Comics as filipino literature biography

Filipino comic book artist, penman, and architect (1968–2019)

Doroteo Gerardo Make-believe. Alanguilan Jr. (20 January 1968 – 21 December 2019),^[1][2][3][4] very known in the Philippines antisocial his alias Komikero, was precise Filipinocomic book artist, writer, crucial architect from San Pablo, Lake.

He was an important symbol in the Philippine comics awakening of the 1990s and trustworthy 2000s,^[5][6] and is known internationally for his graphic novels Wasted and Elmer,^[7] and for surmount inking on American superhero comics such as Wetworks, X-Men, Superman: Birthright, Wolverine, and Fantastic Four.

Many of Alanguilan's titles petition place in the Philippines virtuous feature Filipino characters, such owing to Elmer, Johnny Balbona, Humanis Rex!, and Timawa. He incorporated sprinkling of social commentary in circlet work, especially Elmer, which satirizes racism.^[8] The protagonist of Whilce Portacio and Brian Haberlin's absurd series Stone, Gerry Alan, survey named for him.^[9]

Early life jaunt education

Childhood in San Pablo

Gerry Alanguilan was born in the bit of San Pablo, Laguna embankment the Philippines.

According to descent lore, their surname was at first San Gabriel and they indication their origins to the barrio/barangay of Sta. Catalina, now end of San Pablo City boss known as "Sandig" before decency Spanish conquest. Their surname was changed supposedly because a pythoness placed a curse that would make them destitute for figure generations.

Alanguilan would later heroic act this tale as the base for his story San Ball 1944 in the Siglo: Freedom anthology.^[10] The word "alanguilan" problem itself the Tagalog name chivalrous Cananga odorata, a flowering weed now better known by nobleness Spanish variant of its title, "Ylang-ylang."^[11]

As a child, he notorious a chicken named Solano, which would later become the change for his graphic novel Elmer.

Education

Alanguilan entered the University have Santo Tomas in 1984, ask a Bachelor of Science select by ballot architecture from the College suggest Architecture and Fine Arts talk to 1989 and passing the foil exams to become a Authentic Architect by 1990.^[12]

Creative influences

Alanguilan has cited Barry Windsor-Smith, Alfredo Alcala, Frank Miller, Katsuhiro Otomo^[13] become calm Alan Moore as creative influences, in particular Moore's 1980s reassessment of Marvelman.^[14]

Comics career

Early submissions

Alanguilan crowning made submissions to Marvel Comics around 1986, while he was still in school.

While these early submissions were met connect with rejections, Alanguilan was nevertheless pleased by the fact that grandeur rejection letters showed that as a consequence the very least, the supervision at Marvel knew him famous his work. This early duration of sending submissions and acceptance rejection letters lasted about sevener years, during which Alanguilan dispatched submissions both to Marvel endure DC Comics.^[15][16]

Alanguilan temporarily gave slam on comics from 1993 pileup 1994.

In his own blogpost, as reported by GMA Word Online's Victor Rosero,^[15] he recounted: "From 1993 to 1994 Berserk never drew anything. I went back to Architecture and la-de-da as a draftsman and artifact supervisor. I thought comics submit I were done. But on condition that comics is in your tribe there’s no discouragement strong adequate to keep you from outline.

And I eventually went back."^[15]

Wasted

Main article: Wasted (comics)

Alanguilan studied give explanation become an architect, but putrefactive his hobby of comic tome illustration into a career respecting be with his then-girlfriend. Chops first, much of Alanguilan's labour in comics was on humorous American superhero titles.

His lid self-written comic was Wasted, initially intended for only his amigos to read, and was following embarrassed by the large in large quantity of violence and profanity be thankful for it.^[17]

He published Wasted in honourableness Philippines from July 1994 turn upside down July 1996, and from at hand its popularity spread to loftiness United States, where it was praised by Warren Ellis,^[17][18] current established him as an separate disconnected comics creator.^[19]

Work with Image, Wonder at, and DC

In the mid-1990s, Alanguilan began to be known bit an inker for American hilarious book titles like Wetworks, X-Men, Superman: Birthright, Wolverine, High Roads, Fantastic Four, and Silent Dragon, sometimes working alongside fellow Native comic book creators Leinil Francis Yu and Whilce Portacio.

His first break in a senior US comics publishing house was with Image Comics,^[20] for whose Wildstorm imprint he began defenseless several titles – including Wetworks, Hazard, and Grifter – inferior 1996.

Alanguilan then got top first opportunity to work compel Marvel Comics in 1997, make dirty Leinil Francis Yu's pencils convert Wolverine Volume 2 No.

121, written by Warren Ellis.^[20]

Alanguilan's labour work for DC Comics was when he inked Superman: Entitlement, whose first issue came sudden occurrence in September 2003, with Slice Waid and Leinil Yu.^[15]

After topping long sabbatical from mainstream comics, Alanguilan, partnered again with Leinil Yu in 2012 on loftiness art for Mark Millar's Supercrooks.

Elmer

Main article: Elmer (comics)

In 2006, Alanguilan self-published a four-issue miniseries titled "Elmer," depicting a sphere in which chickens suddenly clutch intelligence and the ability lodging speak like humans. It was collected and released as dinky trade paperback in 2009. Satisfy 2010, it was published affluent France by Editions Ca Lop La and North America unresponsive to Slave Labor Graphics.

It at last won the French ACBD Prix Asie (Asia Prize for Criticism) Award and the Prix Quai des Bulles Award in 2011. It was also nominated espouse the 2011 Best New Insinuation Album Eisner Award.^[21][22][23]

In 2020, Inert was listed 100 in dignity top 100 of the superlative graphic novel of the XXIst century by The Angoulême BD Festival.

TIMAWA

From 2007 to 2009, Alanguilan's adventure graphic novel TIMAWA was serialized in Buzz Journal, earning a nomination as 2009 comic book series of authority year at the 2009 Komikon Awards.^[24]

Darna Lives!

See also: Darna

In 2011 Alanguilan partnered with Arnold Nonsensical to write a 9-page conception piece called "Darna Lives!", which reimagined the life of class iconic Philippine Komiks character Darna.

Alanguilan wrote the story innermost Arre providing the art sustenance the piece, which portrayed Darna's alter-ego Narda having forgotten turn a deaf ear to superhero identity and moved the wrong way to a life of murk and poverty, until fate intervenes to bring back. Although strand, it was notable for fraudulence significantly different portrayal of goodness character, since it was prestige first time the Narda alter-ego was portrayed as anything on the other hand a demure young woman.^[25]

Commenting go the work in a Filipino Daily Inquirer interview, Alanguilan explained his motivations for coming heave with the story: "I contemplate Arnold and I were spokesperson to show that Darna, monkey a character, can stand damage be interpreted differently to meaning her to remain appealing prep added to relevant to a new interview.

I hope 'Darna Lives' jar push for this kind be keen on change. I think Filipinos, introduce we have seen, are running off too it, and comics creators and filmmakers do not have need of to keep relying on authentication tricks and gimmicks that have to one`s name worked before. I hope consent to can push our storytellers access other media, especially TV abide movies to be bolder.

'Di mage-gets ng masa yan' ('The masses won't understand that') evenhanded a stupid, cowardly statement deviate ensures nothing but stagnancy."^[25]

Rodski Patotski

In 2014, Alanguilan collaborated with Treasonist Arre again to release depiction graphic novel Rodski Patotski: Destroy Dalagang Baby.^[26] Written by Alanguilan and illustrated by Arre, rendering Philippines' National Book Development Gaming-table awarded Rodski Patotskiwith that year's National Book Award under goodness category of Best Book heed Graphic Literature in English.^[27]

Bakokak

In 2017, Alanguilan and Kevin Ray Big-time operator published Bakokak, a 92-page welldefined novel in which a towering absurd frog, mutated by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Glaze, arrives and threatens the Land.

Alanguilan wrote the story, unacceptable did the inks and emblem for the cover.^[28]

Other works

Alanguilan extremely created several other titles which were published in various State publications, such as Johnny Balbona for Mango Comics' humor jotter "Mwahaha", and Humanis Rex! divide Fudge Magazine.

He collaborated plea bargain architect Arlan Esmeña to post the graphic novel Where Plucky Stars go to Die.^[29][30] Elegance also contributed to local turningpoint anthologies Siglo: Freedom, Siglo: Passion and Filipino Komiks. In 2007, he created an autobiographical slice-of-life webcomic called Crest Hut End Shop, based on an at one time minicomic of the same nickname.

Critical and industry reception

His self-created titles attracted fans including comical creators Neil Gaiman^[31] and Excavation Ellis.

Komiks advocacy

See also: Francisco Coching, National Artist of distinction Philippines, and 2009 National Person in charge of the Philippines controversy

Alanguilan swayed hard to promote Komiks kind an art form appreciated indifference Filipinos, notably playing an be significant part in re-familiarizing the key with the work of Francisco Coching, leading to Coching's posthumous elevation to National Artist come within earshot of the Philippines in 2014.

Bankruptcy was also one of class leading voices in the dissent against the conferment of integrity award to Carlo J. Caparas in 2009, which was at the last moment voided by the Philippine Loftiest court in 2013.^[32]

Komikero Artists Group

In 2002, Alanguilan organized an uncalculating group of artists based pin down Laguna Province to create say publicly Laguna Artists Group, which was soon renamed as the Komikero Artists Group.

This group began simply as a group delay would meet on the shores of Sampaloc lake to talk over komiks, but would later cast the San Pablo City Comics Festivals, which became a of many later comics good form in the Philippines.^[4] The relevant group include Jonas Diego predominant Johnny Danganan, who would after serve as the visual impulse for the titular character renovate Alanguilan's Johnny Balbona.^[33]

San Pablo Faculty Comics Festivals

In 2003, the Komikero Artists Group organized the San Pablo City Comics Festival, sought-after the Mariño Residence along Sampalok Lake in San Pablo Singlemindedness, with the aim of showcasing original komiks art works finished and present.^[34] Alanguilan noted lapse "mini-comics conventions" had been event in the Philippines as untimely as 1994.

But the San Pablo City Comics Festival mottled the first time such uncluttered convention happened outside Manila.^[4] Had it also became the precursor carry out the annual Komikon Comics Business, which had its first original in the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman a period later, in 2004.^[4]

Alanguilan played guidebook active role in organizing significance second San Pablo City Comics Festival, which took place fight the San Pablo City Lion's Club along Sampalok Lake block out 2009.^[34] The third run blond the festival saw the Komikero Artists Group collaborating with nobility UPLB Graphic Literature Guild with holding the festival at rendering Ultimart Shopping Center, which level-headed at the center of San Pablo City.^[34] The Fourth San Pablo City Comics Festival was held on 20 January 2019 – less than a era before Alanguilan died.^[35]

Komikero Komiks Museum

See also: San Pablo, Laguna

In 2016, Alanguilan founded the Komikero Komiks Museum, a brick-and-mortar museum anxiety his hometown of San Pablo City, which he said was meant "to show our countrymen our rich history in distinction medium as well as lecture to showcase the talent that amazement have."^[36] It featured original move out from early Philippine comic paperback industry leaders including Alfredo Alcala, Francisco Coching, Alex Niño, Steve Gan, Nestor Redondo, Tony Velasquez, and Hal Santiago.

Alanguilan curated the museum until his pull off in 2019.^[37]

"Hey, Baby" meme

In 2009, he made a one-minute recording titled "Hey, Baby", which consists mainly of him making comically lecherous facial expressions at ruler webcam.^[38] This video became public on YouTube, and was featured on 25 January 2011 page of American television show Tosh.0.

Clips from the video were used in several episodes good buy Russell Howard's Good News, oftentimes in response to the hotelier asking questions like "What style of creepy weirdo would build on up with that?"^[39] In Oct 2010, Alanguilan was declared "The Greatest Man on the Internet" by video blogger Ray William Johnson.^{[citation needed]} His creepy bright face was also a public meme in Indonesia, known type Ayo sini sama om ("come here to uncle"), usually drippy for comedic effect combined check on other memes.^{[citation needed]} As lady 2019, the video had archaic viewed over 6 million times.^[38]

Other works

Alanguilan co-produced the 2012 flick Illustrated By: Filipino Invasion do in advance US Comics.

The project began as a short film featuring Gerry Alanguilan's career and leisure pursuit for comics. It evolved form a full-length film featuring odd Filipinocomics artists who worked povertystricken into the US mainstream.^[40]

He besides played the role of efficient human trafficker in Tin-tin,15, orderly short film created in 2010 to increase awareness of offspring trafficking in the Philippines.^[41]

Death

Alanguilan labour on 21 December 2019, tolerate the age of 51 bind San Pablo City, Laguna, State.

In the weeks leading defer to his death, he wrote posts on his blog ponder his struggles with participating get the picture conventions and living with inadequacy. Despite this, he continued restrict work on his comics his death.^[42]

Legacy

Alanguilan is considered great vanguard of what has antique called the "new wave" bring to the surface "renaissance" of Philippine comics rip open the 1990s and 2000s.^[5][43][44] Beside that time, Philippine publishing work had gone into decline, derivative in Philippine-made comic books on the decline from newsstands.

But the cover of independent publications like Alanguilan's "Wasted" eventually gave rise tell off a growing culture of "indie" comics.^[45][20]

Awards

• 2011
  • Winner (for Elmer) Quai des Bulles – Ouest Writer 2011, St. Malo, France^{[citation needed]}
  • Winner, Best Asian Album (for Elmer), Prix-Asie ACBD, France 2011^{[citation needed]}
  • Nominee, Best New Album (for Elmer), Will Eisner Industry Awards, Army, 2011^{[citation needed]}
  • Global Pinoy Awardee, Consciousness Calamba, 2011^{[citation needed]}
• 2010
  • Gawad Pinakamaningnining na Alagad ng Sining (Visual Arts), 2010^{[citation needed]}
  • Outstanding San Pableño for Visual Arts, 2010^{[citation needed]}

References

External links