Babbling Point

Attention: Philippine Comics Creators and Publishers Psicom Publishing, Mango Comics, Culture Crash Comics, and Pupung Company, recently met and discussed the state of the local comic book industry. It was determined that for the local comic industry to survive, much less progress, it would be to everybody’s advantage to cooperate in pursuing a common goal. With this in mind, they formed a loose coalition and are inviting fellow creators and publishers to participate. Below is the concept paper and mission statement of the group. Please read the document in its entirely. All those interested can send e-mail to swampting@edsamail.com.ph to receive instructions on where the online discussions will be held. Discussions will focus on the following topics: 1. To increase comic book awareness; 2. To establish a comic book section in major bookstores, i.e. National Bookstore; 3. To negotiate with other retailers to increase local comic book visibility; 4. To attem

Gerry's WASTED gets reviewed in Steven Grant's PERMANENT DAMAGE . Alrite! "Gerry Alanguilan's a Philippine artist who occasionally pops up as an inker at major comics companies, but if you read WASTED (Komikero Comics, Box 67, San Pablo City Post Office, Laguna, Philippines 4000; $3.95US) you'll realize what a waste of his talents that is. WASTED collects a crime comic Gerry wrote and drew in the mid-90s, about a would-be musician who goes nuts when all the pressures and betrayals of his life get to him. Not unlike the film FALLING DOWN, but involving a lot more bodies. It's one of those stories congested in overwhelming inevitability, but it's well done. Gerry's has developed as an artist since WASTED - his more recent work has a more illustrative European look, but I sort of prefer the open cleanness of WASTED: more power with fewer lines. Anyway, it's a kick."

A double-double agent that delivers double the action! From the looks of last night's episode Syndney Bristow can easily kick Elektra's thonged-butt any day! Of course, I'm talking about the Elektra-movie-character and not the Elektra-Frank-Miller-created-character. Whilce watching ALIAS, Brandie said it reminded him of the movie LA FEMME NIKITA , which some cable channel tried to turn into a TV series but failed. ALIAS is a success in the States, and I wouldn't be surprised if it finds a following here. Jennifer Garner already got a lot of hype thanks to the DAREDEVIL MOVIE. Just hope the workload allows me to always get home in time to watch it. I'm just oh so thankful that AXN reruns the episodes on different days and early in the morning.

SURVIVOR WITH SPANDEX According to The Hollywood Reporter, the WB has ordered six episodes of Who Wants to be a Superhero?, described as “a tongue-in-cheek fantasy contest show from reality guru Bruce Nash ("Meet My Folks") and comic pioneer Stan Lee.” The series, which will debut in the 2003-04 season will feature real people with homegrown ideas for original superheroes will face off in character before a panel of celebrity judges who have played onscreen superheroes. Reporter: “Semifinalists will undergo a ‘superhero makeover’ -- with a professional artistic gloss overseen by Spider-Man creator Lee -- and compete in various stunts and challenges that mimic comic book derring-do. The winner will then be eligible to have his or her idea developed and expanded by Lee's team, possibly for a comic book spinoff. The producers will conduct and film open auditions around the country in coming weeks.”

Grace just watched the premier episode of ALIAS on AXN; said it's like McGyver meets Buffy meets Dark Angel with the soundtrack of Roswell and Dawson's Creek. On my way home to catch the 1am showing.

Running with the Gangs of New York "The appearance of law must be upheld, especially when it's being broken." --Boss Tweed In the past hundred years, not much has changed about New York. The gangs are still there. You are beaten up because of your color and your money. But people continue to go there in search of a better life. Politicians still try to get their fingers into everyone’s pie. You are important to them because of your vote. Their children are still sent to war and they’re not sure what it’s all about. They now have taller buildings and pigs do not roam the streets like wild dogs. The pigs are elsewhere in the city. Maybe all these comments are not fair. I’ve never been to New York. The only New York I know is the one I’ve seen in movies and read in comic books. Maybe it’s better. Maybe it’s not. Maybe they’ve achieved some progress in the past hundred years. And some is better than none at all. And the same can be