Culture Crash Comics Reunited At Komikon 2008

Nabitin ba kayo? Gusto niyo ba ulit ng Reunion? Magsasama-sama silang muli kung saan nagsimula ang lahat…sa U.P.

...No, we are not talking about the band Eraserheads.


8 years ago, a group of 4 individuals breathed new life into Philippine comics. Culture Crash Comics first appeared on August of 2000. It’s a full colored anthology including a few pages of articles about the latest in music, games, movies, comics and technology. The man in charge of “The Premiere Comic Magazine” is Jescie James Palabay. James “Da Bhoss” is also the writer of the title “One Day Isang Diwa”, which is drawn by Elmer Damaso. The story features the not-so-typical high school life of Jun and his friends and a diwata named Diwa . Elmer, a.k.a. “I.Q. 40”, created “Cats Trail” which is about the adventures of Airee, a thief in the fantastical world of Memeria. The title “Pasig” was the post apocalyptic world of a bounty hunter named Mina, written and drawn by Melvin Calingo, a.k.a. “Taga-Ilog”. Jerard “JIO” Beltran did the futuristic mecha story “Solstice Butterfly” which was placed in hiatus on issue 8 and was replaced by “Kubori Kikiam” by Michael “Taga-kanal” David, a comic about talking fight food and what-nots in their lives.

In the four years of Culture Crash Comics they created the stir about Manga vs. Filipino art styles. They held the C3CON: The First Philippine Comicbook and Anime conventions in 2002 and 2003. They’ve given spotlight to independent comic book artists and more publishers followed suit. After 15 issues the company closed.

Why did it close? When will it come back? Will it ever come back? Where are the artists now? What have they been doing? All these questions can be answered at the KOMIKON 2008 as the Culture Crash takes the stage for their reunion. For more details about the KOMIKON visit http://komikon.blogspot.com, http://komikon.deviantart.com or send an e-mail to komikon[@]gmail.com

Gerry Alanguilan - Quintessential Komikero

Who says comics in the Philippines is dead when people like our guest of honor keep it alive?

Gerry Alanguilan, pride of San Pablo City in Laguna, is the artist for local titles Wasted, Johnny Balbona, Humanis Rex!, Timawa and ELMER. He also contributed to anthologies like Siglo: Freedom, Siglo: Passion and Filipino Komiks. His website, komikero.com, features his many works, videos and an online comics museum. The Philippine Comics Art Museum is a collection and proof of the rich comic heritage the Philippines had decades ago. He also became a professor at the College of St. Benilde. There he taught;Comics Illustration; for one term. Gerry has been invited to speak at numerous talks in different colleges and universities.


Aside from his local works, he is known for his contributions in the United States comic industry. He is known as inker for titles like Wetworks, X-Men, Superman: Birthright, Wolverine, High Roads, Fantastic Four, and Silent Dragon. He has also worked alongside with Leinil Francis Yu and Whilce Portacio.

Gerry Alanguilan will be one of the panelists at the KOMIKS 101 - a talk to be held on November 17, 2008 (Monday) at the UP Fine Arts Auditorium, UP Diliman. He'll be talking on the topic "Komiks in Education - Including comics into the curriculum"; which will be from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. He, along with Elbert Or and Jamie Bautista, will also have a lecture, "Comic Writing for Artists", on November 20, 2008 (Thursday) from 2:30pm-4:30pm at the College of Fine Arts in UP Diliman.

Get to know him even more at the 4th Annual Filipino Komiks Covention (KOMIKON) 2008 on November 22 (Saturday) at the UP Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Gerry will take the stage for a Q&A as part of the day's program. Have the opportunity to purchase his comics and have them signed.

Visit his site at http://www.komikero.com/ for more information of Gerry Alanguilan. To know details about the KOMIKON 2008, visit http://komikon.blogspot.com/ or http://komikon.deviantart.com/ or email us at komikon[@]gmail.com