Amoy ng Kufpal

Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Patrick Enrique

Vomit inducing, profanity-laden and good disgusting fun that you might fight the urge to wipe your ass off of just to add color to this B&W indie komiks.

Imagine vomiting all over after an all night drinking binge and at the same time suffering from explosive LBM (the airy, sticky kind) because you keep eating your own vomit, this while popping your zits through it all. Yup. That's Amoy Ng Kufpal in a nut shell. Well, put in some punk, rap and video game culture in there and you're getting there. But be warned: This is not for the weak of heart.... or poor constitution.

The artwork reminds mo of early MAD magazine in terms of line work and details. Maybe some R. Crumb influence is in there somewhere and I'm guessing hallucinogenics for the repeating patterns but still the drawings still retains originality. Sobrang original na-tae ako.

This is one indie release that is such an appropriate companion to the toilet. Just so you know, I just tasted my own bile reviewing this shit fest.

(Originally posted on http://theilldiablo.multiply.com Oct 30, '11 7:00 PM)

The Filipino Heroes League Book One: Sticks and Stones

Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Story and Art: Paolo Fabregas

This is one overdue review of an excellent local graphic novel. I was at this April's Komikon earlier this year where I got this. Got my copy signed too by the very bald, very tall and handsome author.

Don't let the corny sounding title fool you. This is a smartly written book on what it means and what it takes to be a superhero, specially the difficulties and hassles of being a third-world government-funded superhero: Headquarters old and falling apart? Tough shit; Foreign superheroes steal your thunder? Live with it; Your crappy vehicle gives up on you? Take a cab, a PEDICAB! Honestly, the back cover featuring Invisiboy and Kidlat Kid commandeering a pedicab sold me to the book. It got me thinking, "What kind of a predicament that superheroes would have to ride in such a mundane vehicle to get to where they are needed?" A Filipino superhero it seems.

The Filipino Heroes League appears to have seen it's glory days as a superhero group. Gone now are it's founding members. Some are dead while it's original leader, the Supremo lies in a coma. Apparently the majority of it's members are OFH's or Overseas Filipino Heroes who either use their powers for entertainment (Sky, another original member works at a travelling circus) or as Government-loaned supers. Think of it as OFW's with super powers. Now the days are gone when being a superhero means just saving lives and protecting the country from an equally powerful adversary. Now they seem like a joke and outlived their usefulness that their military(?) handlers want them gone. Replacing them with a better, grittier and more dangerous set of superheroes. And that's not even the main plot.

A lot of allegorical rhetoric can be found on this book: Overseas Filipino Workers as powered up Bagong Bayani's, Government corruption and inadequacies, the image of our modern heroes (firefighters, soldiers, policemen) and their sacrifices for a thankless job.

The art style is pretty much moody line drawings but it works here. A more polished, Marvelized style would destroy the feel of the book. The names of the characters might sound campy and unimaginative but then again, this is a comic book. You can't be all serious when tackling government goons and fallen superheroes, right?

This Php200.00 130+ page black and white graphic novel is a solid work you wouldn't mind to be in your book shelf is what I'm saying.

web site----> http://www.filipinoheroesleague.com/

It's available on NBS too.

(Originally posted on http://theilldiablo.multiply.com Oct 15, '11 10:08 AM)

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)