Pretty Great Year

Got this timely taggable from Ian. Tag yourselves like I did:

TEN THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY:
(There are more than ten, of course, but okay.)

1. Living in an age when entertainment and information are easily available.
2. My relatives, who continue to teach me life lessons and keep me grounded and grateful.
3. Being able to eat three decent meals a day.
4. Not feeling any emotional attachment when I see certain people from the past.
5. Really gifted, humble people, because, well, nobody likes untalented know-it-alls.
6. Cool weather and fresh air.
7. Others connecting with my words and/or pictures.
8. McFarlane, Marvel Legends, DC Direct action figures.
9. Intimacy (cough, euphemism!, cough).
10. Enlightened people who believe that spirituality needn’t be confined by one religion or faith.
- - - -
It’s that time of the year again when TV crew members, especially on news programs, get to show up on screen and wave for as long as the end credits roll. Yep, it must be the last day of the year. A time to be thankful and hopeful, and also when caricatures of the representations of the outgoing and incoming years-- the sashed old guy and baby--grace newspaper strips or editorial cartoons. Hmm. I wonder how that depiction originated. If the baby would grow, like, six years per month, by the end of the year he’s a doddery 72-year-old. Interesting.

This journal has had its occasional liner note thank you’s, because I’ve had many reasons to be thankful for in 2005. Most recently, I discovered, through Friendster’s search bar, that about 15 people listed LNA among their favorite (comic) books. So thanks to Aby, Butch, Bokee, Anjo, Aubrey, Jhoice, Jason, Vangie, Krizia, Sabog/Boom, Anne, Coeli, Bart, Chuck, and Arris Rivera!

Also, thanks to Benedict for the rare Sue Storm figure (nifty projectile gimmick!) and the Spooky Pop lollipop, Gumby for the new mix CD*, Paolo Manalo for bearing with my hunger-induced incoherence yesterday (was unable to eat breakfast and lunch) and Druid's Keep's Felix Cua, for giving me a nice discount on the cool Spike figure**.

My thanks as well to all the comics creators I was able to meet and communicate with in the past couple of months, for sharing their enthusiasm for the medium. To my occasional employers and editors, for being ever-generous. To those who talked about my comic book, you’re all over this blog.

And, last but definitely not the least, to my earthborn angels, for your patience, understanding and love.

Happy, prosperous and wonderful new year to all o’ ya. You’re the bestest!
- - -
* (The Beloved- Found, Aimee Mann and Michael Penn- Two of Us, A Camp- Bluest Eyes in Texas, Madonna- Rain, Midge Ure- Dear God, Jeff Buckley- Hallelujah, Milla Jovovich- The Gentleman Who Fell, Amanda Marshall- I’ll Be Okay, Maria McKee- Show Me Heaven, Jewel- Life Uncommon, Pat Benatar- We Belong, Texas- Breathless, Eurythmics- Seventeen Again, Shakespeare’s Sister- Stay, Londonbeat- A Better Love, Martika- Love Thy Will Be Done, Tom Petty- Freefallin’)

** With Mountain Dew in a goblet, goggles, anti-Hellmouth amulet, mug of blood, cat (?), and trading card.

Holiday Spirit

“Old Lang Psign”, December 2005 (click to enlarge)

Just printed out and compiled 20 pages of comments on, and reviews of, my comic book in a clearbook. Man, what a year. This Friday (the 23rd) is its first year in CQ. One year. It’s still selling at a decent pace, so thank you, all of you. Happy holidays, too. Enjoy and be safe, people. Off to plan, write, maybe draw and answer and send emails, like always. Or sleep. Enjoy your vacation, whether ye be Grinches, Scrooges, or whatever. Here’s something I wrote for the paper last year:

A non-Christian's holiday wish list

December days creep up so fast and without warning.
Christmas bells are a-ringing; cash registers are ka-chinging.
I've fondness for the season, if not for the reason.

I'm not a Christian. Don't get me wrong: I just don't belong to the flock.
I'm atheistic on some days and agnostic on others; I'm my own rock.

I love the lights, the cold yet snowless nights.
As a kid without worries, it meant action figures in gift-wrapped boxes.
Money from relatives I was not familiar with, nor care to know now.
Food we didn't normally eat and grapes tacked above doorways.
Going to church and singing along salvation chanteys aloud, always!

But now I'm older, losing hair, getting wiser and a bit jaded.
I've no war with God, let that be clear. My old beliefs have just faded.

But I'm happy and can celebrate the season the way I want to.
I found peace and sense of self years back, and now I'll do stuff that I have to.

I'll look back at how the year didn't suck, and I got to, uh, let's just say I had good luck.

I'm grateful for cool new people I met, whether on the net, or in the flesh.
And the great things we got to partake of, like art, culture, debates and freedom to choose.
Oh, 'tis the season again to enjoy truces, or get weepy in the company of booze.

I'll always love the lights, the cold and cuddling nights.
Let's celebrate differences and do away with the name-calling.
We're all getting older and losing time, so let's just quit stalling.

But what do I really want for the holidays? Hmmm, let's see.
I used to pray for peace on earth, but have you seen the news lately?
I just want everyone to be healthy and happy, content and cozy.
I want money, more work opportunities, and yeah, more money.
I want Marvel Legends and DC Direct toys, DVDs of "Twin Peaks," "Buffy" and "24."
I want the world's finest booty, fun vacations, a better body, my own house, and a car (or four).
For some things in this list, I just have to work harder.
I just hope I don't feel anywhere near as sore.

January dims the lights, and all those colorful, cheerful nights.
We'll think about how much we spent celebrating the birth of a messiah figure.
We'll talk how we over-ate and how we got bigger.

But we won't care because we had fun in all its myriad forms.
We spent time with people we actually like, got drunk, or woke up naked and spooning.
We'll be back to work, school, our crazy routines, our festivity-free dorms.
Holidays have to end, of course, so they'll have deeper and special meaning.

So whichever belief system gets your soul off, put tolerance and harmony in your creed.

May the new year allow us to be better persons.
And may earthly pleasures exceed all our expectations.

My Comics of the Year List!

Awesome one-shots, limited series, and story arcs, some of which didn’t necessarily come out this year, but I read and enjoyed them within 2005. So there. I was able to buy really cheap comics, and borrowed a lot of single issues and compilations. In no particular order, hey, ‘cause ranking them would be a bitch.

Thor: Son of Asgard- The yearlong saga delved into a chapter of the young thunder god’s quests for worthiness. Straightforward storytelling, with balanced doses of action and intrigue.
Bone- The whole run is fun, and at times, dark. Uber-coolness.
Courtney Crumrin- This is one frightening girl.
Supreme- Alan Moore’s ‘90s run is very entertaining!
We3- Morrison and Quitely. Match made in comic book heaven.
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe- Despite the pick-up (reused) art, the sourcebook series is still mighty informative and up-to-date.
The DC Encyclopedia- Love this heavy book. Like OHOTMU, it’s loaded with info. But where’s Oberon?
New Thunderbolts- Nicieza does fun superhero stories here. AND he made his team beat up the New Avengers. Cue the bully kid from The Simpsons: “Ha-ha!”
The Walking Dead- Zombie plague! Kirkman's horror title has an interesting cast of problematic human characters.
Thor- Jurgens’ run, and later Oeming’s, established a new status quo where the Lord of Asgard made tough decisions that ultimately led to Ragnarok. Entertaining and sweeping.
GLA- Dan Slott does a good job at poking fun at this team of misfit heroes, and the Marvel U, too.
She-Hulk- The Practice meets… the Marvels. Ingenious.
Villains United- The most solid prologue title leading to Infinite Crisis.
Spider-Man/Human Torch- The Slott machine gives old, new, and casual Marvelites a winning mini-series.
New X-Men: Academy X- Old New Mutants Karma, Dani Moonstar and Wolfsbane teach a new generation. But the title has just undergone a revamp. Hope it’s still good.
V for Vendetta- Finally read it. In a word: damn.
Zatanna- Creative mystical hi-jinks, good art, and excellent dialogue make this uber-sweet.
Spider-Man Unlimited- Short Spidey stories with punch and heart.
Justice League Elite- Action-packed and enjoyable yearlong JLA spinoff series.
Astonishing X-Men- Can’t wait for Whedon and Cassaday’s second year run.
Wanted- Bloody, gross, amazing.
Mythology Class- Arnold Arre’s remastered compilation is a labor of love.
Warlock- Greg Pak knows his cosmic Marvel stuff.
Legion of Superheroes- Was skeptical when the Legion was rebooted for the umpteenth time, but Mark Waid is making the title a must-read.
Runaways- My current favorite reluctant teen superheroes.
PVP- Funny and nerdy. I likey.
DC: The New Frontier- A massive Elseworlds mini-series set in 1950s America, by Darwyn Cooke.
JLA: Crisis of Conscience- The League breaks up. Crucial Infinite Crisis tie-in.
Infinite Crisis- Great, so far. Jam-packed with fanboy-pleasing slugfests and earth-shattering drama.
Chosen- “Jesus” is back, and he was a kid in the ‘80s!

Long Decembers

I remember having chicken pox when I was twelve, hearing the early Christmas mass music when I woke up at five, being stuck in the TV room for many slow days, just drawing and reading and watching four blurred channels until my teacher and some classmates visited one afternoon because they thought that I had dropped out of school, because I wasn’t exactly attending my classes weeks before, and it was surprising because nobody visited me before when I was sick, and they weren’t exactly people I was close to, since I felt that school at the time was killing me with boredom, and all I had was myself.

Six Decembers later, I was in a strange new place, wide-eyed and dumbfounded, all too giddy with what felt real, and entangled, surrendering to the cool damp weather and to the heat of the moment, the softness of the bed, the pain that’s just in our heads, hands calm and clasped, touching divinity and beyond, without the sounds that spoke in the waking hours, but new ones like breathing and heartbeats and the soundtrack of mouths sticking to excited and nervous skin.

A December later, things became complicated, but the complications felt good and interesting, as if every path was uncharted territory waiting to be touched, wanting to be touched, by the hands of God, the hands of love, the hands that rocked and cradled, but some paths weren’t open, and ten or so Decembers later, there’s a feeling of déjà vu, of learning the same lessons again, of knowing why things turn amiss on occasion, why the days seemed to change with the soundtrack and the plans, and when December comes and cloys with its soothing winds and sparkles, I still love it, as I do the changes brought about by Decembers past that I can still see and feel, and my bed, a new one, is inviting as always, and we still steal moments, special moments that define us, that make us real in a time of unreality, and the month isn’t long enough for the things we want to do.

Thanks Galore

Just wanna thank Paeng for the nice review. Thanks to Paolo Manalo for the Friendster testimonial, too. I wanna share it!

"Forget the blurbs on the back of the collection, Lexy, Nance & Argus: Sex, Gods, Rock & Roll is Oliver M. Pulumbarit's owning the comic book form. I'm reminded of the graphic storytelling style of Alex Robinson's Box Office Poison and the meta comic narrative of Dylan Horrocks' Hicksville but LNA isn't a copy of either. Oliver maximizes the two-page comic book narrative form to give us the episodic development of the lives of three engendered characters at the turn of the century (from 20th to 21st) and highlights the comic book's unique strategies of sequence and consequence, juxtaposition and self-reflexivity, panel ellisions and caption cluttering. I look forward to reading more. (And more Jim, please!)"

And thanks again, Gumby, for this smashing new compilation:

Dollar- Give Me Back My Heart
Heather Nova- Truth and Bone
Midge Ure- Breathe
Jann Arden- Good Mother
10,000 Maniacs- Green Children
Sarah McLachlan- Strange World
Primal Scream- Love You
Silencers- I Want You
Glass Tiger- Someday
Alison Moyet- Is This Love
Icehouse- Crazy
Gin Blossoms- 29
Daryl Hall- Dreamtime
Belinda Carlisle- Mad About You
Cheap Trick- The Flame
Jars of Clay- Five Candles
Two Minds Crack- Upside Down
Sixpence None the Richer- Tension is a Passing Note

Thanks!!!

Too Much Passion...

...is never enough. Smithereens song from 1992.

With brainiacs Andrew and Vinnie
With Yvie Molina

Yesterday was the launch of Siglo: Passion, Project Hero, and Dean Alfar’s Philippine Speculative Fiction anthology at Fully Booked Greenhills. Went there with Benedict to pick up my complimentary copy of Siglo (I did a pinup), and we didn't really expect to stay long, but we met and chatted with a lot of people from the local comics scene. It was fun. Thanks to Enrique, whose name I didn’t remember immediately (sorry about that, man—how do I access your blog, by the way?), to Yvie Molina, who brought her Lexy copy to be signed (and thanks for the pictures, above, too), to Dean and the gang, and to those who had their books signed. Left two hours later with Sky; we dropped him off at the MRT’s Ortigas station. Watched a bunch of old Angel episodes at the house later, swapped and opened up some bargain bin-He-Man figs, and talked about everything else again after. Cool day, overall.

New Mutants
Got these pics here. Angel (Ben Foster) and Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), some of the new characters from X-Men 3, to be released next year:

Scarlet Hitch

I just bought a Scarlet Witch figure as part of a set of five toys. She, or it, flew off the shelves just when the new batch of Marvel Legends were delivered last week. Of course, the hoarders, as some salespeople at the toy departments call them, got their hands first on the rare female figure. But thankfully, a few days later, one of the big toy shop-chains released an assortment, sold at the regular price.

So I got it. I was unhappy with it, not because she looked strangely like comedienne Sarah Silverman (I love her). And not because the arms and torso looked anorexic. It’s because when I moved her head, the neck joint snapped. She was a headless mutant for nearly an hour! It was so freaking fragile. I had to put heavy-duty super-glue to save the poor thing. That’s a pity, Toy Biz, ‘cause it had sleeker thigh joints, as opposed to the unsightly ball joints that many of its predecessors have, and overall, it was playable enough. But, I have to add, the paint on her headgear looks sloppy. Parts of her hair were colored with the same opaque red paint. Sigh.

Anyway, Benedict and I have been in toy-hunting mode since last Saturday. Shared a pair of buy one-take one Fantastic Four movie toys. He got a Bend and Stretch Mr. Fantastic, while I got the Human Torch that yells “Flame On”. We’re on the lookout for He-Man toys now. Been waiting for the stores to sell them really cheap. They are, now. Yay.

Extra Audible
Got the CD that Gumby of Comic Brook burned for me, also last Saturday. Can’t stop playing it... they’re some of the songs from the soundtrack of my life. Thanks again, Gumby! Nice CD, this:

Prince, Sheena Easton: The Arms of Orion- Yeah, I’m a wide-eyed, teen kid again.
Robin Beck: For the Very First Time- Guilty pleasure! Power ballad-turned-softdrink ad jingle, also from my teen years.
Belouis Some: Animal Magic- “God, she’s afraid of the dark.” Lovely.
Chicane: No Ordinary Morning- Been looking for the Chicane CD forever. This song has a cool video.
Heather Nova: Heart and Shoulder- Underrated girl, Dave Hontiveros and I agreed a few years back. Really, really talented.
Ian McCulloch: Proud to Fall- One of those suave New Wave ditties I still enjoy.
Hard Rain: I Will Remember- Great extended version! Yeah!!!
Heart: All I Wanna Do (Is Make Love to You)- Oh, great song about screwing around. Heh…
Lightning Seeds: All I Want- Another different version! Broudie rules.
Aimee Mann: That's Just What You Are- Melrose Place’s end credits song. Love it.
Train: Drops of Jupiter- Reminds me of special moments. And people.
Primitive Radio Gods: Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth...- Ganda!
Susanna Hoffs: My Side of the Bed- Reminds me of good times, too.
Divinyls: I Touch Myself- Hahaha. ‘Nuff said.
The Cure: Pictures of You- Anthemic, as usual. Very nice.
Sarah McLachlan: Touch- Still sounds powerful. Angelic church choir music.
Kate Bush: Rocket Man- Ethereal cover of an Elton John song.
Don Henley: End of the Innocence- Feels more apropos now than it’s ever been to me.

Hearting Comix

“My amazement turns to conviction: talented people see things that others don’t. People with eidetic memory see colors flash as they recite books word for word; oido musicians hear bass lines beneath the melody; and Oliver sees patterns in marbled walls, in comic book covers, in everything.”

Peach Abubakar wrote that for the December issue of Chemical magazine three years ago. Actually, she said that because I showed her the old New X-Men masthead, which, I mentioned in passing, was perfectly symmetrical that one can read it upside down and still see it the same way. She then asked me about things that I “see” in everyday objects, so I answered that I just notice things like random lines forming strange, face-shaped doodles on the surface of marble tiles, and how I spot comic book artists’ strengths and flaws quickly. Her article mostly focused on how I became a “comic book nut” and my love for the medium, and the staffers of the mag even had me “pose” for a colored pic (above) that accompanied her nice writeup.

Comics for me are an occasional escape from mundanity. I have read and re-read tons of four-colored, paneled goodies (and guilty pleasures) since I was a wee kid. My mom suggested a few times, when I was a teen, that I stop buying them and save my allowance. Of course, one time, she immediately did so after seeing a cover of Uncanny X-Men, an Inferno tie-in, which had the near-naked Madelyne Pryor (as Goblin Queen), her scary pet demons (Jean Grey’s transformed parents), and on the foreground, her nasty ally Nastirh clutching baby Nathan Summers (the future hero Cable).

But by that time, it was akin to an addiction already, and Mom soon learned to accept it. My parents knew that I was seriously into it, and whatever it was that I got from the books was inspiring me in my school work. She even told me that she and her friends, as kids, also enjoyed quiet time with their komiks. Dad, meanwhile, once shared that he really enjoyed a Batman comic book that was given to him when he was really young. Reading comics really started with them, as I clearly remember enjoying the Agua Bendita, Taurus and Panday serials in old issues of Liwayway when I was in grade school. I was bombarded with fun kid stuff in the form of Darmo Adarna, Superkat, Dax, Niknok, and Planet Op Di Eyps from Funny Komiks. I also browsed through different mature anthologies in Wakasan and Love Stories, which, now that I think about it, contained a lot of implied sexual activity. But they were nicely self-censored.

The fantastical and resonant worlds appealed to me then, as they do now. Throughout these years, I have met disparate people who became friends because we shared the penchant for periodically visiting these bright, mysterious, escapist territories. I, along with these similarly appreciative, and sometimes nitpicky individuals, continue to speak about our unending jaunts into these modern mythologies.

I was interviewed three times this year about comics. Met up with Yonina Chan last month for the lengthy article which came out last Friday (thanks, Yonina!). I was emailed questions about LNA for Icon magazine’s website last summer. And I was also contacted to talk about the project for a college campus paper early this year. That last one, I’m assuming, has yet to be published, since I’ve yet to receive word about it. I doubt it’ll see print now, but no worries. I understand that these things happen, so I’ll just post some of the questions and my responses here.
----------
Who or what was your inspiration for this comic book?

When I was given the chance to try out for Pulp’s comics section, I knew that whatever I’d be creating must have its own edge and voice. I have a number of stories in my head, some of which involve a big, epic superhero setting, but space constraints didn’t exactly allow for what I had in mind originally. So I tapped into something universal, something that would make people notice and pay attention. And this was “Lexy, Nance…”, about the joys and pains of people who didn’t conform with society or tradition. From there, I understood how I wanted to present it.

Where did you get your characters?

They were all formed in my head. I’ve hundreds of characters, but when I knew what I wanted to create and what kind of story I should tell, those three protagonists surfaced. It was easy to write them from that point. They had to be distinct from each other and relatable.

Are your works autobiographical?

Not necessarily. There are certain scenes, thoughts and ideas that might be considered things I believe in or have experienced, but I’d rather not talk about the specifics for the sake of keeping the story’s mystique intact. That way, my readers can still separate me from my work, and can keep guessing if what they’re reading is taken from reality or just creative fabrication. It’s part of the whole writing deal.

What messages are you aiming to send to your readers?

A few letters I have received, presumably from young people, tell me that they have been empowered by it. They have been moved or touched by what they have read, and identify with the difficulties that the characters have had to go through. Mostly, the intention of the comic book is to provoke thought, and challenge people’s old notions about inclusion, family, and sexuality. If they feel positively affected by it, then I feel that I’ve done my job of getting my messages across.

When did you start doing this?

I wanted to tell stories through the comics art form since I was a kid, when I was in Grade 2. I just wanted to draw and draw action scenes, monsters and villains being beaten by superheroes, stuff like that. Eventually, I was creating my own characters, with their secret worlds and wars drawn at the back of notebooks and sketchpads. By college I knew that I wanted to be a comic book storyteller since I have met like-minded individuals who shared the same passion, and we discovered during this time that several Pinoys worked and are working successfully in US comics.

Do you have any advice for the people who wish to join this industry? Is this a good career move?

Practice. Never stop learning. You have to be open-minded to be the best storyteller. You have to be observant and pay attention to issues and events in and around your own life. If you want to self-publish, you have to want something enough to see it through, finish it, market it, and sell it. Realistically, doing your own comics entails a lot of real, hard work. Find a day job, or a number of freelance jobs. Find sponsors, connections, and people who believe in your project, so you’ll have the necessary support system to get it off the ground. Everything’s a learning experience, and you should savor it and let it fuel your creativity. And learn to accept criticism. But most of all, promise yourself that the project will not suck.

Maximo the Great

Was able to catch the last screening of Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros last night. It's a heartwarming, funny and memorable tale about a gay kid, Maxi (talented newcomer Nathan Lopez), who develops a huge crush on rookie cop Victor Perez (JR Valentin), an incorruptible and very likeable guy. The problem is, this honest law enforcer's after Maxi's family, a bunch of street thugs. But they love the boy dearly and have protected him from the neighborhood jerks. Can lovestruck Maxi get out of this quandary unscathed?

Watch it with your loved ones. It's showing now at most cineplexes. It's a special, exceptional effort. You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll learn a thing or two about life. "Maxi" also has a blog. Check that out, too. And congrats to the filmmakers, cast and crew for their recent wins here and in foreign filmfests.

Tomorrow, Manila Bulletin writer Yonina Chan texted, will be when the article about Filipino comic books comes out in the broadsheet's "i" section. Was interviewed for that a few weeks back, along with Marco, Arnold, and other comics-making comics junkies. Am excited about that.

Also, was able to complete the Sentinel set of Marvel Legends yesterday. I didn't buy the simple-looking Mystique figure, because she and Omega Red shared the same lower torso part of the Sentinel. Omega Red is a boring, BORING comic book character, but the action figure was WOW! So I got that instead. I like the bendable tendrils and imposing size. Really nice. And the assembled Sentinel looks like the good robot from Grant Morrison's last New X-Men arc, "Rover", the one controlled by the young guy ala the Iron Giant. So the big toy, I'm pretending, is part of the X-Men roster anyway, 'cause they're open to members who come from the future or alternate worlds. Rover rocks!

Okay, that was totally geeky.

DC Direct, please make more affordable figures with more points of articulation like the ones Toy Biz is doing. Please do it soon. You've got over seventy years' worth of characters at your disposal. Start with the post-Zero Hour Legion of Super-Heroes. Fanboys and fangirls the world over will eat 'em up. You'll make lots of money.

And In Our World of Plenty

It’s almost December. Coolness. I love seeing the colorful, shimmering Yuletide ornaments and hearing the carols, despite the fact that I don’t recognize the holiday’s origins anymore. The universal message of the celebration still appeals to me though, “peace on earth” and all that, but realistically, it’s an opportunity to rest from our year-long slavish routines and be with those who truly matter. I have nice memories of the holidays, of getting together with relatives and friends during vacations, of being in celebratory mode for weeks and dreading the resumption of the colorless, un-festive atmosphere. I still find the bright imagery and energy of Christmas appealing. But its religious semantics have been lost to me for some time already.

That won’t stop me from buying a small, cheap tree and decorating my room, though. The magical lights and the bright trimmings just transport me elsewhere and elsewhen.

Holidaze
I love this folk-pop song. Its words are wise and very timely, and it sounds really playful. Okay, only five people in this country probably know and like this. But go ahead and read it, anyway. Thanks to Sing 365 for the lyrics.

The Christians and the Pagans
Dar Williams

Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I, were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three.
He told his niece, "It's Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style,"
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and it's been awhile,"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able.

And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true, your cousin's not a Christian,"
"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,

And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning,
'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother."
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year,
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas and your daughter's here."
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
"Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,

Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.

Thanksgiving
Thanks to fellow Melrose Place-phile (yep, we exist!) Ruel for burning me a CD of great old songs, Benedict for lending me the awesome, AWESOME! Supreme issues by Alan Moore, and everyone else who made the week an okay one for me. You all know who you are. Thankyew!

Hungry Like a Wolf
Ah, it’s past two in the morning and I’m feeling hungry. Just ate a platito of microwave-softened cheese and drank a mugful of cold softdrink. Can’t eat more than that ‘cause it’s late. I'm craving for cake, but we don't have any.

Tagapagligtas


My interpretation of Habagat, a David Hontiveros character. Mixed media, Nov. 2005.

Jesus Surfs

"Hmm… I did what?!”

Was walking with John in Glorietta yesterday when we saw a big, disconcerting statue of cyber-savvy Jesus, prominently displayed at Goodwill Bookstore’s second level window. That stopped us in our tracks, but after the initial feeling of getting weirded out, we found the whole thing quite amusing. The smaller statue (below), an SMS-ing Savior, is about three or so feet tall. They kind of remind me of four things, actually: Buddy Jesus from Kevin Smith’s Dogma (a grinning, winking version), paintings of Jesus with a Harley Davidson (or a guitar), a sculpture series of Jesus playing sports (featured years back in Conan O’Brien… Jesus teaches martial arts to children!), and lastly, a breastfeeding Mary statue (we have this in the house… found it a tad strange when I was young). These renditions make the imagery more relevant, and a more conscious departure from the gloomy, centuries-old iconography. They might border on blasphemy or sacrilege for some, but hey, they at least make the Christian pantheon’s central figures seem more accessible… and, oddly enough, fun.

“Phone spam again? Must… turn… the other… cheek…”

Random Super Soundbites

Yeah, I had some free time. Here are 20 quotables from a few fictional people:

1. I gained omnipotence and found it wanting. (Thanos to Adam Warlock, Thanos # 1)
2. I’m not locked up here with you. You’re locked up here with me. (Rorschach, Watchmen)
3. What makes you a god, and me not? Because millions haven’t been slaughtered over the ages in my name by various followers? Because I don’t speak half-assed Shakespearean English? (Captain Marvel to Thor, Captain Marvel # 7)
4. It always ends. That’s what gives it value. (Death, Death: The High Cost of Living # 3)
5. We wish to retire with class and dignity, like the Bangles, not overstay our welcome in shame, like the Go-Gos. (Apu, Simpsons Comics # 68)
6. You’re the first pet I ever had that I didn’t build myself from dead flesh animated by lightning! (Jack B. Quick, Tomorrow Stories # 3)
7. I appreciate your confidence in me, Plastic Man. Of course I have a plan. (Batman, JLA # 26)
8. You had it all—money, fame, women… although the women don’t seem to have interested you overmuch. (Guardian to Northstar, Alpha Flight # 10)
9. Oh man! Not another alternate reality! (Hawkeye, Avengers, Vol. 3 # 2)
10. And every time you hear the words “parsley”, “intractable”, or “longitude”, you will vomit uncontrollably for forty-eight hours. (Emma Frost, Astonishing X-Men #5)
11. It appears the cause of death… was a footprint on his brain. I’d say men’s size 12. Wait… I’m making out some letters here… “eebok”? (Flatman, GLA # 4)
12. Let’s face it, “Superman”… the last time you really inspired anyone—was when you were dead. (Batman, Infinite Crisis # 1)
13. I want you to look at me—look at me like you look at her… look at me like you want to f—k me because I’m the best a third-rate character like you could do. (Purple Man to Ant-Man, Alias # 28)
14. A god, you say. A small god, perhaps… of a small world! (Superman to Thor, JLA-Avengers # 2)
15. You’ve got all this power… and no responsibility. You have no idea how much I envy you. (Peter Parker to Johnny Storm, Spider-Man/Human Torch # 5)
16. Yeah, you’re a villain… and your ringtone is stupid. (Molly to Victor Mancha, Runaways Vol. 2 # 4)
17. Your church is part of the ruling class and has been for centuries, Priest. It fears me—not because of the work I do—but the loss of power I represent. (Thor, Thor Vol 2, # 64)
18. Show me what happened between you and Scott in Hong Kong. Now, Emma… or I’ll make you relive the life of every single child you’ve allowed to die. (Phoenix, New X-Men # 139)
19. The whole “superhero thing” is much more than just wearing a cape and getting famous. What is it with this “American Idol” generation? (Zatanna, Zatanna # 2)
20. Nandiyan na ang siva ulo! Papatayin niya ulo! (unnamed bystander, Kingdom Come # 4)

Yes, that last one was written that way. Heh. "Siva ulo."

Been Downhearted Baby

“Am I alive or thoughts that drift away? Does summer come for everyone? Can humans do as prophets say? And if I die before I learn to speak, can money pay for all the days I lived awake but half asleep?”
--Primitive Radio Gods, “Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand”

Saw the video of that excellent old song over at MTV’s VH1 show, which has a cool selection of mostly adult contemporary hits and obscure singles. Been watching that when I can, along with MTV Nights, which nightly shows old new wave (heh, “old new wave”) and recent techno and alternative music videos. Wow. If you can’t stand the channel’s regular programming and rotating bubblegum staples during the day, that late night block, or whatever it is you call it, is worth tuning in to. Pale Fountains, The Cure, Sigor Ros, Chicane, Goldfrapp, Train, Echo and the Bunnymen, Moby … nice mix, overall. I also saw Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie and noticed that our old glasses looked kinda similar.

I only wore them for a few months. I don't even wear glasses at all now. It's pychosomatic, I guess. Felt that my eyes were occasionally blurry during this period. This was taken about eleven years ago, when the class' paper animation music video won in the (dunno if I remember this right) Film Academy of the Philippines' animation category. Wrote the Tagalog lyrics for that, too. Ah, hectic school days, I don't miss you.

Anyway, back to the PRG song. That felt more bittersweet and ponderous than usual, because those lines above somewhat described an unusually unproductive day. I’m restless. Just felt uninspired today. I just felt lacking in energy and took two naps. I don’t feel like working in the next few days. I just wanna have fun. Being cooped up in my workplace slash bedroom alone can be tiring.

I need contact.

“A life is time, they teach us growing up. The seconds ticking killed us all, a million years before the fall. You ride the waves and don’t ask where they go. You swim like lions through the crest and bathe yourself on zebra flesh…”

Living in Dreamtime

Gods... I'm sleepy. This pic was taken weeks ago, but it sums up how I feel now.

After over a week of just bumming around and waiting, I was suddenly bombarded with work. Pretty average workload, though. Just finished writing (and rewriting) three totally unrelated things earlier. I’m tired, but I just wanna take this time to update the old bloggy. It’s a little scary to know and meet people who actually read this tiny space in cyberspace. But thank you, dear visitors. Check out the linked journals if you haven’t already. They’re interesting and diverse. Am also glad that some people who get introduced to those involving blogs find them enjoyable too, and link them.

Just a few things from the week that was:

1. Loose women figures. Dropped by Festival Mall twice last week and got two loose (unpackaged) female action figures: A Marvel Legends Black Widow and a Marvel Select She-Hulk, both at Black Dragon. Lovely. Also got an unopened Cyclops figure from the latest ML series at the shop for P 20 off the regular price. It looks good, except for the his boots and gloves (hey, Toy Biz, the paint job looks really muddy, like he waded in a marsh or something). Oh, I also got the Jon Stewart Green Lantern (from the new 5-figure JLA set) at the nearby Jae’s Collectibles shop. They were selling the figures separately, fresh off the box. Am slowly building a JLA and an Avengers team. Will take pics of them one day.

2. I.C. Perez. Hmm, George Perez did some uncredited flashback pages in the second issue of Infinite Crisis. His style is easily recognizable. It's much cleaner than penciler Phil Jimenez', who has also improved considerably. Jimenez, whose style once aped Perez’ (his page layouts are still influenced by him, I think), now draws faces and bodies differently. His work looks a little influenced by Phil Winslade; the facial expressions and linework seem busier and darker than his previous comic book works. Nice.

3. Dog milk. Oh my god. I saw probably the most uncomfortably hilarious episode of South Park ever! Cartman and the other boys innocently play with male dogs. They really play with them. As in, they jerk them off until they squirt what the kids assume is milk. The adults are shocked to witness one such act of “milking”, so they demand that the school teach the kids sex education. Even the pre-schoolers. Two of the teachers, though, know zilch about sex. But a third teacher, the guy with the puppet, knows too much. And he’s assigned the pre-school class.

4. Bangled up. “I want to show you the picture I drew when I was on the phone talking to you: I made a heart and I colored it red, 'cause I want you here on my side of the bed… I've been dreaming since I was born, and in my dreams I see eyes like yours. I'll be the pillow where you lay your head. If you'll come and sleep on my side of the bed…”
(Susanna Hoffs, “My Side of the Bed”)

This old favorite has been playing in my head for days already. I first heard it in 1990. I wanna listen to it again, but none of the cassette players work anymore. Hmpf. And yeah, I feel the song ‘cause I miss… stuff. I need stuff. I want stuff. Stuff is good.

House of Eh?!

Okay, I bought and read the last issue of House of M (# 8). Spoilers ahead.

So that was it? Eight issues, and it doesn’t tell a complete story. The Scarlet Witch is still crazy. She depowered about a million mutants, and there are only 198 left (although that number was never mentioned here; it was announced elsewhere). She’s hiding somewhere in Europe, seemingly happy that she rendered her dad Magneto powerless. Half of Xavier’s school is affected by her reality-altering spell too, including Iceman (ah, he’ll be back) and some New Mutants (I liked Sofia!). Wolverine remembers everything now (he wasn’t depowered, as he appears in five monthly books). There were powerful character moments (i.e. Spidey enraged by his HOM memories; Emma using Cerebra to confirm the loss; Wanda and Pietro’s drama last issue), but the feeling of incompleteness is undeniable. The new status quo presents a lot of new story ideas for months to come, mostly in the mutant books, but that's about it. It feels like another story that inevitably portrays the New Avengers as clueless losers.

So who or what the hell is Layla Miller? What happened to Professor X? What’s the deal with Hawkeye? Why was he blaming Wanda for his death when he practically committed suicide? Why did it take 8 issues, when it could’ve been told in four? Does this mean the mutant titles will significantly be cut down to just a few? No to this last one; HOM # 8 directly leads to the next mega-event, Decimation, and new limited and ongoing series. Oh well.

The art was good (Coipel has improved a lot since Legion), although there were confusing panels (I didn’t notice ‘til much later that the heroes popped out of the party-crashing Sentinel head) and wasted pages (the full-page, glowing white holes in issues 1 and 7!). Attractive designs though, and dynamic action scenes.

But I still feel cheated.

Good thing Runaways isn't affected by this (I hope... one of them's a mutant).

Will be looking forward to something that doesn't involve a massive crossover event in January, like the 544-page Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, reprinting and compiling the classic character sourcebook. There's also the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z # 1 (that's a mouthful!), an updated monthly series that will be released two months from now, too.

Tomes of Truth

The past few days have been conducive for relaxing and reading. I finally bought myself CDs I’ve been meaning to get since last year or so, too: Sarah McLachlan’s Afterglow (it didn’t have Surfacing-type ballads but was still very listenable), Gin Blossoms’ Outside Looking In compilation (it didn’t have “29”, my favorite, but eh, it’s still good) and also Isha Abubakar’s new EP Katakataka (only four tracks, but they’re very melodic original songs).

I read and enjoyed borrowed issues of Oni Press' Courtney Crumrin by storyteller Ted Naifeh. I first noticed his work a few months back, a short X-Men Unlimited story starring Emma Frost and Wolverine. He’s good at creating inter-character conflicts and dishing out comeuppances; that's clear from the get-go. He gets to explore his own unique, flawed characters in his magical and eerie comic book. The Eisner-nominated creator drew his stories himself too, using a style that’s clean and cartoony yet very detailed (he seems a bit influenced by P. Craig Russell, Mike Mignola and Kelly Jones).

Courtney, an outcast student and a young witch, is a distinctly vindictive protagonist that has an unquenchable thirst for mystical knowledge. Her adventures are unpredictable, absorbing, and at times, shocking. Fans of Sandman, Buffy, and Bone will find the title a worthwhile and refreshing read.

Speaking of shocking, I recently discovered an eye-opening website about God-inspired atrocities in the Bible. I wonder why Religion and Theology teachers never discussed those specific topics back in school. In any case, there are linked essays and lists that illustrate how vengeful and bloodthirsty the deity was portrayed as. The inconsistencies of several oft-cited passages were highlighted, as well. The message of intolerance is also hard to miss in the Old Testament, as there are numerous written instances that document it.

I had to get the family Bible to confirm if the Second Book of Kings 2: 23-24 was really about 42 kids getting torn to pieces by two bears. Yeah, it was. Apparently, the kids were teasing and calling God’s prophet Elisha “baldhead”, so he “cursed them in the name of the Lord.” So enter a pair of heaven-sanctioned beasts from the woods. Holy crap. Compelling and intriguing info, though; they’re the parts that rarely, if ever, get discussed at church or in class.

Back to more reading… I’ve a few mags, sites, comics and catalogs to absorb before I get swamped with work again.

All Hallowed Out

Silly John took this pic of me in a dorky Viking hat a few weeks back at the toy department of SM Megamall. I don’t really get into the Halloween spirit by being in costume or going to parties--nah, they’re not really my thing--but I like the celebration and seeing everyone in fancy getup, from kids and pets to professional cosplayers and competitive masqueraders. Posh subdivisions in Makati and Alabang are serious about Trick or Treat-ing; they have costumed residents of all ages festively going around for sweets. Haven’t witnessed one up close myself, but I’m told it’s a fun spectacle.

This time of the year, for me, brings back fond memories of sem breaks, watching televised or taped scary movies, and trading spooky stories with friends and family.

Enjoy the holidays and be safe, everyone!

"Candied", Mixed media, Oct. 2000

Was feeling creative a couple of days ago and wrote this chantey of sorts. Make up your own tune.

Halloween Carol

In mist and fog, through doors that creak.
Sunless attics, empty rooms, oh they can make you shriek!
Fear can be anywhere you look:
In a still pond, a quiet street, an awful book.
But brave the unknown, revel in good cheer.
Have fun and fear! Halloween’s here!

In cobwebbed stairs, through dark dead trees.
Strange shadows and sounds that make you freeze!
Phobias can be anything you feel.
Open spaces, creepy crawlies, imagined or real.
But brave the unknown, revel in good cheer!
Have fun and fear! Halloween’s here!

Dress up and be merry, be nice or be scary.
Be god and frighten them with a flood.
Or act undead and crave for blood.
Or be a creature made of swamp mud!
An emotional vamp, a gold-digging tramp.
A politician on a stamp.
A backstabbing friend, oh you can pretend.
That you deserve the boons the heavens sent.
Put on your makeup, ghouls after breakups.
Put on your angel or fairy wings.
Or slinky cloth held up by strings.
And munch on those colored, crunchy things!
Give your dentist work, eat that sugared bread.
Tonight, the line ‘tween heaven and hell, we tread.
Live merry, for one day we’ll be dead!
Oh, be anyone you wish, before the night fades.
Feel the power of the annual masquerade.
Be someone you’re not, play a part once a year
And brave the unknown, revel in good cheer!
So tart up and sneer! Halloween’s here!
Have fun and fear! Halloween’s here!

Monsterrific
“I think there’s a lot of people out there who say we must not have horror in any form, we must not say scary things to children because it will make them evil and disturbed….That offends me deeply, because the world is a scary and horrifying place, and everyone’s going to get old and die, if they’re that lucky. To set children up to think that everything is sunshine and roses is doing them a great disservice. Children need horror because there are things they don’t understand. It helps them to codify it if it’s mythologized, if it’s put in the context of a story, whether the story has a happy ending or not. If it scares them and shows them a little bit of the dark side of the world that is there and will always be, it’s helping them out when they have to face it as adults.”
-- Joss Whedon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Monster Book (2000)

Cosmo Treat
Un-scary stuff. Just wanna thank the nice ladies of Cosmopolitan Magazine for giving LNA a nice review in their October issue. Yay!

Time to Bogey
This accompanied an article about TV and movie bogeybeings I wrote for the paper three years ago.

Komikontaminated

Had a meteor crashed on the UP Bahay ng Alumni last Saturday afternoon, it would’ve wiped out a sizeable chunk of this generation’s local comics-creating community in one fell swoop. Almost every clique was there, from the vast spectrum of indie creators to internationally known artists, as well as hundreds of Pinoy readers and aspirants. Exhibitors offered a variety of products that the generous guests happily (or perhaps in some cases, reluctantly) purchased. It’s safe to assume that it was fun for everyone.

I was able to sell 25 copies of LNA: FA (which was available in seven cover colors!) and 16 copies of LNA: SGRR, so it was especially cool for me. Benedict sold 20 copies of Psigns, and that’s great too, as we were unsure if it would make it to the convention a few days prior. To those who bought, passed by, greeted, and asked for autographs, thank you so much. Thanks to Taga-Ilog, Joseph, Jason, Paolo and Claire, Enrique, Josel, Reno, Allan a.k.a. Tenzil, Jonas (who bought copies for Johnny Danganan), Arnel and Mannie Abeleda, Kensai Zach Yonzon, Russell Tomas (nice to see you, old friend), Vinnie, Ruel and Shiela of Comic Brook (fun talking to you both!), and to those whose names I can’t remember right now, or didn’t ask, thank you for buying and chatting, too!

It was also nice to finally meet Manix Abrera, Luis Katigbak (thanks for taking that picture!), Gabby Lee, Joel Chua, Butch Mapa, Terrence and GOOF. (yeah there’s a dot after), and to see old pals and/or fellow comics junkies Ian, Chris, Arn and Cyn, Jac, Wilson Tortosa, Felix Cua, Ryan Orosco, Marco, El and Camy, Andrew, Gerry, Carl, Dave, Budjette, Annie Alejo, Ric, and from afar, Nil Yu, Gilbert, Jay Anacleto, Lico Reloj and Ed Tadeo. There were those who looked really familiar but I can’t name them. Grabe, star-studded.

Congrats to the organizers for the event and for bringing such an eclectic bunch together. One major gripe though: I hope they switch on the ceiling fans near the exhibit area next time. Hindi naman liliparin yung mga papel namin. Many of us were fanning ourselves and were uncomfortable. The venue was good and spacious; I just don’t see why we had to swelter the whole time when there were four unused electric fans in that area.

Anyway, thanks to Benedict for helping me sell my stuff and the pic above, and for bringing me home. Here’s the old Lakan group a.k.a. Creative Underground, a.k.a. Pot Luck Productions (minus John, who was busy last Saturday, and Budj, who was away, and Marvin, he’s in the US). Thanks for this pic, Gerry!


Update (Oct. 28, Friday): Those who wish to meet and have their books signed by creators David, Carl and Manix, they're in Powerbooks Greenbelt right now til 5 p.m.. It's the official launch of the Penumbra books (Takod, Parman, Craving), and other Visprint titles like Zsazsa Zaturnnah and Kiko Machine will also be available. Go! Now!

Cover Boy

Psigns of the Season ashcan cover (left) by me. Created and written by Benedict and illustrated by Gian a.k.a. GOOF, it's got kid superheroes and a really cool mystery. The unique short story is something that young and old readers can enjoy. It’ll be available at my table later today, Komikon 2005, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., UP Bahay ng Alumni. Only P 30. Drop by, say hi, and please buy our stuff.

Here’s another cover I made, this time for Sky’s e-book series Warm Bodies (he put in the masthead and text over my letter-less drawing). This third volume, “Nostalgia Galore”, compiles over a dozen selected blog entries about, obviously, personal recollections of the decades that were. The file can be downloaded from his blog. Reminisce away.

Five for Filing

1) Palanca Award-winning writer David Hontiveros will be releasing three new horror-dark fantasy novellas during the Komikon. These are Parman (cover by me, image above), Craving (cover by Carl Vergara) and Takod (cover by Wawi Navarroza). The books will be launched officially a week after the comics convention. Will announce the date and venue when everything's confirmed. Parman introduces a different kind of Filipino hero, Uno, a knight in special armor. Check that and the other books out.

2) Met up with science guy Sky briefly last Sunday afternoon at the nearby mall for something work-related. Was expecting him to be pale, scrawny, and kulot. That’s how I imagined he’d look like. He’s not. He’s a little intimidating, actually. But he seems like a nice fellow, heheh.

3) Saw a quick but very touching story about rocker Melissa Etheridge, who recovered from her battle with breast cancer, on ET last night. She’s overjoyed and claims that every day is a chance to live life to the fullest. “I don’t fear the future,” she enthuses. She's also grateful to her loving wife Tammy Lynn Michaels for her unwavering support throughout the ordeal.

4) Saw a South Park episode over Jack TV two nights ago, where Cartman was duped into buying a teenaged guy’s shorn pubic hair. After failing miserably at getting his money back, evil Cartman had the last laugh by… ahh, it’s just too gross to put in detail here, but nevertheless, I was entertained and disgusted at the same time. That rarely happens.

5) Heard Alanis Morissette’s version of Seal’s “Crazy”. Impressive. Ben Folds’ version of The Cure’s “In Between Days”? Mmm... sorry. I don’t like it.

Infinity and Beyond

Sneaking some blog time between sleep and work. Got a few things I should write about before I totally forget. Past week was busy as usual. Just taking a breather.

She’s Damn Talented
Last Friday, I attended Isha Abubakar’s EP launch at the Podium. She performed four new, all-original Tagalog compositions. My favorite among them, the title track “Katakataka”, was melodic and heartwarming, and was a solid team effort between her, the band and her backup singers. She did a bunch of awesome covers while playing the keyboard, including “People are People” and “Life in a Northern Town”. I hope to get a copy of the CD soon; I've yet to check if the stores sell it already. Wish I had a camera (yeah, I should save up for one, I know); I can only say so much about how she looked while playing, channeling all that ethereal energy into her lilting voice and her swift, adroit fingers.

Komikon 2005
That’s next Saturday, folks. Confirmed attendees include, aside from yours truly: Arnold Arre (Mythology Class), Leinil Yu (Wolverine), Gerry Alanguilan (Humanis Rex), Budjette Tan (Kid Zeus and Ate Carol), Elbert Or (Cast), Reno Maniquis (Maskarado), Jonas Diego (A Girl’s Story), Jac Ting Lim (Pilya), Marco Dimaano (KIA), Carlo Vergara (Zsazsa Zaturnnah), David Hontiveros (Parman, Craving, Takod), Manix Abrera (Kiko Machine), the event organizers Artist’s Den, and many others. Please click on the Komikon link in the previous post for more information.

Also, for those curious, no, the LNA: Family Album minicomic isn’t a sequel. It’s a small supplement that complements the comic book. I’m hoping that new readers who pick it up will be enticed to get the previously released book. And that those familiar with that will be interested enough to check out the new, non-sequential gathering of snappy snapshots, which further explore the characters and their world. It was a chance for me to revisit the concept, and the different format allowed me to experiment a bit. That was fun to do.

Infinite Crisis
Wow. First issue’s out. The buildup was great; it was spread across five titles (I only read four, so that’s 24 issues). Spoilers! The sequel to DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths sees a fractured Justice League confronting an alliance of Super-Villains, the insane Spectre, the Meta-hunting Sentinels… I mean, OMACs, bloodthirsty Thanagarian forces… and some unknown, otherworldly threats. Important figures from the first Crisis reappear. Twenty years after that unforgettable epic, this series promises to change the status quo again. It’s also heavily tied into last year’s Identity Crisis, so the repercussions are big. The JLA title is a crucial tie-in, too, as some of the team's founders gather a new group. Infinite Crisis is really dark and bloody, so far, and most importantly, fun. I’m a kid again! Can’t wait for the next ish.
Infinite Crisis # 1 (from Newsarama)

House of M
Again, spoiler-ish. By contrast, Marvel’s current big crossover event is almost at an end. It started really slow, but the penultimate issue (# 7) finally reveals the real machinations behind the new reality. This story was brought about by last year’s controversial and somewhat forced disbanding of the Avengers (the title was revamped into New Avengers). Magneto’s insane and powerful daughter, the reality-bending Scarlet Witch, reshapes the world into one where mutants, primarily the House of Magnus, rule the Earth. Like Infinite Crisis, it’s supposed to forge the universe’s new direction. The cliffhanger in # 7: The almost-Beyonder-like Wanda wishes mutants away. The rumor is, the mutant population will be thinned down to a few hundred. Will they be de-powered? We'll see next month. Incidentally, there have been genocidal efforts that significantly removed mutants before (hundreds were killed during the Morlock Massacre, and millions in Genosha’s Sentinel attack) and there was a storyline where the High Evolutionary neutralized millions of mutants' powers for weeks.

Well, I hope the conclusion doesn’t disappoint. That’s been the problem with the Avengers title recently (it's written by the same scribe). Wanda’s rampage last year was stopped by a non-Avenger, Dr. Strange. The first arc of New Avengers ended with the unexpected intervention of SHIELD. Most recently, the Sentry went on a rampage, and the X-Men's Emma Frost saved the day! What gives? Will the Avengers shine and be the real heroes at all in the Ronin arc?

Shadow of the Cat
One of the most memorable New Mutants issues ever, # 45, from 1986. Powerful and relevant. Kitty Pryde speaks about a new friend, Larry Bodine, who killed himself because bullies threatened to expose him as a mutant. They didn't know that he actually was, until it was too late. Click on the panel below.


Will sleep now. I miss my bed and pillows.

They’re back!

All-new format! The Lexy, Nance & Argus: Family Album minicomic (5 ½” X 8 ½”) is an all-new collectible companion to the well-received Lexy, Nance & Argus: Sex, Gods, Rock & Roll. The 24-page, black and white special collects exclusive spot cartoons (captioned comic illustrations, a la The Far Side and Dennis the Menace newspaper strips) starring the lovable and quirky characters from the hit indie comic book. Only a limited number of copies will be released during the daylong Komikon 2005 event on Oct. 22, at the UP Bahay ng Alumni. Please do check it out. Only P 50 per copy.

Lexy, Nance & Argus: Sex, Gods, Rock & Roll will also be available on that day. Other local creators and publishers will be releasing all-new books at the convention as well.