just copying them and not tracing. I began drawing super-characters I created on the backs of my notebooks and mimeographed textbooks. They had their never-ending slam-bang fisticuffs. Eventually I played with my brother’s prized Speedball pen set and copied the cover of an Uncanny X-Men issue featuring Colossus versus the Vision (drawn by John Romita, Jr. and Dan Green) on oslo paper.

By sixth grade I was so bored with school that I would feign sickness almost everyday. All I wanted to do was look at my comic books and draw. I honestly felt that I didn’t want to go to school anymore because I had no enthusiasm for it (a story for another day, yes). But during one of the days when I forced myself to attend my tedious classes, it was the annual Book Fair. At one of the tables near my classroom, a nice lady, Mrs. Simbulan, was peddling new comic books! She told me about her new shop called Comic Quest. It was a five-peso, 10-minute tricycle ride away. I went to school every day thereafter primarily to save my allowance for quite a number of Marvel comic books (and the occasional Crisis on Infinite Earths issues). That was a good time to read stories about superheroes.

Life as a geeky boy was funny and weird, now that I think about it. My memories about certain events remain very vivid. Before things were irrevocably altered by adolescence and its complications, I was a kid who never thought about the future. I never thought I’d ever grow up. And in some ways, at certain times, I’m still that youngster, devoid of any real-world concerns.

My worries then were different, of course. I fervently prayed to Jesus that my circumcision wouldn’t hurt, and that he would always keep me safe from manananggals and other kinds of vampires. And that I’d go to Heaven to join God, Mother Mary and the angels when I die.

Arty Facts

Spellweaver - Pencil drawing, Dec. 1998 Haven't blogged in a while. Was sick last weekend. I wanna talk about how good Sin City was, but maybe later. I've been very busy, so I'll try to catch up on some sleep. In the meantime, here are some ancient drawings from what seems like a lifetime ago. As usual, click on the images to view larger versions.

Dark Avatar

Pen and ink drawing, Sept. 1999 Art from Alamat Comics' Avatar # 1, the first page of David Hontiveros' backup storyThe Legend of Baal.

Swamp Thing

Pen and ink, April 2001 I'm a fan of the Moore-Totelben-Bissette stories.

Q & A Portion

Five questions from Dean Alfar. If you want me to ask you five tailor-made ones, please scroll down for the rules.

1. I know you've conducted a lot of interviews with various celebrities. Now what was the most embarrassing, stupid or inappropriate question you've ever asked anyone, the question you regret ever having asked?

I interviewed singer Kitchie Nadal last year. It went great; I was able to ask her smart questions and she was very generous with her answers. I was about to leave when I asked her about the tattoo near her knuckles. I queried, “What’s that?” and she and her manager laughed. “It’s a tattoo,” she smiled. Well, I knew, but the way I asked it must’ve sounded silly. I have trouble converting my thoughts verbally sometimes. I should’ve asked “What does it stand for?” because it looked tribal. I did ask her seconds later those exact words, after their giggles, so I guess it didn’t diminish the decent interview I conducted.

What’s quite embarrassing was a portion of a certain interview with another person almost two years ago. It’s not something I asked, though. It doesn’t happen often, but an interviewee hit on me, asked for my number and joked about liking mestizos. I didn’t know how to react. It was a little flattering but... okay, I’ll shut up now.

2. A "mondegreen" is a case of misheard lyrics, sort of like the ones horrendously printed in Jingle magazine. What song have you loved, despite the fact that you had the lyrics or part of the lyrics wrong?

I wrote down the words to Seona Dancing’s More to Lose when I was younger. At a nearby mall many years later, after much hesitation, I sang in one of those karaoke booths. I chose the song, and noticed that several phrases on the screen were different from what I knew. I ignored them and sang. The booth guy politely asked after, “Sir, malabo ba ‘yung mata n’yo?” I politely responded, “Hindi, mali lang lyrics n’yo.”

3. You and your partner of choice are cast in the latest TAR (Amazing Race). Would you win or self-destruct? What kind of Roadblock or Detour would really challenge you?

We’d win, of course. Heh. There are cameras rolling, so it would just look awful and sad if my partner or I self-destructed, and millions of people saw it. Bickerings should just happen behind closed doors, I believe. I hated Rob and Amber, but I liked how coolly and deviously they played the game.

Any challenge that requires me to ride a bicycle would just ruin my game, though. I never learned how to bike. Sad, I know.

4. What is the biggest difficulty that faces Filipino comic book creators? What steps can we take to address it?

This is a tough one. There’s no big money in it locally, as far as I know. If you’re a self-publisher, you have to be involved in all aspects of the job. You have to spend for a decent printer. This is a good learning experience, even if it can get tiring at times. Trying to break even is difficult. You have to move on to other practical endeavors eventually, even simultaneously. And for those who wish to make comics-creating a regular day job, the real money is in getting hired by the American companies. And even then, you have to get the high-profile projects to be really comfortable for at least several months.

One of the big challenges years back was that local comics-centric companies were practically non-existent. It’s a good thing that this is being addressed by the focused folks over at Nautilus (with Cast), Mango (with their one-shots and mini-series), and Culture Crash.

If someone, maybe a big publishing company like ABS-CBN or Summit can devise a way that creators are compensated for a new line of diverse, well-marketed comic books that regularly come out, and can guarantee competitive rates, then that’s good. That’s a start. We need someone big to lead the way. We’ll never run out of talented people to work on them if someone was willing to risk on a wide range of products and not just manga-influenced titles. If they can replicate the three comics companies' successes on a much bigger scale, it can mean the existence of a new industry. That’s what I can think of at the moment.

5. Choose one: An interesting life replete with ups and downs, complications, feast-or-famine and a shot at absolute happiness even if it comes very, very, very late in life; OR stable life, regular contentment, predictable rhythms - you're not insanely happy but you're not wallowing in despair either. Explain.

I’d choose the former. I’m actually living that life now. I’m far from being complacent. I’m stubborn that way. But the people I love and those who believe in me make it worth it. I can’t label anything as absolute happiness. Bliss presents itself in many shapes, tastes and textures and I’m just glad when that happens. When I’m older and wiser, maybe I’d be happy with the latter choice. For now, I’m improvising as best as I can.
----------------
Here are The Official Interview Game Rules:
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying “Please interview me.”
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person’s will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Stranded-on-an-Island Music

I’ve yet to own an I-pod. So I can’t relate to people with the shuffling, hundreds-of-songs-in-one-micro-gadget scenario. Yet. But here are a couple of albums (compilations and retrospectives included) I really enjoy. I’ve dozens of favorites, but will limit it to a few for now. In no particular order:

Dirty Vegas: Dirty Vegas - I like how the meshing of electronic music and Steve Smith’s vocals makes for really audible (and singable) techno. It’s easy to tune out the world on a daily basis with this energetic debut.
Lightning Seeds: Pure - The compilation features some of the band’s finest New Wave tracks. Fell in love with their songs in college, before BMFM became a jazz station.
Sarah McLachlan: Touch - I can never tire of “Vox”, the title track and “Strange World”.
Color it Red: Hand-Painted Sky – Cooky Chua and the band’s first album got me through some challenging times. Heartfelt, rocking Pinoy music.
Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes - Therapeutic. Rage and disillusionment never sounded so beautiful.
REM: Automatic for the People – This album really clicked with me. Haunting and sentimental, it flavored a period of my life perfectly. Stipe rawks.
Toad the Wet Sprocket: Fear – Glen Phillips’ voice is solid and very capable of evoking varied emotions.
10,000 Maniacs: Our Time in Eden – This is very picturesque and poetic. The Maniacs also experimented with different musical styles that complemented the vivid stories well.
Save Ferris: It Means Everything – Very bouncy and eternally sunshine-y ska music. Just yummy all throughout.
‘Til Tuesday: Coming Up Close – The retrospective collects the best of the Aimee Mann-fronted group. The songs mostly dealt with unrequited love and heartbreak. Very ‘80s, yet very relevant.
Joni Mitchell: Hits – The incomparable singer-songwriter had a nice compilation that chronicles her most popular ditties. Hippie chanteys and adult contemporary faves galore.
Cyndi Lauper: 12 Deadly Cyns – From “Time After Time” to “I Drove All Night” and beyond, the CD is an enchanting time capsule. I especially like how her different vocal ranges are featured. Fun, soothing, and even ruminative.
River Detectives: Saturday Night, Sunday Morning – One of my favorite bands that I know next to nothing about. But the album consistently delivers with folk-inspired Wave numbers.
Jars of Clay: If I Left the Zoo – I really like Dan Haseltine’s cool and calming voice. Almost makes me wanna believe in Jesus. Almost.

Escapist?

Meron bang bold?
Jeffrey Jeturian’s campy Bikini Open is okay. Saw it last Saturday at Megamall. The “mockumentary” is different and smartly written, although some parts were just bogged down by awkward acting by some of the sexy stars and most of the extras. There were scenes that could’ve been shortened, too. It’s not the typical Seiko “nakaka-titi-late” or “naka-kiki-liti” sexy film; there aren't raunchy, simulated sex scenes and unabashed nudity (aww, I know). But it does make me wanna check out the filmmaker’s previous work, Bridal Shower.

Bored now
Channel-surfing has been tough lately. Saw bits of Darna… it’s NOT for me. Over at the talk-show front… god. Leno still isn’t funny. Not to be needlessly snarky, but his monologues are just… guuhhh. Over at HBO, it’s getting harder to watch Six Feet Under. It’s just going around in circles now. That’s too bad, because the first two seasons were good. I’m not too interested in any of the local or foreign reality shows. It’s still months ‘til the new Amazing Race.

But there‘ve been some interesting stuff that Solar’s ETC and Jack TV have been showing. Cartoons for adults like Stripperella, Drawn Together, and South Park re-runs are nice alternatives to the animated shows over at the cartoon channels. I’ve also been watching MTV’s nicely selected videos in the nightly show VH-1 (or, as the pretty host with the funky accent pronounces it, “Vee-itch-won”). There are good weekly shows that I really wanna check out, but I missed a bunch of episodes already. I hope to watch CSI, Alias, Arrested Development, Lost, Carnivale and Veronica Mars on DVD eventually. Also, Desperate Housewives airs tomorrow night over at Studio 23. Hope that’s good.

Leotard-y
I recently read the 6-part Wanted by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. Man, that’s gritty, gross, crazy, unforgettable stuff. Wow. Also, Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung is finally getting interesting. The first three issues were pretty slow and bleh. I hope the Kang arc gets resolved soon. I’m an old Avengers reader, and I’ve seen quite enough of the time-traveling character. What got me curious is a new heroine that debuted with a tentative but familiar costumed identity. The letters page is also heating up with the debate on two of the teen characters’ seemingly gay orientations and relationship. Hmm...

Avenging Exes

Pencil drawing, May 2002. Spidey and the Black Cat were my favorite super-duo when I was in Grade 5. (Click image to enlarge)

Thunderclouds

And when summer ends, will you still love me?
When tomorrow comes, will you still give yourself freely?
When the rain falls and the nights steam,
when the light sleeps and your eyes gleam,
will this be my unending dream?

I try to look at the bigger picture; it’s a grainy indie flick.
It’s got passion and grime, seemingly victimless crimes.
It’s a daily comic strip with no punchlines, just pure wit.
Bleed on thumb tacks and screws, blinking wildly on booze,
obvious metaphors for the wrong words we choose.

And when summer ends, where will this take me?
When tomorrow starts, will we still partake freely?
When your heart beats, I feel it.
When my heart beats, I know it.
Summer won’t end.
Don’t let the thunderclouds tell you otherwise.
Let's drown in the tears of dark, breaking skies.

Fanboyish

My art heroes growing up weren’t many. As a boy, I thrilled to Chris Claremont’s strangely verbose and mature X-men tales, but lamented his dangling arcs and unresolved subplots. I also loved John Byrne’s Fantastic Four and Alpha Flight stories, because his super-heroes had an edginess to them I was drawn to. Plus, he wrote AND drew, so I always thought it was possible to be successful in both fields. And then there was John Romita Jr., whose punk-y, gritty renditions won me over quickly when I was just 11.

I bring this up now because I’m at a time in my life when I’m supposedly being looked up to by some people who’ve encountered my work in whatever shape or form. I’m very flattered, but I also understand that this is just part of the whole creative process, and the work obviously doesn’t stop here. I’m also a fan, even if through the years, I’ve outgrown being starstruck and discovered that hero-worship isn’t my thing.

I guess this means I don’t ask for autographs, even when a supposed celebrity’s personal space is easily penetrable. I’ve met up and talked with celebs, but I don’t really feel they’re special people. I’ve witnessed colleagues from the entertainment scene ask for autographs on their complimentary CDs whenever some not-really famous foreign artists go on local tours. It’s not my thing, but again, I understand. I’ve signed autographs on comic books I’ve sold myself. Putting myself in the other person’s shoes, it’s a reminder that somehow, a personal connection was made and the product feels all the more special because of that rare doodle. I won’t begrudge anyone that.

It’s especially encouraging when total strangers write me and relate how they were affected by my work. There’s always that hope that your labors reach the right people, and that they had a blast absorbing it as much as you did investing time and effort in it. In some instances, they’d even compare you to authors you’ve never heard of, people they hold in high regard. There’s also some criticism or indifference, which, thankfully, I’ve been able to use to improve my craft. We all hope to leave something, be it a written, drawn, sculpted or sung legacy. We all want to make a difference, or at least share something that we want others to react positively to.

But more often than not, we’re each other’s fans. Artists, writers, musicians, we've all got stories to tell. We all influence each other more than we care to admit. We learn from each other’s triumphs and mistakes. We’re in awe when one of us comes up with something we wish we could’ve thought of first. We're not flawless, but we recognize mediocrity when it rears its ugly head. And admiring someone—or more accurately his or her works—doesn’t end. We’ll digest culture in its myriadness for as long as our brains function.

I’m still in awe whenever I encounter the intricate illustrations of Frank Frazetta, Bernie Wrightson or late greats Albrecht Durer and Nick Manabat. Hearing lyrical and melodic gems from Joni Mitchell, Dar Williams, 10,000 Maniacs and Isha Abubakar inspires me. I adore works by word-weavers Alan Moore, Howard Cruse and Jim Mahfood. Watching elaborate sketches by Conan O’Brien or Robert Smigel (as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) consistently makes me laugh. Forward-thinking people like my friends keep me on my toes. I’ve numerous filmmaker heroes, and unsung people that keep me entertained with their wisdom on the net. The list is endless, and it keeps growing.

None of them are perfect, but they constantly bombard me with knowledge, ideas, designs, sensory delights and technical proficiency that inspire my own output. And for that, I am thankful.

I consider myself very, very lucky to live in a time when all these muses’ works are easily available to me. If only I had time to enjoy them all.

World-hopping

Rianne sent me this movie meme.

Total number of films I own on DVD/video: I own so few. Roughly less than 20. Maybe because I’d rather watch them on cable. The really good ones, or the ones that mean the most to me, I buy them.
The last film I bought: Hmm. Not sure if it was Attack of the Clones or Y Tu Mama Tambien.
The last film I watched: Star Wars Episode III (press preview)
Films that I watch a lot or mean a lot to me: I like different kinds of movies. As a storyteller, I try to learn as much as I can from them. But in no particular order, here are a few that I can name right now.
The Usual Suspects - It’s very clever and has great performances by the cast.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula - I like Coppola’s stylish take on the book and the historical figure.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Anyone who’s fallen in or out of love (or both) should watch it. Painful and creative stuff. I love it. It really makes you think and feel.
Breakfast Club - The concept of putting a diverse bunch in detention really appealed to me, and it talked of school archetypes and the pains of growing up. I can so totally relate. And Simple Minds’ song fit perfectly at the end.
Ringu - I watched this alone and never expected to be scared. But I was. Too bad for the sequels, remakes and copycats. Blecch.
Terminator 2 - I liked it as a teen, and I still like it now. Cameron really knows how to pace action. And Linda Hamilton was practically the third Terminator. Love her.
The Truman Show - Reality TV at its most bizarre and intrusive. Sad but funny. Or vice-versa.
Wild Things - It's a crazy heist film that had a really nice, memorable payoff.
Go - Very trippy and timeless. It had a subversive feel to it that I connected with.
Hero - Multiple perspectives have always appealed to me because they’re all fractions of the truth or the bigger picture. Visually, the film utilized painterly ideas through a marriage of colors and movements.
Star Wars - The movies were touchstones. Lucas built a galaxy inhabited by disparate beings whose fates lie in a fractured family’s hands.
Y Tu Mama Tambien - The themes of sexuality and self-discovery were presented creatively through a road trip. I feel for the characters.
Duda - It had its off moments, but I was impressed with Cris Pablo’s digital movie. He tackled gay issues with sensitivity and emotional resonance.
King of the Hill - Soderbergh’s drama about poverty was achingly beautiful, brought to life by then-child actor Jesse Bradford.
Scream - The movies were homages to, and parodies of, schlocky slasher flicks. The whodunits kept me guessing.
Back to the Future - Time travel, paradoxes and the '80s. Fun, fun stuff.
Dogma -Kevin Smith’s unorthodox dissection of religion was a blast. Still is.
Romeo + Juliet - Surreal and head-spinning. Fearlessly experimental.
50 First Dates - One of the best rom-coms ever.
To which 5 people am I passing the baton and why?
Movie lovers Chris, Dean, Carl, Ian and Jason. I’d pass it to John but he’s blog-less.
Update: But if you wanna do it, go ahead. Meme's for everyone. :)

United Planets, circa 3004

Mixed media, May 2005 (Click image to enlarge)The Legion of Super-Heroes is a team comprised of teen or young adult volunteers from dozens of planets in the 31st Century. It's perhaps the only group of heroes that's undergone four history reboots. DC Comics events like Crisis on Infinite Earths and Zero Hour have reinvented the characters for newer readers across the decades.

The incarnation pictured above is my favorite "past life" of the team. I did include the largely unused Legion Cadets and other old/new members like Blok, Dawnstar, Tellus and Quislet, who undoubtedly would've joined the team eventually had DC decided to keep the version intact. The team is a nice parallel to Marvel's X-Men (check out the class picture), whose goal is to achieve racial harmony on Earth. The two groups meeting would make an exciting crossover miniseries, a la JLA/Avengers.

War is Over

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (SPOILERS!)

And so it ends.

While Revenge of the Sith is studded with numerous glossy CGI effects all over, it’s still about the beloved and reviled characters of the most popular fantasy movie franchise. It satisfyingly draws to a close George Lucas’ 6-part space opera and the saga of the Skywalker clan, as we say our goodbyes (and yes, hellos) to heroes and villains that many of us adored as children. It answers a lot of questions, and raises a few more. But overall, this prequel installment is, in a word, awesome.

Everyone knows how tragically this story will end, except maybe children or new fans watching the movies chronologically. So everything is dependent on how Lucas fills in the blanks and renders in the details. And render it, he does. Yes, Anakin (Hayden Christensen) goes massacre-crazy (“You shall be called Darth…VADER.”). The conflicted young war hero has been getting prophetic visions of his secret wife Padme Amidala’s (Natalie Portman) death, so he voluntarily turns to the Dark Side of the Force to learn the secret of immortality and save her. And that’s when he gets exploited and manipulated by the daddy figure he never had.

Palpatine (the compelling Ian McDiarmid) finally reveals himself as the Sith Lord orchestrating the Clone Wars (“The Sith will rule the galaxy… and there will be peace.”). The Jedi Order is decimated by “Order 66”, the new Emperor’s ordinance to the Clone Troopers to turn on their peace-keeping allies. But Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), as we all know, puts the kibosh on Vader’s rampage and flees with Jedi Master Yoda and, in the last few scenes, future rebel heroes Luke and Leia.

Gripe-wise, the dialogue sometimes really clunks with Padme and Anakin’s scenes (“Anakin, you’re breaking my heart!”). But not a lot of eye-rolling ensues, fortunately, as Palpatine’s and Obi-Wan’s lines were mostly very piercing.

Story-wise, there are questionable out-of-character moments. Why did Yoda just quit fighting and decide to hide? He would have found a way to rally freedom-fighters to his cause and not let the new dictatorship get out of hand. And why was General Grievous not as threatening as in the Clone Wars animated series (aired by Cartoon Network last month)? He hunted and killed multiple Jedi knights but was easily humiliated (and defeated) by Obi-Wan.

Still, Revenge of the Sith neatly put future elements in place, such as the construction of the Death Star, the separation of the Skywalker twins, and the explanation to Obi-Wan’s spectral form in subsequent episodes.

It’s sad to bear witness to harrowing tragedies in the lives of these heroes, but Lucas, while his storytelling abilities will be questioned for many years to come, stuck to his vision and made these characters as real and as prone to failure as anyone. As the final piece in the Star Wars puzzle, the film adds dimension to an ex-slaveboy who wanted to be a hero and ended up as his future children’s ultimate tormentor. We hear James Earl Jones’ voice again, and when he mentions the name “Padme”, we finally realize and believe that the original Star Wars villain was a broken-hearted man who gave away everything he had for love.

And lost.

Happy Birthday, John!

SeventeenHe’s one of the most talented and most intelligent people I’ve ever met. Look at this pic… damn, we were young. Blacklight, the Image comic book he’s illustrating, will be in comic shops by the last week of June.

There is No Try

I wrote this for Men’s Zone’s November 2003 issue. In anticipation of Episode III, which we’ll be watching tonight (thank you, 20th Century Fox), I’d like to share a speculative look at George Lucas’ final Star Wars movie from way back. This was before the Clone Wars animated series and the trailers. I also know major plot points now thanks to the reviews and spoilers , so many of these ideas obviously won’t come to pass (I even had a drawing that showed Padme holding a lightsaber and Anakin sporting Darth Maul’s black facial tattoos). I edited the article accordingly to remove my thoughts about X-Men 3 because of space constraints.
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Geek Mythology
With The Matrix’s final installment out of the way, it’s time to second-guess the other sequels

We all have our own blockbuster movies in our heads, our own visions of what would make the as-yet unreleased fantasy sequel memorable and excellent for repeat viewings. We’ve been disappointed, more often than not, when would-be geek-pleasers fail to adhere to the checklist of ideas in our heads. But as much as we convince ourselves that we left expectations at the door, it can’t be helped to ponder what-ifs regarding franchises we’ve loved for ages. Especially when their last installments kicked butt.

From what’s available of their respective mythologies (including existing non-film stories and creator interviews), the third parts of the Star Wars and X-Men movies can actually be pieced together with doses of speculative fanboy theories. And because it’s going to be years before they’re actually shown, let’s pierce the veils of time and marvel at the possible scenarios and some obvious cast choices for X-Men 3 and Star Wars Episode III. Third time’s the charm, and going for broke is the only way to go.

STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH/ FALL OF THE JEDI
The Clone Wars is on its second year, taking its toll on Jedi knight Anakin Skywalker, who has become more reckless than ever. He bungles a vital mission, as his attention has been constantly divided between his duties and his secret wife Padme Amidala. Frustrated, he verbally abuses her, almost physically hurting her as well, if not for Obi-wan Kenobi’s timely intervention. This results in a Jedi court-martial, revealing details of the couple’s secret union.

Anakin has been training Padme in the ways of the Force, to better defend herself from further assassination attempts (and it does take their relationship to a different spiritual level). She’s a quick learner seemingly favored by Midichlorians, and is designated by the Council to study further under Obi-Wan, with whom she confides in. Jealous Anakin misinterprets their closeness and comes to blows with his mentor, resulting in Padme’s revelation that he slaughtered a tribe of Sand People two years ago. This results in his expulsion from the Jedi order.

Chancellor Palpatine and Count Dooku immediately take him under their sinister wing, the pair revealing a grand plan: A secret facility in Kashykk (planet of the Wookies) has successfully cloned hundreds of deceased Sith Lords, all subservient to them. The hate-filled Anakin leaks this information to lead the remaining dozens of Jedi into the trap and kills several of them in the process. Padme confronts her estranged husband, now sporting Sith facial paint, in a lightsabre duel but the former queen is defeated after an impressive bout. Obi-Wan steps in and sends this new “Darth Vader” hurtling into a fiery pit that heavily damages his body. Count Dooku perishes at the hands of Mace Windu, who in turn is killed by Palpatine.

Palpatine easily stages a coup with the Jedi defeated, but his Sith army and cloning technology are destroyed by Amidala and Bail Organa’s well-placed thermal detonators. With the help of the Skywalker’s honeymoon vessel, the Millennium Falcon, they escape the forces of the new Empire. Vader wears his mask for the first time (and James Earl Jones’ voice gets heard again, for the last time), the story ending with a scene happening months later. The “family picture” is reminiscent of the last scene from Return of the Jedi, this time showing Obi-Wan, Yoda, Bail Organa, Owen and Beru Lars, R2-D2, C3PO, Padme and her newborn twins Luke and Leia.

Of course, there’s a huge possibility that we may never see these half-expected plot details come to life, but they’re the obvious routes that can cap off the movies nicely. If the filmmaker can surprise us with a cleverer, more heart-wrenching popcorn movie, then all the better. But for now, this is the action flick in our heads, and we’re crossing our fingers, hoping that the real final product won’t freaking blow.

Time Traveler

Downpour
It’s raining heavily as I’m typing this. There’s thunder, lightning, the works. Hope it stays cool for a bit. Obscure ‘80s weather-themed songs are playing my head, like this one: “I remember the rain on our skin and his kisses hotter than the Santa Ana winds. Whispering my goodbyes, waiting for the train. I was dancing with my baby in the summer rain…” (Belinda Carlisle, Summer Rain).

Superfreebies
Benedickie and I got some nice comic books last Saturday, Free Comic Book Day. I got four from Comic Quest. Vinnie let me pick which ones I found interesting (thanks!), including Flight, Comic Festival, Star Wars, and Impact University. Also got the second issue of the always-free Tabloid Komiks (which had a dark, gripping story about a bank robbery). Got two more free comics (Ronin Hood of the Samurai, and the thick manga digest Tokyopop Sneaks) at Druid’s Keep later.

Bought Villains United # 1. DC's biggest bads form a coalition. Impressive dialogue, intriguing premise and good art (thanks for the tip, Dean!). Also got Justice League Elite # 11 (of 12), which is still consistently good. Just ignore Manitou Raven’s iffy morale-boosting speech about how the Elite is the world’s last and only hope. But it’s still worth reading. Hope it becomes an ongoing title.

The Dark Side beckons
Yaaaayyyyy!!!! Got invited to a Star Wars: Episode III preview within the week! John and I will be watching it. Just like three years ago, when I won tickets to a sneak preview of Attack of the Clones at Louie’s THX, which coincided with his birthday. As a kid who grew up on the fantasy franchise, I’m excited to see how the last piece of the puzzle fits. I read in the latest Time magazine issue (Darth Vader cover) that kiddie-favorite Jar Jar Binks appears but has no lines. Hmmm… I wonder if he gets lightsaber-whacked or Force-choked? Or just disappears in shame? Anyway, yaaayyy!!!!

Color it pink
Support ProGay Philippines’ event, the third Pink Film Festival at the Gateway Mall in Cubao from June 1 to 7. For details, or if you want to be a volunteer, please click here.

Cyberpals
To people who keep inviting me to join Friendster, I apologize for not replying right away. I will not be able to maintain an account because of various reasons at the moment. But when I do find the free time for it, I’ll let you know immediately. Thanks.

This one goes out to the ones I love
“I sometimes misunderstand. Things you say lose all since I command. We collide in a time, almost drowning. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. Oh, I love you…”—Primal Scream, Love You

Shiny Happy Person

Happiness for me is a work in progress, but I can safely say that I really am happier and more content these days. I’m definitely counting my blessings, because there are times that I do tend to forget in the never-ending mad whirl and just take things for granted. While there will always be obstacles in the form of envious, two-faced and malicious individuals, I continuously learn and am assured that they cannot ruin the things I have worked for these past few years. The things I treasure most are the people that I love and those who love me unconditionally. I also have the gift and will to create, which I constantly hone because I want to please myself first and foremost. I don’t feel or think that I’m above anyone, except perhaps those who act horribly towards me and those who feel the need to damn me for imagined troubles. In a world shaped by opinion, both informed or not, I do my best to form my valuable own, and be comfortable in my little space in this sphere.

Whether it’s an occasional byline, a filling meal, or quiet moments with those who matter, I am grateful. I am not complacent; I know I never will be, but I’m more appreciative of the good things that I get. I am here in whichever place I am because I worked hard for it. I still do. And I am loving myself, and believing in myself, more each day. It’s about time, too.

Vengeful Vigilantes

Pencil drawing, June 2000 Magical beings Bloodwish and Crimson Unicorn patrol the supercrime-ridden corners of Southern Zoyad.

Mixed Bag

Bully shit
McPigs recently told me about a co-worker whose strange behavior is quite disturbing. The person gets mightily sarcastic and verbally offensive at every possible opportunity for no real reason. The ass just reminded me of a few but annoyingly memorable bullies I've encountered myself, people who couldn’t handle the pressures they signed up for. None of them are my age; they’re always someone enjoying some semblance of authority. They probably get off on threatening, picking on, or yelling at those they consider lesser than themselves. In truth, they’re just repressed, self-loathing, hideous pieces of crap who can’t pick on someone their own size or age. And that’s just pathetic. To those who feel more complete by causing other people grief, don’t work out your hang-ups and issues on those who have nothing to do with them, you stupid freaks.

Comicky goodness
Moving on to nicer things. Ran into talented writer-artist Chris Costello last weekend at Megamall. Recognized him from his journal pictures. Gave him a copy of LNA I was carrying with me. He seems like a nice fellow.

Speaking of giving stuff away, FHM Philippines has this little contest with a familiar prize (scroll down that page). Also in the May 2005 issue of FHM is their nice “quotable quotes” portion where they culled “winning comic book lines” from, ahem, my brainchild (Thanks, Chrissy I.!).

Anyway, Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday. Visit your favorite comic book shop and get some imported freebies (not sure if a prior purchase is necessary, if ever, so ask them about it).

Happy Birthday, Mom!
We love you. :)