Nag-iisa Lang Ako (Ang Ikatlo Sa Huling Libro)

Category:	Books
Genre:	Biographies & Memoirs
Author:	Tado Jimenez

I remember looking all over every NBS on my locale and not finding any copy eventually acquiring one at a book convention at SMX and I can tell you after reading and succumbing to the Tadoliciousness of it's pages that this shit could have been a lot better production wise. Any print media practitioner knows the care and attention when publishing works specially books. I don't know how much the editorial staff at PSICOM is being paid but from the looks of this books, I guess not much. Expect half-assed editing, errant grammar and spelling (unless sinasadya ng author), horrible-horrible proofreading and not too great layout awaits.

'Yung unang mga pahina ng kopya ko ginamitan ko pa talaga ng red ballpen at kinorek ang mga nakikita kong mali. Tinigilan ko na lang nang napansin ko na
binili ko ang aklat na ito para enjoyin at hindi para i-edit. TRABAHO NG EDITOR ANG I-EDIT NG MAAYOS ANG AKLAT NA ITO.

*Drinking Game*

Materials:
A copy of Nag-iisa Lang Ako, Beer (Alak optional).

Instructions:
Preferably do this on a weekend. Read the book and take a drink of your alcoholic beverage every time you see a mistake.

Ayan. Wala pa sa kalahati ng aklat lasing ka na.

The content is not the problem here. Yeah, there might be some chapters that the fancy coffee house crowd might pass over and wouldn't really care to understand or medyo masasabi rin na kababawan ni Tado ang mga isinulat niya. But the thing is, while you are reading his comedy which some would find juvenile, you'll find the source of his humor and his mentality by reading further and eventually knowing his life story. He's a remarkable guy. I envy his lifestyle, his craziness, his seeming simple mindedness and his outlook in life.

The highlights of this book is the Foreword by Ramon Bautista, Strangebrew days, his show business roots, Limitado, PUP days, Brewrats radio show and some selected excerpts from his Marikeno Asintado articles.

He is that weird friend of yours, the funny friend that's been on the wrong side of the tracks and back, the one that has all the tall tales, that friend of yours that is so anti-everything that he became the mainstream, he is that funny guy that dances funny on TV but is opinionated.

So there. If you don't mind some irritating editorial non-works on your book then buy this. It's not the best read you'll get but just reading Tado's thoughts would likely make up for this fuck up.

(Originally posted on Oct 1, '11 2:03 AM)

The Best of This Is A Crazy Planets

The Best Of This Is A Crazy Planets

Category:	Books
Genre:	Biographies & Memoirs
Author:	Lourd Ernest H. De Veyra

Crazy Planets is Lourd's selected essays from his blog at SPOT.ph most of which delves into the Filipino culture, it's annoying truths and it's funny tragedies. This is also a reminder on what is it that makes us Pinoy in the first place. May laman, may sense at higit sa lahat may aral. Sensible artworks and spartan lay-outs makes for an easy read. The only bad thing I can say on this book is the spine. Somehow I think the book's spine would not survive numerous re-reads. I know my copy won't.

Never mind that he is a TV personality, image model and weatherman. This former(?) Sago frontman who delivers amusing and intelligent lyrics with a deadpan voice writes with authority, always with the intention of making you look up your venti java chip frappucino shit and think. I always say that people that makes me happy deserves to be rich. So buy the book, if you haven't already.

Love him or hate him, you cannot beat the word of the Lourd.

(Originally posted on http://theilldiablo.multiply.com Sep 24, '11 10:33 AM)

Askals

Askals

Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Dodo Dayao and Bong Leal

It was just what I was looking for. For the longest of time I have been dreaming of reading a komiks that has the feel of a local action movie but done much, much intelligently and that komiks better have good reread value.

Enter: Askals. An independent komiks that captures the depression, anger, and danger of a suffocating city populated by drug dealers, corrupt policemen, petty thieves and the every day tao who have to live with them. I really enjoyed the dialogues of the characters specially the villains. It makes them appear human and at the same time dangerous and realistic.

Visuallly Askals is pretty impressive. There is passion here. The artist capturing the dreariness of urban living, tenement buildings and high tension wires obstructing the sky but when shown, all you'll see is darkness. Not a perfect book on some parts like the sound effects but effective use of monotones and subdued shades add to the bleakness of this tale about crime syndicates and organized religion and let's not forget that mystical being. I like this artist's style. When I finally write that graphic novel in my mind I'll look up Bong Leal and ask for his service. Hah!

I acquired mine at last November's Komikon at Starmall. Are there any other issues published? I wish. Can you believe this was released 2005 and it still packs a punch? People who make me happy deserves to be rich in my opinion.

LINKS: http://versuswords.blogspot.com/
http://guhit-guhit.blogspot.com/

(Originally posted on http://theilldiablo.multiply.com Jun 1, '11 9:53 PM)

Punnx Komix

Punnx Komix

Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	JP Cuison, Dennis Nierra

Remember that annoying kid at elementary school, that high school friend you have second thoughts about bringing to your house? Or simply put remember the few times (okay most of the time ) that you just have to be naughty and full of mischievous fun? Yep. That memory. Then with all your passable artistic skills (actually these guys are very good) release all your pent-up kakulitan and horniness in an ass-kicking comic book. The end result would probably be Punnx Komix. Or a paper mache of a penis.

Punnx Komix obviously is a homage by it's two creators to Funny Komiks, that four-color rag that for most of my generation probably grew up with and in my case inspired me to draw (back then I trace over Superdog like a pro).

Crack open an issue and you will find bastardized versions of Planet Opdi Eyps, Combatron, Tinay Pinay and even Shaider. Toilet humor and penises are the order of the day here so this is one funny book NOT FOR CHILDREN. Though it might come across as mindless, juvenile and a good waste of resource, deep down it is a labor of love by people who, in their own twisted and probably drug-induced haze, gave tribute to those artists and writers for entertaining us in those lazy afternoons of our childhood and inspiring us to pick up that pencil and color that doodle.

Rare among indies, Punnx comes in full-color and in better quality paper though still in ashcan size but not without sponsors which is always a good thing. Isn't that right, Papi? My copy (Issue #2) I bought at Sputnik at Cubao X. Punnx retails at 100Php.

Picture is of the creators apparently with their penises still in their pants.

Komikon at April 16, 2011 (THIS SATURDAY!!)

Links for more knowledge: http://punnxkomix.blogspot.com/, http://planetopdieyps.thecomicseries.com/,
http://www.komikon.org/

(Originally posted on http://theilldiablo.multiply.com Apr 9, '11 12:33 AM)

Ang Maskot

Ang Maskot

Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Macoy Tan (writer/artist)

This has been a long time coming. Sorry for the lateness of this review.

We see them every time on fast food chains. Actually any food chain would be crazy not to have them: The Mascot. Smiling at us, dancing for us on birthdays. Even a failed senatoriable made one himself a few elections back. Creep factor? You bet your hard sell ass it is! Forgive me for the digression.

Ang Maskot follows a day in the life of an obviously disgruntled fast food worker (who isn't?) who, after performing his dancing routine at a party for the day, by some dumb luck gets stuck in his costume. Forced to go home in costume and all, he winds up in an altercation with a mugger and his victim aka soon to be love interest. Far fetched right? Take it easy, it's better than I make it sound here. You watch telenovelas so shut up.

As far as I know this is Macoy's first work. His drawing style comes closer to the cartoonish/no nonsense side. Medyo simple pero why complicate things when you have some seriously funny and down to earth boy-meets-girl story to help you out.

This was released 2009 pa. Since then Macoy has released the Happy Tree Friend-ish "Operasyon," "Taal Volcano Monster" and currently finishing (still finishing) the multi-part "School Run." His ashcan sized comic books retails at around 40-50php don't try too hard to resist his works when you see them. As usual, I got mine at Comic Odyssey at Robinson's Galleria or you can get your copy and meet him at the coming Komikon 2011 at April 16.

Here's his site:
http://mcoy.blogspot.com/

(Originally posted on http://theilldiablo.multiply.com Apr 6, '11 11:17 PM)

Geek Tragedies

Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Author:	Carljoe Javier

Geek Tragedies is just that. Stories involving what society would categorize as nerds, weirdos and geeks. Why should I buy a book that appeals to the inner geek in me? Do I feel the need to read literature that I think speaks for me and my fantasies? Do I feel kinship to these PSP and LAN game nerds? Am I among these FHM girls fanatics? These comic book reading jerk offs?

In some level I guess I am. But from reading this book, I think the geek part is in the loneliness. Of wanting and dreaming. Fantasies realized and universes to be conquered if only in the mind. In there we find the common ground: My world is your world too, my friend.

This well written book would take you places familiar like riding that damned MRT1 (Everybody Get's Off at Cubao) to distant and far away reaches of space (The Day the Sexbomb Dancers Came), emotion and loss (Flickerfadegone), the mundane life of a geek (Master of the Fragfest) and sometimes just the plain weird (Street Corner, The Sniffles). I think with the Sexbomb story, this is the fist time that I read an outright Science Fiction story by a Filipino. Groovy!

My only gripe with this fine book is the comic book style chapter bumpers. Although nice to look at, they don't add anything to the following story. They are not even related to each other. They should have made an outright homage to the comic book medium instead, like the text and graphic chapter: Six-Word Stories which I enjoyed.


Well, just pointing out the supposed flaws I felt needed to be addressed. For 250php you will be getting your moneys worth and with a sturdy and well made book, reread is a guarantee. Not bad, eh?

He have an earlier book easily available at NBS but due to it's striking and fantastically familiar cover, I opted to buy this first instead. My bet is that, like that Archie-inspired Beerkada book, this would be hard to find soon.

(Originally posted on http://theilldiablo.multiply.com Nov 9, '11 1:11 AM)

Super Panalo Sounds

Category:	Books
Genre:	Other
Author:	Lourd Ernest H. De Veyra

Bought this about a month ago. Already on my second reading. Like I have nothing else to read, eh?


Imagine it's the 90's. Imagine your fantasy band and how frustrating it is to be so full of potential and musical energy and not be heard. Imagine the aural power that your soul can create whenever you unleash that raw emotion, that controlled chaos through your instrument. Now imagine you are a chain-smoking, alcohol abusing, drug-addicted, acid-dropping, crystal meth-fiend and music, and MUSIC is your life.

Super Panalo Sounds follows the lives of five musicians (Milo the Saxophonist, Budik the silent Bassist, Composer/arranger Dax the Guitarist, Zorro the ambitious ex jock/drummer and activist/musician Vic on vocals and guitars) their complexities, weaknesses, and drug induced hallucinations but also their struggle to release that one album that would characterize and define them and their sound. That one album that will speak for them, of their longings and rage and love.

Never have I felt so close to fictional characters in a book. The shit they lived through and that frustrating struggle to form and maintain a band and the background noise they have to live through. There are a number of instances while reading their sorry exploits that I have to say "He, he. That happens" to these strangely lovable individuals as they live the life of an ordinary Juan with it's disappointments. Consoling themselves with their heroes instead like Mang Dading, an aging National Artist who play humiliating piano standards to make ends meet and Dugong Aso, that mysterious 60's band that references Rizal erect penis in one of their hallucinatory songs.

I guess reading familiar places like Kamuning, Kamias, K-10 and Anonas gives me an oddly fanboy-like joy that even though these places, that in some time in my life I lived on, are portrayed here as places of secret drug dens and homes of drug pushers. Hey, It might be true, it might just be artistic license. But seriously, if you look hard enough, doesn't your neighborhood have it's share of durugistas? You might even have been one.

Anyway, this is a solid book from an author who wrote this close to his heart and if you like Drugs, Sex and Fuckin' Rock and Roll (more emphasis on the drugs part) and Pepe Smith then you will enjoy this book with it's cautionary tale. And if you think that Saxophone as a musical instrument sucks ass then you might just want to read through this book and find out about the bitter, bitter end.

(Originally posted on http://theilldiablo.multiply.com Nov 24, '11 11:48 PM)